Team Profile: Loaded K2 16 Elite

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This squad is once again putting together a great season behind some of the best talent in the area. The team is 29-13 under the guidance of William Blount head coach Kendra Swafford.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The team features a solid leaper in Sevier County sophomore middle blocker [player_tooltip player_id='948420' first='Colette' last='Messenger']. The other middle blocker is Hardin Valley sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='963219' first='Maddie' last='Jerrell']. Four pin hitters in Maryville sophomores Mary Childress, [player_tooltip player_id='948421' first='Blake' last='Upward'], Cleveland sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='963978' first='Gigi' last='Williams'] and Chucky-Doak sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='948419' first='Jacey' last='Taylor'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The team features a sound defense led by Dobyns-Bennett sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='805865' first='Jess' last='Harden']. Knoxville Webb sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='831434' first='Denice' last='Gaston'] and Morristown West sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='808695' first='Gretchen' last='Bolton'] help solidify the defense. Knoxville Central sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='938826' first='Pyper' last='Clevinger'] and Maryville sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='966412' first='Olivia' last='Karatsonyi'] do wonderful jobs setting up the offensive attack.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The team won the 17/18 Open Division of the K2 Elite Tournament about a month ago. The team finished runner-up in the 17/18 Open Division of the UA MLK Invitational in January and in the 16 Open Division of the Junior Volleyball Association Tournament in Louisville two weeks ago. The team plays in the 16 Open Division of the UA Showdown in the Smokies on Saturday and Sunday.</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":["805865"],"_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-69ea95017ce8b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Harden is relentless on the court. She anticipates balls well and does not give up on them, helping to keep plays alive. She quickly aligns her body toward the target before balls come to her arms. She is an outstanding leader on the court and her jump serve has improved. Harden continues to take things to the next level during club season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["963978"],"_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-69ea95017cf06"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Williams (pictured) has a great rhythm on her attacks. She gets on top of balls and sends them flying with a great downward trajectory. Williams takes good spacing away from the net to send off shots to the back line. Williams hits balls off blocks for big points and runs sound slide routes. Good defensive specialists have trouble digging Williams up.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["948420"],"_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-69ea95017cf58"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The team tries to take full advantage of Messenger's ability to jump more than 10 feet. She soundly disrupts things at the net with her size and athleticism. She has outstanding on both her double and solo blocks. Messenger smacks down overpassed balls with authority.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["966412"],"_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-69ea95017cfa1"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Karatsonyi moved to Tennessee from California and has been a nice addition. She has great touch on her sets. Karatsonyi can execute a number of short and long sets. Karatsonyi makes good decisions on the court. Karatsonyi adds in a nice jump serve.</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 Kentucky, Ohio and Tennessee. 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 michaelgraham@prepdig.com. You may also follow him on X @GMCgrah or Instagram @g.michaelgraham. Subscriptions give you access to exclusive content. For a 30% discount on yearly subscriptions, enter code graham30 at checkout.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->