Team Profile: Bardstown seeks better team chemistry

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Bardstown Tigers came into last season off their first appearance in the 5th Region Tournament since 2018 and hoped to build off it.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bardstown did defeat Nelson County and Thomas Nelson in the first three games. However, the Tigers could not continue that momentum in a 5-11 start. The Tigers did manage to win the Harrison County Fillies Fall Fling and won all three matches in the Ohio County Quad Match including a win over eventual 3rd Region runner-up Owensboro Catholic. They wound up finishing 14-15 losing in the 19th District semifinals to Bethlehem. The good news is the team graduated just one senior.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Darren Morris wound up taking a head coaching job with a district rival and the administration promoted assistant Jasmine Boggs to the head coaching spot. Boggs said some drama kind of got in the way last year so she's trying to build a better family atmosphere to help with that. She said the junior class is strong and she'll be relying on the three seniors in setter [player_tooltip player_id='504705' first='Kylee' last='Best'], middle blocker Zarionha Railley and Zya Sisson to help the team get past the mental struggles.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Best said the key to overcoming those issues is communication to everyone that it's okay to mess up, take accountability and move on to the next point as a team, adding mistakes are the whole team's fault. Best noted when the team was having fun, they won a lot and enjoyed being on the court together. But last season, Best said the team was timid at times, thus players started messing up more.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The return of Best and another experienced setter in junior Claire Buzick gives the team options for 6-2 or 5-1 sets. Boggs said the team will have to figure out what works for the team. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Junior [player_tooltip player_id='484296' first='Molly' last='Kisegy'] returns after playing libero last season. Sound all-around junior [player_tooltip player_id='603870' first='Addie' last='Devers'] returns along with another sound hitter in junior Rachel Smith. The returners saw varsity action in eight or fewer games last year. Devers said little things make the team stronger, also noting the team will still be pretty young with not a lot of size. Devers said the team can't let little things get in the way.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Boggs hopes to get things rolling over the summer to get the team where it is needed to be as competitive as it has been in the past. Bardstown last won a region tournament game in 2016 when it drove to the region title game before losing to Central Hardin.</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":["504705"],"_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-683fa420b07ba"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Her Rising Heights team ran a 6-2 set so she was able to take some swings from the outside. Best said she hopes to use that experience to her advantage this fall. Best mixes up her sets well including back sets and a deceptive setter dump. Best takes sound swings from the right side, giving the team some versatility. Best also makes sound first passes. Best had 637 assists, 186 digs and 45 aces for the Tigers last fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["603870"],"_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-683fa420b0824"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Devers (pictured) is a sound six-position player for club and Bardstown. She angles balls off blocks well. Devers adjusts from defense to offense quickly. The righty can use her left hand to tip balls and catch opponents off-guard. Devers makes sound passes then takes sound shots from the right side. Devers has a sinking line drive serve. Devers said she's been working on improving her leg strength to increase her vertical jump and being more aggressive and smart on the floor. Devers led Bardstown with 315 kills to go with 352 digs and 34 aces last fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["484296"],"_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-683fa420b0870"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kisegy is a sound passer, but can also be used as a hitter if necessary. Kisegy does a great job making things happen at all six spots on the floor. Kisegy moves her feet well and tracks down balls quickly. She has good control on balls, only diving when necessary. Kisegy led Bardstown with 440 digs to go with 44 aces last fall.</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":"Zarionha Railley","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'6u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"32924","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Bardstown","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_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-683fa9a377a09"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Undersized, Railley tries to use her athleticism to overcome it. Railley makes things happen in the middle on ones and on back sets in the gap. Railley uses her off hand to tap balls away from defenders. Railley controls the net with her sound blocking. Railley had 143 kills, 10 solo and 31 assisted blocks for Bardstown last year.</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 -->