Maize South Mavericks Prepped For The Long Drive

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I scouted two matches on September 6, in Lenexa.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>St. James Academy hosted a round robin tournament.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I watched the Maize South Mavericks twice, a two-set win over Olathe South, and a loss to St. James in three sets.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here is a look at athletes from Maize South who impressed me this morning. It's a team that looks poised to make a long postseason run.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='570416' first='Autumn' last='Popp']</strong>, 5'10”, S, Maize South, '27</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Popp is ranked No. 6 overall and is verbally committed to Wichita State University. She had the best match I have seen from a setter to this point in the early season. She has cat-like quickness and understands where her hitters should be on the floor. She recorded 17 assists in each match for a total of 34. She finished with three kills in the two matches, and played six-rotations for the Mavericks.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='532772' first='Sage' last='Illian']</strong>, 6'1”, OH/S, Maize South, ‘28</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Illian made a solid argument to be moved up the class of 2028 rankings and to be included on my All-Deck Team at the conclusion of the season. She is currently ranked No. 12 overall by Prep Dig Kansas. She is a graceful hitter who also played six rotations for Maize South. Her stat line against Olathe South included a team-high six kills, with four digs and three serve receptions. In the loss to St. James, she registered eight kills, 10 digs, and five serve receptions.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='483915' first='Isabella' last='(Bella) Cook']</strong>, 6'2”, MB/OH, Maize South, '27</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cook is ranked No. 3 overall in the Kansas Class of 2027. She is verbally committed to Iowa State University. She can be a beast at the net. She combined for 13 kills and two blocks in the two matches. I liked her combination of speed and power. She is an elite jumper who had multiple touches that did not result in finished blocks. She is an athlete who makes the opposition pay for overpassing the net.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='580722' first='Kendyll' last='Nash']</strong>, 5'5”, S/DS, Maize South, ‘27</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Nash is ranked No. 86 overall in the Kansas Class of 2027. I watched Nash closely in the second match. In the loss to the Thunder, she came up with multiple impressive last-second digs. She finished the match with 12 digs and 16 serve receptions. She has the ability to keep long rallies alive and did not get rattled by the power arms on the St. James roster.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='841883' first='Ava' last='Stoughton']</strong>, 5'8”, RS, Maize South, ‘27</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The surprise on the Mavericks' squad was Stoughton. She can jump out of the gym, but can get lost among the tall trees on the Maize South front row. She is unranked, but that will be remedied at the end of the season. She recorded seven kills in the two matches. She plays club ball with Kansas Networks and will be on my radar for good moving forward.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='827935' first='Taylor' last='Steele']</strong>, 5'10”, MB/RS, Olathe South, ‘27</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Olathe South lost both of its opening matches to Maize South and Olathe Northwest. Steele is a sleek outside hitter who is ranked No. 50 overall in the Kansas Class of 2027. She finished with three kills and two serve receptions in the match against Maize South.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='574151' first='Emani' last='Clifton']</strong>, 5'6”, RS, Olathe South, ‘28</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Clifton is ranked No. 35 overall in the Kansas Class of 2028. She is an interesting lefty who played better defensively than I remember her playing in the past. She finished with three digs and five serve receptions, but was not much of a factor in South's attack. She has a hard and accurate serve that will play at the next level.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='828564' first='Mia' last='Montgomery']</strong>, 5'10”, OH, Olathe South, ‘28</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The surprise athlete of the morning was Olathe South's Montgomery. She is a sophomore and a player I had not seen play before. She has a ton of sand in her game and the athletic frame to become a top-tier player. She finished with three kills, two digs, and four serve receptions. I don't think her game is completely seasoned yet, but I saw a ton of upside and potential from her. She played a poised game with the chips down on the scoreboard.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->