Players Who Impressed in A-B-C1 Division at Kearney Top 10 Camp

KEARNEY – While the team competition is great at the Kearney Top 10 Camp every year, so is the individual talent that is on display. That’s the reason why so many of the state’s colleges and universities always spend time out here recruiting. Here is a look at who, in my opinion, had impressive performances in the D1-D2 division (listed in alphabetical order by school name. Kali Jurgensmeier, 6'0, Soph., MH - Bishop Neumann It was a pretty tough couple days for Bishop Neumann as a whole as it looks to replace a lot of graduated talent, but Jurgensmeier is absolutely the real deal in terms of an athletic middle and she is one of the best in the state off one foot. Majesta Valasek, 5'9, Sr., OH - Broken Bow This was my first in-person look at Valasek, who had more than 400 kills as a junior last year. She is definitely athletic and has a big arm. She's not quite there, though, in terms of back-row play and playing high enough above the net to step right into a NAIA program. She would really thrive at a 2-year college or in an NAIA program after a year of two. Amber Buhman, 6'0, Sr., MH/MB - Columbus Scotus Buhman showed good athleticism and played high above the net at times for the Shamrocks. She moved pretty well between the pins and has a good swing and good timing on her blocking. She can definitely play at the 2-year college or NAIA level in college. Katie Maser, 5'8, Sr., Setter - Grand Island CC The Creighton recruit has some of the best hands and delivers a really nice ball. The Crusaders struggled early in the camp with ball control which didn't help Maser a lot, but her decision making and court awareness is really good and she should have a lot of weapons to choose from this fall. Chloe Cloud, 6'1, Soph., MB/RS - Grand Island CC There was a lot of talent in this division, but I'm not sure there was a better all-around athlete with a higher ceiling than Cloud. She is the definition of raw on the volleyball court, but she can jump out of the gym, is physical and strong and has the ability to dominate play at the net. Somebody just needs to convince her that her future is in volleyball - jk - sort of. Gracie Woods, 5'11, Fr., OH, - Grand Island CC Woods was as advertised and you can't ask for much more from a freshman than what Woods showed. She's going to be a force in the Centennial Conference as a freshman, and you can't say that about many players. But, she's still just a freshman and doesn't necessarily play real high above the net, but it is going to be a blast watching her game develop over the next few years. Sarah Clinch, 6'0, Sr., MH, - Kearney Catholic A really athletic and strong middle, Clinch should find her way onto a NAIA roster next fall or even potentially at a lower-tier Division II program. When she connects on a slide it's a thing of beauty and she is just really, really good off one foot and has the explosiveness you need blocking and does a good job at getting to the pins. Jill Collins, 5'11, Jr., MH, - Kearney Catholic Both Collins and Clinch were impressive as middles, but they are different types of middles. Collins is a little bit of the more traditional middle that is strong and physical at the net and can make life miserable for opposing middles. She can play at the NAIA level. Syd Connor, 5'10, Soph., Setter - Kearney Catholic There are a lot of really nice setters in the 2022 class, but in terms of ceiling, Connor might have the highest of the group. She has the size and athleticism needed to run a 5-1 at the college level and she has tremendous hands. She would definitely be able to contribute pretty much right away at a strong NAIA program or top-tier Division II program. Ashley Keck, 5'10, Soph., OH - Kearney Catholic Keck is an extremely athletic outside and really impressed me with her overall athleticism and power. Her height isn't a huge concern because she can play high enough, but I also saw some qualities in her that would potentially make her a really nice libero at the next level. Paige Fixemer, 6'2, Sr., MH - Millard South Look, I know that there are currently three high school middles in the state that are committed to Nebraska and each of them has a world of potential. But, to be completely frank, I'm not sure there is a better middle in Nebraska - right now - than Fixemer. I think that should tell you all you need to know about the Army recruit. Maggie Madej, 6'0, Sr., RS - Millard South Madej is uncommitted but I really don't think that should be the case much longer. She has had a great summer and has made strides in every aspect of her game over the past couple years. For my money, she can play at either pin and would be a great get for any NAIA program or low-tier Division II program. Sam Steele, 5'8, Sr., Libero - Millard South Steele is an Ohio recruit and I continue to marvel and how well she plays and owns the back row. She possesses all the tools you are looking for in a libero. In many ways she reminds me of Creighton's Britt Witt in that she has an insane ability to read hitters and get herself into position so quick., Makayla Fleming, 5'9, Soph., Setter - Millard South I think I wrote about Fleming after the UNO camp as well, but she continues to just be a really solid setter for the Patriots. She's not going to wow you with any one area of her game, but she just delivers a rock-solid performance every time out and is only going to get better. Laci Abendroth, 6'1, Soph., MB/MH - Millard South Abendroth is a little bit of a prospect, but she has a lot of the tool you look for in a middle. Millard South is going to have a lot of weapons offensively, but Abendroth should have a really good year this fall because she will be able to dominate most team's second middle. Brianna Stai, 5'10, Jr., MB/MH - Norris Stai doesn't possess the type of height you would like to see in a middle at the next level, but man is she athletic and powerful. Her game would definitely work at an NAIA program or in a system where most of her attacks would come on the move. Kali Kroeker, 6'0, Jr., MB/MH - Norris There is no denying that Kroeker has an incredible ceiling with her height, length and easy athleticism. As she continues to develop her game and get stronger, Kroeker could develop into an NAIA All-American type or a player that could contribute well at a high-profile Division II program or low-level Division I program. Molly Ramsey, 5'4, Jr., Libero - Norris Ramsey is as legit as pretty much any back row player in the state. She plays under control, has a really nice platform and the quickness to get where she needs to be. It's a pretty wide range in terms of the level of school could play at in college, it will just be a matter of her finding a school/coach/situation that she likes. Maisie Boesiger, 5'6, Soph., Setter - Norris Boesiger had probably the best set I've seen all summer during a match in Kearney when she went above the net to get a single hand on a ball that pinned her tight against the net and delivered a one-handed assist. It showed off her athleticism and she has soft but strong hands to go with a very good serve. She could set - in a two-setter system - or play back row at the next level. Ella Waters, 6'2, Soph., OH/MH/RS - Norris Norris has a boat load of talent, but Waters showed she might have the brightest future of all the Titans. She's athletic, strong, long and powerful. She can play at either pin and she has all the making of a kid who - with continued improvement - could be a Division II All-American or work her way onto a good Division I roster. Bianca Martinez, 6'0, Soph., MB/MH - Omaha Central You looking for an under-the-radar kid that can flat out play and has huge untapped potential? Get Martinez in for a campus visit and test her. The kid has long arms, can jump out of the gym but is super raw and unpolished. She can play at the NAIA level, though, no question. Anna Koehler, 5'7, Sr., OH/Libero - Platteview A standout in track as a high jumper, Koehler has a world of potential on the volleyball court. Despite her springs and power, I'm not sure she can play at the net at the next level, but she sure as heck can be a back-row specialist with attacking skills or a libero at the next level. I rarely compare players, but Koehler absolutely reminds me of former Stanton stud Jessie Brandl, who Wayne State coach Scott Kneifl absolutely stole and will be a freshman at Wayne this year. Veronica Guenther, 5'10, Jr., MB - Platteview All Guenther did during the camp was make plays. She doesn't have great height or explosiveness, but she totally makes up for it with her knack for timing her block well and being really smart with her attacks. She could definitely play at a 2-year college and would be a player that could develop with a couple years of JV time at a NAIA program. Abby Ringler, 5'11, Jr., MH - Seward Seward has itself a pair of really good middles, but I really like the potential of Ringler as a right side at the next level. She's an athletic lefty with a really nice power arm and she plays hard all the time and constantly makes herself available in the middle. Her blocking skills are really good as well. Katie Smith, 5'10, Soph., MH - Seward Smith is more of a standard middle hitter for Seward and plays high above the net and has a good swing to go with her approach. She was consistently getting touches and blocks in the middle and while her height might be a concern at the next level, she could develop into a nice NAIA player. Logan Holly, 5'9, Jr., OH - Sidney As a whole, Sidney was pretty impressive and showed pretty good depth, but Holly stood out as a consistent and powerful attacker on the outside. I'm not quite sure she plays high enough to be at one of the top-tier NAIA programs in the state, but she can definitely help someone at the next level.