Rock Creek Loaded With Young & Special Athletes

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I scouted two early matches of the Wamego Invitational on September 23.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Both of those matches featured the Rock Creek Mustangs in Pool B play.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rock Creek knocked off Thomas Moore Prep out of Hays in two sets and lost to Circle in two sets.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here is a close look at four prospects who played well for Rock Creek on Saturday. None of the four are seniors but are all names that coaches should write down for future reference.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='219714' first='Ayla' last='Klingenberg']</strong>, 6'0”, MH, ‘25</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There are not enough dry-erase markers in Kansas to equip the number of coaches who should write this young lady's name on their recruitment boards. Klingenberg, a junior middle hitter, could play multiple positions at the college level. She had two solid matches finishing with 10 kills, six digs, and four serve receptions against the Monarchs, and followed that up with nine kills, nine digs, and 15 serve receptions against Circle. She has a hard serve and had five aces in the two matches combined.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='489775' first='Brynna' last='Zoeller']</strong>, 5'10, RS/S, ‘26</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Zoeller is a six-rotation talent for the Mustangs. She can set, but her hitting skills are more needed for this current roster. She collected six kills, four digs, and three assists against TMP and had five kills, 11 digs, and four blocks in the match against Circle. Zoeller stepped up her game in the match against the more competitive Thunderbirds. I was taken aback when I double-checked the roster and saw she was just a sophomore.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='714709' first='Tailyn' last='Kadavy']</strong>, 5'11”, OH, ‘25</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kadavy is an interesting prospect. She can set, hit, and dig. I think the issue with her is it will be the needs of a college coach, that decides what position she could play collegiately. She did not dominate in any category, but she looked really solid everywhere she played. Kadavy had six assists and three kills in the match against Rock Creek and then four kills and three digs against Circle. I have no doubt she can play at the NAIA and Juco levels.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='516237' first='Ambree' last='Portelli']</strong>, 5'5”, OH, ‘26</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>My favorite player to watch was Portelli. She reminds me of my French Bulldog, Wrigley. He's not very tall, but he is super-fast for a Frenchie and can jump up twice his height. Portelli can jump over a car, but 5-foot-5 might be giving her an extra inch. She is a high jumpera during the Track-and-Field season. She gets lost on the front row between taller players, but she is perhaps Rock Creek's best blocker. She finished the two matches with four kills and two blocks. She played front row only in both matches, but she is expected to become a six-rotation talent as her game evolves. Portelli is a special kind of athlete. Like I tell every young hitter, she can't be afraid of the weight room to add some extra strength to add more exit velo off her kills, and to win those tough 50/50 balls above the net.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->