Alpha Performance A. 71, 72 Team Overviews

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>For the most part, this club consists of players from the 11th Region. However, some come from as far as the western part of the 16th Region.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>A.71</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The A.61 team won the Consolation Bracket in the 16 Select Division of the Amateur Athletic Union national championships last summer with a 10-3 record and a 13th Place finish out of 122 teams. Seven of those players are back from that team.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>However, none of the 10 players are playing their first seasons ever for Alpha. Great Crossing junior defensive specialist [player_tooltip player_id='884920' first='Kaylee' last='Spillman'] is back after playing at another club last year with Scott County junior middle blocker [player_tooltip player_id='826346' first='Hannah' last='Rumer'] and Woodford County junior setter [player_tooltip player_id='923184' first='Caroline' last='Gribble'] moving up from the A.62 team last year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Frederick Douglass junior [player_tooltip player_id='776638' first='Shelby' last='Mays'] starts things off with nice passes with Tates Creek junior [player_tooltip player_id='742197' first='Harper' last='Lipsett'] playing defensive specialist or outside hitter. Rowan County junior setter [player_tooltip player_id='253881' first='Mallory' last='Jones'] is back to lead the offense that has plenty of nice options. Great Crossing junior lefty [player_tooltip player_id='535187' first='Gabrielle' last='Bray'] gives the team a presence on the right side. The other three outside hitters are Scott County junior [player_tooltip player_id='768390' first='Zariah' last='Gent'], Frederick Douglass junior [player_tooltip player_id='804730' first='Ava' last='Henderson'] and Great Crossing sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='850641' first='Anniston' last='Morris'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Scott County head coach Rachel Murphy is the team's head coach. The next event is the Nike President's Day Classic in St. Louis from Feb. 14 to 16.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>A.72</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This team returns three players off last year's A.62 squad in Madison Central junior outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id='816000' first='Addison' last='Neal'], Nicholas County junior defensive specialist/setter Allison Reid and Harrison County junior middle blocker [player_tooltip player_id='532789' first='Audree' last='Whitaker'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bourbon County junior defensive specialist [player_tooltip player_id='757907' first='Izzy' last='Jett'] is on the team after playing on the A.71 team last year. Also, Western Hills junior outside hitter/setter [player_tooltip player_id='459361' first='Mallory' last='Fint'] is back playing club after taking last spring off. Henry Clay junior Kyndahl Ramsey is a defensive specialist with Bryan Station junior Lucy Wilkerson setting or playing defensive specialist. Paris sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='612107' first='Katie' last='Abner'] could also set or play middle blocker. The other two hitters are Fleming County outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id='930474' first='Kayla' last='Knarr'] and Scott County junior middle blocker [player_tooltip player_id='908464' first='Lillian' last='Morgan'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>PJ Marshall is the team's head coach. The next event is the Nike President's Day Classic in St. Louis from Feb. 14 to 16.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>A.81 Note</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This team is all seniors with the exception of Tates Creak junior defensive specialist Piper Simmons. She had 144 digs and 44 aces for the Commodores in the fall.</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":["535187"],"_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-698955d1cc223"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Bray (pictured) more than makes sure opponents have to watch her with her size and tough lefthanded cut shots. Depending on where blockers place themselves, Bray makes great in-air adjustments. It helps that the setters know where to place balls not only for Bray, but the teammates to be successful. Bray also uses her athleticism to put up solid double blocks. She'll only improve more this club season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["923184"],"_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-698955d1cc292"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Gribble has already fit right in with the A.71 team. She's used to setting up powerful hitters. Gribble puts good touch on her sets allowing hitters to get on top of balls then send them to holes on the other side of the net. Gribble also brings diversity to the team with powerful first touches. She sets to so many different hitters that opponents have to shadow them. Gribble then puts balls to hitters that often have just one blocker to contend with. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["612107"],"_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-698a89eed510d"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Abner is bringing versatility to the A.72 team. She takes solid swings from the outside and middle consistently putting different balls in different zones. She also has timely blocks and is an aggressive server. Abner won a Triple Threat award from the Kentucky High School Athletic Association last year after also playing soccer and softball. Using different muscle groups in different sports can only help from a physical standpoint.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["930474"],"_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-698a89eed516a"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Knarr has a keen eye and tries to use to place balls away from opponents. She has a nice roll shot and sends across tough shallow crosses. She makes good adjustments to the sets. Knarr also makes nice first touches. Knarr can take some big steps forward if develops a quicker rhythm.</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. Subscriptions give you access to exclusive content. For a 30% discount, enter code graham30 at checkout.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->