Kentucky Performance Volleyball (KPV) is anticipating a strong inaugural club season, with three local players helping to lead the 17U Pink National Team — Molly Arnold and Payton Arnold of Owensboro Catholic, and Maya Pollard of Daviess County. The team, directed by Zach Hardison and coached by Emma Johnson, features a mix of athletes from Kentucky and Indiana.
Hardison is proud of both the program and the local talent joining the team.
“We have been super blessed to open Kentucky Performance Volleyball this season and have so many talented kids from Owensboro and across the area choose to make our club home. We opened the club to really give some new opportunity and direction for families and players in the area that is geared toward not only growth as a player but as a person as well,” Hardison said. “The 17 Pink team is a collective group of girls who really craved a different atmosphere so they could fall in love with volleyball again — we want to see them succeed at a high level and remember why volleyball is their sport.”
Owensboro Catholic junior Molly Arnold, who has played volleyball since 3rd grade, is excited for the opportunity to represent KPV this season.
“I can’t believe I’m going into my senior season next school year. What I love most about volleyball is honestly just makes me happy,” she said. “The court has become a place that instantly makes me happy. When I step onto the court with my teammates, nothing else matters, and all my experiences such as my skills, the drills I have worked on, and past games all come rushing through me like adrenaline.”
While her future goals include earning a scholarship to play volleyall in college, she is currently focusing on the remainder of her high school career, with several opportunities to compete on the road against some big talent.
“Our season includes some great tournaments including two here at the Owensboro Convention Center, the Nike Presidents Day in St. Louis in February, and the Nike Mideast Qualifier in Indianapolis in March, as well as a few others including AAU Nationals in Orlando in June,” Arnold said.
Sophomore Payton Arnold enjoys the competitive nature of the 17U team, saying she enjoys the relationships she is building with athletes from other schools.
“I just love how we all support one another and always lift each other up. The thing that stands out to me the most about volleyball is how it not only makes me a better player but a better person. I’ve made many friends from volleyball and people that are like family to me,” she said. “I am most excited about the Nike Mideast Qualifier (MEQ) in Indy — it’s always a huge tourney every year — and the AAU Nationals in Orlando Florida. My goal for this season is to make it to the semi-finals in nationals.”
Daviess County sophomore Maya Pollard began her volleyball career in sixth grade and also hopes to play at the collegiate level, preferably staying close to home. She even has aspirations of coaching in the future.
“I love being able to play in a town where my friends and family can watch, so I am looking forward to the two tournaments in Owensboro this year. Travel volleyball continues to grow and there are always new athletes joining, which has been exciting,” Pollard said.
Johnson, KPV’s Assistant Director and Head Coach of the 17U Pink team, is eager to see what the team accomplishes in its first season.
“This team and KPV as a whole has some of the best talent from our tri-state area and I’m super excited to see how they grow and develop over this year,” she said. “The bonds they are building on and off the court are so special and I can’t wait for the season to get started.”
KPV to host AAU Valentine Volley at Convention Center
Kentucky Performance Volleyball is bringing top-tier competition to its hometown with the AAU Valentine Volley this Saturday and Sunday at the Owensboro Convention Center.
The tournament, which runs February 8-9, will feature 73 teams from 22 different clubs across five states, with age divisions ranging from 13 to 18, including a boys division.
“We wanted to bring a quality tournament to our hometown,” said Brooke Hall, a coach with Kentucky Performance Volleyball. “We spend so much of the club season traveling, and we love the idea of being home. This is for local players to showcase their hard work in the off-season and for local colleges like KWC and Brescia University to recruit without leaving Owensboro. There’s truly a ton of intention behind it.”
Kentucky Performance Volleyball boasts more than 150 athletes, with over 90 players from Regions 2 and 3 set to compete in the AAU Valentine Volley.
The tournament also serves as an AAU qualifying event; teams that win Gold Championships in their divisions earn free entry to the AAU Junior Nationals in Orlando.
Weekend passes are $25, and single-day passes are $18.
