Club Preview: 16U Power League Qualifier: Part One

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Only three more sleeps until the calendar flips from 2025 to 2026.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Which means you have three more days to send me Happy New Year's and Happy Birthday wishes.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>That's right, yours truly is a New Year's Baby! Yet, I was not the first baby born, and my folks did not get any grand prizes, except for yours truly.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I scouted 14U Power League Qualifier matches this past weekend, and weather permitting, I plan to scout 16U Power League Qualifier matches in Lawrence on January 3. It might be one of the few times I get to see 16U teams play, so I want to preview a large number of players before the event.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here is the first of three previews of players who should be participating in the event.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["574151"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69509cc7d6afd"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Clifton plays on the [program_tooltip program_id='428889' first='Dynasty' last=''] 16-2 squad and is ranked No. 30 overall in the Kansas Class of 2028 rankings. She finished with 174 kills and 50 blocks last fall for Olathe South. I saw her play early in the prep season, and she is a physical hitter. She also tallied 262 digs for the Falcons. The schedule has not yet been released for the event, so I am not sure if I will see teams or players I will see play, but Clifton and this squad are worth a watch.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["516246"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69509cc7d6b86"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The Topeka Saints 16-1 team is loaded with talent and will be a threat to make a run at National hardware. Charger prospect Cook is one of several players on this team with whom I am familiar. I missed Cook and Santa Fe Trail this prep season, so she will be high on my list of athletes to scout this weekend. She has posted back-to-back seasons with 300-plus kills. She is ranked No. 20 overall in the Kansas Class of 2027, but has a late birthday, allowing her to play in the 16U division.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["518353"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69509cc7d6be1"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Lee is the No. 1-ranked athlete in the Kansas Class of 2028 and plays for [program_tooltip program_id='430200' first='KC' last='Power'] 16-1. The thunderous outside puts on a show when she takes the floor. Her chunky sophomore season stat line included 393 kills, 238 digs, 465 serve receptions, and 35 blocks. The Power will be one of the favorites to win this January 3 event.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["582978"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69509cc7d6c31"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Lewis plays for Shockwave 16-1. I have not seen the young Jaguar play for quite some time. This team will be a priority team to try to catch this weekend. She dished out 849 assists for Andover Central last season. She has a ton of weapons on her club team to feed balls to. After watching Shockwave's 14-1 club this past weekend, I would be disappointed if I did not see this group's "A Game" in Jayhawk land. Lewis is ranked No. 50 overall by Prep Dig Kansas.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["536308"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69509cc7d6c7f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Lynnes is a libero for the [program_tooltip program_id='428889' first='Dynasty' last=''] 16-1 team. I saw her play for Spring Hill before she transferred to Mill Valley. She has quick feet, moves well laterally, and makes consistent first passes. It will be interesting to see how she has evolved since her freshman season. She is ranked No. 28 overall and is the top-ranked libero in the Kansas Class of 2028. She finished her sophomore season with the Jaguars with 283 digs and 355 serve receptions, after collecting 421 digs and 568 receptions as a freshman.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["562034"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69509cc7d6ccd"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Eudora's Miller is ranked No. 2 overall by Prep Dig Kansas. I really enjoyed watching her play during the prep season. She racked up 525 kills as a sophomore, after beginning her prep career with 345 kills as a freshman. She has Division I skills, and it will be interesting to see how her recruitment plays out. It will really depend on who [program_tooltip program_id='428892' first='PVA' last=''] plays early in the tournament, on whether I catch them playing or not. I would love to see them go up against one of the tournament favorites.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->