Lexington United 16, 66 National Team Profiles

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>These teams feature some good talent with others hoping to blossom this spring.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>16</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rowan County sophomore libero [player_tooltip player_id='781412' first='Eliza' last='McGillicuddy'] leads this group after helping the Valkyries make it to the 16th Region championship game in the fall. Sayre sophomore Story Jones and Dubar sophomore Elizabeth Buzzard are the other two defensive specialists.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Two Dunbar sophomores give Lexington Catholic sophomore setter Allie Hamilton targets in the middle in Lydia Krusich and [player_tooltip player_id='496964' first='Mackenzie' last='Hansen']. Dunbar sophomores [player_tooltip player_id='888304' first='Maggie' last='Young'] and Finnley Comfort give Hamilton targets on the outside along with West Jessamine sophomore Kynslie Barbay and Lexington Christian sophomore Elyn West. [player_tooltip player_id='934298' first='Zayna' last='Abdelkader'] rounds out the roster.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mitchell Sterlitz is the team's head coach. The team opens the season in the Martin Luther King Extravaganza on Jan. 17 and 18 in the 16 Club Division at Spooky Nook in Hamilton, Ohio.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>66</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Things start with first touches from three defensive specialist in Sayre sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='586858' first='Ainsley' last='Stump'], Dunbar's Anna Ryzowicz and Lafayette sophomore Macey Nichols. Nichols played on the LUV 55 Black team last spring.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Garrard County sophomore Kenzley Adams could do that or take swings from the outside. Anderson County sophomore Amanda Walls could set Madison Southern sophomore Olivia Taylor in the middle or the outside or Tates Creek sophomore Makenna Hitchcock on the right side. Walls could also take swings from the right side. Henry Clay sophomore Ella Price, Kennedy Wren and Hadley White round out the roster.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Campbell Gash is the team's head coach. The team also opens the season in the Martin Luther King Extravaganza on Jan. 17 and 18 in the 16 Club Division at Spooky Nook in Hamilton, Ohio.</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":["781412"],"_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-6955f42eecc0f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Anytime she takes the court, McGillicuddy plays with poise and passion. Those crucial first touches may not have the flash that some of her teammates produce, but they are just as important because the flashy plays do not happen without them. She has good range to track down balls under control and possesses a tough line drive serve. McGillicuddy had 371 digs and 65 aces for Rowan County this past fall, helping the Valkyries go </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["496964"],"_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-6955f42eeccc3"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Dunbar (pictured) produces great talent on a yearly basis and Hansen hopes to add her name on that list. Hansen has good size and uses it well to pound balls to different parts of the court. She also forms solid double blocks to get hands on balls and slow them down for the defensive specialists.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["888304"],"_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-6955f98d6d4a0"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Young takes imperfect sets and makes good things happen from them. Young has a tough cross and will find different ways to put down overpassed balls. Young consistently puts the right amount of touch to hit balls away from sound defensive specialists on the go routes.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["586858"],"_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-695608a9a4c96"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Stump is one of a number of young players for the Spartans that has solid potential. It is a matter of developing that potential. Stump stops in her tracks to make sound first touches after doing a good job anticipating where balls are headed. Stump also has a tough serve.</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 nearly two years 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 -->