Top Illinois Athletes Bring Gritty Performances at Chicago Girls Winter Championships
Navigating courts in the McCormick Center is no easy task with three divisions from wall to wall and plenty of matches in-between. After all, this is still early in the season for Prep Dig as well getting our legs ready…
Access all of Prep Dig
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingNavigating courts in the McCormick Center is no easy task with three divisions from wall to wall and plenty of matches in-between. After all, this is still early in the season for Prep Dig as well getting our legs ready to stand – wait we’re the ones watching. Taking a look at some of the performances throughout the weekend and seeing what these athletes are doing to say it is amazing is an understatement. Some of them are among the best in nation, but not only is their talent exceptional, but their body language, effort, and the total package they bring to their teams is one of a kind as well.
Hattie MonsonHattie Monson – Adversity 18 Adidas
Committed to Notre Dame
Monson is one of the top athletes in the state, a household name for Illinois high school and club volleyball. Her skill set is exceptional, but there was a series of plays against Milwaukee Sting that was incredibly crucial late in the set which ultimately led them to go on a late run to close out the set. She hustled a ball down to the end line smashing into the chairs to then get back to her base and pick up a tip to finish the rally by stepping into take away a for sure kill by her future college teammate at Notre Dame in Aubrey Hamilton from Milwaukee Sting. Adversity would go on to win the point and a ton of momentum. That’s why she is one of the best liberos in the country.
Taylor JakubowskiTaylor Jakubowski – Sky High 18 Adidas
Committed to Seton Hall
This Sky High team is pure grit all the way around. They play hard, they are fierce, they smile, but they compete. Taylor Jakubowski is what gets that rolling for Sky High. She just has the look in her eye where the athletes on her side of the court know she will do whatever it takes to get the job done and the other side of the net know the ball is never down when it’s on her side. She may not be the setter who has the height to be extremely offensive at the net, but she will find a way to win. Sky High put themselves in bid contention with a huge crossover win against Milwaukee Sting and came out unblemished in an “All Chicago” championship pool defeating Adversity and Michio to claim the first open bid of the season.
Krasowski – black jerseyRachel Krasowski – 1st Alliance 18 Silver
Committed to DePaul
DePaul struck gold in getting a really gritty and local libero in Krasowski. She is not afraid to want the ball, from the first contact in serve receive or a hard driven swing, Krasowski is the fire that spreads lighting up the rest of her teammates. In a must-win match against Legacy, Krasowski was so key in serving runs with a dirty float serve that would come in high on the serve receivers to only land right before the end line. She’s the “Let’s Go” type of athlete you need on the court to get the party started.
Leilani Dodson attackingLeilani Dodson – Adversity 18 Adidas
Committed to BYU
This is such an odd analogy, but Dodson is like a ballet dancer in how she can move so swiftly along the net and jump out of the gym. She’s battled through illness, having to sit out the high school season and is still coming back to being 100% (which 100% for Dodson will be scary for her opponents). The connection between Rachel Muisenga and Dodson was looking like midseason form. The consistency she was showing from being able to get from pin to pin and take what the defense was giving her on the slide was extremely on point.
Addison KarmikAddison Karmik – 1st Alliance 18 Black
Committed to Green Bay
Karmik has all the intangibles one needs in terms of being a setter who can run the show. Her body language commands the rest of her teammates and has a motor that gets a touch on everything. She can jump set on point while also seeing what matchups are on the other side of the net to give her team the best chance to score. Karmik can also take it on two as well, she’s crafty and knows how to keep her team rolling when times get tough.
Zoey Seput #19Zoey Seput – Uno 18 Elite
Committed to UC-Riverside
Seput’s athleticism really sets her apart, but like most of the setters I saw this past weekend, she poses a disposition where she is going to find a way to score whether it’s finding an open hitter or taking it herself. She is extremely physical at the net and just makes things happen. In volleyball, a wise coach once told her there are distributors and then there are setters. Seput is definitely a setter where she takes what the game gives her and really competes.
London HatchLondon Hatch – Epic United 18 Rox
Uncommitted – Class of 2021
Hatch has a similar style to Seput where the other side of the net has to know constantly where she is going to be, an offensive threat in every rotation. Hatch has plenty of athleticism to put it over on the second contact or shoot it to the outside. A setter who can put this type of pressure on the defense is one to keep tabs on as Hatch is part of the Class of 2021.