Northern Lights Qualifier: 17 American All Stars Pt. 1

<p>The Northern Lights Qualifier in Minneapolis hosted a few of Missouri's top athletes. This past weekend included the 17's and 18's age groups to qualify for USAV Nationals. The 17 American division had a plethora of talent from the state of Missouri. On this first part of our all star selection I chose four athletes who stood out amongst the rest. Each of these athletes are integral for their respective club teams and can make huge impacts at the college level. </p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Abygail Kaufmann (417 [program_tooltip program_id='490801' first='Missouri' last='Juniors'])</h2>   <p>Abygail is a dominant presence at the net on both sides of the ball. She has the height, length, and athleticism to take advantage of opposing teams. The first thing you notice when watching Abygail play is her diverse use of shots and swing angles. She has the range on offense to push, tip, or hit the ball to any spot on the court. When you give her too much space she will bring her body through the ball and put the ball down. If there is a block in front she usually makes a great play on the ball. When you watch her defensively on the net she has fantastic eye work. Her eye work helps with her timing and positioning on her blocks. Abygail has all of the tools and the potential to be a great college prospect for the class of 2026. </p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Claire Peterson (Alpha Omega Volleyball)</h2>   <p>Claire has all of the skills to play volleyball at a high level. She might not be the tallest or jump the highest but has the ability to execute at the outside hitter position. Claire has the range from both sides of the court to hit any spot on the court. She's able to control the ball whether she wants to beat the block or slow it down into a shot. As well as she can execute on offense I think that her back row play is just as impactful. Her defense in middle back is what you'd look for in a DS or a perfect OH2. She can read the court and opposing hitters from the middle back position and create great opportunities for her team to transition into their offense. Claire can be a great DS or OH2 option for college programs. </p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='542209' first='Kylie' last='Goodale'] (Summit Volleyball Club)</h2>   <p>Kylie is an athletic middle who has a dynamic arm for the position. She's able to use different arm angles and speeds to take advantage of opposing defenses. She does a great job of committing to her set and being on time with good space. Being in good position to swing she can see the blocker in front of her to maneuver around the block. Although she may not have the cleanest footwork she's still able to use her body to drive the ball. The combination of offensive skills and IQ that she displays on the court is why she's an all star. When you look at her blocking she uses the same athleticism and IQ to take away space from opposing hitters. She may not get a block every time but will help the defenders behind her fill in the gaps. Kylie has a great chance to be an impact player at the next level. </p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='490112' first='Katie' last='Daehnick'] ([program_tooltip program_id='698098' first='573' last='[program_tooltip program_id='490801' first='Missouri' last='Juniors']'])</h2>   <p>Katie has all of the athleticism and length you look for in a setter. Standing at 5'10" with a solid vertical she's a force scoring from the setter position as well as blocking. Katie isn't the most technically sound setter but takes full control of the offense. She's athletic enough and displays all out effort to make up for the lack of technical footwork and handwork. When she sets the ball she does a great job of keeping her set location consistent. She can really spread the court out with her ability to set across the court behind her head and out in front of her. Katie is a great setter prospect for any team with the athletic profile and the growth I have been able to see watching her play. </p>   <p>The first part of all stars I covered showed their impact for their respective teams. No matter what position they play they all give their teams the best chance to win. The best part of highlighting these players is that each of them get the chance to shine for college coaches. Although they are not playing the highest division these athletes have earned their spotlight. I can't wait to keep watching these players improve throughout the season and what college program they end up at. </p>

The Northern Lights Qualifier in Minneapolis hosted a few of Missouri's top athletes. This past weekend included the 17's and 18's age groups to qualify for USAV Nationals. The 17 American division had a plethora of talent from the state of Missouri. On this first part of our all star selection I chose four athletes who stood out amongst the rest. Each of these athletes are integral for their respective club teams and can make huge impacts at the college level.