Teams to look out for in Spring 2021: Kent Place

<p>This year has had it’s ups and downs, but there is volleyball in sight at the High School level. These teams will be tasked to take on challenges nobody could have predicted but these teams are capable of overcoming them and play the game they love. There are teams with opportunities to have great seasons who came close in 2019. One team to watch is Kent Place. </p> <p>Kent Place was a great team last year with plenty of depth and gave everyone some playing time to showcase their talent. Yes, the squad will be without some senior leadership like setter Kelsey Burrows and libero [player_tooltip player_id="99844" first="Maddie" last="Hagar"] but this team has plenty of talent returning like their dynamic duo from last season and some juniors returning for senior seasons. This presents a grand opportunity for them to improve off a 22-2 season. Yes, this squad can be better than 22-2!</p> <p> The team is bringing back some outstanding talent and have the potential to do something special. The squad finished second in the Union County Conference behind Union Catholic and had the second best record overall. They went unbeaten in their conference and division, yet somehow was the fifth seed in the Union County Tournament where they were eliminated by Union Catholic in the semifinals. Kent Place went on to play in the NJSIAA Non-Public Tournament where they lost in the quarterfinals to Immaculate Heart.</p> [caption id="attachment_124726" align="alignleft" width="300"]<img class="size-medium wp-image-124726" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2021/01/Iman-Handy-Kent-place-2-300x240.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="240" /> Photo: <a href="https://njpowerranking.com/2020/06/11/iman-handy/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">New Jersey Power Ranking</a>[/caption] <p>Some players to look out for are [player_tooltip player_id="99856" first="Iman" last="Handy"], [player_tooltip player_id="99862" first="Sabrina" last="Skyers"] and Elizabeth Miller. Handy was the number one option last year as a sophomore. She’s a very good outside who is flying under the radar. Her creativity and versatility make her lethal. Last season, she had 171 kills, 23 blocks and 154 digs. Watch out for her this year to come out with a vengeance. She's also #9 on our 2022 NJ PrepDig Rankings for 2022.</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="99862" first="Sabrina" last="Skyers"] is the compliment to Handy in the one-two punch they provide. She like Handy plays on the outside which allows Kent Place to never have to truly rotate both of them in. Having two dominant outsides allows Kent Place to never fight their rotations or figure out substitutions. Skyers had a great sophomore campaign as well with 141 kills, 8 blocks and 155 digs which has her ranked 15th on the NJ PrepDig Rankings for 2022. Her athleticism and ability to hit on angles is what makes her dominant. Skyers and Handy are two to watch for not just this year but next year as well.</p> <p>Lastly, Elizabeth Miller is their middle blocker and a senior who had a solid junior campaign with 49 kills and 67 blocks. She’s going to be the voice in the locker room this year for Kent Place with two of their leaders gone. Her length and anticipation is what makes her a solid middle and be able to effect the game not just offensively but defensively as well.</p> <p>My only concern for the team is at the position of setter as mentioned earlier Burrows is gone. Isabella Diaz is the one who should step into her place. Diaz had some limited playing time last year and recorded 18 assists. So, it will be up to her in her senior season to ensure the quality of passing and setting up her teammates is not diminished.</p> <p>This is a squad with 11 potential returners from last seasons’ squad so an opportunity is there for Kent Place to be even better than a season ago. It will come down to being able to eclipse the obstacle that is Union Catholic. Don’t be surprised if they do!</p>