Solid Performers on Day One of Annual September Slam Tournament

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The format is different from year's past when more teams came to Scott for the annual September Slam Tournament.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 12 teams divided into three round robin pools with each team playing two games Friday then finishing pool play Saturday morning. The three pool play winners meet in another round robin format later Saturday at Scott High to battle for the tournament crown. The second, third and fourth place winners also play two more times.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Newport Central Catholic Thoroughbreds (7-3 overall), Madison Central Indians (7-3), Holy Cross Indians (6-2) and Ballard Bruins (6-0) all won their two pool play games Friday. Holy Cross and Ballard meet at 10 a.m. on Court 2 at Scott to decide the championship flight representative from Pool B, while Madison Central has clinched the top spot in Pool A with wins three-set wins over Dixie Heights and Somerset. In Pool C, NewCath is in the driver's seat needing just a win over Simon Kenton after recording two exciting comeback wins in three sets over Conner and Montgomery County. However, there would be a three-way tie at 2-1 in Pool C if Conner and Simon Kenton win the morning games making things interesting. These six players did what they could trying to put their teams in good positions Saturday morning.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["776882"],"_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":1038876,"_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-6a9b8dd646fc1"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Kohrs is extremely active at the net in many ways. She's been doing the.setting with the other experienced one currently out, but expected to return soon. Kohrs has good touch on her sets and does not lock her arms. She executes a number of long and short sets, involving a number of hitters. Kohrs is not afraid to set the hot hitters. Kohrs also makes great first touches to put the Thoroughbreds in a good offensive rhythm. Kohrs led the team in aces entering the tournament, doing so with aggressive serving. She admitted the overall team serving may have been shaky at first, but she said everyone has figured that out. That helped keep Conner and Montgomery County out of system in the final two sets of those games.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["579836"],"_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":1038882,"_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-6a9b8f46a7bb1"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">When the Cougars are in system and Patton takes her swings, she uses her high attack point to hit over and around blockers and send balls blistering to the ground with a sound downward trajectory. Patton is reliable when the Cougars need a big kill. She takes nice five-step attack approaches and tools blocks. Patton is especially tough on the go routes. Patton puts across hard cross shots and tips to open, shallow parts of the court. Patton displays her versatility in the back row using a good platform to make crisp two to three-point passes. She sends out of system balls back toward the net. Patton is also an aggressive blocker and puts over tough jump float serves.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":1038886,"_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-6a9b909293848"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Inman just moved up to the varsity Friday to help Simon Kenton combat Montgomery County's size. Inman recorded a number of quality blocks holding her own in the front row. Inman's size helped the Pioneers take up space to help out the back row against Montgomery County and Conner. Inman did a great job forming double and triple blocks. Simon Kenton head coach Monica Hurd said she needs to work with Inman on her footwork.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["942903"],"_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-6a9b917d0cf64"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Auxier gives the Indians great size and athleticism in the front row. Auxier has a nice arm swing, pounding balls to the floor. Auxier mixes in nice tips to shallow parts of the floor. She forms solid double blocks with her teammates. Auxier is aggressive at the net keeping her arms out to deflect balls at the minimum. Auxier also made a number of crisp first touches on the first day of the September Slam.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["535190"],"_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-6a9b926390851"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">In the crucial comeback win over Somerset, Morrett rose to the occasion. Morrett is a battler on the court. In one instance, Somerset tried to put an overpass over her head. She put her hands up and over her head and sent the ball back across the net helping the Indians win a crucial point. Morrett has a quick arm swing and follow-through to put great power on balls. Morrett sent over sound crosses. She is also a sound blocker and sends free balls over with a purpose. Morrett said everything flowed better in the second and third sets against Somerset with everyone forming good connections. Morrett also said the Indians also played more as a team.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["930797"],"_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-6a9b9263908d7"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Keck shows her determination to be a sound all-around player on the court. Keck brings great energy to the court. She handles well-struck balls in the back row and has developed nice topspin on her jump serves. Keck does a great job tooling blocks and showed she can win jousts at the net for big points.</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 -->