Elizabethtown Volleyball Academy 17 Blue Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This team features some top-notch talent in the 5th Region, including two dynamic setters in Meade County junior [player_tooltip player_id='931588' first='Ava' last='Frank'] and Thomas Nelson junior [player_tooltip player_id='774748' first='Hadley' last='Brooks'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The team has three seniors on it in Thomas Nelson defensive specialist [player_tooltip player_id='794236' first='Ha'lyn' last='Lashley']. The other two did not play on the varsity teams in the fall in Meade County's Cora Nelson and Elizabethtown opposite hitter Kaitelyn Selph.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bardstown junior [player_tooltip player_id='603870' first='Addie' last='Devers'] brings solid all-around talent along with Taylor County right side hitter/setter Sophia Hayes. Bethlehem senior defensive specialist [player_tooltip player_id='802772' first='Maddy' last='Krill'] aims to make sound first touches with North Hardin sophomore Brooklyn Trujillo playing setter or defensive specialist. Thomas Nelson junior [player_tooltip player_id='491850' first='Ashton' last='McGuire'] will play middle or right side hitter.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rikki Chung is the team's head coach. The first tournament is the Battle on Broadway on Jan. 17 to 19 in Middle Tennessee.</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":["603870"],"_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-695c8be50ba80"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Devers (pictured) brings a lot of versatility and determination from another club. The Tigers could rely on her when the team needed a big kill. She takes solid swings. Her crosses are especially tough to defend. Devers makes strong passes then quickly transitions to her offensive stance. Devers is also an aggressive server. Devers had 343 kills, 298 digs and 71 aces, helping Bardstown go 16-12 this past fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["931588"],"_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-695c8be50baf7"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Frank does a great job distributing balls to various hitters to keep blockers guessing. Frank does a varsity of short and long sets. Frank adds in a deceptive setover and will push balls to far corners on second contacts if openings present themselves. Frank had 604 assists, 173 digs and 38 aces in the fall, helping Meade County drive to the 3rd Region championship game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["607229"],"_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-695c8be50bb41"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Bland takes full advantage of playing with one of the state's top outside hitters. Bland is a force in the middle She places overpassed balls to open parts of the court. Bland pounds balls to different parts of the court on ones and lets up to tap it opposite directions on the next play. Bland also forms nice double blocks at the net with teammates.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["802772"],"_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-695c8be50bb88"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Krill patrols the back row with authority for Bethlehem. She anticipates balls well then goes after them. Krill stops in her tracks then uses a good platform to make crisp passes. Krill communicates well with her teammates. She had 87 digs in the fall, helping Bethlehem go 28-9, win the 19th District crown and drive to the 5th Region semifinals.</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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