Twin Tales, Part 6: Whitley County’s Smiths in State Tournament

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Editor's Notes: Do you want to get in front of Prep Dig Scouts? This is one big way to do it. The annual Kentucky Exposure Tour in Wilder is Nov. 28. Click on this link to register:</em> <a href="https://events.prepdig.com/e/2489/register/prep-dig-exposure-tour-kentucky" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://events.prepdig.com/e/2489/register/prep-dig-exposure-tour-kentucky</a>. <em>For 25 percent off, type</em> ET26Mike25OFF <em>at checkout.</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Whitley County Colonels may have their standouts, but one person does not have to carry the team as they return to state quarterfinals for the first time since 2023.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Whitley County (37-4) came into the tournament favored to make it this far, but still had to prove it on the court. They have more than done that not dropping one set to any 13th Region teams on the way to 50th District and a fifth straight 13th Region crown. The Colonels have also won the in-season Class 2A state championship and the First Priority Classic knocking off 10th Region champion Bishop Brossart in the championship game. Their four losses are to 12th Region champion West Jessamine, 11th Region champion Frederick Douglass, the Christian Academy-Louisville and South Warren. Whitley County did come back to beat West Jessamine in the final game of the Jefferson County Invitational. Whitley County takes on 4th Region champion Bowling Green (33-7) in the state quarterfinals at 7:30 p.m. at George Rogers Clark on Friday with a chance to go to the state semifinals for the first time in program history.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Senior twin sisters [player_tooltip player_id='948269' first='Jada' last='Smith'] (number 21) and [player_tooltip player_id='998717' first='Jordan' last='Smith'] (10) have more than carried their weight this season. [player_tooltip player_id='948269' first='Jada' last='Smith'] is an outside hitter and [player_tooltip player_id='998717' first='Jordan' last='Smith'] mainly plays defensive specialist and some right side. They talked about life growing up together playing volleyball.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Growing up Playing with Twin</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Jada:</em></strong> Having a best friend to do everything with.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Jordan:</em></strong> Having a best friend to go through life with.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Helping Whitley County back to State Quarterfinals</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Jada:</em></strong> Having the opportunity to make it to the state quarterfinals means so much to me. This team has played really hard and we have given everything to get where we are.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Jordan:</em></strong> The state quarterfinals means a lot to me. These girls are not ony my teammates, but they are family and we have worked very hard to get where we are.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Solving Team Conflicts</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Jada:</em></strong> When there is a conflict, we always talk through it.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Jordan:</em></strong> We always talk about it with each other and we love each other no matter what.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Pre-Game Superstitions</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Jada:</em></strong> I wear my scrunchy every game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Jordan:</em></strong> Jada and I have a warm-up routine we do before every game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Advice to Younger Players</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Jada:</em></strong> To the younger players, the scoreboard or the amount of playing time you get doesn't matter. Make memories and always do your best.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Jordan:</em></strong> Always play the best you can and be a good teammate. Never take a moment for granted because soon it will be a memory.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Staying Even Keel on the Court</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Jada:</em></strong> I always pray before each game and if I make a mistake, I move on to the next play.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Jordan:</em></strong> I always pray and focus on the game. If I make a mistake, I'll shake it off and move on to the next play.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Improving as a Hitter</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Jada:</em></strong> I have improved both mentally and physically. I have been training in the gym and focusing on my timing.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Improvements on Defense</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Jordan:</em></strong> I have really just tried focusing on moving toward the ball and trying to be quicker in rotation.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Note from Mom and Dad</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Watching the girls share the court, encouraging each other and cheering on one another has been such a joy! - Mom and Dad (Alisha and Mark Smith)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["948269"],"_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-6aecd1fc18f78"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Smith has given the Colonels a nice option on the outside to help create space for the other hitters. Smith has developed a nice wrist snap to pound out a nice downward trajectory and curve away from blockers. Smith is sound on crosses. Smith does a nice job tooling blocks and is versatile in a number of ways. Smith makes quality first touches, forms sound double blocks and is an aggressive server for the Colonels. Smith has 200 kills, 33 aces, 112 digs and 38 blocks on the season for the Colonels.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["998717"],"_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-6aecd1fc18fb2"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Smith does a nice job reading hitters and lunging after balls trying to make sound two to three-point passes. She squares her arms up to balls so they quickly deflect to the setter and allow the Colonels to run a smooth offensive attack. She does a good job guiding balls back toward the net. Smith may not swing as much as some of her teammates, but she's shown she can take quality swings when needed. Smith has 179 digs on the season for Whitley County.</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 and a half 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> or @<a href="https://www.instagram.com/prepdigoh/#">prepdigoh</a> 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 -->