Kentucky Indiana Volleyball Academy 15 Red, Grey Look-ins

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It sometimes takes time for club teams to gel. The KIVA teams are no different. However, they get on a role when things click. These two teams hope to do that this club season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Red</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The team started the Nike Classic in Columbus strong at 5-1 to make it to the Gold Bracket. However, the team dropped a tough three-set (25-16, 21-25, 15-11) battle against the Mintonette m.51 team in the first round of that bracket.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sacred Heart freshmen [player_tooltip player_id='787975' first='Isabelle' last='Alexander'], [player_tooltip player_id='787967' first='Ella' last='Rose Mitchell'] along with Assumption freshman [player_tooltip player_id='780365' first='Hyla' last='Petkovic'] put the team in a good rhythm with sound first passes to the two setters in Assumption freshman [player_tooltip player_id='787974' first='Ella' last='Davis'] and Sacred Heart freshman [player_tooltip player_id='941589' first='Mallory' last='Nold'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The team is loaded with hitters. Assumption freshman [player_tooltip player_id='787943' first='Mary' last='Kate McDowell'] plays outside and right side hitter with North Oldham freshman [player_tooltip player_id='780301' first='Alex' last='Cannon'] and Assumption freshman [player_tooltip player_id='823336' first='Claire' last='Kleinhenz'] also hitting from the outside. Three middle blockers are Floyd Central (Indiana) freshman Alexis Hale along with two Sacred Heart freshmen in Lineth Rodriguez and [player_tooltip player_id='893802' first='Denise' last='Lee']. Eminence freshman outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id='780582' first='Bailey' last='Hegg'] is unable to play this season as the result of an injury, but still comes to the games.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Courtney Dixon is the team's head coach. The team is 11-6 on the season. The next event is the Triple Crown NIT in Kansas City on Feb. 14 to 16.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Grey</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Three Oldham County players grace the roster in sophomore setter Stella Popham, freshman middle blocker Rylee Logsdon and freshman defensive specialist Stella Popham.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Three more defensive specialists are DuPont Manual freshman Kyla Koch, Presentation freshman Grace Lay and Floyd Central (Indiana) freshman Naomi Wathen. The other setter is Assumption freshman Jaiden Eubanks with Manual freshman Braylee Breed, Atherton freshman Noelle Hughes Seitz and Christian Academy of Louisville freshman Easton Cherry hitting from the outside.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Courtney Heaton is the team's head coach. The team plays in the MAVA Winter Classic on Feb. 7 and 8.</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":["780365"],"_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-69801aa13307a"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Growing up around the sport, Petkovic has great reaction time to balls. Petkovic is consistent. She squares her body up to balls then makes the simple passes. Petkovic also does a good job stopping before balls hit her arms. Her communication could use some work, but that will come with her work ethic.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["787967"],"_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-69801ce7266a2"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Mitchell is helping the 15 Red team form a stout back row. Mitchell watches hitters closely then does what she can to keep plays alive. Mitchell (pictured) can lunge to her left if needed to handle hard cross shots. Mitchell executes both bump and overhead passes. Balls may seem headed to the open middle of the court before Mitchell comes out of nowhere to pop the ball up to teammates. Mitchell also provides sound net protection.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["823336"],"_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-69801ed4b19bd"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Kleinhenz is turning into a sound, versatile player. Kleinhenz moves well laterally on defense to make good first touches. Her range is also helpful with swing blocking. She uses her size and athleticism to at least get touches on balls if not downright stuff them. Offensively, Kleinhenz has a quick arm swing sending balls screaming to the floor.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["941589"],"_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-698023c562338"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Nold is coming into her own for the 15 Red squad. Nold is doing a good job positioning herself on defense to make crisp passes. She also reads defenses well and makes the right choices where to set balls. Nold will earn a lot of solid assists if she keep setting to the peaks of the talented hitters on this team.</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 -->