Debunking the Myth That Club Volleyball Players Can’t Play Other Sports
Mattie Johnson of Sidney (in the white) drives to the basket during a girls state basketball quarterfinal game on Thursday against Elkhorn South. Johnson, a South Dakota recruit, also plays club volleyball. (Photo credit | Berk Brown).
LINCOLN – So, I found my way down to Lincoln for the girls state basketball tournament today, and you’ll never guess what I found there.
Volleyball players. Club volleyball players. Lots of them.
No, they weren’t in the concession stand line or in the stands, they were on the court playing. How can that be? I thought all the popular chatter is that you have to specialize in volleyball in order to play club volleyball?
Couldn’t be further from the truth. So, I’m here to debunk the myth that volleyball clubs don’t let their players play multiple sports – or frown on it.
There are two major clubs in Omaha (Nebraska Elite and Premier) and two in Lincoln (VCNebraska and Nebraska Juniors). Take note that each of those clubs is VERY well represented down here at state basketball.
Here is a list of very notable club volleyball players who are focusing on bringing home a state basketball championship this weekend.
Rylee Gray – Elkhorn South (Nebraska Elite) – committed to Nebraska. All she does is average 10 points and nine rebound a game for the Storm.
Mattie Johnson – Sidney (Northeast VBC) – committed to South Dakota. Johnson averages 12 points and five rebounds a game for the Lady Raiders.
Skutt Catholic has a pair of pretty familiar names. Lindsay Krause (Premier) is headed to Nebraska and averages eight points and nine rebounds a contest while Sydney McDermott (Premier) is headed to Northwest Missouri State and averages 19 points and seven rebounds a contest.
Nebraska Juniors has three players playing in the Class A state tournament with Jaden Ferguson (committed to Northwest Missouri State) of Lincoln Southwest averaging 14 points and seven rebounds a game. The Lincoln Pius X duo of Lauren Taubenheim (Nebraska-Kearney) and Alexis Markowski (uncommitted) combining to average 19 points and 12 rebounds a game. Nebraska Juniors also has Taya Beller (Wayne State) putting up 14 points and nine boards a game for Humphrey-Lindsay Holy Family in Class D-1 and Barrett Power averaging six points and five rebounds a game for Lincoln Christian in Class C-1.
Speaking of Class C-1, you’ll find a lot of the top players in the state – and from VCNebraska – playing in that class. Kelsie Cada (Wayne State), Alyssa Rezac (Northwest Missouri State) and Kali Jurgensmeier (uncommitted) each play for VCNebraska and for Bishop Neumann while Elle Glock (USC), Elly Larson (Wayne State), Mya Larson (uncommitted) and Kyla Swanson (Illinois) all play for Wahoo and are VCNebraska products.
Now, tell me again how volleyball clubs make kids specialize?
Meanwhile, I will wait for you to tell me about all the Division I and II girls basketball recruits that play volleyball.