Southern Kentucky Elite Volleyball Academy 16 Teams Overview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It is not uncommon for players to travel some distances to find more opportunities. That has been the case with the Southern Kentucky Elite Volleyball Academy in Bowling Green.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Blue</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This team has three sophomore McCracken County players that venture more than two hours for practices and to travel to games. They are defensive specialist [player_tooltip player_id='477251' first='Caroline' last='Presswood'], outside/opposite hitter [player_tooltip player_id='747618' first='Neely' last='Nyberg'] and outside hitter/defensive specialist [player_tooltip player_id='747076' first='Mollie' last='Canter'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Two other defensive specialists are Liberty Creek (Tennessee) sophomore Elizabeth Tomb and South Warren sophomore Gabi Skaggs. The setter is sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='531015' first='Kate' last='Hatcher'], who studies online. Two sophomore middle hitters come from South Warren in Autumn Gaines and [player_tooltip player_id='771806' first='Hannah' last='Lambert']. Rounding out the roster is Muhlenberg County sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='771803' first='Kenlee' last='Pate'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The team's head coach is Callie Haynes. The team recently won the AAU Mid-South Challenge 16 Girls Division. The team is playing in the Long Star Classic in Dallas this weekend.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Orange</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The defensive specialists on this team are Caroline Kunkel, Kendall Porter, Carleigh Daigle and Kenadie Holl. The setter is Kaylee Rye and the two middle blockers are Kailee Andi and Maddie Chinn with Kaylee Davis at outside hitter and Abigail Head at opposite hitter. Rounding out the roster is Ashelynne Graves.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Karrah Cron is the team's head coach. The team next plays in the K2 Summer Madness in Sevierville on May 3 and 4.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Players to Watch</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["477251"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-680e2874da8e6"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Presswood shows what it means to be under control with her first touches every time she takes the court. Presswood only dives or lunges when necessary. When she does, she still squares her arms up with balls to make the necessary two to three-point passes to the setters. Presswood does a great job backing up plays. Presswood then lets out a lot of enthusiasm when the team wins the point. Presswood is also a sound server. Presswood had 170 digs and 85 aces for McCracken County this past season, helping the Mustangs go 35-6, win more 2nd District and 1st Region crowns and drive to the state quarterfinals.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["747618"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-680e2874da96c"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Nyberg (pictured) has turned into a dynamic hitter for the 16 Blue team. Nyberg is outstanding with mid-air adjustments. She gets blockers to lean one way, then quickly turns and sends balls another way. She mixes is short shots to the lines and has tough cutters. Her enthusiasm on the court is contagious with her teammates.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["771803"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-680e303d7562f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Pate is a good hitter for promoted Muhlenberg County head coach Terri Cunningham to build around. Pate finds different ways to put balls down. She can hit balls off blockers then send balls to the back row on the next play. Her crosses are effective even when she's on the ground. Pate does a good job going up for blocks then quickly transitioning into her hitting stance. Pate is also a nice passer. She'll turn into a solid hitter if she develops a quicker arm swing. Pate had 332 kills and 110 digs this past fall, helping the Mustangs win the 10th District championship.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["771806"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-680e303d756c1"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Lambert consistently faces double and sometimes triple blocks in the middle, but still finds different ways to be effective. Lambert uses angles well on blockers. She can tap balls over them or move to the sides and deposit balls in the back row. Lambert also has good timing on her blocks. Lambert had 105 kills, 23 solo blocks and 24 assisted blocks this past fall, helping the Spartans go 21-12 and advance to the 4th Region Tournament.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Note from the Writer</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mike Graham has been writing for Prep Dig for one year and has enjoyed getting to know the volleyball scenes in both Kentucky and Ohio. If you liked the story, please copy and paste to X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook. You may also follow us at @prepdigkentucky or @prepdigoh on Instagram in addition to @PrepDigKy or @PrepDigOH on X. If you feel someone in Kentucky or Ohio needs coverage, please email Mike at pnmikeg@yahoo.com. You may also follow him on X @GMCgrah or Instagram @g.michaelgraham. Subscriptions give you access to exclusive content. For a 30% discount, enter code graham30 at checkout.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->