Rising Heights Travel Team Previews

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Director Danielle Merrick founded Rising Heights in 2017 with two teams and it has grown to 11 entering the 10th season. A total of 33 Rising Heights players have gone on to the collegiate level during that time. More could be on the way.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>18s</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This team has four players back from last year's 18 Travel team. All four made major contributions on the varsity squads in the fall. Two are Bethlehem juniors in setter [player_tooltip player_id='756992' first='Matti' last='Deopere'] and middle/outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id='603333' first='Alexis' last='Lanz']. Nelson County senior libero [player_tooltip player_id='741092' first='Cameron' last='Buster'] and North Bullitt outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id='484284' first='Laila' last='Brooks'] are the other two.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Elizabethtown senior outside hitter/defensive specialist [player_tooltip player_id='212346' first='MaKenna' last='T. Brown']. Two Thomas Nelson defensive specialists in senior [player_tooltip player_id='794236' first='Ha'lyn' last='Lashley'] and junior [player_tooltip player_id='795728' first='Kinley' last='Unseld'] are on the team along with junior Thomas Nelson teammate [player_tooltip player_id='722201' first='Ella' last='Bleemel'], an outside/middle who played at Bourbon City last year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Deopere will have some nice options on the outside to set. One is junior Bethlehem teammate [player_tooltip player_id='781046' first='Sloane' last='Smith'] and the other is LKY Homeschool sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='740672' first='Phoebe' last='Ashbrook'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Danielle and Craig Merrick are the coaches of this team. The team first plays in the Central Zone in Indianapolis on Jan. 24 and 25.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>16s</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>North Bullitt sophomores [player_tooltip player_id='713896' first='Emma' last='Wetzstein'] at defensive specialist and [player_tooltip player_id='786209' first='Colleen' last='Mosby'] at middle blocker return from last year's 16 Travel team.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The team has three more defensive specialists in LKY Homeschool junior [player_tooltip player_id='735813' first='Grace' last='Grider'], North Bullitt sophomore Rachael Williams and Bullitt Central sophomore Lyla Duke. Bullitt Central sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='922999' first='Alivia' last='Reynolds'] will set and take swings from the outside. Bethlehem sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='920712' first='Gracie' last='Thornsberry'] and North Bullitt sophomore Kaylee Manley also give the team some outside punch with Bethlehem sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='841791' first='Aubree' last='Calbert'] splitting time at defensive specialist and right side hitter. LKY Athletics sophomore Kaitlyn Exely rounds out the roster.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Gabby Campos is the head coach of this team. The team also first plays in the Central Zone in Indianapolis on Jan. 24 and 25.</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":["603333"],"_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-694c60eba9c0c"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Lanz (pictured) does a great using size and vertical reach to control the net for the Banshees. Lanz takes ones and gaps then deposits balls to different zones on the court. She especially has a tough shot to the left and right lines. Sound defensive specialists have a hard time digging her up. Lanz mixes in soft touches to keep defenses guessing. Lanz has a sound serve and does a good job winning jousts. Lanz also forms good double blocks. Lanz had 290 kills, 93 solo blocks, 27 assisted blocks, 79 digs and 57 aces in the fall, helping Bethlehem go 28-9, win the All "A" 5th Region crown, the first 19th District title since 2021 and make it to the 5th Region semifinals for the second straight year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["740672"],"_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-694c60eba9cff"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Merrick makes sound and makes things happen a number of ways on the go routes. Ashbrook hits off blockers and has a nice roll shot to the shallow one zone. Ashbrook can also pound balls to the back lines. She adds in tips to keep defenders guessing.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["795728"],"_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-694c6c69e6ea3"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Unseld gave the Generals nice play in the back row in the fall. Unseld can make the simple bump and overhead passes. She moves her feet well and comes to complete stops to make sound passes. Unseld is not fooled by the angles off lefthanded hitters.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["713896"],"_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-694c752c880f8"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Wetzstein hopes to take bigger steps from her sophomore to junior seasons with a sound club season. Wetzstein takes great angles to hit roll shots to the opposite corners. Wetzstein makes things happen from the middle and the outsides. She does a good job mixing in hard and soft shots.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["922999"],"_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-694c752c8816b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Reynolds emerged to help lead the Cougars through a head coaching transition. Reynolds does a good job involving a number of hitters to the point that the floor opens up on the other side, allowing Reynolds to put down setovers. Reynolds has a nice line drive serve that throws off opponents.</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. 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