Academy Summer League Week 2, Part 1

<p>With week two in the books for Academy’s summer league, today’s focus is on teams that are on different ends of the volleyball success spectrum. One is a sectional champ looking to repeat, the other had a bunch of kids graduate, leaving a void on offense. Here’s what I saw.</p> <p><strong>Martinsville</strong></p> <p>It was obvious to most in attendance who the setter will be for the fall of ’21. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="85809" first="Grace" last="Reynolds"] (’22, FGCU commit)</strong> holds the reins to this carriage, and is in complete control of the offense for this squad. Who will rise to the occasion to lead? None other than club teammate <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="123003" first="Mackenzie" last="Martin"] (’22, 5-10 OH), </strong>who is a six-rotation banger that does every skill well. In a day and age where position-specific play is all the rage, there’s nothing like having a well-rounded player you can rely on day-in and day-out. Another smooth and in-control Artesian is libero <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="85921" first="Molly" last="Urban"] (’22, 5-2 DS/L), </strong>who should continue to take the lion’s share of serve receive alongside Miss Martin listed above. How about another offensive option? Look no further than <strong> Macy Dorsett (’23, 5-8 RS), </strong>who can hit all of the angles from all of the positions, and is very smart when things don’t go perfectly. All four of these players make the other two on the court with them <em>instantly</em> better, no matter whom it might be.</p> <p><strong>Eastern Hancock</strong></p> <p>I was worried about EH. I didn’t know much, but I know they struggled for wins last year, and lost a ton of talent to graduation. What stood out to me the most was another all-around great player, <strong>Lili Hunt (’22, 6-0 MB/S). </strong>Yes, you read that right. She is easily their best attacker, as the teams she played against Thursday had no ability to slow her down. When called upon, she will receive serve and can set in a few rotations whenever she needs to for the team. Oh, by the way, you can’t teach six feet. Just saying. It was interesting watching <strong>Bre Taulbee (’22, 5-0 DS/L)</strong> do her thing as an occasional primary-passing outside. I am guessing they were missing a few players (only seven total for EH on this night)<strong>, </strong>but to see Bre use her volleyball IQ to her advantage in both serve receive and left back defense was a pleasure for this author. Her pursuit of out-of-system balls was also above-average, and always made the second ball hittable. Finally, <strong>Megan </strong><strong>Retherford (’22, 5-3 RS)</strong> needs to be another offensive option in order for the Royals to have any success this year. She definitely brings a different swing to the fold, and can attack from the front as well as the back.</p>