Lexington United 16s Black, Blue Team Overviews

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The season just concluded for these teams, but they made plenty of memories and hope to help the varsity teams in the fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>16 Black</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Some of these players saw some varsity action. Madison Central sophomore outside hitter Eileen Goucher played in 26 games and Franklin County freshman setter Alex Perkins played in 12.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The defensive specialists are Madison Southern sophomore Kate Ann Foley, Lafayette sophomore Emery Luckett and Amelia Miller. Another setter is Dunbar sophomore Maleah Gibson.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The team had two middle blockers in Sayre sophomore Aubrey Greathouse and West Jessamine sophomore Malena Polk. The other two outside hitters were West Jessamine sophomore Anna Daugherty and Maddie Barkley. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This team put up a sound 32-20 campaign finishing runner-up in one tournament and third in four others. Justin Cason is the head coach.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>66 Black</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Wolfe County sophomore duo of outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id='603771' first='Madison' last='Deshon'] and defensive specialist [player_tooltip player_id='603773' first='Grace' last='Ponce'] led this team. The two setters were Somerset Christian sophomore Charleston Girdler and sophomore Caroline Torbey. Junior Addison Phillippe played right side/opposite hitter with Woodford County sophomore Kenley Greer playing middle hitter. Two other outside hitters were sophomore Elle Rodgers and Madison Southern sophomore Izzy Mays.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jasmine Koonce is the team's head coach. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>16 Blue</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This team had its struggles, but the players hope to grow for the future.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The defensive specialists were Reem Ibrahim, Sayre sophomore Parker Bowles, sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='850346' first='Olivia' last='Bradley'], junior Emmalyse Hayes and Lexington Christian sophomore Ella Hardy. Madison Southern junior Felicity Williams played right side/opposite hitter with Woodford County junior Kelise Mason and sophomore Sadie Mistretta playing outside hitter. Lafayette sophomore Opal Voskuhl played middle blocker.</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_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":"Eileen Goucher","_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":"Madison Central","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"[program_tooltip program_id='510734' first='Lexington' last='United']","_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-683a6f428c026"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Goucher has the chance to give the Indians depth this fall as they will be loaded with hitters. Goucher opens things up for other hitters one-on-one. She takes good approaches at the net and finds different ways to put balls down.</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":"Alex Perkins","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2028","_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":"32561","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Franklin County","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"[program_tooltip program_id='510734' first='Lexington' last='United']","_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-683a6f428c0cc"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Perkins does a good job reading and digging up solid hitters for the Flyers. Perkins squares her arms up to balls trying to stay under control and jumpstart the offense. She has a bright future ahead of her.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["603771"],"_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-683a709d8374e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Deshon gives the Wolves a hitting threat from both the pins and the middle. Deshon does a good job angling balls off blockers and smacking them to the back row. She is not afraid to shove or tip balls over and around blockers to open parts of the front row giving defenses something extra to consider. Deshon had 116 kills this past season, helping Wolfe County win another 55th District crown and drive back to the 14th Region championship game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["603773"],"_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-683a709d837a7"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Ponce (pictured) will only grow from her experience on varsity last year. Ponce makes the routine and spectacular saves under control. Ponce has demonstrated the ability to defend all over the court with her mobility. Her jump serve will give the Wolves a lot of points this fall.</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 -->