Spikefest 16U: New Players Commanding our Attention

As a scout, when we walk into a gym, it sometimes only takes one play for a player to grab our attention. It might be an impressive set or a crafty setter dump, a big attack that energizes a team, or a relentless save that keeps a rally alive. Whatever the moment is, certain athletes have a way of making you keep watching. As the match goes on, they continue to stand out consistently making smart plays, contributing in multiple ways, and leaving a lasting impression that we know is going to want us to keep tabs on that player and check back again and again. The following are some of those new players that caught my attention as I walked into the gyms at Spikefest.   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.    Friesz is a smart, composed setter who runs the offense with confidence and tempo beyond her years while playing up an age level. She jump sets consistently, which allows her to keep the tempo high and prevents the block from getting set. She distributes the ball very well, doing an excellent job of involving all of her hitters and keeping the offense balanced, including effectively utilizing the backrow bic attack. She reads the court well and makes smart in system decisions, recognizing matchups. In addition to strong distribution, she is also an offensive threat herself, mixing in well timed, crafty setter dumps that catch defenses off guard and create points. Overall, she demonstrates strong court awareness, decision making, and leadership in running an offense. I wasn't able to get a decent picture of her or I would have included her in the top performers as well.     Bosch is a lefty right side who naturally jumped onto my radar due to her athleticism and versatility. She is agile and quick on her feet, allowing her to transition well and be effective both in system and out of system. Offensively, she can execute several types of attacks and does a good job mixing up her shots to keep defenders off balance. Her left handed presence on the right side creates challenging angles for opposing defenses. She also has a strong serve that puts pressure on passers and shows good instincts defensively, making her a reliable contributor in the backcourt. Overall, she is a well rounded player and we can't wait to keep tabs on her throughout this season and into the next.     Ronningen is a newer middle that showcases the ability to learn and adjust quickly during play. Playing up an age level, she does a great job getting lined up with opposing attackers and consistently puts up a solid, well formed block. She reads the play well and adapts throughout the match, showing strong awareness at the net. She also transitions off the net quickly to become an offensive threat, turning those opportunities into points and contributing effectively on both sides of the ball.     Moen is a six rotation outside hitter competing up two age levels who shows the physicality and composure to handle the challenge. While she may be young, it doesn't show as she was a major contributor on both sides of the net. She has a hard, aggressive swing on the pin that allows her to score points and put pressure on opposing defenses. From the service line, she delivers a solid, consistent serve that frequently keeps opponents out of system.     Grabowenski is a lefty right side who first grabbed my attention with a strong swing from the left pin, showing her versatility and confidence as an attacker. She has a quick arm swing and gets up high at the net, which helps her generate impressive kills. While that initial swing stood out, she is equally effective attacking from the right pin, being a reliable option from anywhere on the court. She is also a true gamer, consistently hustling on both offense and defense and bringing relentless energy to every play without letting up.

As a scout, when we walk into a gym, it sometimes only takes one play for a player to grab our attention. It might be an impressive set or a crafty setter dump, a big attack that energizes a team, or a relentless save that keeps a rally alive. Whatever the moment is, certain athletes have a way of making you keep watching. As the match goes on, they continue to stand out consistently making smart plays, contributing in multiple ways, and leaving a lasting impression that we know is going to want us to keep tabs on that player and check back again and again. The following are some of those new players that caught my attention as I walked into the gyms at Spikefest.