Impact Underclassmen Thrive in the Summer Bash Spotlight
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To echo a cliché: the future is now. It was great to see some familiar faces at the Summer Bash last weekend, but it was also a time to see new players in action. First impressions are always important, and…
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Continue ReadingTo echo a cliché: the future is now.
It was great to see some familiar faces at the Summer Bash last weekend, but it was also a time to see new players in action. First impressions are always important, and many young players made the most of their opportunity in the spotlight. I saw underclassmen take over matches and become leaders of their teams. I’d like to introduce you to some of them.
Here are some rising stars who are set to make an early impact in their high school careers.
Jess Hudson Jess Hudson 6'2" | MB BDS | 2023 State NE – 6’2 RS – Bruning-Davenport/Shickley – Class of 2023
I’ve said before that small-town talents always fascinate me. Such is the case with Hudson, a long, physical right-side hitter for BDS. Hudson’s growth with this great volleyball program is sure to be substantial, and she already has the tools and skill to be an impact player. Some of the most imposing blocks I saw all weekend came from Hudson, who was able to shut down a lot of talented opposing left sides. She could also attack off of either one or two feet, and that helped spread out the BDS attack. As Hudson continues to play higher and higher above the net, she will inevitably become one of the most intimidating players among Nebraska’s “small but mighty” high schools.
Big celebration after a huge roof from @bds_volleyball! pic.twitter.com/IO04E8qQcG
— Austin Kingsley (@KingsleyATK) July 18, 2020
Audrey Behrens Audrey Behrens 5'6" | S Omaha Westside | 2023 State NE – 5’6 L – Millard South – Premier 15 Black – Class of 2023
I first noticed Behrens when she came flying across the backcourt to save a ball drifting toward the opposite sideline. Then, just for fun, I decided to track her passing for a while. She never made a poor contact. It was then that I was sold on this Millard South libero, whose command of the back row made it hard to believe that she was a 2023. Behrens has an unbelievably strong presence on defense. She can extend her range by controlling her platform well outside her body while still producing a quality contact. This kind of mature touch is rare for someone her age, and she will only continue to develop on a young and surging Patriots team. With prior experience at setter also under her belt, Behrens will lift her team in a variety of ways for the next few years.
Lauren Buzbee Lauren Buzbee 6'0" | RS Bennington | 2023 State NE – 6’0 MB – Bennington – CLVA 16 Ren – Class of 2023
There was a talented cast of middles at the Summer Bash, and Buzbee is no exception. This Club Legacy product put together several highlight moments for her Bennington team. Buzbee has a combination of reach and quickness that made her a tough matchup at the event. She can attack from a variety of gaps along the net, and she gets to her spots with ease. With more high-level experience ahead of her, Buzbee is a player who will flourish and become a go-to attacker whenever she’s on the floor.
Jenna Jakubowski Jenna Jakubowski 5'8" | OH St. Paul | 2023 State NE – 5’9 OH – St. Paul – Class of 2023
Okay, I have to poke fun at myself here, because I blatantly mistook Jenna for her older sister, 2021 outside hitter Josie Jakubowski. You’ll see that in the tweet embedded below. The pin hitter firing away in the video is really Jenna, a hard-hitting player who reminded me a lot of the Jakubowski before her. Jenna is a complete player, too, as she stayed on the court for all six rotations and was passing lights out throughout the weekend. Most of all, Jakubowski is a competitor. I was in awe of how hard she worked in all facets of her game, and St. Paul was a tough team to beat at the Summer Bash as a result. The Wildcats have their eyes on redemption after how last year’s high school season ended, and that makes them an even bigger threat in 2020.
My mistake, this is the younger Jakubowski, Jenna! This 2023 outside reminded me far too much of her sister!
— Austin Kingsley (@KingsleyATK) July 18, 2020
Molly Romano Molly Romano 5'10" | S Council Bluffs Abe Lincoln | 2024 State IA – 5’9 S – Abraham Lincoln – Nebraska Elite 14 Peak – Class of 2024
We now venture into a discussion of athletes who have yet to even play a high school match. But, make no mistake, I saw some 2024s who are ready to make a huge impact on the big stage. Romano is one of these superstars, as she led her Abraham Lincoln team with poise akin to a seasoned veteran. I was mesmerized by her technique; her hands are phenomenal, and she can shoot out tempo sets with great accuracy. Many sideline conversations took place regarding the setting performance I was watching, and I came away convinced that Abraham Lincoln has a brilliant player to lead them into the future.
I’ve already gravitated towards yet another talented Class of 2024 player from Iowa. It’s Molly Romano Molly Romano 5'10" | S Council Bluffs Abe Lincoln | 2024 State IA , setter for @ALHSVollleyball. Incredible hands! pic.twitter.com/NHcDJqoMpq
— Austin Kingsley (@KingsleyATK) July 18, 2020
Kenzie Dean Kenzie Dean 6'3" | OH Dowling Catholic | 2024 State #145 Nation IA – 6’2 OH – Roosevelt – Club Ignit Select 15 Blue – Class of 2024
Chris Fitzgerald wrote about Dean here, and, full disclosure, I was one of the folks sending him messages about this 2024 prospect. I had to know who she was! Dean already has a sky-high reach, and her ceiling for development is even higher. Her impact on the event was immediate and profound, as she dominated with a heavy arm and a colossal block. Having a talented hitter like Dean for the next four years is an extraordinary advantage for Roosevelt, and the Roughriders have the coaching and talent to challenge the heavyweights around Des Moines for years to come.
A LOT of eyes on this one, and the energy is incredible! It’s @RiderVolleyball against Class D2 powerhouse @bds_volleyball. Roosevelt’s Kenzie Dean Kenzie Dean 6'3" | OH Dowling Catholic | 2024 State #145 Nation IA with the kill! pic.twitter.com/n86OWc787v
— Austin Kingsley (@KingsleyATK) July 17, 2020