Emerging Stars from Day 1 of Papio's Weston Invite

The first stop on my weekend road trip was Papillion-La Vista High School, where the Monarchs hosted Omaha Skutt, Kearney, and Lincoln East as part of the Allison Weston Invitational. This group was made up of two teams that I hadn’t seen in person yet this year, so I was excited to be a part of the action! As always, I came away with some names to follow after watching these teams battle each other. So, let’s check out some players who stood out during Friday’s pool play!   [player_tooltip player_id="37532" first="Ava" last="Heyne"] - 6’1 OH/MB - Omaha Skutt Catholic - Class of 2022 Heyne is one of many great hitters in the state who could play any position. She has shown some great things on the left pin in club. At this weekend’s invite, though, Heyne was a force in the middle. Her style fits perfectly with all the crafty combination plays run by her setter, Arizona State commit Allie Gray. Whether her future is in the middle or on the pin, Heyne is sure to find success like her sisters before her.   [player_tooltip player_id="58217" first="Cameron" last="Cartwright"] - 5’9 MB - Omaha Skutt Catholic - Class of 2021 Fast. That’s the best way to describe Cartwright’s game. Her slide attacks are nothing short of a sprint along the net. She has an incredible ability to combine this lateral quickness with strong elevation when she attacks. Cartwright was also an anchor to several big blocks that swung momentum for the SkyHawks. There are so many multi-talented players on this Skutt roster, but Cartwright is one who stood out on Friday.   [player_tooltip player_id="110200" first="Karli" last="Ahlers"] - 6’0 MB - Papillion-La Vista - Class of 2022 Ahlers is part of a great middle tandem for the Monarchs that includes Louisiana-Monroe commit [player_tooltip player_id="82565" first="Logan" last="Jeffus"]. Ahlers is long, agile, and is the big playmaker for Papio while Norah Sis is in the back row. Attacking in front of the setter is what she does best. The Monarchs have one of the best quick middle attacks in the state, and this talented prospect is a big part of it. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Junior middle [player_tooltip player_id="110200" first="Karli" last="Ahlers"] has been effective for <a href="https://x.com/PLHS_Volleyball?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PLHS_Volleyball</a> today! <a href="https://t.co/31TVo0nVSF">pic.x.com/31TVo0nVSF</a> — Austin Kingsley (@KingsleyATK) <a href="https://x.com/KingsleyATK/status/1309590498353569794?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 25, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>   [player_tooltip player_id="110201" first="Anna" last="Sis"] - 5’11 RS - Papillion-La Vista - Class of 2023 Sis completes a lethal front row attack for Papio. This right-side hitter continues to develop into a consistent threat on offense and takes huge swings when she’s in rhythm. Her blocking is very disciplined, even while she faced intimidating left sides throughout the evening.   [player_tooltip player_id="82580" first="Lucy" last="Bartee"] - 6’0 S - Kearney - Class of 2021 It’s not hard to tell that Bartee is a seasoned veteran. She distributes the ball so well, allowing all her hitters to get involved. These hitters are always in a good position, too, because Bartee is so accurate and consistent. She can dish the ball from pin-to-pin so effortlessly. To top it all off, this setter might be the best blocker on the Kearney roster. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Senior setter [player_tooltip player_id="82580" first="Lucy" last="Bartee"] is super smooth for <a href="https://x.com/khsvolleyball?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@khsvolleyball</a>. Here she is setting freshman [player_tooltip player_id="109596" first="Avery" last="Franzen"]. <a href="https://t.co/lDqqFEQm3F">pic.x.com/lDqqFEQm3F</a> — Austin Kingsley (@KingsleyATK) <a href="https://x.com/KingsleyATK/status/1309600836692181004?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 25, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>   [player_tooltip player_id="110202" first="Analise" last="Luke"] - 5’9 OH - Kearney - Class of 2022 Luke was a high-volume hitter for the Bearcats. Taking a bunch of tough swings on the left pin, she handled this responsibility well. Her athleticism lets her take on some imposing blocks, and there were plenty of those in the gym Friday. The seamless connection Luke has with her setter is very apparent, and it’s probably a good indicator of future success. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> [player_tooltip player_id="110202" first="Analise" last="Luke"] has gotten plenty of swings on the left side for the Bearcats. <a href="https://x.com/khsvolleyball?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@khsvolleyball</a> <a href="https://t.co/oWYHNTrVol">pic.x.com/oWYHNTrVol</a> — Austin Kingsley (@KingsleyATK) <a href="https://x.com/KingsleyATK/status/1309603998148833280?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 25, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>   [player_tooltip player_id="103115" first="Annalee" last="Ventling-Brown"] - 6’1 MB/RS - Lincoln East - Class of 2021 Ventling-Brown has a ton of potential. The hardest part for me is figuring out which front position suits her best. This tall talent can swing from anywhere. Ventling-Brown got plenty of time at opposite for the Spartans on Friday, but she could also rip it on the left. She could easily slide into the middle given her past club experience. Versatility is a common trend with talented players, and Ventling-Brown embodies that.   [player_tooltip player_id="58249" first="Brooke" last="McCartney"] - 5’5 L - Lincoln East - Class of 2021 McCartney’s task on Friday was not an easy one: dig cross-court bombs from some of the heaviest arms in the state. She did it, though. Carrying a lot of responsibilities on defense and serve receive, this senior libero was a backcourt stalwart with a lot of courage. She hustled after any ball that was within range and was able to pass a large chunk of the court. It’s exactly what you want from your senior libero.