Mid America Volleyball 17 Select Overview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 17 Select Team is off to a nice 19-9 start with one tournament win and two runner-up finishes.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The team has found a potent combination with the dynamic Sayre junior setter [player_tooltip player_id='535188' first='Brooke' last='Barntsen'] involved. Teams have had difficulties stopping the Barntsen to Butler junior [player_tooltip player_id='535286' first='Layla' last='Green'] combo. Barntsen can set jump shoots to her among other tough sets when the team is in system.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>When the team struggled at 2-5 in the 17 Open Division in the Nike Classic in Columbus to take 19th out of 32, the team struggled with first contacts. Sacred Heart junior [player_tooltip player_id='746362' first='Taylor' last='Berger'], Central Hardin junior [player_tooltip player_id='484295' first='Katelynn' last='Camenzind'] and Taylor County junior [player_tooltip player_id='754825' first='Nell' last='Coyle'] have done what they can to rectify that leading there.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The team has one other setter in Seneca senior [player_tooltip player_id='479295' first='Jordyn' last='Kiser'], who also hits from the opposite side. Adair County junior [player_tooltip player_id='535275' first='Olivia' last='Mantooth'] can give the team options in the middle and outside. Collins junior [player_tooltip player_id='727116' first='Ava' last='Sellars'], Thomas Nelson junior [player_tooltip player_id='752987' first='Morgan' last='Ballard'] and Christia Academy - Louisville [player_tooltip player_id='771856' first='Kyla' last='Roy'] are good options in the middle. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mercy junior [player_tooltip player_id='603781' first='Ellie' last='Sharpe'] takes tough swings from the outside and Sacred Heart junior [player_tooltip player_id='484247' first='Taylor' last='Frey'] will do the same when she returns from injury. Taylor County standout junior [player_tooltip player_id='484299' first='Madelynn' last='Yates'] is still with the club, but is currently injured. Her return this season is unknown.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Dan Palmer is the leader of this team. The team plays in the 17 Open Division in the UA Bluegrass Tournament from March 6 to 8 that consists of 1,535 teams.</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":["727116"],"_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-699a61e41260a"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Sellars (pictured) has a mixed variety of ways to put balls down from the middle, especially on ones and other short sets. Sellars takes sharp swings, but has a great combination of power and balls control with them. Sellars tips balls to the middle and sides. She can also shove balls off blockers. Sellars has good form on her blocks and places overpassed balls away from defenders. Sellars had 181 kills, 18 solo blocks and 15 assisted blocks in the fall, helping Collins go 18-12 and win a second straight 30th District championship.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["603781"],"_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-699a61e41268f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Sharpe is a crafty hitter for 17 Select. Sharpe pounds balls at angles that not many can. Sharpe takes back sets and pounds them to the opposite four zone for nice crosses. Sharpe angles her body one way, then adjusts at the last second to send balls another direction. Sharpe even whizzes balls over blocks hard to the back row. Sharpe is also not afraid to step inside blocks to take solid swings. Sharpe mixes in tips to throw off defenders. Sharpe had 94 kills and 35 assisted blocks in the fall, helping Mercy go 28-11 and make it back to the state tournament.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["754825"],"_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-699a61e4126dd"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Coyle has turned into a solid all-around player for the Cardinals. Coyle is a hustler on the court consistently tracking down balls. Coyle makes good adjustments in the air to place balls away from defenders. She sends nice balls downline and on crosses to corners. Coyle pushes balls hard off blockers and can cut balls away from blockers. Coyle is also a solid server. Coyle had 463 digs, 239 kills and 73 aces in the fall, helping Taylor County go 20-13 and win a fourth straight 20th District championship.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["746362"],"_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-699a61e412721"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Berger hopes to step into a big role for Sacred Heart in the fall with the graduation of some key defensive specialists. Berger possesses sound ball control and is not afraid to dive or go down on knees for balls when needed. She makes great adjustments to balls off deflections. She also has good reaction time and provides sound net protection.</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 -->