Sound hitters on Day One of Bluegrass Games

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A number of hitters showed out on the first day of the Bluegrass Games. Some were already established while others showed they are stepping toward that.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>At Tates Creek, district rivals Bowling Green and South Warren took care of business in their pools along with Elizabethtown, Bullitt East and Louisville Holy Cross. Greenup County did manage to take a set from Elizabethtown. The Panthers elected to rest 6-6 phenom [player_tooltip player_id='212253' first='Jessica' last='Smallwood'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Pool Y wound up with Cooper, Marshall County and Bardstown winning one game each. Cooper won the pool going 3-2 on sets with Marshall County finishing 2-2 and the Tigers, 2-3. The Jaguars played the solid defense of old in the win over a confident Marshall County team, which is coming in off a solid season. Bardstown also showed some promise with Jasmine Boggs now guiding the team.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rowan County also won its pool. However, the Valkyries had to earn the win over the Russell County Lakers. Rowan County rallied to win 2-1 (14-21, 21-17, 15-9). The Valkyries saw their leaders take over in the second game and others follow making big plays. Russell County may have graduated eight seniors, but new head coach and former standout Kailey Coffey has the pieces in place to make a run at a district championship.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["535235"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":850283,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","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-688d9a3e75b88"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mains leads a lot by example. She is not deterred when teams block her as was the case against Russell County. After it happened one play, setter [player_tooltip player_id='253881' first='Mallory' last='Jones'] set her up at a different contact point and she painted the back line. The best thing about Mains and the Rowan County leaders is how they celebrated when teammates such as [player_tooltip player_id='874785' first='Eva' last='Brinker'], Kailyn Tackett and Ella Brinker made big plays. That is going a long way toward what head coach Taylor Dixon and staff are emphasizing 'being each others' biggest fans.'</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":850286,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Olivia Hawkins","_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":"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":"Marshall County","_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-688d9a3e75c2e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Hawkins hit balls hard to the back row and provides the Marshals with solid double blocks. Hawkins had some tough serves to keep Bardstown out of rhythm. Marshall County head coach Paige Fletcher said she'd like to see some more consistency out of Hawkins.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["811366"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":850288,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","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-688d9a3e75c88"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">At one point in the win over Marshall County, Cooper head coach Michelle Isaac commended Dunn for a nice rip on a ball she sent down the line on a slide. Dunn (pictured) is helping the Jaguars get back to that hard-nosed defense they are known for. She influences things at the net, forming nice double blocks. Dunn is also very enthusiastic on the court. She said she tries to read the setters to see where balls are going in order to succeed as a blocker.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["748731"],"_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-688d9a3e75cca"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Singleton does a great job owning the net. She can tip balls to the lines and is a sound blocker. Her confidence shines on the court. Singleton said she worked a lot with Elizabethtown head coach Bart Catlett during the club season to make the progress she's made.</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":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":850290,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","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-688d9a3e75d2e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Lambert smacks down overpassed balls with thunder. Lambert takes great swings at the net and has great enthusiasm on the court. Her front row play will more than come in handy for the Spartans this year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["755734"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":850497,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","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-688d9a3e75d70"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Stacy uses her height well to her advantage. She disrupts things at the net with her sound blocks. Stacy had a number of them in the win over South Laurel. She'll be a force for the Cats if she cuts down on her net errors.</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 a half 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 or even have feedback on the Kentucky rankings, 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 -->