Notable 2023s from NIT
Luca Fickell – S | Tri-State 17 Blue
Fickell is 6’1 and fills the role as the primary setter for this team. She has great size as a setter and shows good high hand position in her mechanics. Her touch and location were fairly consistent and as she continues to improve her foot speed and mobility to pursue the ball both in and out of system her rate of efficiency will increase. This group has good ball control, which minimizes her workload at times and allows her to vary their offensive distribution well.
Brooksie Isham – MB | NPJ Salem 17
Probably the most athletic member of this team, Isham plays middle with quickness and, at 5’10, utilizes her elevation off the floor well to be effective on both sides of the ball. Her movement has an efficient quality as she often makes herself available on offense in transition and can get to the pins and across the net well when defending. She appears light in the air through her jumping mechanics and gets her elbows above the net. With good spacing and timing she can score in a variety of locations around the setter.
Ali Olson – MB | KC Power 17
At 6’1, Olson has good length in the middle. Playing with an elite setter on this team, she gets her opportunities that help free up their big pin action. She can score in front and behind the setter off of one foot and what she might lack in elevation and lift she makes up for it with big arm strength and crafty court sense. She is not this team’s top offensive option but she fills her role well, which helps them to remain on the fringe of the elite teams in this age group.
Clair Redmon – OH | TAV 17 Blue
A big arm and offensive scoring is what you get most from Redmon as she is this team’s primary threat. She elevates well and has terrific arm speed that can generate a lot of pace on the ball. She has the skills and athleticism to play much bigger than her 5’9 frame as she gets good lift that helps her offensive productivity in a variety of locations around the court. Upon contact she can move the ball around to increase pressure on the defense to slow her down. She has solid all-around skills as a six-rotation pin.
Kate Simington – MB | MN Select 17
Simington is 6’4 and has great length in the middle. She had moments in KC that highlighted her ability to score with authority as well as defend by filling up good space above the net. Improving her foot speed as well as timing and spacing around the setter will increase her scoring potential as she has the ability to get on the ball and swing aggressively at a high contact point.