Difference Makers in Sycamore at West Creek Key District Game

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Creek Wood Red Hawks won the Division I-AA state championship in 2022 and are seeking a fifth straight trip to the state tournament.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One team that looked to challenge that dominance of Division I-AA District 11 entering the season was the Sycamore War Eagles. So far, the Red Hawks have fended off the War Eagles in two meetings including a 3-0 (25-19, 25-22, 25-15) district win in Charlotte on Wednesday. The two met in the Rocky Top Classic in Sevierville last weekend and Creek Wood won 2-1.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Creek Wood has the 6-1 junior all-around playmaker [player_tooltip player_id='985853' first='Caroline' last='Baker']. Sam Spencer is the libero with [player_tooltip player_id='985852' first='Lacey' last='Batey'] setting to Baker, [player_tooltip player_id='985854' first='Emma' last='MacChiaverna'], Elaina Chandler and others. Mary Ellen Burgess, Olivia Tarantino, Kolbie Askins and Rayle Williams also made plays for West Creek.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"I told them afterwards, 'I'm proud of you because even when we're down two, three points, no one gets upset. There's no bickering. Everyone moves on to the next ball. We're going to put it down. We're going to get on a run," West Creek head coach Jeremy Baker said. "They battled back after those first two sets after being down. They kept that momentum and finished the third. They've done that pretty much most of the year. We're kind of a slow starting team, then we get going. I'm proud of them for always battling."</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sycamore has [player_tooltip player_id='796679' first='Madison' last='Lemmonds'] at libero with setters [player_tooltip player_id='965589' first='Ayla' last='O'Neil'] and Sophie Stuart putting balls to the likes of [player_tooltip player_id='812142' first='Campbell' last='Gill'], [player_tooltip player_id='1042450' first='Danica' last='Smith'], [player_tooltip player_id='832037' first='Ensleigh' last='Clark'] and [player_tooltip player_id='811449' first='Ava' last='Turner']. Charlie Beth Knight also made plays for the War Eagles.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Creek Wood takes on Lausanne and Nashville Christian at 5 and 6 p.m. on Friday in the Williamson County Tournament. The next game on Sycamore's schedule is Monday at 6 p.m. against Fairview.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>These players and others made a huge difference in the district game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["985853"],"_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"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6aab6561aa3cf"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Baker (pictured) is a solid six-rotation player for the Red Hawks. Baker has a nice wrist snap and arm swing, getting on top of balls and putting great power into them with a solid downward trajectory. Baker sends over hard crosses and tools blocks. Baker makes a lot of things happen when Creek Wood is out of system, sending down balls across the net and making quality sets. Baker controls the net with her aggressive blocking and takes sound swings from the back row. Baker is also an aggressive server, painting back lines. Baker said playing six rotations helps a team with consistency as opposed to subbing in multiple players and having to get used to different ones.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["985852"],"_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"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6aab6561aa40a"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Batey makes nice touches and good decisions running the offensive attack. Batey involves a number of hitters, but is not afraid to find hot hitters as well. Batey does a good job executing a variety of long and short sets including back sets. Batey said she starts things out at a certain point on the net to get the blockers guessing and tries to have fun. Batey added great to see her teammates having fun with her as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["985854"],"_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"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6aab6c4fb5b6e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">MacChiaverna is effective on quicks with her sound vertical jump. She takes solid swings when she has a good distance off the net. MacChiaverna tools blocks and makes a lot of things happen in the front row. She teams up with teammates to form solid double blocks.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1042450"],"_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"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6aab6df0da3b6"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Smith makes things happen at all six spots on the court. Smith tools blocks and uses her vertical jump to hit over and around blocks. Smith has sound roll shots and can tip balls to open spots on the court. Smith also makes a number of solid first touches to get Sycamore in rhythm.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["812142"],"_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"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6aab6f0c52657"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Gill gives the War Hawks a nice lefty presence. She takes swings at tough angles mixes in nice off shots to different zones on the court. Gill is also an aggressive blocker. Hitters can't go soft on her. Gill also makdes a number of nice first touches on defense and serve reception.</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 -->