Game Changers: Holcomb & Pandjaris At MO/KAN Top 10

Jeremy Deckard July 12, 2023 @ 08:07 AM

One of the perks of scouting, or coaching for that matter, is when you see players make significant improvements in their game.   That happened yesterday at the MO/KAN Top 10 Tournament at Washburn University. That event wraps up today and I have already published four scouting reports from that event.   Here is the fifth and final report featuring players previously not covered, unranked players, and a couple of players who showed major improvement from the previous time I saw them play. [player_tooltip player_id='493581' first='Bella' last='Holcomb'], [player_tooltip player_id='222087' first='Carlie' last='Pandjaris'], and [player_tooltip player_id='493408' first='Tamia' last='Cheeks'] all provided "Game Changing" performances.   [player_tooltip player_id='493581' first='Bella' last='Holcomb'], 5'9”, S/RS, Andover Central, ‘25   I watched Holcomb in June at her school's team camp. The player I watched in a match at MO/KAN played with way more confidence and conviction. Holcomb is a tall athlete with the skills to play multiple positions. In a match against Salina South, she was running the show for the Jags. She finished with three kills and eight assists.   [player_tooltip player_id='222087' first='Carlie' last='Pandjaris'], 5'8”, OH/DS, Blue Valley West, ‘26   Pandjaris impressed me enough during the club season to write about her and she has improved immensely from that time. If she keeps it up, she could be a Division I or Division II talent by the time she is a senior. She finished with three kills, three serve receptions, and four aces in a match against Lebanon (MO). She went on a huge scoring run with her serve in that match. She has all the tools, she just needs to keep evolving them.   [player_tooltip player_id='493408' first='Tamia' last='Cheeks'], 5'7”, MB/OH, Salina South, 25   One week can make a big difference. I scouted Cheeks at the Kansas Wesleyan University camp just last week. She played timid ball against some big-time prospects and college athletes. She was far from timid in the two matches I watched her play at MO/KAN. In a match against Andover Central, she single-handedly won a set for the Cougars by throwing a block party against the Jags. She finished with five blocks in that match. Cheeks really wants to play for a program at an HBCU school.   [player_tooltip player_id='493461' first='Sydney' last='Buscher'], 5'11, RS, Spring Hill, ‘25   One player not on my radar heading into the event was Spring Hill's Buscher. She is a very athletic young lady who understands her role on a deep team and fills it. She had three kills and two digs in a match against Nixa (MO). She is a jumper with a long reach and a prospect for college coaches to keep an eye on.   Ava Johnson, 5'9”, OH, Olathe West, '25   Johnson posted an impressive performance after her coach pointed her out prior to a match against Salina South. She can jump and be sneaky quick. She finished with three kills, two digs, and one serve reception in the match I scouted. She has a big upside and should have a big season as the Owls are loaded with ranked talent.   [player_tooltip player_id='493593' first='Georgia' last='Ward'], 5'9”, UT, Andover Central, ‘25   Ward is another Andover Central player who looked better at MO/KAN than she did at camp. She has an accurate serve and can serve all zones. She had four aces in a match against Salina South. She is a solid defensive player and could be a really solid role player at the college level.

One of the perks of scouting, or coaching for that matter, is when you see players make significant improvements in their game.