Whitley County, Corbin players head across state line for club

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 50th District rivals Whitley County Colonels and Corbin Redhounds met five times during the regular season with Whitley County claiming both the district and region championships. However, some are teaming up during club season with five going down to Louisville, Tennessee to play for high-level Elite K2 squads in the Knoxville area.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Whitley County junior [player_tooltip player_id='603744' first='Reagan' last='Isaac'] played at KIVA last year and previously played for [program_tooltip program_id='510734' first='Lexington' last='United']. One of her teammates on the 18 JOTA team is Knoxville Catholic's Mia Kinney. That team opens the season Jan. 3 and 4 in the Mideast Power League at Munciana in Yorktown, Indiana.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The dynamic Corbin freshman outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id='877421' first='Shelbi' last='Carroll'] and Whitley County eighth grade middle blocker [player_tooltip player_id='893446' first='Taryn' last='Bennett'] have teamed up to play on the 15 Elite team. Carroll earned the Kentucky Volleyball Coaches Association 13th Region Player of the Year honors. The team plays in the Mideast Power League on Jan. 3 and 4 at the KIVA Sports Center in Louisville.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Two Whitley County eighth graders are playing on the 14 Edge/Force team. They are setter [player_tooltip player_id='925024' first='Lauren' last='Siler'] and outside hitter Avery Smith. Siler dressed for varsity in the fall, but saw no action. She played setter and defensive specialist on other levels for the Colonels.</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":["603744"],"_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-69548693d356d"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Isaac (pictured) has endured a good bit of change at both the high school and club levels throughout her storied career so making the change to K2 is nothing new to her. Isaac brings such a diverse skill set to the table that teams quickly find ways to involve her as much as possible. Magical things happen with Isaac touches balls. Defenders often step in the way of her hits, but deflect far off them as the result of those sizzlers. Isaac pounds crosses to open parts of the court and can smack down overpassed balls. Isaac produces at all six spots on the court rising up high on blocks and making the simple passes. Isaac had 568 kills, 249 digs and 37 aces in the fall, helping Whitley County go 35-6, win a fourth straight 13th Region crown and go back to the state tournament.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["877421"],"_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-6954898c460a0"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">It is not uncommon for players to have different roles on their club and high school teams, and that could be the case for Carroll. Carroll is listed as a defensive specialist on the club team website with four outsides listed. Corbin head coach Krystal Jones is high on her defensive skills. She reads hitters well and has a solid platform to make great two to three-point passes. Carroll will make the most of any chances she gets to swing if needed. Jones said she places balls well, has a strong swing and reads defenses better than any player she's ever coached. Carroll had 407 kills, 326 digs and 41 aces, helping Corbin go 26-14 and make it to the 2A State Tournament.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["925024"],"_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-6954898c460eb"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Siler has tremendous potential for the Colonels and the club team. She has worked on putting balls on target. Siler involves a number of hitters and hustles hard after balls.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["845986"],"_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-6954898c46132"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Kinney is committed to Vanderbilt for big reasons. She's athletically gifted and the Knoxville Catholic staff does what is needed to put her in position to succeed. Her setters hit the top of her peak consistently and she rises high above the net to smack balls to different parts of the court. Kinney takes big swings at all six positions on the court. Kinney is especially effective on pipe plays. Kinney mixes in tips to the middle of the floor to surprise defenders and is a sound passer.</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 -->