Club Apex 16s National, Regional Team Profiles

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This group put together two National teams and one regional team this year. The National teams have the most travel of all the groups. All three have seen some success this season. Some of these players will need to step forward in the fall to see teams continue success.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Grey</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This team is 17-12 on the season. The national team placed fifth in both the Central Zone Invitational 16 Club Green Division and the Presidents Day Bash 16 Girls Division.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Dixie Heights sophomore middle blocker [player_tooltip player_id='620750' first='Bailey' last='McQuinlin'] leads the way. Conner's Caitlyn Karwacki and Notre Dame's Brooklyn Esposito are the other middle blockers. The outside hitters are Simon Kenton's Addy Starnes, Maria Mullis and Ryle sophomore Adailee Schoborg.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The team has two setters in Ryle sophomore Mollie Pidgeon and Simon Kenton's Sophia Deaton. Conner sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='780014' first='Kylie' last='Alexander'] and Harrison sophomore Olivia Williams are the defensive specialists.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Simon Kenton head coach Amy Marx is the team's head coach. The team travels to Louisville on May 31 and June 1 for the Players Championship.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Teal</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This team has put together a stellar 21-6 season. The team won the 16 Girls Division of the Rock n Rally battle in Tennessee out of nine teams and finished runner-up in the Can Am Classic in Michigan out of 22 teams in the 16 Club Green Division. The squad also took third out of 20 teams in the 16 Girls Division of the Presidents Day Bash.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Grant County sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='697458' first='Rylee' last='Akers'] made a difference with first passes and serving in the fall and continues to do that for this team. Gallatin County sophomore Emma Craig is the team's setter and Dixie Heights sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='557889' first='Payton' last='Bromley'] brings varsity experience at defensive specialist.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cooper sophomore Alana Jarrell takes outside swings and makes first passes along with Conner sophomore Brynn Raney. Ryle sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='485046' first='Emma' last='Jankowski'] is another defensive specialist. St. Henry sophomore outside hitter Brynlee Rice and Cooper sophomore Ava Dunn at middle/right side hitter also make a difference along with Cooper's Emily King.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Brittney Tackett is the team's head coach. The team plays in the Governors Cup in Lexington May 31 and June 1.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>White</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The team finished its season playing in several tournaments. Gemma Sanders served as head coach.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Villa Madonna sophomore Anna Raziano brings experience at defensive specialist after recording 198 digs this past fall. Grant County had two players on the team in middle blocker Khali Speier and setter/defensive specialist Jayden Kelly. Lloyd Memorial sophomore Fernanda Bautista plays outside hitter and defensive specialist. Walton-Verona sophomore Lindsay Goodman, Madison Slusser, Lauren Killion, Miley Lay, Evelyn Gampfer and Sydney Louden round out the roster.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Notable Players</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["485046"],"_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-683249cba8088"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Jankowski (pictured) has showed great things during club season. She is a consistent passer, constantly moving her feet to be in the right positions. Jankowski also has a nice running jump serve that produces a lot of points. Her energy on the court is contagious.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Maria Mullis","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"null","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"32564","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Simon Kenton","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Club Apex","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-683249cba8180"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Mullis displayed some potential during the fall and continues to improve in the spring. Mullis has good form on her net approaches and does a good job putting balls away from defenders. Mullis can land tips and hit balls off blockers and out of bounds for big points. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='780014' first='Kylie' last='Alexander']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"null","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"32926","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Conner","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Club Apex","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-683249cba8233"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Alexander could step into a big role this fall for the Cougars with improved arm swings. The lefty sends a nice cutter to the opposite lines and soft hits to the middle. Alexander could create some one-on-one opportunities for her teammates when her consistency comes around.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["697458"],"_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-683249cba8294"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Akers saw some varsity action as a freshman then make a big impact for the Braves this past fall helping them to the 8th Region semifinals for the second straight season. Her serving makes a difference for the Braves. They go scorching all over the place. Akers also established herself as a nice passer in the back row. Akers had 162 digs and 51 aces this past fall, helping Grant County go 19-14 and make a third straight appearance in the 8th 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 -->