Rankings Update: New ’24s To The Gopher State
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We’ve updated the class of 2024 rankings and we have some new names in the rankings. Some have spent time on our Watchlist until we had a chance to see them a little more. So, let’s spend some time talking…
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Continue ReadingWe’ve updated the class of 2024 rankings and we have some new names in the rankings. Some have spent time on our Watchlist until we had a chance to see them a little more. So, let’s spend some time talking about these 10 big additions to these updated rankings!
Defenders, grab your helmets! Carlson does a great job of contacting on top of the ball and bouncing the ball before it even gets in a defenders area of coverage. Out of system isn’t a problem for her and she can still find the deep line. Scramble play getting everyone bunched in the middle, no problem, she uses the finesse shot. And Carlson also puts up a big block to get the setter a lot of trouble if that pass is tight.
Highlights
Athman is a springy little fireball. She can attack and terminate from anywhere on the net and I’m really bummed I didn’t see her sooner. Athman is not a huge presence and easy to over look until she starts to run her attack routes and then when she jumps its just explosive.
Beck is a primary passer and six rotation outside that has a plethora of shots in her toolbox. She gets a ton of touches of defense and provides a reliable 1st contact. Beck may be smaller that some of her counterpart attackers but her game IQ helps her play so much bigger than 5’9. With specializing becoming more and more prevelant it is refreshing to see a player that can do it all and understand the “how’s” and “why’s”. This will helo Beck take her game to another level.
Hill was previously on our watchlist but has been catching my eye not only on her Northern Revival 17s team but making her way onto the JVA Wachlist. She’s got some size and and a fast armswing. Hill has realy good timing whether she is approaching in front or behind the setter. She gets her arm up early and can pull a fast trigger to beat the block. Hill also knows how to energize her squad with a well timed block.
Sayotovich jumped on my radar when I say Northern Lights 17-Red playing at the Show Me Qualifier in Kansas City. She moves extremely well to the ball and she uses her her athleticism and vision to move the ball around and utilize the entire court. Sayotovich can push the ball to either pin quickly and betters the ball when the pass isn’t quite there. She is springy and jumpsets a majority of her sets and is great at saving the tight passes. Sayotovich is definitely the player I would want to touch the ball on every play.
Anderson has really great control over her attacks and knows just where to place the ball. She is another steady and dependable player with good size. Anderson is smooth and constantly adding to her skill set.
Perry is a force to be reckoned with and she creates a strong and coordinated block in front of outside attackers. Her block was what caught my eye when she was competing with her M1 171 team at the Show Me Qualifier in Kansas City. Perry made smart adjustments and sealed the net. She could cause attackers some real anxiety.
Clifford is still a little bit of a mystery to me. I’ve heard she is an outstanding pole vaulter and I’ve seen how springy she is. She is still mainly a middle blocker in my book but I’ve seen some progress made on the offensive side of her game so it felt like it was time to pull her into the rankings!
Carlstrom patrols the backcourt for Rochester Mayo and is a super solid first contact. In serve receive she is steady and constant and taking the correct first step and creating space between her body and platform. Carlstrom creates strong angles and reads the play on the other side so she can pick up twice as many balls.
Conner is a smart pin attacker that makes great contact with the ball. She works around the block so well that it is almost irrelevant how big the block may be. After seeing Conner at the Show Me Qualifier in Kansas City I can tell she is a steady go-to player that simply knows how to score and keep her team in the match. She just always seems calm, hard-working, and can take on the pressure of being a leader by action without using a lot of flash. Every team needs a player like this on their roster.