Kentucky Challenge Pool 5 Notables

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A lot of talent came to Lexington's Alumni Center for the annual Kentucky Challenge, including five of the state's region champions from last year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Two of those defending region champions resided in Pool 5 in the 4th Region's Bowling Green Purples and the West Jessamine Colts from the 12th Region. The third team in the pool just had an eight-game winning streak snapped in the middle of the week in the Bryan Station Defenders.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>All three teams made their share of thrilling plays. However, the Purples (22-2 overall) used their size, solid net defense and depth at every position to come away with two wins, first beating West Jessamine, 2-0 (25-15, 25-15) then knocking off Bryan Station, 2-0 (25-15, 25-16). The Purples have a lot of size on the front line led by 6-4 middle blocker [player_tooltip player_id='212192' first='Amirra' last='Bailey'], a Louisville commit, and sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='577773' first='Chayse' last='Gilliland']. The two setters in junior [player_tooltip player_id='741315' first='JoEllen' last='Marshall'] and sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='850607' first='Reese' last='Romine'] are also not afraid to set the likes of [player_tooltip player_id='276175' first='Morgan' last='Rockrohr'], [player_tooltip player_id='774363' first='Hadley' last='Beard'], [player_tooltip player_id='774166' first='Harper' last='Huffman'], [player_tooltip player_id='827008' first='Layah' last='Britt'] and [player_tooltip player_id='850535' first='Madison' last='Taylor']. Senior libero Olivia Arauz anchors things in the back with sound first touches.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bryan Station (13-11) wound up going 1-1 in the pool starting it with a 2-1 (25-20, 24-26, 15-4) victory over West Jessamine. The Defenders did a better job executing, especially in serving and at the net. [player_tooltip player_id='212249' first='Cameron' last='Owens'] continues to dominate for Bryan Station with eighth grader [player_tooltip player_id='882181' first='Tylah' last='Walker'] going over 100 kills on the season. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='810153' first='Abigail' last='Brown'] and junior Cintaesia George try to get touches on balls so sophomore libero [player_tooltip player_id='888196' first='Lily' last='Howard'] and sophomore defensive specialist [player_tooltip player_id='794979' first='Jojo' last='Covington'] in addition to eighth grader [player_tooltip player_id='889777' first='Sophia' last='Newman'] can make good first touches to setter [player_tooltip player_id='768308' first='Nyalie' last='Locke'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>West Jessamine (16-7) may be young in certain areas. Libero [player_tooltip player_id='774738' first='Ava' last='Smith'] is a freshman and setter [player_tooltip player_id='755065' first='Taylor' last='Snowden'] is a sophomore. However, the Colts have still been in system enough to set up three nice hitters in junior [player_tooltip player_id='603652' first='Ashlyn' last='Crutcher'], senior [player_tooltip player_id='779174' first='Tori' last='Daleng'] and sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='851950' first='Kayla' last='Avent'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Kentucky Challenge concludes Saturday.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Notable Performances</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["774363"],"_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":889772,"_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-68d7673ea81c2"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Beard (pictured) has been a big key to the sound Bowling Green net defense. Beard has a great wrist snap and executes slide plays well. Beard hits roll shots off blockers for big points and rebounds quickly after being blocked. She ran some nice tandems on the day. Beard also works well with teammates to form nice double blocks. Beard also puts down overpassed balls well. Beard said the biggest thing on overpasses is focusing on timing. Beard added she strives for max jumping and going straight up to help execute that well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["741315"],"_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":889774,"_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-68d7673ea8257"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Marshall understands her hitters strengths well and puts the hitters in position to succeed. Marshall moves her feet quickly and places balls to the peek of the hitters' vertical jump so they can hit balls over and around blockers. Marshall is especially sound running shoots. Marshall has good placement on her serves. Marshall said passing wins games so it's a huge point of emphasis for the Purples, especially with the hitting depth they have.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["888196"],"_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-68d7673ea82be"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Howard has stepped into a big role for the Defenders after seeing some action as a freshman last year. Howard uses a good platform to make crisp two to three-point passes. Howard can dig up hard-hit crosses and other hits under control. She makes sound out of system passes to the hitters can take good swings. Howard has a tough line drive serve landing some aces. Howard said she tries to read the arms and hips of opposing hitters then get parallel with them. Howard said going against teammate [player_tooltip player_id='212249' first='Cameron' last='Owens'] in practice helps there.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["889777"],"_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-68d7673ea832b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Newman has also helped give the Defenders nice back row play. She anticipates balls well then makes the simple passes. Newman is one of three eighth graders that has contributed for Bryan Station this season. Newman is not afraid to go down on her knees for balls when needed. Newman will continue to improve with her work ethic.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["851950"],"_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":889784,"_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-68d7685946e71"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Avent sees the floor then does what she can to hit balls away from defenders. That includes nice roll shots. Avent is a sound one-on-one blocker. Avent said the Colts definitely picked up on what they need to better at with the two games. Avent said the players and coaches agreed the blocking and passing can get better after the Bryan Station loss and the team improved in both against Bowling Green.</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 -->