Lexington United 17, 77 Elite Squad Overview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>These teams may not have the greatest records facing stiff competition. However, they will only grow from the experiences.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>17 Elite</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This team is loaded with top returning talent in the 11th and 12th Regions. Boyle County junior [player_tooltip player_id='479316' first='Charli' last='Grubbs'] leads the way with the most kills this past fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Great Crossing juniors [player_tooltip player_id='343939' first='Erin' last='Thomas'], [player_tooltip player_id='479272' first='Emily' last='Erwin'] along with Dunbar junior [player_tooltip player_id='276177' first='Sadie' last='Stuart'], Lexington Catholic junior [player_tooltip player_id='212388' first='Payton' last='Avilez'] and Woodford County's [player_tooltip player_id='777665' first='Hannah' last='Simeonov'] came into the club season after recording at least 137 kills last fall. Great Crossing junior [player_tooltip player_id='774977' first='Jenna' last='Browning'] is the libero and Scott County junior [player_tooltip player_id='768426' first='Anna' last='Peters'] is the setter. Rounding out the roster is Frederick Douglass junior middle blocker Logan Dunham.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The team next plays in the Players Championship in Louisville on May 31 and June 1.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>77 Elite</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This team also has some experienced players on it led by two dynamic players in Garrard County junior defensive specialist [player_tooltip player_id='777666' first='Madi' last='Combs'] and Tates Creek junior setter [player_tooltip player_id='544046' first='Stella' last='Myers']. Lexington Catholic junior defensive specialist [player_tooltip player_id='874997' first='Finley' last='Quinn'] also had a nice fall helping the Knights to the first 11th Region championship in program history.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Nelson County junior [player_tooltip player_id='212345' first='Kinslee' last='Burns'] and Dunbar junior Mia-Claire Barnes are also defensive specialists and Lexington Christian junior Kitty Meade also sets up sound hitters. Frederick Douglass juniors Elizabeth Otto, Ella Trimble and Model junior Emma Little are outside hitters with Bryan Station junior Ashley Deters and Grace Gerwin giving the team options in the middle.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The team also plays in the Players Championship in Louisville on May 31 and June 1.</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":["479316"],"_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-682e85f9bfbd1"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Grubbs is taking steps toward becoming a sound all-around player for the Rebels during club season. Grubbs can make nice passes in the back row then makes a lot of things happen in the front row. She has great technique on her hits sending balls sizzling to the back row. Grubbs can take some things off balls and send them to the opposite lines. Grubbs is also a sound server. Grubbs had 411 kills and 104 aces for Boyle County last fall, helping the Rebels go 30-10, win the 45th District title and drive all the way to the 12th Region championship game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["777665"],"_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-682e85f9bfc34"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Simeonov may be overshadowed by other hitters on her club and high school teams, but is definitely worth looking at. Simeonov moves her feet well and takes nice strides to the net putting good power into balls to finish plays. Simeonov has shown her effectiveness hitting around and through solid double blocks throughout the club season. Simeonov had 137 kills for the Yellow Jackets last fall, helping them to a 19-9 record.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["276177"],"_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-682e870696f25"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Stuart (pictured) is a sound middle blocker for the young Bulldogs to build around this fall. Stuart will be a handful in the front with her size and quick arm swing. Stuart makes a lot of things happen with the quicks, sending balls flying quickly toward holes. Sound defenders even have a hard time digging her up. Stuart had 239 kills, 14 solo and 75 assisted blocks last fall for Dunbar, helping the Bulldogs go 27-9, winning the 43rd District crown and finishing 11th Region runner-up.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["544046"],"_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-682e8d38858d8"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Myers gives the Commodores some sound all-around play. She does a good job mixing her sets up, allowing for a number of options to keep defenses guessing. Myers also makes sound first passes, digging up solid hitters and forms solid blocks. Myers had 847 assists and 222 digs for Tates Creek last fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["777666"],"_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-682e8d388594a"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Combs is nice all-around player for the Lions. Combs does a good job angling balls around blockers and to the ground. Combs mixes in hard and soft touches to keep defenders guessing. Combs dives to the ground for passes then quickly gets up and transitions to offense. Combs had 206 kills, 386 digs and 62 aces this past fall, helping Garrard County make it to the 12th 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 -->