Club Team Preview: Kahiau 16 Navy
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Kahiau 16 Navy out of the Chelan area is putting the Northwest Power League on notice. A mix of ball control, athleticism, and pinpoint serving have contributed to a fast start, with just one loss so far to an excellent…
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Continue ReadingKahiau 16 Navy out of the Chelan area is putting the Northwest Power League on notice. A mix of ball control, athleticism, and pinpoint serving have contributed to a fast start, with just one loss so far to an excellent PSVBA 16 squad. The Kahiau side keeps the pressure on their opponents, playing low error and relentlessly working to keep the ball alive on defense. The extensive work done on the beach by so many of the players shows up in their style and volleyball IQ, it’s translating and making an impact indoors. Here is a look at the players getting it done in the early part of the season.
Hughbanks is the go-to attacker for the team, when things were tight in matches at the NWPSL, the sets came her way more often than not. One of the better freshman players in the state, she is a six-rotation outside with a quick powerful arm, and every shot in her toolbox. An elite beach athlete, Hughbanks plays defense and passes in serve receive at a high level and has already banked her first state title with Chelan. Two great shots she hit against RVC were a crazy angle kill that was well inside the 10-foot line, and a stinging pipe attack that she moves around the middle blocker to score consistently.
A physical, hard-working middle, Stuber is continuing to improve after a breakout sophomore season for Wenatchee. She will read the set and quickly work to close the block, and offensively she is running hard to the pin and scoring on the slide. She has a good press and works effectively with her pin attackers to put up a solid wall. Stuber is an offensive minded middle who works hard in transition to stay available.
Petersen is an effective attacker from either pin, and she took a massive amount of swings for Manson this school season. She is not just a volume scorer, she keeps the ball in play and has a feel for swinging hard line. She primarily is playing the right side, and she has a solid block that disrupts opposing hitters. Petersen balances out the attack for Kahiau, making sure the defense can’t key in on their skilled outsides.
Setting in a 5-1, the ultra-athletic and tough Berry is running a super quick tempo from pin to pin. Her athleticism lets her compete as a blocker, and her experience at libero is obvious when she is making big plays defensively. She jump sets to keep the tempo high and keep defenses guessing- she always has multiple options with her skilled pipe attackers loaded up. Berry is in control and displays the leadership you want from your setter, she is another winner on a team that is filled with them.
Highlights
Demirjian was lacing serves into the corners, racking up aces and free balls all day. She has great ball control and location on her attacks, in her passing, and of course, in her serving. She is playing all the way around on the outside and sets up in the middle back defensively. Defensively, hard attacks and tough serves don’t phase her. Demirjian is well-rounded and versatile, and makes the smart play rather than give up an easy point with a mistake, but still can rip the ball for a kill.
Camille Hutton
Camille Hutton
Hutton has a good touch offensively, she shows the ability to drop a soft tip to the middle of the court, or to find an open spot just off the net. She has good chemistry on the floor with her Manson teammates Torres and Petersen, and brings excellent energy when she is playing the middle.
Genesis Torres
Genesis Torres
A solid back-line defender and fundamentally sound in serve receive, Torres holds down the defense along with the rest of the excellent passers on the team. She has an excellent tempo playing the ball to her setter Berry, allowing the offense to run at the fast pace Kahiau wants. Torres covers her hitters closely, they can swing away with her parked close by to pop up any blocked attack.
Emme Tucker
Emme Tucker
Tucker is an excellent and accurate server, Kahiau overall as a team serves tough and in. She rattled off a three-ace run against RVC, and with her at the service line, the team features one of its best defensive rotations. Tucker has quick reactions and fast hands, she made some fantastic saves on balls that ricocheted her way. She reads tips and roll shots easily and can turn them into free ball opportunities for her team.