Club Team Preview: RVC 16 Kari
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The RVC 16 Kari squad is next in our series of club team previews. Kari Chavez leads the talented group of players from the Spokane and Coeur d’Alene areas. Several members of the team have spent multiple seasons with Renovators,…
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Continue ReadingThe RVC 16 Kari squad is next in our series of club team previews. Kari Chavez leads the talented group of players from the Spokane and Coeur d’Alene areas. Several members of the team have spent multiple seasons with Renovators, and the team chemistry shows! A 7-2 record at the Matt Hartner Memorial Classic was good for an 18/152 finish, an excellent result for the first three-day tournament of the year. This past weekend the team finished undefeated at the Spike Storm tournament in the Spokane Valley. They showed off outstanding overall depth and grit to take the win in three against a very good Shockwave team.
Next up is the second leg of the Northwest Power League in Lynnwood, where they will be working to play their way from the Silver to Gold bracket. After that, it’s a trip to The Mandalay Bay Convention Center for the Las Vegas Classic over Presidents Day Weekend. They will be competing in the difficult Premier 16 Division, matching up against over 90 excellent squads.
Focht is an experienced performer who has been setting at the varsity level for West Valley (Spokane) since her freshman season. This year she captured first-team all GSL 2A honors and is developing into a dynamic playmaker and leader on the court. Watching her work this season, she is jump-setting to both pins. Focht has been able to stay accurate with her set location while increasing the tempo to her outside hitters, giving them wide-open seams to work with. The team has the potential to run a super-quick offense with the athletes on the pin, Focht should be able to make that happen as a distributor in the 6-2 Renovators offense.
Kendall Focht Kendall Focht 5’9″ | S West Valley (Spokane) | 2025 State WA 2025 Setter
Highlights
Reed is an All-State level performer out of Freeman High School. She can attack above the block and is one of the primary six-rotation outsides for RVC. Defensively she uses her strength and athletic ability to run down shots to the corners and put up an imposing block. There has already been growth in her shot selection from the high school to club season. This weekend she featured a soft tip to the middle of the court, and on tough sets off the net in transition she was able to find a sharp angle and put pressure on the defense. Reed hits rockets when the offense is in the system and the set is located well, she is super impressive running a combo play where she attacks down the middle.
Aspyn Reed Aspyn Reed 5’10” | OH Freeman | 2025 State WA 2025 Outside
Arnold has shown excellent defense from her setter position, she stays home and makes sure to play defense first. The sophomore form Ridgeline will mix it up offensively, finding the pins, and the middles; then using her back-row attackers to find a favorable match-up. Arnold has great energy, it’s something she uses to keep her team upbeat no matter the score or situation.
Highlights
Eskelsen played better and better as the school season wore on, and she has continued her development as the club season has started. She can close the block from her middle blocker spot, we saw her anticipating the opposing offense and making decisive movements to put up a solid wall. Her attacking has a high ceiling, she is quick off the floor and effective running the quick set.
Highlights
Joswick may post the highlight reel kills and blocks as the libero for her team, but she is arguably its most important player. Her serve receive is outstanding, and that lets the dynamic attackers go to work. Teams attempted a few short serves on her over the weekend, she read the serves easily and has the quick feet and ability to deliver a pass accurately to her setters. Joswick has worked hard on her tempo passing free balls and her second ball setting, both were excellent at Spike Storm. She showed an excellent feel for set location delivering accurately with her platform to both sides of the floor. Joswick has a calm and determined presence on the floor, she never panics or seems to feel the pressure in a big moment.
Highlights
Jennings has found her sweet spot as a right side during the early part of the club season. She has mastered the footwork and is delivering big swings and kills consistently. It’s an ideal set-up for the hammer from Central Valley. Her high-flying pins garner a great deal of attention, and when she has a one-on-one block it’s Jenning’s tuo bring the heat. She still has the versatility to play across the front line, she delivered the game-winning kill from the outside against Shockwave to put RVC over the top in the third 15-11.
Spokane/Coeur d’Alene teams often have a mix of Washington and Idaho athletes. Renovators are no exception, and the 16 Kari team features two dynamic pins from the Gem State in Trinty Byrne and Emmery Fuller. Byrne is a Post Falls standout and a highly skilled six-rotation ball-control outside hitter. She does not leave the court for RVC and has developed a nice offensive toolbox. She can wrist away a hard angle, and has an excellent feel for the off-speed shots. Fuller is playing as part of the 6-2 rotation with Jennings on the right side. The skill level she has could easily translate as a six-rotation player. She has a quick arm, a set may seem out of reach and Fuller will still put a good swing on it to score.
DS Olivia Radford came into some tight spots to give RVC some extra defense on the back line, she has a tough mentality and good foot speed. The team is blessed with depth- Lily Roberts, Macy Osborn Macy Osborn 5'11" | MB West Valley (Spokane) | 2025 WA , and Mackenzie Walton handle the middle blocker position along with Eskelsen. They all have good overall skill sets, Walton is a tough server and plays good defense when she is in the back row. Osborn has been an outside hitter and brings good length to any spot across the front line. Roberts is dynamic offensively, she works hard to make herself available to her setters in transition.