Dixie Heights at Campbell County takeaways

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Dixie Heights Colonels and Campbell County Camels did not have question marks at setter with returning starters back from last fall. They had even fewer question marks at libero with players ready to take those role.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Who would turn into their main hitters seemed to be the big mystery entering the season. Both teams found some answers in the season opener in Claryville, but Campbell County did not have those runs of self-inflicted errors resulting in a 3-0 (25-18, 25-22, 25-21) win.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Returning experienced player in junior outside hitter Faith Whitford, junior setter [player_tooltip player_id='212251' first='Hope' last='Hamilton'], senior defensive specialist [player_tooltip player_id='585641' first='A'lon' last='McIntyre'] and senior libero Lola Haun are not afraid to try to carry the team until the younger players adapt to the speed of the varsity level. Young head coach Mikah Freppon is a believer that if teams take care of their side of the court, things will work out in their favor. The Camels more than did that in this game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Whitford, McIntyre and Hamilton are trying to become solid all-around players with expanded roles with the graduation of six seniors from last year's 10th Region championship team. Freppon liked how sophomore middles Amerie Mullins and Lydia Fry developed in the offseason. They both showed great signs along with others such as junior outside hitter Sydney Lyons.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Junior [player_tooltip player_id='771865' first='Maddie' last='Kelly'] will still be the primary setter, but the Colonels are trying to take advantage of her other talents she developed during club season as a hitter. [player_tooltip player_id='590128' first='Hannah' last='Wilson'] has stepped into the libero position well and senior [player_tooltip player_id='486903' first='Addy' last='Birk'] made a lot of good things happen when she took her swings. Sophomore Bailey McQuinlin could help with that balance the coaching staff seeks.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Birk and Klaryssa Vivero did capitalize some on Campbell County's tendency to struggle with serve receive some. Dixie Heights head coach Julie Kelly agreed the Colonels will be fine once they cut down on the self-inflicted errors.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Stat Leaders</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Kills</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Faith Whitford, Campbell County - 6</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='585641' first='A'lon' last='McIntyre'], Campbell County - 6</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lydia Fry, Campbell County - 6</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='486903' first='Addy' last='Birk'], Dixie Heights - 4</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Assists</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='212251' first='Hope' last='Hamilton'], Campbell County - 19</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='771865' first='Maddie' last='Kelly'], Dixie Heights - 12</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Aces</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lola Haun, Campbell County - 5</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Birk - 4</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Klaryssa Vivero, Dixie Heights - 4</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Digs</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Whitford - 10</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='590128' first='Hannah' last='Wilson'], Dixie Heights - 10</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hamilton - 8</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>McIntyre - 6</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Vivero - 6</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Blocks</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Fry - 3 solo</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Standout Players</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["212251"],"_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":603083,"_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-66c562743dde1"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The junior setter has a lot of experience in tough situation and showed she is ready to take things to the next level, especially in leadership roles. She constantly talks to her teammates after points, focusing on the next ball. Hamilton hustles to balls defensively and makes precise passes to the hitters. She's developed a nice jump set and forms solid double blocks with teammates at the net.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":603084,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Faith Whitford","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'9u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"32564","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Campbell County ","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66c562743de7f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Whitford is trying to become a nice six-rotation player. Whitford makes sound passes and is doing a good job finding ways to hit balls off blocks from both the front and back row. She also makes sound first passes setting up the offense nicely.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["585641"],"_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":603087,"_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-66c562743ded5"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">McIntyre is trying to produce both offensively and defensively for the Camels this season. She makes nice passes defensively and doubles up on blocks with teammates well. She can send shots to far corners for kills.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["486903"],"_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":603091,"_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-66c562743df13"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Birk smacks balls hard and mixes in sound tips over blockers. She can angle hits off blocks. She makes sound passes and has a nice hard line drive serve.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["590128"],"_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":603093,"_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-66c5659a8dd35"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Wilson has stepped into the libero position and tries to exemplify the expectations of the role. She on the ground after balls, including setter dump attempts. Wilson is not afraid to go down to her knees to square up balls. Wilson has a good short serve.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->