Under The Radar 17s
Between changing diapers and doctor’s appointments, I was able to get back into the gym and watch some volleyball. Spring Smackdown in Tulsa is always a popular tournament for Oklahoma teams. I was able to catch the 17s division in…
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Continue ReadingBetween changing diapers and doctor’s appointments, I was able to get back into the gym and watch some volleyball. Spring Smackdown in Tulsa is always a popular tournament for Oklahoma teams. I was able to catch the 17s division in the morning and see some quality play from some players on the rise. Let’s take a look at a handful of players that stuck out.
Payton Robbins– Six rotation outside for OK Redline 17-1. She has a huge swing that stems from the big approach she takes. When the set is left inside, she is able to stride out and still take a huge swing going hard into the cross court. She is a real threat and is used often offensively, including out of the back row. She also impacts the game from the service line. When she is on, she has a really aggressive float serve that has a ton of pace behind it. She does a great job of digging balls that are in front of her, cracking her platform, getting that ball to stay on her side of the court despite working forwards.
Kaitlyn Mathews– Libero for OK Redline 17-1. She is so quick to get in a great position to play balls. As seen in this picture, she has a great frame and passes a ton of balls in her midline. Her movement is what sets her apart from other defensive specialists and gives her team huge boost. Her serve and serve receive game makes her the most valuable player on her high school team.
Jaedyn Brown-Adams– She is a big time player for OK Charge 16 National. Her vertical and power on her swing only takes one look to grab your attention. She is a game changer for her high school, Chickasha, and for her club team. She is much more than just an athletic hitter that swings hard, she had multiple nice tips and well placed controlled swings. She has a large tool box to pick from when it comes to finding a kill. She impacts the game in more ways than just offense. She brings great energy, as well as her serve receive game. She does a great job of getting low and tracking the ball into her platform. Look for her in the coming years to really blossom and jump into the rankings. I think she has a very high ceiling.
Anna Degraffenreid– She is a hard working individual. As a setter, she wont have numbers and plays that will jump out at you, it’s her attitude and effort that make her indispensable. She lets her team know every ball matters and she will do her best to better each and every ball. She also does a good job defensively, where some setters tend to struggle with wanting to dig, but not her. She is not scared to hit the deck and keep the ball alive.
With her hard work, being left handed, and surrounded by good coaches/teammates, she will come along very quickly and make a big splash in the upcoming year.
It was awesome to be back in the gym and getting to see the progress of these Oklahoma athletes. Prep Dig wants to keep recognizing and covering the hard work these players are putting in. Keep up the good work girls!!