Wellington & Augusta Prospects Play Spy Game In 2023 Openers

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Trinity Knights hosted a four-team tournament on August 26 to open the 2023 season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Prep Dig was in attendance and scouted the first two matches of the day which included the Wellington Crusaders and Augusta Orioles. Both teams fell in three-set battles against Trinity.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here is a look at six prospects who had solid performances from those early matches.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Katelyn Kessler </strong>, 5'8”, S, '24, Wellington</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There just wasn't a high number of seniors playing for the three teams I scouted, but one who did stand out was Kessler. She is a high-energy athlete and the floor leader for her team. In the loss to the Knights, she finished with 13 digs, 10 assists, and one kill. She is a six-rotation player who has a serious interest in playing at the college level. She is the player the Crusaders rally around and she is always communicating on the court. She would be a solid addition to an NAIA or JUCO program.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Kayla Houghtaling</strong>, 5'8”, S, '24 Augusta</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Houghtaling was the other senior I was really impressed by on Saturday. She played six rotations and knows how to fill up a stat sheet. In the Orioles' three-set loss to Trinity, she posted the following numbers; 11 assists, five serve receptions, four digs, and two kills. She also has a dangerous sinking line drive serve that can be difficult to receive cleanly. She might end up moving to libero or a defensive specialist at the next level, but I would not hesitate to recommend her to my circle of NAIA and JUCO coaches.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='493445' first='Ella' last='Goodrum']</strong>, 5'10”, MH, '25, Wellington</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Goodrum is a solid hitter who also has a nice serve. She finished with five kills, three blocks, and one ace in the loss to Trinity. She has a big reach and two more years of high school and club ball to hone her skills. Goodrum plays club ball with One VA.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Brylee Johnson</strong>, 5'4”, L/DS, '25, Wellington</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Johnson was the libero that impressed me the most from the three teams I scouted. She makes really consistent passes and will sacrifice her body to make a tough dig. She collected 14 serve receptions, and 11 digs in the loss to the Knights.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Ella Bourm</strong>, 5'9'”, MH, '25, Augusta</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Orioles have a set of sisters playing for them who are both young intriguing prospects. Ella plays middle hitter for the Orioles, but could play just about any position on the court. She finished with six kills, three blocks, three digs, and three assists in Augusta's second match of the day.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Emma Bourm</strong>, 5'9”, S, '25, Augusta</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Emma Bourm plays setter and has a different “Bourm Identity” to her game. She finished the match against Trinity with six assists and seven digs. In my quick observations, she moves just a tick quicker than her sister, but Ella jumps a smidge higher. Needless to say, the Bourm sisters have multiple seasons left to establish their ultimate legacy on the Oriole volleyball record books.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->