Show Me National Qualifier- Impact Players #4
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:
Lindsey Hrbek #9 Middle Blocker for Premier Nebraska 15 Red (GP). She will be getting offers in the near future! She has the body frame to be at the next level and still has a couple more years to develop even further. She has serious pop on the ball, not many balls are hit with anything less than full power. She also hits a wide variety of sets to keep the blockers guessing where she will be. She helped her team finish 17th overall in the Liberty division.
Sadie Gafka #15 Setter for GCVA 151 Coast (LS). Sadie is a workhorse defensively. She does a great job of being a passer first then switch to setting. She is very deceptive due to her setting being neutral at the point of contact. Her sets all look very similar until they are released. This allows her hitters an extra split second to get the ball through gaps. She is a solid player for this team and helped guide them to a 21st overall finish in the American division.
Tatiana Henao #2 Libero for Arete 15 Navy (NT). She does a great job of reading the hitters and blockers to be in great position. From there, she also does a great job of getting stopped to make her secondary move. This allows her to get to balls others cannot. She really covered a ton of court for her north Texas team. She helped her team finish tied for 42nd overall in the American division.
Salene Wright #19 Setter for Rise 15-1 (OK). She is a small setter but she brings a ton to the team. She is crafty with her front row attacks. She has been coached well and you can see this with her setting tight balls with ease. She can contort her body to avoid the net but allow her to still get power behind each ball. She also has quite the get up and go, she tracked down nearly every pass, rarely needing help to get to the second touch. Her float serve also sets her apart. That ball has some serious velocity behind it. She helped her team finish tied for 13th in the Liberty 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.