Slump? What Slump? Five Sophomores Ready to Shine

You showed us something in Year 1, so what do you have for us in Year 2? After big debut seasons, many wonder if a slump may arise in Year 2. Don't expect it from these players ready for their sophomore season.    Hudson was a major reason both Oak Grove last fall and KC Power this summer enjoyed the success they did. The sophomore southpaw is ready for Year 2 after an impressive freshman season in which she delivered 474 kills while finishing with a kill percentage close to 50 percent. She already proved she can terminate at a high rate, and with another year of experience under her belt, there is plenty of reason to expect even more this fall. One area where I expect Hudson to become even more potent is attacking from the back row, adding another weapon to an already dangerous offensive game. Don't expect a sophomore slump here.     The Stover sophomore had quite the debut herself, finishing her first high school season with more than 400 kills. Add in nearly 400 digs, and you see just how well-rounded a player she already is on the court. She is also quickly making progress toward the school kills record her sister took over a couple of years ago, giving her an interesting chase to follow over the next three seasons. When she gets going offensively, she can fill up the stat sheet and take over a contest, evidenced by 10 matches with 15 or more kills as a freshman. With that type of production already under her belt, don't expect a sophomore slump as she enters Year 2.     Hudson's club and high school teammate is another player who should be in line for a strong Year 2. Brown delivered more than 1,000 assists during her freshman season, and you can expect that number to continue to rise when you consider she has weapons like Piper Hudson and Paisley Hudson to feed. With another year of experience and familiarity with her hitters, Brown should be even more comfortable directing the offense this fall. She also brings additional value as a defender, showing the ability to dig balls from right back and contribute when she isn't taking the second contact. After an impressive first season running the offense, Brown has plenty of reasons to expect another step forward as a sophomore.     Roark stepped in during Year 1 and made an immediate impact as the lead setter for Ozark. She averaged around 9.5 assists per set as a freshman, showing she was more than ready to take control of the offense from the start. Roark also showed she can make an impact at the net, finishing last fall with 50 total blocks and giving Ozark another weapon defensively. With most of her top attackers returning this fall, the familiarity and experience should only help the offense become even more productive. After putting up strong assist numbers in her debut season, don't be surprised to see those numbers climb even higher in Year 2.     Meyerkorth proved to be a dependable presence and a strong anchor for the West Platte defense during her first season. She finished just shy of 400 digs as a freshman, showing the consistency needed to handle a key role in the back row. With a full varsity season now under her belt, Year 2 should bring another step forward. Look for Meyerkorth's leadership and voice to emerge even more on the floor as she becomes increasingly comfortable taking command of the defense and communicating with those around her.

You showed us something in Year 1, so what do you have for us in Year 2? After big debut seasons, many wonder if a slump may arise in Year 2. Don't expect it from these players ready for their sophomore season.