Mid America Volleyball 15 Select, Blue Overviews

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>These two teams have come out blazing in the first two months of the club season. The 15 Select team is 23-4 with two tournament wins including the Presidents Day Invitational 15/16 Open in Tennessee. The 15 Blue team is 21-5 with a tournament in the Presidents' Day Grand Prix 15 Girls Division in Indianapolis.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Select</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Several talented freshmen libero/defensive specialists in Sacred Heart freshman [player_tooltip player_id='755107' first='Taylor' last='Wathen'], North Oldham freshman [player_tooltip player_id='789088' first='Brooklyn' last='Totten'] and Assumption freshman Lainey Liedtke give the team a nice defense. Christian Academy - Louisville freshman [player_tooltip player_id='875198' first='Kally' last='Roy'] and Sacred Heart eighth grader [player_tooltip player_id='909701' first='Reagan' last='Baron'] play outside hitter and defensive specialist. Sacred Heart freshman [player_tooltip player_id='754906' first='Ashley' last='Wathen'] plays setter and defensive specialist.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mercy freshman [player_tooltip player_id='790069' first='Payton' last='Secor'] sets and hits from the right side. Shelby County freshman Kynadi Henton plays middle blocker and 6-1 North Oldham freshman [player_tooltip player_id='875414' first='Hannah' last='Droppelman'] takes swings from the middle and right side. Trimble County freshman [player_tooltip player_id='922940' first='Emery' last='Pierce'] and Mercy freshman Olvia Jeffries play outside and right side hitter spots.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Daniel Gumm is the team's head coach. The team plays in the Pioneer Bid Tournament in Wilder on Saturday.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Blue</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lavinia Walters is the setter for the team with Mercy freshman [player_tooltip player_id='950379' first='Taylor' last='Holsclaw'] takes cuts from the outside with Bullitt East freshman Ariana Sehic taking cuts in the middle and outside. Holsclaw plays libero at Mercy.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Eastern freshman Harper DeYoung gives the team a nice option on the right side. The setter is Lavinia Walters. Eastern's Emily Lathan, Collins freshman Kennedy Collins, Ballard freshman Lily Kharizanova, Abigail Wilson and Elizabeth Evans round out the roster.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Victoria Harris is the head coach. The team plays in the Pioneer Bid Tournament in Wilder on Saturday.</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":["789088"],"_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-69a0f02f555c4"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Totten (pictured) has taken huge steps during club season in finding ways to not just control the back row, but dominate it on first touches. She has active feet, yet stops in her tracks to set up to make crisp two to three-point passes. Totten reads hitters well then keeps her body squared toward the net making sure she executes forward bump and overhead passes. Totten only dives out of necessity to keep plays alive. Her communication could use some work, but that will come with more repetitions on first touches.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["922940"],"_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-69a0f3d3b44fa"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Pierce is a solid outside/right side hitter for 15 Select and Trimble County. Pierce has a great net approach and gets on top of balls to pound them to the ground. Pierce sends across sound crosses and line shots. Pierce runs effective tandems with her teammates. Her presence pulls blockers away from teammates.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["875198"],"_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-69a0f9ea3a990"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Roy has turned into a tough hitter for CAL and the 15 Select team She will get even more cracks at the net with teammate [player_tooltip player_id='601632' first='Kayleigh' last='Rogers'] returning from injury. She has outstanding athleticism and uses it to make great in-air adjustments. Roy makes solid first touches and has developed some good leadership skills.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["950379"],"_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-69a0fbc1ce440"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Holsclaw has developed some serious libero skills her first season in high school. Holsclaw reads hitters well and positions herself well to make crisp first touches. Holsclaw provides sound net protection. She'll continue to grow 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 -->