New 2029s Emerging after MO/KS Stock Up Showcase

Prepare for a sophomore surge.   Showcases always provide an invaluable glimpse into an area's future prep stars. This summer, the Class of 2029 is particularly eager to make an impression heading into their second high school campaign. These underclassmen still have a lot of volleyball left to play at this level, but they're already exhibiting maturity, competitiveness, and skills beyond their years. We were bound to find a few of these future stars in America's Heartland.   Today's Missouri/Kansas Stock Up feature has its eyes on the 2029s.    We had Derby High School standouts from nearly every position at Sunday's Stock Up Showcase. Rousseau carried the torch at the outside hitter spot and built off a successful 2026 club campaign with Shockwave 15 Grey. Her rolls shots and well-placed tips have become a hallmark of her game. As we rolled into last weekend's team drills, Rousseau grew increasingly comfortable while connecting on some of those finesse kills. We should learn even more about this emerging sophomore as she embarks on another fall season with the Panthers.     Manhattan Mamba was a frequent discussion topic during the club season, from the Prep Dig Iowa Clash to the bright lights of Nationals. Players like Liby are bringing the club to new heights. The Rock Creek sophomore was a reliable distributor during Sunday's scrimmages, even while tracking down errant passes. This impeccable leadership flourished as Liby and her Manhattan Mamba 15-1 crew clinched the 15 American Blue title at MEQ. GJNC offered yet another opportunity for Liby to boost her stock, and she hasn't slowed down through this late-summer stretch.     Dotson's middle dominance drew instant attention last weekend. She dented the floor during positional drills, establishing herself as an eye-popping terminator in hitting lines. Then, Dotson proved she could maintain her effectiveness while squaring up against opposing blockers. She was not shy about challenging any hands in front of her, and Dotson's influence was not limited to the middle, either. Even some reps at opposite would not disrupt Dotson's rhythm.     We might as well visit with Dotson's club teammate from the OVC 15-1 crew. Liesche and her team enjoyed tremendous success during their qualifier travels, highlighted by a podium finish at the Salt Lake City Showdown. Liesche's quick, whippy arm was a constant throughout. Aside from her ability to get crafty at the net, Liesche is also a middle-back mainstay with a tremendous platform in the middle-back area. She doesn't need to terminate to leave a positive mark, and Liesche demonstrated that perfectly at our KC outing.     Thompson might have been strutting a little extra confidence while competing in her home gym, but this Lawrence Free State sophomore has the range to thrive in any environment. She was already on our 2029 radar as an outside hitter who could carry major defensive roles if needed. Versatile athletes like Thompson are ready-made for showcase excellence, especially as outside hitters rotate between one drill and another. Thompson's willingness to adapt led to feature-worthy moments in Sunday's final scrimmage reps.     It's about time we checked in with some of Club North's 2029 talent. Sparks joined many of her CNVBC co-conspirators at Sunday's showcase and exhibited her multi-dimensional ball control prowess. Her native position is setter, where Sparks' pin-to-pin pushes produced plenty of highlights last weekend. She is at her best when distributing to three-hitter rotations. This also allows Sparks to lock down the right-back area with her unique brand of gritty defense. She'll better the ball on any contact.     Club North gets another one. Watts had ample physicality to spar against older foes in Sunday's team drills. But, of course, measurable length wasn't the only thing working in Watts' favor. She worked hard to make herself an available transition option, giving defenses plenty to think about at the net. Mizuno Club North 15Remy was quick to wield Watts' stature for its in-system offense, and many of our showcase setters were eager to do the same.     Even after dishing out a dedicated defensive specialist feature, we're still not done with the libero stars. Appelbaum enters the fray after her tireless effort captured our attention during positional work. The Whitfield sophomore also chipped in with quality secondary sets that kept her scrimmage teammates in a groove. Appelbaum has converted to a backcourt role after past pin success, and the move is already paying off.

Prepare for a sophomore surge.