Second season set to begin for 606 United

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Julie Krift founded the 606 United club team earlier this year after completing her first season leading the Bracken County Bears in 2023, trying to help grow the sport in the Buffalo Trace region of the state as the team website states.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Brooksville-based club had just two teams in the 18U and 15U divisions that first season. That number had doubled to four teams with 18, 16, 14 and 12-and-under squads.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>All 10 players on each of the older two teams attend a school in the 39th District with 12 of the 20 players coming from Bracken County. Four come from Mason County and the other four attend St. Patrick. The Bears have won two consecutive district crowns and posted school records for wins in a season both times. They finished 25-13 this past season after going 23-16 in 2023 and also winning the first region tournament game since 2019.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>18U</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This team features some big contributors from the record-setting Bracken County teams. The main ones are junior defensive specialists [player_tooltip player_id='600935' first='Makenzie' last='Rudd'] and Ashley Stafford along with junior setter [player_tooltip player_id='595949' first='Baylee' last='Wilson']. Rudd and Stafford had big years digging and serving for the Bears and look to do similar things with this team. Wilson did a lot of setting for the Bears and hopes to pick up where she left off with this team. Bracken County junior Lauren Ruark also hopes to contribute at defensive specialist along with St. Patrick senior Bria Bauer, who could also set after playing outside hitter in high school.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Five hitters round out the roster. Bracken County senior Emma Knott hopes to command the middle like she did in the fall for this team along with St. Patrick senior middle blocker Emma Gallenstein. Gallenstein could also slide to the outside.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bracken County senior Braelyn Garvey could play outside or middle blocker with Mason County sophomore Emmy Henderson playing middle or right side. Mason County junior Kennedy Bevins will play middle or right side for the team after playing a defensive role during the high school season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>16U</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This team is full of players looking to take big steps to contribute on the respective teams next season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bracken County sophomore Aleigha Leist and Mason County sophomore Aaliyah Burns will play the defensive specialist roles. Mason County sophomore Mylie Padgett and Bracken County eighth grader Emma Klaber will play defensive specialist and outside hitter roles.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>St. Patrick sophomore Hope Comer, Bracken County sophomore Kaylyn Browning or Bracken County eighth grader Ella Jones will set with Jones and Browning also seeing some action as right side hitters. St. Patrick junior Makenzie Markley will play at middle blocker with two more Bracken County players in sophomore Halle Routt and freshman Kenlie Click playing there or at outside hitter.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Both teams open the season in the Appalachian Challenge in Corbin on January 11.</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":["600935"],"_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-67686f0c62f5a"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Rudd (pictured) gave the Bears a spark in the back court this past season at the libero spot. Rudd sees balls well then makes clean passes even if it means going down to her knees to do so. Rudd can showed she can handle hard and soft hits from talented spikers. Rudd uses her incredible reflexes to pop balls in the air to keep plays alive. Rudd is also a good server. Rudd had 431 digs and 48 aces, helping Bracken County go a school-record 25-13 with a second straight 39th District championship.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["595949"],"_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-67686f0c62fb8"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Wilson brings a versatile skill set to the table for both the high school and club teams, even though she primarily sets. Wilson showed she can do a variety of short and long sets, including back sets. Wilson is also a valuable defender and server for Bracken County. Setter dumps and pushes toward lines do not fool her easily. Wilson will reach out with one arm to keep plays alive if necessary. Wilson had 330 assists, 199 digs and 46 aces helping Bracken County go a school-record 25-13 with a second straight 39th District championship.</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":"Ashley Stafford","_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":"5'3u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"32926","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Bracken County","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"606 United","_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-676881e4a7ab0"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Stafford does a good job with first contacts on both defense and serve reception. Stafford squarer her arms up with balls and sends them to the setters for consistent two to three-point passes, setting up attacks well. Stafford sends free balls across the net with purpose. Stafford had 202 digs and 34 aces, helping Bracken County set a new school record for wins in a season with a 25-13 mark and a second consecutive 39th District title.</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":"Kennedy Bevins","_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":"null","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"32924","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Mason County","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"606 United","_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-676881e4a7b4b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Bevins had a nice season defensively, but hopes to improve offensively during the club season. Bevins showed she can make big digs for the Royals in the fall. Bevins had 108 digs for the Royals 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 -->