Bluegrass Reign 16s Teams Overview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This marks the second season with multiple teams and coaches for the Lexington squad. Director Amy Padgett-Slatery said the intent with the four teams is to do a short season to the last weekend in March to give the players time to rest and with families before high school season starts.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>16-1</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Things start on defense with Danville sophomore defensive specialist [player_tooltip player_id='791013' first='Addi' last='Funkhouser']. The setters are Henry Clay sophomore Mary Doolen and Montgomery County sophomore Meredith Miles. They can set the likes of Henry Clay junior outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id='930546' first='Katherine' last='Haynes'], Danville outside hitter Petra Hawkins, Montgomery County sophomore opposite hitter [player_tooltip player_id='508423' first='Anna' last='Allison'] and Bryan Station 6-0 middle blocker/right side hitter [player_tooltip player_id='942907' first='Amanda' last='Brown']. Frederick Douglass sophomore Eva Gold, Montgomery County sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='942903' first='Kinley' last='Auxier'] and Henry Clay sophomore Jaye Beth Minner round out the roster.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The team finished tied for ninth out of 44 teams in the Lexington Open 15/16s Division going 4-1 overall. The team plays in the Commonwealth Grand Prix on Saturday and Sunday at the Central Bank Center.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>16-2</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>West Jessamine sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='942899' first='Kate' last='Dinsmore'] is the libero with West Jessamine sophomore Ava Murphy and East Jessamine junior Maddie Peel playing defensive specialist roles. West Jessamine sophomore Dini Wiehe plays right side hitter or defensive specialist with Harrison County sophomore Taylor Florence setting.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Montgomery County sophomore Ava Hudson plays outside and right side hitter with Trinity Christian sophomore Jade Lovell and Frederick Douglass sophomore Kayleigh Stewart listed as outside hitters. East Jessamine junior Hayden Browning and Frederick Douglass freshman Natalia Rodriguez are handling things at middle blocker.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This team tied for ninth going 3-2 in the Lexington Open 15/16s Division. The team also plays in the Commonwealth Grand Prix on Saturday and Sunday at the Central Bank Center.</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":["508423"],"_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-698533b07189c"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Allison is taking nice swings so far during club season. She has a nice combination of speed and placement. Defenses are not able to set in one spot to defend her.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["942907"],"_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-698533b07192f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Brown has the size to make a difference in the front. It's a matter of her finding ways to get into a sound rhythm attacking balls. She has a nice roll shot and uses it to hit balls off blocks. Brown has shown she can block some of the Commonwealth's top hitters.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["942903"],"_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-698533b0719a9"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Auxier has helped give 16-1 balance so far this club season. Auxier takes nice swings and has good ball placement on the court. She will continue to better balls as the season progresses. She has a .320 hitting percentage with 19 kills on the season so far.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["942899"],"_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-698533b071a23"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Dinsmore (pictured) has a lot of potential. Club Director Amy Padgett-Slattery said she's been extremely beneficial, super scrappy. She uses her range well to track down balls all over the court.</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 -->