How Kentucky's best club volleyball team prepped Nya Bunton for last Manual postseason run

When Manual volleyball's Nya Bunton isn't racking up kills for the Crimsons, she's playing for one of the top club volleyball programs in the nation.

The two experiences couldn't be more different. But like many of the rising stars who play for the Kentucky Indiana Volleyball Academy, Bunton's two worlds collide this week when she potentially faces several of her KIVA teammates in the Seventh Region tournament.

For the senior, the tournament is more than Manual's next challenge on the way to a state title. It's another chance to prove herself against the best players in the region.

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"[Playing against my club teammates] makes it a little bit more of a challenge and raises the competitive spirit," Bunton said. "Because most of the kids I play with at KIVA go to private schools, we want to show that a public school can make it out of regionals and compete at the highest level."

From Crimson to Longhorn

Bunton, a 6-foot-3 outside hitter, has been one of the top players in Kentucky throughout her four years at Manual. She has more than 1,000 career kills, has been named an All-American and has committed to play for the No. 1- ranked University of Texas next season.

Although her Crimson career is stellar, it hasn't produced much postseason success. In three seasons, Bunton has yet to reach the regional finals. The Crimsons were bounced out of the playoffs the past two years by Sacred Heart, a team with multiple KIVA players like Ava Norris and Lainee Mack.

But this year could be different. Manual (30-7) has been stellar. The Crimsons have beaten top squads like Sacred Heart, Mercy and North Oldham in the regular season and have yet to lose a set in the playoffs. This could be Manual's best shot at its first regional title before Bunton's jersey gets packed away for good.

"They're so amazing," Bunton said of her Manual teammates. "I love playing with them because they bring such a different environment and they're so much fun. Being able to play with my school teammates is what I look forward to most of the year."

The high school volleyball season is her favorite time of the year, but Bunton understands that she wouldn't be the player that she is today without KIVA.

"I feel that club volleyball is very important because most of the coaches have had experience with other colleges," Bunton said. "I feel that you get more advice."

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Developing the next generation

Few people understand the between balance between high school and club volleyball more than Assumption coach Ron Kordes. He has been coaching for more than three decades, has won 22 state championships and is a member of the American Volleyball Coaches Association Hall of Fame.

When he isn't coaching the Rockets, Kordes oversees the development of Louisville's top volleyball talent as the club president of KIVA. Last weekend, Kordes held tryouts for his 13- and 14-year-old KIVA teams. The players were so nervous Kordes could barely hear them as he took attendance.

"Well, some of them probably haven't slept in five days," Kordes said. "We try to tell them to relax, but it's easier said than done."

A KIVA tryout can be stressful. The program has produced 385 collegiate players recruits since starting in 2000. While development is the key, competing at the national level in front of the best collegiate programs is KIVA's top goal for its players.

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"It's always been a hotbed for high school volleyball," Louisville volleyball coach Dani Busboom Kelly said. "I think that living here you start to see that players from Louisville have a little bit of a chip on their shoulder. They're really hard workers and have a great mentality."

KIVA has 11 players in the Class of 2023 signed to play collegiate volleyball next season, including Assumption's Sydney Helmers (Texas).

Buton's last chance is here

Kordes remembers when Bunton first tried out for KIVA as a 12-year-old. She was lanky and full of potential, but not good enough to make the first team. Kordes had no idea that'd she'd develop into one of the best middle blockers in the country.

"I mean, how proud can we be of Nya Bunton?" Kordes said. "She walked in here as a 12-and-under kid playing on our second team. ... To watch how she's grown, not only her skill but her competitiveness, her mentality and obviously she's going to go play at one of the top-notch programs in the country."

Through KIVA, Bunton has played volleyball all around the country. Bunton said she only practices twice a week during club season, but facing the best competition showcases and tournaments keeps her skills sharp.

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"You're competing against girls who've played their whole lives," Bunton said. "They have all around the same skills that you do."

Bunton plays two-to-three games per week for the Crimsons but could play even more than that in a day for KIVA. Showcasing her skills against the best talent in the country in front of college coaches was what initially got her noticed by Texas and the boatload of other programs vying for her services.

"In the spring or in club season a college coach can go to a convention center and see a Nya Bunton or another player they're interested in," Kordes said. "In one weekend they can get so much work done and the kids can get exposure ... if you play in a small high school somewhere, you could be a stud player but chances are you're not going to get seen during the fall season."

Bunton also feels high school volleyball carries an importance of its own.

In club volleyball, the lack of practice and the pressure of college scouts takes away from the enjoyment of being on a team. Bunton said club volleyball allows her to focus on the more physical aspects of her game, while her time with the Crimsons is more cerebral.

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"I feel like high school volleyball is more mental and emotional," Bunton said. "Pushing through a long year and practicing every day, seeing the small changes your teammates make to get better each day. So yeah, I feel like club is very helpful for developing your skills faster but high school helps with the emotional side of the game."

This week is bound to be emotional for the remaining Louisville high school volleyball teams. Kordes joked his KIVA players enjoy "beating up on him" whenever they play Assumption.

For Bunton, this week could be the end of her high school career, competing for Manual in front of friends and family.

"It's a lot more fun because you know who comes to the games," Bunton said. "They might not know what's really going on but they bring that energy that I definitely feed off of."

Follow Courier Journal reporter J.L. Kirven on Twitter @JL_Kirven for more updates on Louisville prep sports.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: KIVA prepared Manual's Nya Bunton for KHSAA volleyball playoffs, Texas