New KC Area Club Impressive In First Matches

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Club season is officially underway and I scouted my first three matches of the season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I traveled to Olathe for the Winter Warmup Challenge which took place at the Homefield Courts.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I watched three matches involving teams in the 15 Premier Pools.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The third match of the day in Pool A was a two-set win by Building Champions 15-1 over the S2K Gladiators 15-1 squad.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Building Champions is a brand-new club that features players from the KC metro area and is directed by Ryan Webb. The 15-1 roster is loaded with players from winning programs in the Kansas City area.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here is a look at four players who caught my eye on the Building Champions 15-1 club during Pool A play.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='487100' first='Lauren' last='Taloney']</strong>, 5'6”, S, Blue Valley Southwest, ‘27</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The strength of this team is its setters including Taloney. Taloney had six assists and a kill for the Champions. She is a really smart player who understands how to run an offense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='530205' first='Ellie' last='Nichols']</strong>, 5'7”, S, St. James Academy, ‘27</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Nichols finished with a team-high eight assists for the 15-1 squad. She has an accurate serve and added to aces to her stat line during the two-set victory.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Kendall Johnson</strong>, 5'9”, OH, Blue Valley Southwest, ‘27</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Johnson is an athletic player who should continue to improve as a hitter. She finished the match with a game-high eight kills. She can jump and has a good-looking swing.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='530220' first='Jacqueline' last='Steinlage']</strong>, 5'10”, MH, St. James Academy, ‘27</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Steinlage arguably might be the best athlete on this team. She is a physical player who can put some steam on the ball. She finished with five kills, two serve receptions, and one block in the win over the Gladiators.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Two defensive players on this roster I would like to spend more time scouting are Olathe Northwest's Delaney Wahoff and Basehor-Linwood's Ansley Davis.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->