Illinois Lefties Impress At JVA Showcase
Being left-handed just brings another dimension to the game. Call it a blessing or a curse. Being left-handed might limit an athlete in what positions they can play, but it’s also something that makes them a perfect fit. The same…
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Continue ReadingBeing left-handed just brings another dimension to the game. Call it a blessing or a curse. Being left-handed might limit an athlete in what positions they can play, but it’s also something that makes them a perfect fit. The same goes for athletes who play baseball and softball. There aren’t many shortstops or catchers who are left-handed, but the ones who can swing the bat from the left side with speed are definite showstoppers. The same goes for right sides and setters who have the big left hand to keep the other side of the net off-balanced. Here are a few leftys that really impressed this past weekend.
Bree Borum – Fusion 17 Red
Committed to South Florida
I remember watching the Borum’s as 15 year olds and thinking, “Wow” they are something special. Well, they still are between Bree and her sister Brooklyn. Bree is such a threat where she can swing away on the right side and then when she steps into set she is jump setting, but also jumping and swinging away. She is dangerous. The other side is always stressed with her in the front row where she can score herself or easily dish to many offensive options on her side.
Bree Borum of @ClubFusionVB – watching her jump set and then jump set and swing with the left hand is dangerous. So fun. @usfvolleyball is getting a good one pic.twitter.com/bfW5GMDuiR
— Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) February 28, 2020
Lauren Passaglia – Balance 18 White
Committed to Hillsdale
When I saw that Passaglia went to Cary-Grove, it clicked that I had seen her play at the Asics Challenge this past fall. She is quite an athlete and really fun to watch with how dynamic she is. A big left-handed swing from the right side, Passaglia is a major point scorer. She puts a hurt on the ball and makes it so tough for the other side to put up a clean pass from her swing. Balance 18 White had a great weekend in the Dells, finishing in the top ten and their only loss coming to Illini Elite 18 Cardinal in the Open Gold Bracket.
[program_tooltip program_id='430006' first='Illini' last='Elite'] 17 CardinalAnna McClure Anna McClure 5'8" | DS/L St. Thomas More | 2022 State #182 Nation IL – Illini Elite 17 Cardinal
Maycie Welborn Maycie Welborn 6'3" | OH University High | 2021 IL – Illini Elite 17 Cardinal
Illini Elite teams are so solid all the way around and provide plenty of depth at all age levels. I need to see this 17s Cardinal team play a few more times because I know they can run a variety of lineups with a variety of athletes who can play various positions. McClure is a lefty who was able to really swing it on the left side which isn’t always the easiest for leftys to do. Super dynamic and springy who is so smooth and natural with her movement. Welborn is the lefty on the right side who has the big arm and also the big block which really creates a mismatch for the other side of the net.
Emma Konie Emma Konie 5'10" | S Huntley | 2021 IL – VC United 171 Elite
Konie is just a flat out scorer. With a big left handed swing from the right side she knows how to find a way to put points on the board whether its splitting the block, sharp cross, down the line, or effectively using the hands to do whatever it takes to be efficient and effective. She can score points from the backcourt as well which defending the right back is something a lot of teams are not accustomed to seeing.
We have a full album of pictures from the @jrvbassociation Showcase. Made it to three facilities Friday with four states of pictures! Check it out on Facebook. Tag your friends. Happy to share! https://t.co/noWb5ADFQH pic.twitter.com/h73S74L0Vm
— Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) March 2, 2020