Alpha Performance 15U Team Overviews

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The growth of this club is showing in this group with four teams. They feature some solid freshmen in central Kentucky.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>A.51</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This team has several of those huge contributors starting with Fleming County freshman libero [player_tooltip player_id='911980' first='Haleigh' last='Thrasher']. Expect her and Lafayette freshman Ruby Strutz to jumpstart the offense in big ways. Sayre freshman [player_tooltip player_id='892813' first='Decker' last='Kok'] played a big role in Sayre's 29-win season and has looked good so far in club season. The other setter is East Jessamine freshman Madi Embry.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Paris freshman 6-2 outside/opposite hitter [player_tooltip player_id='946052' first='Emmalyn' last='Ogden'] gives the team size on the outside with Woodford County freshman [player_tooltip player_id='923183' first='Scarlet' last='Dabney'] doing the same. Great Crossing freshman [player_tooltip player_id='790629' first='Hadley' last='Tyson'] made a huge contribution in the middle i the fall and hopes to do the same in club. Great Crossing freshman Emye Stamm is another promising middle blocker with George Rogers Clark freshman Elayna Stewart and Scott County freshman Katie Shuffett contributing at outside or opposite hitter spots.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Becca Just is the team's head coach. The team has some big wins on the season including a 2-0 (26-24, 25-22) win over the [program_tooltip program_id='510734' first='Lexington' last='United'] 15 Elite team at the Lexington Open. The team is currently playing in the Nike President's Day Classic in St. Louis today through Monday.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>A.52</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The team has three defensive specialists in Lexington Christian freshman Bella Murphy, Madison Southern freshman Skyler Stolz and Great Crossing freshman Sofia Wahnsiedler. The setter is Anderson County freshman Quinn Thompson.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Great Crossing freshman AJ Cardwell at 5-11 and George Rogers Clark 5-10 freshman Libby McCormick give the team size in the middle. Bryan Station freshman [player_tooltip player_id='890680' first='Ariana' last='Adams'] and Woodford County freshman Ella Pope hit from the outside with 6-0 Paris freshman Gabby Gardner hitting at the opposite slot.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Karsyn Draime is the team's head coach. The team is also currently playing in the Nike President's Day Classic in St. Louis today through Monday.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>A.53</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Two Franklin County freshmen in Madeline Moore at outside hitter and setter along with setter Janiyah Chambers saw limited varsity action in the fall. Bourbon County freshman [player_tooltip player_id='930503' first='Gia' last='Griffin'] plays middle and outside hitter with Frankfort freshman [player_tooltip player_id='836717' first='Olivia' last='Reynolds'] playing outside hitter and middle hitter. Rounding out the roster are Frankfort Christian freshman Emma Simpson, Henry Clay's Angela Baires, Kayla Lawson, Taylor Curry and Olivia Smith.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Shelbie Hutchinson is the team's head coach. The team next plays in the Bluegrass Battle in Georgetown on Feb. 28 and March 1.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>A.54</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Frankfort freshman Gianna Gannone is an opposite hitter and setter for the team. The other team members are Emma Harshman, Madelyn Browning, Sarah Sexton, Carter Conley, McKenzie Franklin, Karissa Williams, Natalee McEwen, Mallory Senter and Makayla Robinson.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Taylor McGaugh is the team's head coach. The team also next plays in the Bluegrass Battle in Georgetown on Feb. 28 and March 1.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["946052"],"_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-6990c74d1a80d"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Ogden gives A.51 a good option in the middle and right side. She has the size to make a difference at the net. She hopes to take bigger steps during club season after leading the Hounds in kills with 107 to go with 23 solo blocks.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["911980"],"_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-6990cc2a49237"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Thrasher (pictured) gives the Panthers a great foundation to build on these next three seasons. She has great range and sits down in a good platform to make good first touches. She digs up hard-hit balls and get go back quickly to track down balls hit over her head.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["923183"],"_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-6990ce39703d9"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Dabney (pictured) takes great approaches at the net and gets on top of balls to put a lot of zip into them. Dabney also records sound play at the net with her blocking. Dabney will only improve that much more during club season with the talent around her.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["930503"],"_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-6990d174c1771"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Griffin takes nice approaches to the net then finds different ways to place balls to different places on the court. She can roll shots to corners and take hard shots using a good wrist snap. Griffin is also not afraid to turn her body at the last second to hit balls away from defensive specialists. Developing a quicker rhythm will help out Griffin these next three years.</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 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. 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