Ohio County Volleyball Club Season in Review

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Places like Muhlenberg County and Ohio County sit in between decent sized cities such as Owensboro, Elizabethtown and Bowling Green. Therefore, drives to various clubs in those places are not more than an hour.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>However, the first season of the [program_tooltip program_id='835800' first='Ohio' last='County Volleyball Club'] gave players at those schools an even closer option. Spouses Jeremy and Sara Johnson co-directed the club that consisted of four teams in the 12U, 13U, 14U and 15U Divisions, respectively. Jeremy Johnson served as head coach for the 14 and 15U squads with Sara Johnson assisting the 14U team and newly-hired Ohio County head coach Brian Hardison assisting the 15U squad.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 15U team finished 10-15 on the season playing in a number of region tournaments, including twice at the Kentucky Sports Factory in Madisonville. The season concluded with the team going 3-2 in the 15 Girls Division in the Commonwealth Cup in Madisonville. The highest the team finished in any tournament may have been ninth twice, but the team showed growth throughout the season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The dynamic Ohio County freshman defensive specialist [player_tooltip player_id='972701' first='Sophie' last='Coots'] displayed her versatility with fellow Ohio County freshman [player_tooltip player_id='965165' first='Kwyn' last='Brandon'] making things happen at the net after they both saw action in at least 21 varsity games for the Eagles in the fall. Ohio County freshmen Addison Curry, [player_tooltip player_id='978696' first='Mindi' last='Bernard'] and sophomore Kadance Daugherty also played defensive specialist roles with Muhlenberg County freshman Sophie Kodatt setting.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Three hitters rounded out the roster. Ohio County freshman [player_tooltip player_id='978700' first='Taylor' last='Ballard'] played on the right side with Ohio County sophomore Isabella Simmonds and Muhlenberg County freshman A'Layah Lovan giving the team options in the middle.</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":["965165"],"_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-69f2c591997c3"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Brandon (pictured) showed a lot of great potential during club season, turning into a playmaker. Brandon takes good swings and makes nice first touches behind blocks. Brandon makes the simple passes, but does not hesitate to dive to make pancake digs when necessary. Her enthusiasm on the court is commendable. Brandon consistently encourages her teammates.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["972701"],"_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-69f2c591998e2"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Coots played all the way around for club after playing defensive specialist in 21 varsity games for Ohio County in the fall. She took some nice swings. Coots has already developed a powerful jump float serve. Coots aggressively serves it to different locations on the court.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["978696"],"_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-69f2c5919998a"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Coach Jeremy Johnson calls Bernard a great passer and digger. Bernard reads plays well then goes hard after balls. Big digs can ignite a team and Bernard does not hesitate to try to make them. Her hustle could be a key for Ohio County to take next steps these next three seasons.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["978700"],"_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-69f2c59199a33"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Coach Jeremy Johnson said the 14-year-old has made leaps and bounds during club season. He added she is getting more aggressive with the ball and starting to block well. That aggressive play often helps teams control the net. The sky is the limit for Ballard if she continues to find ways to progress in various areas of her game.</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 two years and has enjoyed getting to know the volleyball scenes in Kentucky, Ohio and Tennessee. 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 or even have feedback on the Kentucky rankings, please email Mike at michaelgraham@prepdig.com. You may also follow him on X @GMCgrah or Instagram @g.michaelgraham. Subscriptions give you access to exclusive content. 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