Returning Top Performers Add Spice to Prep Dig Showcase

Hopefully all had fun at the Prep Dig Showcase held on Saturday. I do have a policy of not awarding more than one top performer award to any player. However, it is always good to see top performers return. They always add a little spice to the event. Below are four top performers who returned for refills.   The class of 2029 is composed of just over 150 players. Four in the top 30 of that ranking were top performers who returned to the showcase.    Gianna won a top performer award at our frosh showcase last year. A great player to have in the back row. Unfortunately, she plays for two teams that have excellent liberos. Her club teammate [player_tooltip player_id='932773' first='Jemma' last='Peterson'] plays up for BAVA 15. She won our MVP award at the frosh showcase earlier in the day. Jemma plays libero over Gianna. Her high school teammate [player_tooltip player_id='896390' first='Harper' last='Walker'] also won a top performer award. Harper is the libero for Annapolis Area Christian. She ranks at number 24 in our class of 2029, just ahead of Gianna.   While Gianna could not win a second top performer award, this did not prevent her from winning the MVP award for the Stock Up showcase. With [player_tooltip player_id='932773' first='Jemma' last='Peterson'] winning the MVP for the frosh that gave the BAVA 15 team both MVPs at the frosh and stock up showcases.   Gianna was having a killer stock up showcase, delivering perfectly passes, hitting the floor while going after tips and showing the kind of enthusiasm you like to see with liberos. She also has the ability to provide some power in a back row attack, something she did in the Junior Nationals. BAVA finished in 21st place in the American Division, but they lost one of their top outsides to injury during the playoffs.   Gianna ranks at 29 in our class of 2029. Pretty high for someone who plays primarily as a defensive specialist. However, she could play libero for most of the high schools or clubs in the area. She gives a reason why scouts should not ignore defensive specialists.     Brie was the 5/1 setter for BAVA 14 when I first saw them play at the Chesapeake Regional Bid Championships. It was my first exposure to BAVA. Brie was phenomenal running the offense. Later that summer she appeared at the frosh showcase and won a top performer award.   This past club season she transferred to play for the new Metro National 15 team. They played in the very competitive USA Division with 7 of their 10 matches going three sets, four of those third sets decided by two points. She sets in a 6/2 for Metro National. Most setters prefer setting a 5/1 than a 6/2 because they feel more in tune with the offense. Sitting on the bench for three rotations, then ramping it up again is always a challenge.   While she is only 5'7" Brie still shows pop when she takes a swing from the right side. When Brie sets for Annapolis Area Christian she sets from the front row while [player_tooltip player_id='749757' first='Dakota' last='Pentorn'] sets from the back row.   Brie ranks number 10 in our class of 2029. She ranks as the number two ranked setter in the class, second to [player_tooltip player_id='746506' first='Carolyn' last='Maria'], who is in a class by herself.     At our frosh showcase last year Neely won a top performer award as a 6'0" middle. She showed up at this stock up showcase as a 6'1" setter. Ironic that she replaced [player_tooltip player_id='762823' first='Brie' last='Mouton'] as the setter for BAVA 15.   Neely runs a fast paced offense for BAVA. Her slide sets were delivered a little too quickly for the middles to adjust. At these showcases it is not uncommon for setters to have difficulty finding their timing with middles on the quick tempo sets.   Broadneck already has three capable setters on their roster. While her club coach may like a faster paced offense Neely will have to learn to adjust her sets to a player's capability. Setters who can adjust to hitters are valued commodities.   Neely certainly has the tools to set. With her height she can set a 5/1 or run a 6/2 while still staying in the front row to hit the right side. It will be interesting how Broadneck addresses their setting overload. When she played for Broadneck as a frosh Neely was classified as a middle. While she made the varsity roster she saw minimal playing time.   Neely ranks at number 18 in our class of 2029, just a few notches below Brie. Two of the setters who play for Broadneck set for Metro. Last year with an overload at setter [player_tooltip player_id='750053' first='Alexis' last='Luscomb'] played the libero position.     Sydney showed up at the frosh showcase last year but fell short of winning a top performer award. While she blocked a number of balls her hitting was still just a little raw. She returned to Richmond after the high school season for a Prep Dig Exposure Showcase bringing a little more polish to her game. That led to a top performer award.   At this stock up showcase Sydney showed some exceptional strenghth when striking the ball. When her timing was right and her hand made contact with the ball you could hear the impact. That ball was punished.   Sydney has an approach jump of 9'9". She plays middle as well as some right side for [program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last=''] 15. They played in the Open in Junior Nationals. They finished 23rd out of 48 teams.   Last season Sydney did not get a lot of playing time for Riverside in their championship run. She only played in 19 of the 83 sets they played. This season they will lose both of their middles to graduation, opening up playing opportunities for Sydney.   Sydney is currently ranked number 14 in the class of 2029. She is the third ranked middle in the class.

Hopefully all had fun at the Prep Dig Showcase held on Saturday. I do have a policy of not awarding more than one top performer award to any player. However, it is always good to see top performers return. They always add a little spice to the event. Below are four top performers who returned for refills.