Lockdown Defenders Swipe the Spotlight at MO/KS Exposure Tour

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here's another position group that exceeded our expectations.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Kansas City stops on the Prep Dig Circuit are some of my favorite in the yearly rotation. Standout athletes from Missouri and Kansas collide to give us a glimpse into the future of the Heart of America Region. Sunday's event showed us that the future could be anchored in the back row.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Liberos are a frequent highlight of our showcase events. Fast-paced defensive drills lead to quick first impressions. Then, the intensity of team scrimmages ramps up, and liberos get into the flow of six-on-six competition. It's something to behold.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Let's pick out some backcourt gems who thrived in that chaos.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["802538"],"_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-69448e0368996"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Kramer was one of our earliest standouts during Sunday morning's flurry of activity. This veteran defender played a critical role for this year's 42-7 Jefferson County North squad, so expectations were sky-high heading into last weekend's showcase. Kramer delivered spectacular reps in triangle drills, setting the tone for the scrimmages to follow. Offenses were at their best when Kramer was taking first contacts and delivering perfect passes on the setter's head. We'd expect nothing less when she competes with [program_tooltip program_id='430171' first='Atchison' last='Attackers'] this spring.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["534735"],"_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-69448e0368a02"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[program_tooltip program_id='515242' first='Optimum' last='Volleyball Club'] gets on the board with one of its best all-around ball control contributors from the Class of 2028. Brasel is a versatile gem who can patrol the right back area as a backcourt setter or run the floor as a DS. Her defensive influence took precedence at the Exposure Tour, particularly when making touches in transition. Brasel is not satisfied with simply keeping the ball off the floor. She knows how to guide the ball to her target and will keep developing with more high-level experience.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["898275"],"_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-69448e0368a4c"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">We've already mentioned MAVS KC's strong defensive pedigree, so why not add another talented libero to the club's gym? Howarter is a quick, instinctive floor defender who is accustomed to playing any area in the back row. Her primary territory with MAVS KC this spring was in Zone 1, but Howarter's adaptability flourished when she moved around the dial at our Exposure Tour. She commands the "campfire" well, picking up any tips that would otherwise drop. The Heart of America Region's 15s scene is already looking stacked.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["790545"],"_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-69448e0368a92"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Whitney has already seen her share of the spotlight after nabbing the top libero standing in our Kansas Class of 2029 rankings. Still, the Lawrence Free State libero managed to raise the standard further through her Exposure Tour performance. She passed dimes outside her midline and could instantly read serves traveling into open seams. Whitney brings the kind of influence that can't be fully measured in a box score, but her stats aren't too shabby, either. Her 200-dig freshman campaign is the perfect prelude to the club season with [program_tooltip program_id='428889' first='Dynasty' last=''].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["778394"],"_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-69448e0368ad8"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Koelling didn't wait long to make a varsity impact with Incarnate Word High School. The freshman libero finished third on the team with over two digs per set and was part of a loaded cast of underclassmen for the Red Knights. That early breakthrough set the stage for further gains at our showcase, where Koelling's vocal leadership and confidence were immediately notable. She has the steady platform to back up that leadership and should be a game-changer for No Coast's top 15s squad.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["915048"],"_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-69448e0368b1d"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Setter-DS hybrids are seemingly a theme of this libero feature. The Class of 2029 still has a lot of time to grow and experiment with positional designations, and Kendrick embodies this well. She was keen to exhibit her defensive range during Sunday's scrimmages, but this Mizuno [program_tooltip program_id='515493' first='Club' last='North'] standout also stepped in to dish well-located sets to her hitters. Her effort and pursuit set the bar for everyone on her scrimmage team, and we can't wait to see Kendrick on the qualifier circuit next spring.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->