Bluegrass Games Day One

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The first day of the Bluegrass Games turns into a matter of winning one of the two pool play games to stay in contention for the championship. Each team is guaranteed at least six scrimmage games to figure some things out less than a month before the regular season begins.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The defending 5th Region champion Central Hardin Bruins have less to figure out than a number of teams. They mainly have to make sure senior setter [player_tooltip player_id='477116' first='Kati' last='Vest'] touches the ball and she puts on a show. Senior libero [player_tooltip player_id='159346' first='Samantha' last='Nelson'] and company made sure that happened and Vest set up the likes of Sadie Atcher, Larkin Taylor and [player_tooltip player_id='212390' first='Klaire' last='Warrell'] in a fantastic rhythm. The Bruins handled Christian County with few issues, but Paintsville led by sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='483607' first='Kylie' last='Kinner'] put up some resistance. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>On the other court at Tates Creek, the host Commodores won both games against Newport Central Catholic and Thomas Nelson. NewCath returns a lot of experience this year including nine seniors. Those nine seniors had their moments on Friday, especially in the first game against Thomas Nelson rallying to win 21-19 before taking the second game by the same score.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>But NewCath has some promising younger players that can come in and contribute. Sophomore libero [player_tooltip player_id='484445' first='Jordyn' last='Reckers'] is turning into a versatile player for the Thoroughbreds and freshman setter Char Stevie provided some good moments along with senior Vivi Fassler at the setter position.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Thomas Nelson may have lost both games Friday. However, the Generals have plenty of hope led by junior twins Elle and [player_tooltip player_id='533370' first='Tori' last='Osborne'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Christian Academy - Louisville and Bullitt East game at Lexington Christian had the makings of a good one, but CAL ended up winning in two games. Sophomore defensive specialist [player_tooltip player_id='484282' first='Mia' last='Boyd'] put the Centurions in a fantastic offensive rhythm and freshman Kayleigh Rogers finished off a lot of crisp passes. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bullitt East did show some good signs led by [player_tooltip player_id='479302' first='Brinlee' last='Marshall']. It's a matter of when things click for the Chargers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Pulaski County also appears primed for another big season. Head coach McKenzie McCollum has a nice setter in [player_tooltip player_id='535242' first='Olivia' last='Travis'] to go with hitters [player_tooltip player_id='531311' first='Becca' last='DeBord'] and [player_tooltip player_id='477158' first='Ava' last='King']. However, MCollum and staff have some more options as junior setter [player_tooltip player_id='212350' first='Olivia' last='Atwood'] transfer in from last year's 12th Region runner-up Somerset Christian after recording 809 assists last year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Ryle and Boyle County game at Lafayette also had the potential to be a good one, but the Raiders won in two. Head coach Tasha Lovins returned some experienced players and are fitting the newcomers nicely into those roles. Sophomore libero [player_tooltip player_id='334217' first='Francesca' last='Hansel'] has made some strides filling in an important role for the Raiders</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Boyle County will be tough when senior [player_tooltip player_id='159397' first='Kendra' last='Christopher'] and junior [player_tooltip player_id='479316' first='Charli' last='Grubbs'] take their swings. It's a matter of solid first contacts and senior libero Maya Smith had a number of them in both games for the Rebels.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ballard Memorial from the 1st Region may have lost the games to Ryle and Boyle County, but the Bombers battled in both games taking the Rebels to three games. The Bombers return experience with sophomore libero [player_tooltip player_id='535251' first='Aubrey' last='Alexander'], sophomore twins Keira and [player_tooltip player_id='212173' first='Kylie' last='Shaw'], junior hitter Hala Ouderkirk and senior middle blocker [player_tooltip player_id='477169' first='Amyah' last='Smith'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>These players stood out on the first day.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["477116"],"_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-66a4d098be264"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Vest is everything coaches want in a leader and more. She's very enthusiastic on and off the court and it carries onto the court. Vest controls the net in unique ways. Vest can do the jump set adding more accuracy to her passes. Teams have to respect it so much that she'll surprise them hitting the ball the opposite direction while in the air for setter dumps. Vest is also a good passer and makes things happen serving the ball.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["484445"],"_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-66a4d098be2c6"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Reckers showed she is ready to continue to make waves as an all-around player for the Thoroughbreds this fall. Reckers is already an established passer and server after taking some lumps early last season. She can hit low line drive shots from both the front and the back row giving the Thoroughbreds an added dimension.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["484282"],"_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-66a4d098be30a"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Coaches talk about first contacts all the time and Boyd excels at them on both serve receive and digging. Boyd is a hustler for the Centurions, constantly moving her feet. Boyd consistently squares her arms and hands up with balls smoothly guiding them to the setters. She also recovers quickly from the back row on tipped balls.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["210710"],"_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-66a4d098be34b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Trapp turned into a solid player for the Raiders last year and looks to have a monster senior year. Trapp has great enthusiasm for the game and it shows each time she takes the court. She hustles after balls on defense and quickly transitions to offense. Trapp smacks balls down hard and takes things off balls to land them away from defenders. Overpassed balls near her find the ground quickly. Setter dumps do not work easily on her because she turns them away with force.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["479316"],"_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":577763,"_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-66a4d098be3a3"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Grubbs controls the net well for the Rebels. She generates great power from her feet up putting solid swings on balls. Grubbs can hit low, line drive shots from the front and back rows. Grubbs is not afraid to tap balls when necessary. Grubbs also has great timing on her blocks.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Friday Results:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://bgsg.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/BGSG24-Results-Varsity-Friday.pdf">https://bgsg.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/BGSG24-Results-Varsity-Friday.pdf</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Saturday Matrix:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://bgsg.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/BGSG24-Schedule-Matrix-for-Saturday.pdf">https://bgsg.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/BGSG24-Schedule-Matrix-for-Saturday.pdf</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Saturday Schedule:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://bgsg.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/BGSG24-Schedule-Updated-Varsity-Saturday.pdf">https://bgsg.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/BGSG24-Schedule-Updated-Varsity-Saturday.pdf</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->