Promising Players Excel In The Sand

Volleyball has steadily been growing in popularity among high school athletes, so the indoor game has gotten more and more competitive. Covid forced a lot of athletes out of gyms and into the sand and thankfully after a fall and winter back in the gym, players are still coming back to the sand for some great cross-training opportunities. But training isn’t the only thing that can be gained from playing in the sand. The NCAA officially recognizes beach volleyball and there are scholarship opportunities to be found there as well. Recently I’ve gotten to see some players who have been excelling at the sand game, and it doesn’t take long to see that it will have a positive impact on their indoor game as well. <p style="margin: 0in; background: white; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; widows: 2; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; word-spacing: 0px;"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-146976" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2021/06/Izabelle-Shea.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" />[player_tooltip player_id="122583" first="Izabelle" last="Shea"] – 2024 – Libero – Oshkosh West – FC Elite 15 White/Impact Beach <p style="margin: 0in; background: white; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; widows: 2; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; word-spacing: 0px;">Shea is all business when she steps on the court, whether it is made of hardwood or sand. She is an exceptional player and dependable partner. With Oshkosh West graduating a couple of libero/defensive specialists, I would think Shea is the next up for the job. As for playing doubles, I know she’s played with a variety of partners, but she is always very consistent in ball control, communication, and placement. Shea has a great swing and has flawless control when it comes to placing the ball for the kill. She is a competitor, swift on her feet, and great at tracking the movement of the ball. Shea is a current freshman and is going to be a player to watch as we move into the summer sand doubles season. <p style="margin: 0in; background: white; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; widows: 2; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; word-spacing: 0px;">Ryden Lehrke – 2025 – 5’2 – Outside Hitter – D.C. Everest – Wisconsin Ice 14 Purple/Beach (title photo) <p style="margin: 0in; background: white; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; widows: 2; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; word-spacing: 0px;">Lehrke is an up-and-coming player who you will want to watch for as she enters the high school ranks. This attacker has good ball control and is focused on the court. Lehrke has a soft controlled beach set that gives her partner the best opportunity to place the ball anywhere. She reads the other side of the net and is so explosive to layout to defend the ball. Lehrke probably isn’t on any watch lists yet because she is young, but she could be a real solid beach recruit. If you can get out to see her play, I would, because she is making progress each week and shows no signs of slowing down. <p style="margin: 0in; background: white; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; widows: 2; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; word-spacing: 0px;">[player_tooltip player_id="117342" first="Mara" last="Schmidt"] – 2022 – 5’11 – Pin Hitter – Holmen – SMV 18-1s – Wisconsin Ice Beach <p style="margin: 0in; background: white; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; widows: 2; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; word-spacing: 0px;">Schmidt stands at 5’11 and is going to be a player to watch this summer and moving into her senior year. The pin hitter has height and power along with ball control developed from playing a lot of sand. Her technical skill makes a statement itself but, in addition, she is quick and effective on attacks. In the sand game, she does a great job swinging on the 2nd contact or the 3rd, which creates some confusion for the opposing team trying to play defense. and puts up a big block. Schmidt’s ability to read the other side, put up a big block, and effectively communicate across the court are all vital to her success in the sand. She is a valuable asset to her Holmen squad, and I’m looking forward to seeing how she makes the most of her senior year. <p style="margin: 0in; background: white; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; widows: 2; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; word-spacing: 0px;"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-146977" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2021/06/Rachel-Mueller-6.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" />[player_tooltip player_id="117312" first="Rachel" last="Mueller"] – 2021 – 5’9 - Outside Hitter – Impact Beach – Committed to University of the Pacific <p style="margin: 0in; background: white; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; widows: 2; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; word-spacing: 0px;">Mueller is the player you want your younger players to watch and learn from this summer. She’s recently verbally committed to play Beach at University of the Pacific, and it’s been fun to see her athletic skills be useful to Mueller on the indoor and outdoor courts. It’s fun to watch her in action as she is very assertive and competitive, but her strategy and communication are also really advanced. Mueller is quick, determined, and has a notable swing on the ball. <p style="margin: 0in; background: white; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; widows: 2; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; word-spacing: 0px;">[player_tooltip player_id="90602" first="Vanessa" last="Krueger"] – 2022 – 5’7 – Defensive Specialist/Libero – Marathon – Wisconsin Ice 17 Purple/Beach <p style="margin: 0in; background: white; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; widows: 2; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; word-spacing: 0px;">Krueger is a utility threat player as she has the ability to play any position except maybe middle blocker. She stands about 5’7 and as a sophomore was a setter and right-side hitter for her high school team, and then she played as a six-rotation outside hitter for the Raiders. In club, she played as a defensive specialist/libero and as a six-rotation outside hitter, so she has shown her athletic capability. Krueger has remarkable defensive skills that she has really developed in playing sand. Her experience setting definitely helps her in the sand as well, since every time the ball crosses the net, she is making contact in some way. Krueger has a soft and steady touch with the ball, but she has a very tough serve that is reliable and helps her to tally aces for her team. She has numerous qualities that are strongly recommended for playing sand. She has the ball control, the court awareness, and the determination to prove herself. This uncommitted senior-to-be is one you may want to consider watching this summer. <p style="margin: 0in; background: white; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; widows: 2; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; word-spacing: 0px;">