A player that I am excited to watch this weekend is Keely Kauten, a MB from Dike- New Hartford who has continued to make her presence known all season at the net both offensively and defensively. Kauten helped her team secure a bid in the National division at the USAV Iowa Regional tournament after going 6-0 and coming out on top. She gets to the ball quickly, has great reach and amazing range, making her unpredictable and hard to read.

Kauten impressed me with her volleyball abilities when scouting Dike-New Hartford last season. It was great to get another look at her during the Westside Invite in Cedar Rapids on Oct. 11. The senior had lifted her level of play, becoming sharper and more consistent in all areas. Kauten is an intimidating presence in the middle of the net with her long arms making her play taller than her listed height of six feet. She shows an excellent feel for the block, reading the attack and getting in proper position. From there, she times her movement well and keeps the ball inbounds when returning it to sender. Kauten’s swing continues evolving, and she stands out for ending points in quick sets. In general, she gets her swing through the hitting zone quickly, before the defense can react.