Midseason Adjustments from Blue Valley Southwest Triangular

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It's past the halfway point in the season for most schools as teams figured out what's working well for them or what needs some changes. I went to Wednesday's Triangular at Blue Valley Southwest with St. James Academy and Blue Valley High School. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Quick recap from the evening: <br>In the first match, St. James Academy prevailed against Blue Valley Southwest with scores of 25-27, 25-12, 26-24. <br>St. James rolled past Blue Valley: 25-17, 25-20.<br>Blue Valley over Blue Valley Southwest overcome slow start in three: 21-25, 25-17, 25-19.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here are some synopsis and players to watch from each respective teams:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Blue Valley Southwest</span></strong><br><em>If you've been following the Timberwolves volleyball team, then you'll notice some lineup and roster changes this season as they're figuring positional roles. </em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"right","id":231832,"sizeSlug":"medium","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-medium"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2022/10/Marshall_BVSWtriangular-5801-200x300.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-231832"/></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='150080' first='Reese' last='Bates'] - S - 2023</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The versatile Bates is the only four-year Varsity player for the Timberwolves and started the season as a DS then outside hitter. Lately, Bates has transitioned seamlessly to the setter position as she led the Timberwolves in assists in their 6-2 offense. She was a key component during the night as she recorded 6 aces and kept opponents at bay with her tough float serve. Bates was not shy on the defensive end as she finished the night with 17 digs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"left","id":231833,"sizeSlug":"medium","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-medium"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2022/10/Marshall_BVSWtriangular-6047-200x300.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-231833"/></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='173370' first='Kaylee' last='Tingey'] - OH - 2025</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Tingey was one of the setters for the Timberwolves and now plays as a 6-rotation outside hitter. This change allows Tingey to participate in more plays and be an extra attacking option for the team. In turn, Tingey led the team in kills for the night with 17 kills and was crucial in adding a passing presence for the Timberwolves back-row and serve-receive option.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"right","id":231801,"sizeSlug":"medium","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-medium"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2022/10/FB630944-A420-4772-B5D3-FC8FBF4CBE6C-214x300.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-231801"/></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='173381' first='Hadley' last='Porter'] - Libero - 2025</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Porter's ability to track down a ball is an integral part of the Blue Valley Southwest defense. She has solid platform and will run out of the gym to chase a ball down. Her energetic personality is contagious on and off the court. She led the team with 25 digs on the night and returned 34 serves for the Timberwolves.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">St. James Academy</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='119718' first='Ava' last='Spachek'] - OH - 2024</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Spachek was hitting well for the Thunders on the left pin. She used her versatility to get available hit shots and when needed was quick on her feet to tip the ball over the blockers. Spachek provide some solid blocking on the night to keep opposition's attackers at bay.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"left","id":231831,"sizeSlug":"medium","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-medium"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2022/10/Marshall_BVSWtriangular-5826-200x300.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-231831"/></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='119694' first='Mya' last='Bolton'] - DS/Libero - 2024<br>[player_tooltip player_id='150067' first='Heidi' last='Devers'] - DS/Libero - 2024<br>Kate Blaesing - DS/ Libero - 2024<br>[player_tooltip player_id='152163' first='Lauren' last='Brown'] - DS/Libero - 2023</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"right","id":231822,"sizeSlug":"medium","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-medium"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2022/10/D594885F-5816-47B0-A588-240E5E7FE79E-214x300.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-231822"/></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The defensive line of St. James deserves recognition for their hustle and keeping plays alive for the Thunder. Blaesing went on a serving run and used her tough float serve to get them back in rhythm during the Blue Valley Southwest match. All four players were not afraid to hit the floor and any of the four players can don the libero jersey if St. James opt to do so.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Blue Valley</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kate Peterson - S - 2023</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Peterson is a beast offensively and defensively. She recorded a double-double in the St. James match (19 assists and 10 digs), and was close on doing so against Blue Valley Southwest (30 assists and 9 digs). We had a scary situation in the last match of the night where Peterson ran towards the bleachers to save a ball and we had to stop play. After a brief moment, she came back as if everything was normal. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='150068' first='Ryan' last='McAleer'] - Libero - 2024</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"right","id":231820,"sizeSlug":"medium","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-medium"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2022/10/75EC52B6-9D12-4DA4-BED7-61855B99E2FA-214x300.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-231820"/></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>McAleer is no stranger to the list of players to watch, but this is a confirmation on why she's one of the best libero in Kansas. She is calm-aggressive passing the ball. She has a quiet and calm platform, and aggressive to run balls down. McAleer controls the backcourt with ease and led the team in digs for the night with 36.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Tiana Simmons - MB - 2023</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Simmons was one of Peterson's go-to players on the night and had a solid hitting percentage in both matches (0.375 against St. James and 0.462 against Blue Valley Southwest). When in a bind, the Tigers ran a fancy 1-2 combo through the middle where Simmons killed the ball through a double block to get the team rallied behind her.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Did we miss someone we should be aware of? Please email PrepDigMarshall@gmail.com or Twitter&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="http://www.x.com/prepdigmarshall" target="_blank">@PrepDigMarshall&nbsp;</a>with your inquiries!</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->