Kentucky Indiana Volleyball Academy 15 White, Blue Overview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Some players thrive under constructive criticism while others fall. The players on these teams hope to make a difference this spring.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>White</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Three impact players reside on this team in Great Crossing freshman setter [player_tooltip player_id='662587' first='Clarke' last='McDonald'], South Oldham freshman pin hitter [player_tooltip player_id='942584' first='Jayda' last='Jones'] and Spencer County freshman 6-2 middle [player_tooltip player_id='816270' first='Maddie' last='Kays'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Two Assumption freshmen in Rileigh Elmore and Ava Young anchor the defense. The other setter is Assumption freshman Alexa Hall. The other middle is freshman Marley McKinney with Assumption freshmen [player_tooltip player_id='888835' first='Emmie' last='Alphin'], [player_tooltip player_id='787971' first='Kadynn' last='Keeling'], Manual freshman [player_tooltip player_id='942590' first='Claire' last='Hogan'] and Sacred Heart freshman Caroline Locke taking swings from the outside.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The team has started the season 11-6 under head coach Lauren Chamberlain's guidance. The team next plays in the Nike President's Day Classic in St. Louis from Feb. 14 through 16.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Blue</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Things start with the four defensive specialists in sophomore Gianna Diaz Rivera, Whitefield Christian freshman Kenzie Drury, Assumption freshman Evelyn Larosa and Christian Academy of Indiana freshman Adalie Hodge. The three setters in Assumption freshman Sarah Grant, Bryan Station freshman Emiah Robinson and Holy Cross (Louisville) freshman Paige Schulten set up the two hitters on the roster. They are Christian Academy of Louisville eighth grader Valisa Mariner on the outside and Our Lady of Providence freshman Ashlyn Young in the middle.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The team plays in the MAVA Winter Classic on Saturday and Sunday at the MidAmerica Sports 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":["816270"],"_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-6983ee3fddce7"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Kays (pictured) has the size to make a huge difference in the middle. She'll do it as she becomes more aggressive and confident on the court. She has nice timing on her blocks and is an aggressive server. Kays has a nice arm swing. Kays has a good connection with her sister and is working to do that with 15 White setters.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["942584"],"_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-6983f38c2f03b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Jones has developed a strong vertical jump and uses it to her advantage. She goes up strong and forms a wall with her hands making sure it drops straight down. Jones has great swings on ones. She'll send it a number of places unless opponents get hands on them. Jones possesses a solid cut shot.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["942590"],"_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-6983f4ef8163a"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Hogan's presence in the back row stands out. She steps into balls then uses a good form to make sound two to three-point passes. Hogan She does a good job communicating with teammates in the back row and can also make plays on the outside. She takes nice cross shots. The sky is the limit for Hogan with her work ethic.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["888835"],"_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-6983f6cf533f6"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Alphin has developed a number of creative ways to put balls down. She can hit balls through the holes in blockers and deposit gap shots to the right corners. Alphin adds in tips to shallow parts of the court to throw off defenders. Alphin can even carom balls off blocks and out of bounds for big points.</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. 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