2024 Prospects Making Big Moves
2024 prospects have been playing lights out and making big moves during the early club season in the Pacific Northwest. New faces have emerged, and some players in new places have reminded us they can play with anyone. Power Leagues…
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Continue Reading2024 prospects have been playing lights out and making big moves during the early club season in the Pacific Northwest. New faces have emerged, and some players in new places have reminded us they can play with anyone. Power Leagues have kicked off, and the first big-time three-day tournament concluded in Eugene, the Matt Hartner Memorial Classic. Local tournaments and Power Leagues will make up the majority of play till Presidents Day Weekend when clubs from Washington will start to play in major travel tournaments with Division 1 coaches in attendance. The Las Vegas Classic will feature a large contingent of clubs from the Evergreen State, and many clubs from across the region will attend events in Auburn, Tacoma, Spokane, Lynwood and Puyallup. Here are several 2024 prospects that have stood out in the early part of the season.
Mailina Burke
Mailina Burke
Burke is a cat-quick libero who plays her school ball for the competitive Kamiakin program out of the Tri-Cities. Her Shockwave 17 squad finished in a tie for 13th at the Matt Hartner Memorial Classic, improving on their 30th seed coming in. In serve receive she moves her feet and takes the ball on her center line, and cushions a hard serve just the right amount to feed her setter a pass with good tempo. Burke stays calm on defense, setting her feet and keeping balanced before making a move to a hard shot or tip. Her movements aren’t rushed or hurried, she works hard to get a good read on the opposing attackers.
Jenna Navone
Jenna Navone
Navone is a pin hitter for ITVC 17, and offers great length along the frontline, standing at 6’1. As an attacker, she has solid footwork and a fundamentally sound arm swing. She works the deep corners, making it tough on the opposing defenses. In one sequence, Navone took a powerful rip from the right side spot that was dug out over the net, then two other attacks from the outside until she put an end to the rally. All the tools are there, Navone is a high-ceiling player who should make rapid progress this club season playing for Island Thunder.
Annie Sjolander
Annie Sjolander
Sjolander is a versatile libero/ds for WVBA and had an excellent weekend at the MLK Kickoff tournament hosted by NPJ and WVBA. Solid in serve receive, she was all over the court covering her attackers, running down off-speed shots, and sprawling out to make saves. Sjolander showed off nice accuracy in her bump setting out of transition, she is comfortable moving the ball around accurately to either pin. Her WVBA 17 squad finished 5th in Gold, with Sjolander contributing mightily.
Playing for Aspire NW 17, Saopraseuth showed off her great hands, it’s always nice when your libero is a starting setter during the school season. The transition offense doesn’t seem to be out of system at all when she is taking care of the second ball. She plays great defense and passes well in serve-receive, reacting quickly to tips and rolls, and hanging in against the big hitters. Her complete skill set at the libero spot should serve Aspire NW well as they battle for wins this season.
Elise Baier
Elise Baier
Baier is making the trip from Wenatchee this club season to play with the Seattle Juniors 17 team. She showed an awesome connection with her right side Karisa Martin, a powerful lefty who Bair set up perfectly for several spectacular kills during the Matt Hartner tournament. Footspeed has always been a strength for Baier, she can run down on off-target passes and still put up a hittable set for her attackers. When she is in system she hides her set location well, not leaning or tipping off her back sets to the defense.
Katherine (Malia) Oden
Katherine (Malia) Oden
Oden is super athletic flying out of the middle. She can chase down a set when she runs the slide, a weapon for her Puyallup Juniors 18 team that is difficult to stop. She is aggressive on 50-50 balls at the net, and is not afraid to make a decisive move to win a joust. Blocking remains a strength, and expect a big celebration with her teammates when she roofs down a ball. Fun to watch!