Manhattan Mamba 16-1 Prospects Battle In Wichita

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>On December 17, I scouted three interesting matches in the KNVBC Winter Warm-Up in Wichita.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>All three matches took place in the 18U Combined seven-team tournament. Two of those matches included a 16-1 team playing up from Manhattan.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here is the second of two reports from the club action in Wichita this one focuses on four prospects from the Manhattan Mamba 16-1 squad which split eight sets played in the 18U Division.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='489775' first='Brynna' last='Zoeller']</strong>, 5'10”, S/OPP, Rock Creek, ‘26</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Zoeller was one of the most physical players in the entire division. She was playing setter for the Mamba, but I like her better as a hitter. She did hit for her high school team, but she could develop into a player like KU's Camryn Turner who was an outstanding high school hitter but is now one of the top setters in the nation. In the two matches I watched, Zoeller finished with three kills, three digs, four aces, and three blocks. During her sophomore season for the Rock Creek Mustangs, she collected 188 kills, 199 digs, and 64 total blocks.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='523702' first='Baylen' last='Arnold']</strong>, 5'4”, L, Concordia, ‘26</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Arnold is one of the top liberos I have seen play early in this club season. She finished with 13 serve receptions and eight digs in the two Mamba matches I watched. She communicates well, makes consistent first passes, and will lay out to get to out-of-range attacks. The Concordia Panther prospect recorded 740 serve receptions and 479 digs in 88 sets played.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Ryann Langvardt</strong>, 6'0”, MB, Wamego, ‘26</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I saw Langvardt play high school ball this fall, but don't remember her standing out like she did this weekend. It might be because it was the first time I had seen the Red Raiders play and was taken aback and awestruck by the play of one of Langvardt's teammates. However, on this club team, she can be a lead attacker and a top option in the hitting system. She had seven kills, three aces, and two blocks in the matches I watched her play. Langvardt recorded 184 kills and 77 varsity sets played during her sophomore season for Wamego.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Ambrie Portelli</strong>, 5'4”, OH/MB, Rock Creek, ‘26</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Portelli is an interesting prospect. She is not the tallest hitter on the Mamba or the best defender.  However, she can jump out of the gym, she is a smart player, and she plays with composure. Portelli has a nice swing and adjusts well to out-of-system balls. The Mustang prospect finished her sophomore season with 156 kills and 74 blocks. I hope I catch this team later in the season against other 16U teams to see how they match up.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->