Big City Luau 15s: Young Talent, Big Impact

There was a ton of talent at the Big City Luau and I was glad to be able to grab a front row seat and watch some of the 15s division. Many of these teams and players were new to me but they sure did impress. Many demonstrated elevated skills, hustle, and grit making a significant impact in every match they played.   Already showing a glimpse of their potential, the following are some of the up and coming future studs of the sport. With their talent and continued growth in the game, these are players to watch.   Remember to follow me on Instagram @Prepdigamy and Facebook @PrepDig Amy for up to date event coverage, stories, and more. Use code "AVG30" for a discount on your initial membership.    Barlow is new to me which is surprising since Southeastern Minnesota is my stomping grounds...however, I am sure glad I had the opportunity to see her play. Barlow is a highly effective middle with solid lateral quickness and fast transitions, which allow her to effectively impact plays on both sides of the net. Her speed, vertical, and reaction time allow her to close blocks, slow down others with effective block touches, and get up quickly in transition offense. She also has great reactions and a quick, heavy arm swing which makes her an offense threat as well as a highly, effective defensive asset.     Hauk is a young setter who moves well across the court and consistently finds her hitters in transition, delivering clean, hittable sets. She demonstrates strong decision making and showcases an overall solid game IQ for her age, making smart choices that keep the offense running. The combo of court awareness and strong mechanics indicate that she is destined to be a highly effective leader. As she continues to grow and develop her game, we can't wait to see what she can do next.     Mathiasen is a fundamentally sound setter who consistently gets her feet to the ball and delivers clean, smooth, accurate sets to her hitters. She reads the opposing defense well, makes smart choices, and knowing when to capitalize with a timely setter dump. Her combination of technical skill, game IQ, and decision making make her an impactful offensive leader.     Barsness is a technically sound libero, strong in all facets of the defensive game. In serve receive, she consistently keeps her hips behind the ball and angles early to maintain control. She reads the play effectively, running through short balls, anticipating tips and pushes, and delivers out of system balls with precision. Her solid fundamentals and smart court awareness make her a reliable backcourt boss and key part of her team's success in winning the tournament.     Farnia is an intimidating presence in the middle standing at 6'2". She is even more intimidating because she is good at using her length and long reach to get a hand on nearly every ball in her area. She also showcases natural power and raw athleticism in both attacking and blocking, making her a difficult matchup offensively and defensively. As she continues to grow and develop her overall game, she has the potential to become a dominant force in the middle.

There was a ton of talent at the Big City Luau and I was glad to be able to grab a front row seat and watch some of the 15s division. Many of these teams and players were new to me but they sure did impress. Many demonstrated elevated skills, hustle, and grit making a significant impact in every match they played.