High-Flying Hitters to Follow after Show Me Qualifier
We’re right in the middle of the crucial spring stretch of the 2022 club season. Time to give you a few more names to follow. The Show Me Qualifier in Kansas City gave us plenty of athletes to add to…
Access all of Prep Dig
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingWe’re right in the middle of the crucial spring stretch of the 2022 club season. Time to give you a few more names to follow.
The Show Me Qualifier in Kansas City gave us plenty of athletes to add to our radar. Specifically, we’re focusing on attacking positions today, with outsides, opposites, and middle blockers all sharing the spotlight in this feature. We saw some of the country’s best frontcourt firepower at Show Me, so our list of names has greatly expanded.
Let’s share a few of those names here.
Gabby Deery – 6’1 MB/RS – Iowa Rockets 17R
Deery is one of those versatile athletes who can seamlessly switch between middle blocker and opposite from match to match. I was particularly impressed by how she terminated on the right pin at Show Me, and those big swings helped Iowa Rockets have a breakout weekend at the event.
More three-set drama in store for Iowa Rockets 17R against NKYVC!
Gabby Deery hammers down the line to secure the second set. pic.twitter.com/CwY1ns9rIQ
— Austin Kingsley (@KingsleyATK) April 11, 2022
Ava Stone – 6’0 MB – Nebraska Elite 15 Matrix
After such a spectacular showing for Nebraska Elite 15 Matrix, you know there were bound to be some players that stepped up and made a big splash in Kansas City. Stone was one of those players, as her length and lateral quickness formed a persistent blocking presence along the net.
Nebraska Elite 15 Matrix gets in the Sunday win column! pic.twitter.com/NiiA6aTIri
— Austin Kingsley (@KingsleyATK) April 10, 2022
Logan Bell – 5’11 OH – Circle City 15 Purple
15 Purple is going through a huge gauntlet of qualifiers right now, with the team just polishing off a Windy City championship a week after competing at Show Me. There are no signs that Bell will slow down, though, as this physical outside hitter led the Circle City attack throughout Show Me and has done the same in Chicago.
Quite a battle unfolding already between Circle City and Premier Nebraska on the 15s side.
Logan Bell has been stout on the outside for 15 Purple. @CCVBCrecruit pic.twitter.com/zkOIQBqYrL
— Austin Kingsley (@KingsleyATK) April 9, 2022
Lauryn Bowie – 6’2 RS – Mintonette m.71
Bowie is going to bring some serious size and strength to the Virginia Cavaliers in 2023. Her incredible wingspan allows her to be a shutdown blocker against even the most terminal opposing left sides, and her attacking range is also progressing quickly. Mintonette came up clutch to secure the final 17 Open bid at Show Me, so we can look forward to seeing more from Bowie on another big stage.
Unreal physicality from Lauryn Bowie (33) on the right pin for @MintonetteSport m.71 this weekend.
She’s playing waaaay up there. pic.twitter.com/Sfw8HXQpFI
— Austin Kingsley (@KingsleyATK) April 10, 2022
Payton Petersen – 6’0 OH – Six Pack 16s
Petersen has become a notoriously prolific scorer in the Iowa prep scene for Dike-New Hartford, and now she’s bringing that same power and efficiency to the club court with Six Pack. Big arms like hers are simply difficult to defend, even if opposing defenders put themselves in the right position.
Six Pack 16 pulls it off! Starting Sunday with a three-set win.
Payton Petersen puts down the clincher. pic.twitter.com/pW251BKzXx
— Austin Kingsley (@KingsleyATK) April 10, 2022
Kayla Jansen – 6’2 MB – High Performance STL 16 Royal
There seems to be a lot of middles with monster wingspans coming through the HPSTL pipeline, and Jansen is surely one to follow from 16 Royal. She works incredibly hard to make herself available in transition and can cover a lot of ground to seal a block on either pin.
Alea Goolsby – 5’10 OH – KC Power 16-1
I’ve been fortunate enough to see a lot from KC Power 16-1 in live action this year, and Goolsby is consistently one of my favorite players to watch from this group. Sure, this is a feature about attackers, but Goolsby’s unbelievably steady serve receive cannot go without mention. Once she steps into the frontcourt, she brings a new dynamic to the left pin that gives other teams a lot to think about.
Jessica Costlow – 5’11 OH – MiElite 15 Mizuno
Once again, we have one of those players that does everything from the left-side hitter spot. Costlow is a gritty defender and passer in addition to being a go-to frontcourt attacker, and 15 Mizuno knew when to lean on her as the team posted a solid finish in KC.