Show Me National Qualifier- Impact Players #3
I had the opportunity to watch some amazing matches and talented players in Kanas City at the Asics Show Me National Qualifier. There were teams from all over the US in attendance. This is a type of tournament where big…
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Continue ReadingI had the opportunity to watch some amazing matches and talented players in Kanas City at the Asics Show Me National Qualifier. There were teams from all over the US in attendance. This is a type of tournament where big name clubs send some of their best teams and a place where underdogs have a chance to make a splash. Typically, each winner of the gold bracket in their division will earn a bid to the Junior National Championships in Indianapolis, Indiana this summer.
I was there coaching my club team but I made sure to show up early and stay late to catch some teams/players I would have otherwise missed. Here are a few players that stood out and made an impact for their team:
Kenzie McClelland #8 Outside Hitter for Iowa Rockets 15-1 (IA). I was very impressed with the composure this young lady possesses in big moments. It is not something you see often at this age. She looked confident with every play she was a part of. She has a really nice cut shot that was used in some of those moments. Defensively, she does a great job of penetrating the net into the hitters side of the court. This creates a smaller range for the hitter to put the ball. This, in turn, really helps her passers line up and read around her. She helped her team finish tied for 5th in the American division.
Lilly Wall #17 Libero for KSUNITED 15-1 (HA). She has something you want every play on your team to have, a motor. This kid just doesn’t stop! She is a huge leader for her team with constant effort and communication. She was constantly calling out things on the defensive end. Offensively, it almost looked like she loved to cover her hitters. She was hurrying after a sliding dig in the back of the court to sprint back to try and cover her hitter. It was something to see. She helped her team finish tied for 9th in the American division.
Madeliene Koulavong #3 Setter for Club Net 15 National (DE). This young lady is not a tall player but she plays huge! She has a great touch on her sets. They come out of her hands almost effortlessly. She is tough as nails on the defensive end. I saw her lay out for a pancake dig against Surge. She has no quit and her team feeds off of it. She helped her team finish tied for 25th in the American division.
Lucy Ridener #7 Setter for Virago 15-1 (OK). She got on multiple serving streaks to help her team pull away in sets. She does a great job of squaring up to the pin before she sets each ball. She has been working on being more of an offensive threat with her setter attacks from the back row and she was able to sneak a few in on her opponents. She helped her team finish tied for 55th in the American division.
There was top notch talent all over the convention center. It was hard to stay focused on any one court. I see these players making waves in their home states in the upcoming school season. They will continue to develop and soon be on college coaches’ radars. I wish every team and player a solid finish to the rest of their season.