What Athletes From Across The Country Stood Out At The AVCA Phenom Showcase?
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For those reading their first Prep Dig article, welcome. We are a volleyball site that focuses on volleyball year round with high school and club coverage ranking players in each class of up to 150 athletes per class, content taking a look at top teams, hidden gems, and prospects on the rise. We are the top source for volleyball coverage in Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, and Michigan. We make an effort to get out to see as many players as we can live during the high school and club season with a few summer leagues and camps in between. Prep Dig is part of the Prep Network which also includes Prep Hoops and Prep Girls Hoops based out of Minneapolis. With the Final Four being the largest volleyball event in the country and held in our backyard, we were so excited to meet coaches, parents, and players from all over with a big focus on the AVCA Phenom Program.
As for myself, my name is Chris Fitzgerald, General Manager of Prep Dig. I started Prep Dig Wisconsin just over a year ago and have progressed into covering players from multiple states as we continue to expand Prep Dig. To have the AVCA Phenoms in Minneapolis was more than ideal to have the opportunity to see players from all over the country at the convention center getting a chance to do some testing and compete against each other. For most tournaments, I do some research to know what to look for, but this weekend was a completely blank slate for me. I knew a lot of the Wisconsin athletes as well as Minnesota having covered them the past year (which they are always great to see compete), but I was looking for players I had yet to see live. Like the coaches in attendance, I was looking for overall skill, athleticism, and positive intangibles as to how they interacted with their teammates and coaches. I would write down their pinned on bib number and a few notes about their style of play. When the session was complete, I went back and paired their number and notes with their information that was provided to the AVCA program.
With over 150 athletes in each session, it was a bit overwhelming at first, but I then found myself on a roll. The talent was incredibly deep and was so fun to sit back take the whole atmosphere in. Here are some of the top players to note who were new to me as I observed the AVCA Phenom Showcase.
Adriana Studer of @stingvb1988 and Lake Country Lutheran (WI) at @AVCAPhenom pic.twitter.com/zJ4s9TWTZy
— Prep Dig (@PrepDig) December 15, 2018
Allison Yancy – Cathedral High School – Indiana
2020 setter right around six feet tall and brings an offensive and physical style to the net.
Claire Ellis – St. Catherine’s School – Richmond Volleyball Club – Virginia
2020 libero/ds who multiple times on Saturday during six on six play or their queens style mini games was sprawling to keep the ball alive, great footwork, and platform.
Samantha Kusma – Gregory Portland – Corpus Christi Force – Texas
2020 middle/setter combo who was putting swings away and was also able to distribute. Solid all around player who was one of many talented that came up from Texas.
Kayla Keshock – Spanish Fort – Mobile Storm – Alabama
2020 extremely strong and physical outside hitter who showing plenty of athleticism.
Elizabeth Dille – Sartell – Kandi Elite – Minnesota
From right in the backyard of the Final Four, Dille was scoring points from every position she was in over the weekend. Just watching her warm up, she is so smooth and makes everything look easy. With a high contact point and being extremely dynamic in six rotations, she will be one to watch this club season.
Ava Toppin – Ashley High School – Cape Fear Volleyball – North Carolina
From the Class of 2022, this Freshman looks the part of a dominant middle blocker and play the part with a high snap and terminal power.
Reagan Goeke – Lake Orion High School – Legacy – Michigan
Lake Orion and Legacy are filled with successful athletes and Goeke would fall right into that category as a 2021 middle/right side that has a high snap and big time hops.
Lauren McCutcheon – JL Mann Academy – Upward Stars Upstate – South Carolina
Probably one of the highest approaches and violent attackers I saw out of anyone at the Showcase. The field was loaded with talent, but watching her attack was something special putting her in an elite field.
Corin Carruth – Kelly Walsh High School – DMTYS – Wyoming
Wyoming may not be known to be a hotbed of volleyball talent, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t great players there. Carruth showed her skills and high flying outside hitter skills as part of the class of 2020.
Taylor Baldwin – Springfield – Premier – Ohio
As a 2020 outside hitter, Baldwin could really swing and get on top of the ball making it tough to take pace off of.
Olivia Panepinto – Crown Point High School – Epic United – Indiana
She just commands the court in her body language and has great hands, everything you would be looking for in the setter. Panepinto comes from the Class of 2020
Zykia Jones – Briarcrest Christian School – Memphis Metro – Tennessee
A pin hitter who can flat out fly, Jones will definitely be on the radar for pins coming out of the Class of 2021.
Savana Riney – Bentonville – Ozark Juniors – Arkansas
Riney made scoring points look pretty easy on Sunday morning. A heavy swing that could come from anywhere on the court. Riney is from the Class of 2020
Keyana Cruse – Bonner Springs High School – Dynasty – Kansas
Cruse comes from the Class of 2021 and was one of the more dynamic and athletic players Sunday morning playing on the pin.
@AVCAVolleyball @AVCAPhenom program off and running this morning. Testing and stations. pic.twitter.com/zIQMroyHJ7
— Prep Dig (@PrepDig) December 15, 2018
Collette Seidel – Minooka – Club 1 – Illinois
Seidel is from the Class of 2021 and has such a smooth approach and swing from the right side along with a solid block.
Ariana Joubert – DeLaSalle Institute – Chicago Elite – Illinois
Joubert brings a physicality to the outside where she brings a heavy swing. She is in the Class of 2022.
Katherine Idrogo – RS/DS – Whitehouse – Texas Advantage (TAV) – Texas
Idrogo looks like she could do a little bit of everything. With a whip of a left handed swing, she has quite the all around game from the Class of 2021.