5 Underclassmen Pins Raising Opponents’ Anxiety

<p>We’ve hit a mark in the club season where most have concluded their season while others are continuing to work toward a run at Nationals.  Many 2021s are preparing for their next fall, and high school coaches are prepping for summer camps, leagues, and looking at what approach to take with the potential awaiting them.  Let’s take a peek at a few young pin hitters to watch during the remainder of the club season and next fall. </p> [caption id="attachment_105145" align="alignright" width="226"]<img class="size-medium wp-image-105145" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2020/08/SummerShowcase3-e1597683907625-226x300.jpg" alt="" width="226" height="300" /> K. Martin[/caption] <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="119394" first="Kennedy" last="Martin"] – 2023 - 6’5 – De Pere – FC Elite 18 Elite </strong> </p> <p>Martin recorded 110 kills in a very short alternate fall regular season.  She is drawing a lot of interest given her athleticism and capacity to play six rotations at 6’5.  Martin is definitely a player to watch. She can take just as big a swing from the net as she can from the back row and consistently getting kills with a 40% kill percentage and almost .300 hitting percentage.  Martin can also provide a lot of court coverage and ball control when on defense.    </p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="91877" first="Karissa" last="Fortune"] – 2023 – 6’2 - Appleton North – Milwaukee Sting 16 Gold </strong></p> <p>Fortune has managed to tally 32 kills so far this spring with a highly efficient Appleton North offense.  She is super smooth and controlled with the ability to target corners, whether she is hitting from the front row or the back row.  Fortune has also recorded 12 digs and has been hitting an efficient .319. </p> <p><strong><span style="font-weight: inherit;"><img class="size-medium wp-image-133674 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2021/02/DSC05216.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" />[player_tooltip player_id="91880" first="Kyla" last="Dunaway"] – 2023 - 6’3 – Kimberly – Milwaukee Sting 16 Gold</span></strong><em><br /> </em>Dunaway has a very big approach and heavy swing which allows her to not only hit hard but also pound the line or hard cross.  She spent a significant portion of her early playing years as a middle because of her height, but she is showing great control and taking advantage of her attacking opportunities from either pin.  Dunaway has great arm control and the capacity to overwhelm a block with some serious heat. She has really improved on her slow-to-fast footwork in order to create the momentum needed to make the most of her arm strength. Dunaway, along with three other sophomores, including <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="82921" first="Kaitlin" last="Schulz"]</strong> (5’11 – Pin Hitter), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="91930" first="Payton" last="Chevalier"]</strong> (5’11 – Middle Blocker), and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="91855" first="Macy" last="Herman"]</strong> (5’11 – Setter), make Kimberly a real threat for the next few years. </p> <p><strong><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2021/04/10-Kylei-Braatz-River-City-16-Blue-crop-3448x2264-1618077462.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-138520" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2021/04/10-Kylei-Braatz-River-City-16-Blue-crop-3448x2264-1618077462-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a>Kylei Braatz – 2024 – 5’8 – Watertown – River City 16 Blue</strong><br /> Watertown will be graduating their big swings [player_tooltip player_id="56478" first="Kennedy" last="Pugh"] and [player_tooltip player_id="33784" first="Alayna" last="Westenberg"], so they will need underclassmen to step up and take on bigger roles. I could see Braatz happily picking up the workload and going after it. She hits the ball at a high contact and takes a heavy swing down the line. </p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="82936" first="Taylor" last="Tetzlaff"] – 2023 - 6’0 – Kaukauna – FC Elite 16 Navy</strong><br /> Tetzlaff led the galloping ghosts with 139 kills this fall while really putting herself on the radar.  She has earned a good look and assessment, given the energizing nature of her play in all 6 rotations.  Tetzlaff can get to the ball rapidly, no matter the tempo. You can see the rotation and speed in her mechanics when she swings.  Tetzlaff also sets a strong block, making her a threat on both sides of the ball. </p>