Kentucky Indiana Volleyball Academy 15s Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This group has a number of solid players waiting in line behind talented upperclassmen. They are trying to continue to develop and potentially make impacts their sophomore years.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Red</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Christian Academy of Louisville standout freshman [player_tooltip player_id='601632' first='Kayleigh' last='Rogers'] headlines this group as an outside/opposite hitter after helping the Centurions to the Class 2A in-season state championship. Evansville North freshman [player_tooltip player_id='586940' first='Annabelle' last='Freels'] also made an impact at the varsity level and will play outside, opposite and middle hitter and teammate [player_tooltip player_id='586968' first='Madeline' last='Freels'] will also play those positions.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Assumption freshman [player_tooltip player_id='785586' first='Lacey' last='Prather'] and Sacred Heart freshman Bella DeSensi are the listed defensive specialists. Assumption freshman [player_tooltip player_id='456584' first='Ramsie' last='Turner'] and Floyd Central freshman [player_tooltip player_id='762316' first='Lillie' last='Furmall'] will be the setters.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This team features six players standing either 5-10 or 5-11. Sacred Heart freshman [player_tooltip player_id='851613' first='Julia' last='Lee'] and Mercy freshman [player_tooltip player_id='771907' first='Riley' last='Phipps'] are the middle blockers at 5-11 Assumption freshmen Harper Poole and [player_tooltip player_id='611743' first='Taylor' last='McKenzie-Price'] playing either outside or opposite hitter.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The coaches are Courtney Robison and Lane Jenkins.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>White</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Setter Lexi May made the biggest impact off this team for a varsity team this past fall for Atherton. DuPont Manual freshman Ally Hamilton and Christian Academy of Louisville freshman Maddie Ramey both at outside/opposite hitter saw limited action on varsity this past fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The roster has three defensive specialists in Assumption freshman Lindsay Erhard, DuPont Manual freshman Marlowe Jeffreys and Sacred Heart freshman Keira Hennessy. The other setter is Assumption freshman Olivia Lewis. Lewis will set balls to two Assumption 6-0 freshmen Autumn Mattingly and Addisyn Kamber in addition to two other outside/opposite hitters in Sacred Heart freshman Addison Ayres and Manual's Kamryn Bauman.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Heather Houston is the coach.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Black</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This team features a solid freshman in Marion County freshman outside/opposite hitter [player_tooltip player_id='612196' first='Ella' last='Marrett'] and a promising young defensive specialist in Bullitt East freshman [player_tooltip player_id='612013' first='Sophie' last='Gorter'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Gorter is one of five defensive specialists on the team. The other four are Sacred Heart's Madison Teege, Manual's Morgan Horning, Assumption's Josie Eichberger and Providence freshman Ellie Kennedy. The setter is Manual freshman [player_tooltip player_id='779957' first='Avery' last='Lloyd']. The lone middle blocker is Manual freshman Calla Magnuson-Clemons with three freshman outside/opposite hitters rounding out the roster in Manual's Kensley Cormney, Henry County's [player_tooltip player_id='612111' first='Ava' last='Morgan'] and Assumption's Lillian Massy.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The coaches are Male head coach Michelle Daugherty, Laura McCulloch and Maria Murphy.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Silver</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This team features Shelby County setter Elly Courtney, who helped the Rockets make the region tournament for the first time since 2017.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Courtney has four outside/opposite hitters to set the ball to in North Bullitt's Kaylee Manley, Charletown's Kylie Thacker, Assumption's Bella Boehnlein and Lafayette's Emma Kate Daniels in addition to one middle blocker in Elizabeth Belle Brown. The team lists five defensive specialists in Manual's Rory Martin, Reese Hurley, Ella Morrison in addition to North Oldham's Isabella Poff and Providence's Alexis Startford.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The coaches are Lizzie Rhoton, Sara Tino and Alexis Dircksen.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>All four teams play in the Mideast Power League in Louisville on Jan. 4 and 5.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Players to Watch</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["601632"],"_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-67563fa7a0a99"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Rogers (pictured) could set a number of records for the Centurions by the time her career is over. Rogers made a splash as an eighth grader and continues to grow. Rogers takes big swings from the outside and puts balls down fast, especially her tough cutter to the opposite line. Rogers has turned into a solid passer. Rogers showed she can handle hard-hit passes toward the opposite line and start the offensive rhythm. Rogers is also a sound server and does a great job making things happen out of system. Rogers had 422 kills, 270 digs and 37 aces helping the Centurions go 32-5, win the Class 2A state crown and make it to the region tournament.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["586940"],"_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-67564918d5310"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Freels made a big impact in the front row for the Huskies this past season. Freels takes big swings from the right side and reacts quickly if balls come back across the net. Freels can tip balls to the shallow court to keep defenses honest. Freels gets excited on the court and that positive energy seems to spread to her teammates.</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":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Lexi May","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2028","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'7u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"32561","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Atherton","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"[program_tooltip program_id='510731' first='KiVA' last='Adidas']","_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-67564918d53c8"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">May stepped onto the court and made a big impact for the Ravens this past fall, giving the team options at setter. May learned the strengths of her teammates and put them in position to succeed. She also made an impact as a passer, server and could make big hits out of system. May finished her freshman season with 211 assists, 104 digs, 26 aces and 72 kills.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["612196"],"_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-67564d7a998b9"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Marrett stepped onto the court and made a big mark for the Knights this past fall. Marrett does a great job directing balls away from blockers from both the pins and middle with her outstanding vertical jumping. Marrett can hit balls over, around and off blocks well. She opens up on-on-one opportunities at the net for teammates. Marrett is also a sound passer and server for Marion County. Marrett finished the season with 272 kills, 305 digs and a team-high 43 aces, helping Marion County to a 21-16 record and a spot in the 5th Region semifinals.</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":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Elly Courtney","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2028","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'8u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"32561","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Shelby County ","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"[program_tooltip program_id='510731' first='KiVA' last='Adidas']","_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-67565386588dc"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Courtney dressed for varsity as an eighth grader then jumped into the important setter role for the Rockets this past fall. Courtney can do a number of short and long sets to both the pins and middle, giving her teammates solid kill opportunities. Courtney sends across setter dumps when she sees the openings. Courtney also provides a valuable net presence turning away overpassed balls and turned into a nice server. Courtney had 212 assists and 57 aces in 17 games for the Rockets, leading them to the region tournament this past fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Note from the Writer</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mike Graham has been writing for Prep Dig for nearly a year and has enjoyed getting to know the volleyball scenes in both Kentucky and Ohio. If you liked the story, please copy and paste to X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook. You may also follow us at @prepdigkentucky or @prepdigoh on Instagram in addition to @PrepDigKy or @PrepDigOH on X. If you feel someone in Kentucky or Ohio needs coverage, please email Mike at pnmikeg@yahoo.com. You may also follow him on X @GMCgrah or Instagram @g.michaelgraham. Subscriptions give you access to exclusive content. For a 30% discount, enter code graham30 at checkout.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->