East Kentucky Junior Volleyball 17U, 16U Regional Team Previews

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The [program_tooltip program_id='747806' first='East' last='Kentucky Junior Volleyball'] teams may not travel as far as the national team does. However, those players still find ways to improve facing sound competition in places such as Lexington.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>17</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A number of these players have varsity experience. Lawrence County junior setter [player_tooltip player_id='943209' first='Aryn' last='Huffman'] has some solid hitters to set up such as Belfry sophomore outside/middle [player_tooltip player_id='612258' first='Baylor' last='Hall'], Pike County sophomore middle Sadie Vaughn and Pike County Central sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='943210' first='Alyssa' last='Hess']. Floyd Central junior middle/opposite hitter Taegan Stewart and Pike County Central eighth grade middle Gianna Perrin are also hitting options with Paintsville sophomore Lydia Hale playing defensive specialist.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Former Paintsville and Marshall player Megan Taylor is the head coach. The team plays in the Commonwealth Grand Prix on Feb. 7 and 8 at the Central Bank Center in Lexington this weekend.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>16</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lawrence County sophomore Shelby Compton at outside/opposite hitter/defensive specialist has the most varsity experience of any player on this roster.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lawrence County junior Gretchen Williams is a defensive specialist and Lawrence County freshman teammate AB Hayes is the setter. Another Lawrence County freshman in Hadley Compton is an outside hitter. Jenkins junior Kristen Cantrell is the other defensive specialist. Pike County Central freshman [player_tooltip player_id='846866' first='Kinsley' last='Little'] plays defensive specialist and outside hitter.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lawrence County sophomore Ava Lester and Johnson Central sophomore Trinity Caudill are the team's middle blockers. Tug Valley (West Virginia) sophomore Katie Brewer rounds out the roster as an outside hitter.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bella Blackburn is the team's head coach. The team plays in the Commonwealth Grand Prix on Feb. 7 and 8 at the Central Bank Center in Lexington this weekend.</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":["612258"],"_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-69868b76e8f2e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Hall (pictured) locates balls well from both the outside and the middle playing with one of the top young setters in the state. She hits balls off blockers and can tip over them. Hall also runs effective tandems with teammates. Hall also makes plays on her feet with sound first touches. She plays multiple sports at Belfry so the use of different muscle groups should help on the court these next two seasons. Hall can turn into a more effective hitter with work on putting more power into balls during club season. Hall had 331 kills, 24 solo blocks, 23 assisted blocks, 374 digs and 37 aces to help Belfry win a sixth straight 60th District championship in the fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["943209"],"_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-698694bdbf759"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Huffman is an all-around versatile player for the Bulldogs. Huffman can make sound first touches on balls if not setting up her hitters for success. Huffman is also an aggressive server. Huffman had 212 assists, 95 kills, 142 digs and 59 aces on her way to earning the 58th District Player of the Year honors.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["943210"],"_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-698694bdbf7ca"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">New Pike County Central head coach Kaitlyn Conn will have some options in the fall with this talented sophomore. Her position on the roster this past season listed her as a setter, but she wound up taking quality swings from the outside and will continue to swing away during club season. Hess could step into the setter role with Pike County Central's main one graduating in the spring. Hess is also a quality passer and aggressive blocker. Hess had 188 kills, 57 solo blocks and 512 digs in the fall for Pike County Central.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["846866"],"_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-698694bdbf821"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Little saw limited action for the Hawks in the fall, but could step into a bigger role this fall. Little hopes to fine-tune her talents as a right side hitter and defensive specialist during club season. She has some outstanding coaches to work with.</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 -->