Lady Lakers’ Prospects Compete In Power League Action

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>On Sunday, February 4 the HOA 15U Power League play began with 20 teams competing.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 15U age group is usually the youngest group that I scout. Players at that age could have another growth spurt or could be done. They may love volleyball now, but change their passion to another sport during their high school careers. It's a tough age to evaluate.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I scouted a short-handed KS Networks 15-1 team that was missing two players and had just one sub in its match against [program_tooltip program_id='430200' first='KC' last='Power'] 15-2. The team consists of players from the Topeka and Manhattan area and is also known as the Lady Lakers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here is a look at four prospects who caught my eye during a two-set Lakers' loss to the Power.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='748145' first='Dasno' last='Mills']</strong>, 5'11”, MH/RS, Royal Valley, '27 (KS Networks 15-1)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mills was fun to watch. She normally plays front row for the Lakers but had to step up and play back row for the short-handed club. I could tell right away she was not overly comfortable playing back row and she played with a look of frustration the entire match. Yet, this young lady can hit and fared well despite the situation. Mills finished the match with three kills, nine digs, and five serve receptions.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='483947' first='Jaylie' last='Whitehead']</strong>, 5'5”, L, Silver Lake, '27 (KS Networks 15-1)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Whitehead played all-out in this match and sacrificed her body on a couple of dives in key moments. I could tell the team was leaning on her to be the glue for the defense with two players missing. She recorded five digs, seven serve receptions, and one kill. I like her platform, but you could tell she was trying to cover more ground than normal and reached for a few balls.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='525466' first='Kylie' last='Hanni']</strong>, 5'4”, S, Silver Lake, '27 (KS Networks 15-1)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I enjoyed watching Hanni. She is an undersized setter who has a nice touch. The Silver Lake prospect collected 11 assists and four digs. She also made a block in the game and to watch her reaction to said block would have been worth the price of admission had there been one.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Caraline Beaton</strong>, 5'6”, OH/DS, Seaman, '27 (KS Networks 15-1)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Beaton is a very athletic go-getter. Playing at Seaman she is going to get great coaching and play in a winning environment. Therefore she has a bright future and it will be interesting to see how her game evolves and what position she settles into moving forward. She stuffed her stat line with five digs, seven serve receptions, and one kill in the loss.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->