AAU Wave One Pioneer Results: KIVA wins two Open crowns

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Kentucky Indiana Volleyball Academy is known to bring back a lot of hardware from Orlando. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>They brought back two gold championships this time as the 13 Red and 12 Red teams won their respective Open Divisions. KIVA 13 Red finished 12-1 in the four-day event knocking off Tribe 13 Elite Cardinal, 2-1 (19-25, 25-23, 16-14) and KIVA 12 Red knocked off Boiler Juniors 12O Gold, 2-0 (25-20, 25-16) in the title game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Tri-State Elite teams also had good tournaments. The 13 Blue team finished in the gold round with a sound 7-3 record. The 13 White team finished runner-up in 13 Premier with a 9-3 record. The 12 Blue team and Northern Kentucky Junior Volleyball 12 teams both tied for 11th with 5-6 records in the 12 Open Division. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Also in 13 Premier, the Union 13 Black team tied for third out of 34 teams with a 9-1 record. The KIVA 13 White team tied for fifth with a 6-4 record with the Lexington United 13 Elite team finishing 21st with a 9-2 mark.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Two more KIVA 13 teams placed high in the respective divisions. The 13 Black team tied for third in 13 Club with an 11-2 record and 13 Silver finished 10-2 good for a tie for fifth in the 13 Classic Division.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The KIVA 12 White team finished 10-1 in 12 Premier play and took the runner-up crown. The MidAmerica Volleyball Academy 12 Select team had a good showing in that division going 6-4 to tie for 13th out of 37 teams.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Two teams placed high in the 12 Classic Division. The KIVA 12 Silver team finished tied for 35th out of 131 teams with a 6-4 record with MAVA 12 Elite tying for 40th at 8-4.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Union 12 Black team finished 32nd out of 77 teams in the 12 Club Division with an 8-4 record. The [program_tooltip program_id='771255' first='Crush' last='Volleyball Club'] tied for 42nd.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 11 Club Division saw one team finish high. The Union 11 Purple team finished runner-up with an 11-2 record out of 68 teams.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The [program_tooltip program_id='740321' first='Bluegrass' last='Volleyball Academy'] sent two teams to the tournament. The Floyd County 18 Navy Kayla team finished 6-5 good for 28th out of 52 teams. The team includes six players that just graduated with five going on to play in college. Knott County Central's Taylor Baker and Boyd County's Payton Jones are playing for Kayla VanHoose at Alice Lloyd in the fall with dynamic libero Baylee Moore attending University of Pikeville. The team features three returning Johnson Central players in [player_tooltip player_id='837159' first='Reese' last='Day'], [player_tooltip player_id='762073' first='Macie' last='Clark'] with [player_tooltip player_id='535222' first='Caidence' last='Lafferty'] transferring there with her dad Drew taking the head coaching job. The other returning player is Boyd County's [player_tooltip player_id='754849' first='Casie' last='Porter'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Floyd County 18 Royal Drew team struggled in Florida. However, VanHoose praised Pikeville's [player_tooltip player_id='843289' first='Korbyn' last='Williams'] for her improved blocking and Shelby Valley's [player_tooltip player_id='740604' first='Makaya' last='Price'] for her improved leadership and ability to learn a new position in the back row. VanHoose said Price has learned how to pick up corner shots from the middle back after playing libero at Shelby Valley and basing her position at left back</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Notable Performers</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["762073"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":998232,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","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-6a3603956a3ea"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Clark (pictured) has seen her strength and vertical leap grow immensely during club season. Clark has turned into a more aggressive blocker during club season, recording eight blocks in the 18 Club Sapphire Division championship game. Clark has also done a better job winning jousts, showing how much her mental and physical strength has improved. Clark gives new head coach Drew Lafferty something to build around in the 15th Region this fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["535222"],"_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-6a3603956a459"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">VanHoose said Lafferty's serve reception kept the team in first tempo offense on the first day. Lafferty had to move to the front row as the result of an injury. VanHoose credited Lafferty for tooling the block and scoring off it on the second day of the national tournament. Lafferty has benefitted with playing with Day and Clark during club season learning two of her new teammates. Lafferty continues to make the simple passes and will make a lot of digs off Clark's ability to slow balls down. Lafferty does not hide behind blocks. Lafferty also brings a lot of positive energy to the court.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["741700"],"_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-6a3603956a4ab"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Linton is a big reason Shelby Valley will once again be in the hunt for the 15th Region crown. She gives the Kats great size and athleticism. Linton has a good net approach, extension and finish. Linton does not try to do too much when overpassed balls come her way. Linton taps them to open parts of the court. Linton finds different ways to power balls through blocks. Linton gets on top of balls and sends across nice crosses. VanHoose praised Linton for learning a solid short cut shot to the four zone. A quicker arm swing is a nice next step for Linton.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["994863"],"_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-6a3603956a4f8"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">McGraw played a huge in role helping 13 Black finish high in the 13 Premier Division. McGraw has a nice arm swing. She deposits ones to different parts of the court. McGraw mixes in good swings to the back row. She's also displayed outstanding timing on her blocks. McGraw has already developed great swing blocking techniques.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Note from 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 @<a href="https://www.instagram.com/prepdigkentucky/#">prepdigkentucky</a>, @<a href="https://www.instagram.com/prepdigtennessee/#">prepdigtennessee</a>&nbsp;or @<a href="https://www.instagram.com/prepdigoh/#">prepdigoh</a>&nbsp;on Instagram in addition to @PrepDigKy, @PrepDigTN or @PrepDigOH on X. If you feel someone in Kentucky, Tennessee or Ohio needs coverage or even have feedback on the Kentucky or Tennessee 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 -->