Kentucky Indiana Volleyball Academy 15 Black, Silver Overview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>These final two KIVA 15s squads also posses a lot of players with bright futures. They receive good feedback and those that run with the coaching generally thrive.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Black</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A pair of Sacred Heart freshmen start things off at defensive specialist in Layla Hillerich and [player_tooltip player_id='883038' first='Addy' last='Nasca']. The setters are DuPont Manual freshman [player_tooltip player_id='936131' first='Mary' last='Kate LaDuke'] and Seymour (Indiana) freshman Lola Longmeier.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Frederick Douglass freshman [player_tooltip player_id='890370' first='Maryn' last='Dunham'] brought her talent to KIVA this year at outside hitter. The team's other three outside hitters are Manual freshman [player_tooltip player_id='933284' first='Sara' last='Gibson'], North Oldham freshman Addison Hunsaker and Sacred Heart freshman [player_tooltip player_id='750600' first='Ava' last='Smolinski']. The three middle hitters are Oldham County freshman [player_tooltip player_id='919424' first='Kayla' last='DaSilva'], Assumption freshman Allison Schaffer and Christian Educational Consortium freshman Katherine McMillan.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The team took third in the 15 Premier Division at the Nike Classic in Columbus. The team plays in the Nike President's Day Classic in St. Louis from Feb. 14 to 16.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Silver</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This team captured a tournament championship in mid-January winning the 15 Club Division in the Nike Classic in Columbus.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Manual freshman Eva Garvin and Assumption freshman Ella Kregor make nice first touches at defensive specialist to the three setters in Frederick Douglass freshman Lydia Orr, North Oldham freshman Arianna Paul and North Bullitt freshman [player_tooltip player_id='942939' first='Kynlee' last='Richardson'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Whitefield Academy freshman [player_tooltip player_id='919042' first='Rhyan' last='Johnson'], Mercy freshman [player_tooltip player_id='852260' first='Kailyn' last='Mattingly'] and Manual freshman [player_tooltip player_id='883322' first='Lily' last='Nation'] will hit from the middle. Mercy freshman [player_tooltip player_id='910539' first='McKenna' last='Boyle'], Assumption freshman Penelope Cassin and Sacred Heart freshman Molly Davis are the outside hitters.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The team also plays in the Nike President's Day Classic in St. Louis from Feb. 14 to 16.</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":["890370"],"_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-69854e894509e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Dunham (pictured) turned into one of the top young hitters in Lexington last fall and has already found different ways to better balls during club season. Dunham sets up in hitting position before the ball arrives at the setter's hands, looks at the defense then makes the right body movements to put the right touch on balls. Dunham makes passes then quickly gets in position to put balls over the net. She attacks the seams with precision.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["919424"],"_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-69854e894511d"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">DaSilva makes a difference in the middle for the Colonels and 15 Black. DaSilva powers down ones and gap shots with authority. She can angle balls off blocks and hit the seams away from sound defensive specialists. She puts down overpassed balls and forms sound double blocks. DaSilva gets a lot of touches on balls to slow them down for the back row. Her development will be something to watch this club season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["852260"],"_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-69854e894516f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Mattingly has great size and uses it to get on top of balls well. Her placement is great. Mattingly can pound balls to different parts of the court. If she finds ways to increase her attack speed, she can turn into a sound hitter. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["942939"],"_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-69854e89451f0"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Richardson may take over as the primary setter for the Eagles in the fall, but she primarily got her feet wet on varsity at a defensive specialist position in the fall. She patrols the back row with authority making a lot of the simple passes, only leaning to dig up balls out of necessity. North Bullitt has some nice hitters coming back. The Eagles could once again be stout if Richardson and those hitters get into a good rhythm. Richardson will not doubt benefit from feedback from her coaches in both areas during club season.</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 -->