Top 250 Expo Kentucky: Defensive Specialists Vol. 2

<p>I saw so many amazing defensive specialists at the Top 250 Expo in Kentucky this past weekend, I cannot wait to share them with you. When I watch the expo, I look for the differences in these athletes because most of them are good athletes and most DS/Ls have a great platform. So, let us look at the individuals I scouted this past weekend in Kentucky and talk about what makes them unique and special.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='486906' first='Ella' last='Rose Gentry']</h2>   <p>Gentry is a 5'5" sophomore defensive specialist from Lexington Catholic High School. Gentry is a fast athlete and is gifted at serving/receiving the ball. She takes speed off of hard-hit balls and sets hitters well, too. She can dive, dig, and pancake the ball up for further play. She has an excellent platform and great footwork. She is a smart athlete too and is always aware of the opponent's court. </p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='276170' first='Hayden' last='Gessner']</h2>   <p>Gessner is a 5'3" defensive specialist in the sophomore class at Highlands High School. Gessner has a perfect platform. She can handle a very hard-hit ball and still come up with it and give it straight to the setter. Nothing intimidated her on the court. She would put herself in the path of some major projectiles and still be able to handle them. She is athletic, fast, and a smart athlete. </p>   <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/07/168-Mackenzie-Higgins.jpg?w=606" alt="" class="wp-image-411702" style="width:279px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Mackenzie Higgins, 2026.</figcaption></figure>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Mackenzie Higgins</h2>   <p>Higgins is a 5'8" defensive specialist from the sophomore class at Ursuline Academy in Ohio. Higgins was one of the athletes I wanted to go recruit from the expo. She is fast, has a great platform, and motivates others on the court. She is a fantastic athlete and will sacrifice her body for the ball. She was a joy to watch perform.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='261037' first='Makenzie' last='Mink']</h2>   <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-thumbnail is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2022/12/20-Makenzie-Mink.jpg?w=150&h=150&crop=1" alt="" class="wp-image-263634" style="width:245px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='261037' first='Makenzie' last='Mink'], 2026.</figcaption></figure>   <p>Mink is a 5'1" sophomore defensive specialist from Triton Central High School in Indiana. Mink was called out at the expo for playing impressive defense. She has a great platform for serve/receive and she is so fast under every ball that she needs to dig up. She is also one of the more impressive setters at the expo.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='445954' first='Mckenzie' last='Schoenfelder']</h2>   <p>Schoenfelder is a 5'6" defensive specialist from East Central High School's sophomore class in Indiana. Schoenfelder took control of some very rough hit balls and very calmly put it right in the setter's hands. She was playing like she was on fire but like it was nothing unusual. She is very impressive and athletic. She has a great platform, can dig exceptionally well, and can set or hit as well. </p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='261118' first='Kylee' last='Sells']</h2>   <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-thumbnail is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2022/12/26-Kylee-Sells.jpg?w=150&h=150&crop=1" alt="" class="wp-image-263639" style="width:222px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='261118' first='Kylee' last='Sells'], 2026.</figcaption></figure>   <p>Sells is a 5'4" sophomore defensive specialist from the Christian Academy of Lousiville. Sells is a joy to watch play. She can do everything on the court and I mean she can dig, she can hit very well, she can serve, and set. She is very impressive and surprising to watch play. She jumps very well and is an impressive athlete. She is a smart player and if her opponents do not know that she is on the court, they could easily be surprised and beaten by her abilities.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='486904' first='Ava' last='Simonsen']</h2>   <p>Simonsen is a 5'10" defensive specialist from Frederick Douglass High School's sophomore class. Simonsen is a 6-rotation player and if she is not, I would be very surprised. She is so fast and will lay it all on the line to get the ball dug up. She is taller than most DS/Ls I have watched play and I thought it might take longer for her to get to the ground to get a ball retrieved, but I was pleasantly surprised by how good she is and how quickly she got there. She was the best I saw at the expo, I think. She has all of the technical skills necessary to play at the upper echelons of the next level. </p>

I saw so many amazing defensive specialists at the Top 250 Expo in Kentucky this past weekend, I cannot wait to share them with you. When I watch the expo, I look for the differences in these athletes because most of them are good athletes and most DS/Ls have a great platform. So, let us look at the individuals I scouted this past weekend in Kentucky and talk about what makes them unique and special.