Inside information on Players to Watch that you didn’t see before, Part 2 of 2
Missing the bracket? Waking up in the morning wondering who to vote for next? Well, read the full interviews of players that were in the 2nd and 3rd rounds that you did not get to see before. Information too good…
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Continue ReadingMissing the bracket? Waking up in the morning wondering who to vote for next? Well, read the full interviews of players that were in the 2nd and 3rd rounds that you did not get to see before. Information too good not to share. From team mottos to scouting tips, read on!
Part 2 of 2
Lindsay Krause, Omaha Skutt Catholic⇒ Lindsay Krause, 2021, Omaha Skutt, Nebraska
Workout
Because of this fiasco, I have not been able to get on the court all at. I’ve been working out in my house and around my neighborhood pretty much every day. Xpolsive edge is the strength training program that I do through my club team premier and I’m lucky enough that they post workouts that we can do from home without any equipment. I’ve also been running on the treadmill. I have to remember that I’m not just preparing for this high school season, but how my entire volleyball career in the future
Goals
Some things have that we have as a team goal every year is to first, win state, and the next is to achieve ultimate trust with one another. because when you get to that point on your team when you want something just as much for your teammates as you do for yourself and everybody wants the same things, that’s when you find yourself able to meet their achievement goals
Volleyball Memories
USA- being down 1-5 in the fifth set of the world championship match v. Italy in Cairo, and we came back to win the match
SKUTT- state semifinal this past season of my junior year. We played Norris and they just came out gunning and they played really great. it was a really fun match to play to earn our way into the championship
PREMIER- colorado crossroads qualifier, my 16s club season, day 3, beating sunshine to earn an open bid to nationals
Since you were a freshman…
I have switched a little bit. In my sophomore and freshman years, we ran a rotation that people played multiple positions so I played both middle and outside. My junior is when I moved over to only playing outside. I think being a freshman it was just so much fun and the seniors I have on my team we’re just phenomenal and the same for my sophomore year. So once I became a junior and an upperclassman is really when I stepped into the role of a mental and emotional leader and not just a verbal leader or someone that leads by example.
How do you scout a team?
The very first thing that I look at is how good is their serve receive because that is what really makes or breaks a team. Then you go to who is their power hitter that they go to most, and then you go to what some of their weak spots on defense might be.
College Aspirations
Committed to UNL. I will be attending UNL and I really have and haven’t thought about this. I know that I love science and math, and more specifically I love biology and physiology. but I also love English and reading so who really knows where I’ll end up
Volleyball Mentors
Saunders from Skutt has had a very very big impact on me and she’s been awesome. Also, my last few club coaches being Shannon Smolinski, Sarah Hughbanks, Joe Wessel, and Jessica Knecht
Motto
I think I’ll use my self motto which is “be iconic”
I love this word of iconic so much. it just makes such a statement. when you see something and you are so enthralled by it and it’s just too good to be ignored.
[player_tooltip player_id="58186" first="Whitney" last="Lauenstein"], Waverly
⇒ Whitney Lauenstein Whitney Lauenstein 6'1" | OH Waverly | 2021 State NE , 2021, Waverly, Hitter, Nebraska
Workouts
I go on runs around Waverly and the park, I lift weights with my set at my house.
Goals
My goal will always be passing because I feel it is a very hard skill to master and you need to have good passes in order to be in system to play a good volleyball match.
Volleyball Memories
Going to state with my team!!
Since you were a freshman…
It was very hard I struggled my freshman year I grew a lot in a matter of months and wasn’t very coordinated I also played middle which wasn’t my favorite position. I came home from USA volleyball that summer and I realized I wasn’t a middle and that I wanted to be an outside. I played outside my sophomore high school season for varsity and didn’t play back row, I went into club with the mindset that I wanted to be an amazing passer. I thought that this would happen right away that in a couple of practices I would be so good. That was not the case it took forever I remember I wanted to give up so many times during a drill Mader made us do where you had to get three perfect passes in a row in order to be done with practice, I was always the last one passing. I felt like I was letting everyone down by being the last one every time and taking the longest. I remember after one practice after this drill Mader could see I was a little frustrated. He told me that to be one of the greats it takes time. You have to work hard and put in the extra time when nobody else is. That’s kinda when it really hit me that if I wanted to be good and if I wanted to be noticed by college coaches then I would have to work harder than everyone on everything. I took a weights class every day through my school and then would even get up at 6 am and have the whole gym to myself sometimes and hit against the wall pass against the wall and even set up a net and hit off of a box. There weren’t very many people that wanted to get up with me so I was doing it by myself most mornings. Sometimes I would drag some freshman in there with me or some eighth graders just anyone I could find that would hit a ball at me. Going into my junior year of high school season I was super confident I had lots of schools that were starting to get interested in me, I played all the way around and kept working hard to keep that spot because no matter how good you are you can always get beat out by someone who is working harder than you.
How do you scout a team?
Watch film.
College Aspirations
I am actually committed I will be attending UNL!! I am not sure yet I work at a daycare in school-age and I love it so maybe a teacher not really sure yet!
Volleyball Mentors
My coaches Mader, Neujahr, Maggie are really big mentors that have really helped me through my process with recruiting and through all the frustrations with switching positions from middle to outside.
Team Motto
Chop wood, carry water
Chop wood, carry water was a book that we read during high school season about a man who wanted to be a samurai archer. His trainer made him chop wood and carry water for weeks and the samurai in training became very frustrated because he didn’t understand why he had to do stupid things that didn’t even go with shooting a bow. The whole point of this book was to fall in love with the process of being great he had to chop wood and carry water doing the little things that nobody wanted to do to be able to do the big things that everyone wanted to be good at.
⇒ Mak Hatcliff, 2021, Beatrice, Libero, Uncommitted
Workouts
In my downtime to prepare for next season, I have been training/playing with Nebraska Juniors Volleyball Club
Goals
An individual goal for the 2020 season would be to break the career number of digs set at Beatrice High School. A team goal for the 2020 season would be to win Districts and play in the State Volleyball Tournament
Volleyball Memories
My most memorable volleyball moment was when my team took a six-hour bus ride to Sidney, Nebraska to play in the 2019 District Final game.
Since you were a freshman…
I have not switched positions in my high school career but the learning process from my freshman year to now was so inspiring. To have the upperclassman take me under their wing and teach me new skills was very motivating to me and I can not wait to take incoming freshman under my wing this coming season.
How do you scout a team?
To scout another team/player we watch a lot of film as a team!! Something that I do on my own time is study where my opponents like to hit at.
College Aspirations
I have visited the University of Nebraska Kearney and the University of Nebraska Omaha. Academically, I am looking in a school that offers a Pre-Med or Biology major. Another thing I am looking for in a school is a high admittance rate into medical school.
Volleyball Mentors
My top influencers that I look up to are my two coaches, Coach Carper and Coach Coudeyras.
Team Motto
One Team, One Family
I chose this slogan because to connect well as a team I believe that it is necessary to have a bond. When your team has a special bond they become your second family.
[player_tooltip player_id="58783" first="Skylar" last="McCune"], Gretna. Photo contributed.
⇒ Skylar McCune Skylar McCune 5'9" | DS/L Gretna | 2022 State #53 Nation NE , 2022, Gretna, Libero, Uncommitted
Workouts
As of right now, I’m really just focused on staying in shape for whichever seasons next, whether its possibly finishing club season strong at nationals or starting high school season. There is not anything I can do on the court since all facilities shut down but just getting touches in the garage and whenever I can. I’m still working out every day as I usually would in a season.
Goals
My biggest high school team goal is to make it to state again and get the chance to play in that championship game for a state title. We have a lot of talent in the Gretna gym this year and I definitely think this could be our year. My biggest individual goal would definitely be committing once the rule changes.
Volleyball Memories
State this year would not only be my most memorable volleyball moment but probably just the most fun thing I’ve ever experienced.
Since you were a freshman…
As a freshman, I was just happy to have a jersey on that team and to play with girls I’d been watching since I was in 6th grade. I started as a 6 rotation right-side hitter my freshman year, and this past year being my sophomore year, I was an outside hitter. I think just the biggest difference from freshman to sophomore year was confidence. My first year I was very timid and this year I felt like a leader and felt I had a big role. I’m not sure what the upcoming year looks like for me position-wise because this cub season I was libero/DS and did not hit.
How do you scout a team?
I think on every team I’ve been on and scouted with, we always look at the weakest serve-receive passer first. That’s the name of the game and if we can pick apart the passers’ abilities it’s a game-changer for us.
College Aspirations
Location wise, I’m all over the map. But I think I definitely have my top five! I’d really like to go into something along the lines of exercise science. I enjoy things like working out so just things similar to that would be great if the school had that to offer.
Volleyball Mentors
Shannon Smolinski would be my mentor and influencer. She was my coach my 15s year and ever since I started playing volleyball when I was 9, she’s been there and I definitely believe she’s the reason I’m where I’m at today with volleyball. I’m very grateful to her.
Team Motto
PWP- play with purpose
That was our slogan this year for Gretna and I think it meant a lot to everyone and had meaning to us all. It just reminds us that we’re playing for something more than ourselves and for each other. Our purpose this year was to make it to state and play in the finals and win a state title. In the end, we didn’t win, but I was really proud of how we played for each other and played with purpose all season.
Peyton Neff, North Platte, Photo Contributed
⇒ Peyton Neff, 2021, North Platte, Setter, Uncommitted
Workouts
Working out as much as I can, and having weekly zoom meetings with my club team.
Goals
Individually I want to improve my all-around game, especially defensively. I also want to be a good senior leader and someone anyone can come too. A team goal I have is to just form good relationships on and off the court. When we all get along and are having fun we play much better.
Volleyball Memories
Any 5 set game from last season. I remember 3 of them from last year and they were all super intense and fun to play in. 2 of the were also home games and those are always the best.
Since you were a freshman…
I have changed a lot mentally and physically from freshman year. I have gotten stronger and grown over 2 inches, and I have become way less timid. Freshman year I only set out of the back row, sophomore year I made a huge jump and I had to take on the role of hitting in the front row while setting in the back. This year I mostly set all the way around, but I hit here and there.
How do you scout a team?
We watch film as a team or we are assigned to do it individually.
College Aspirations
I have visited UNO, UNK, Midland, Sioux Falls, and I’m planning to visit Concordia and Northwest Missouri State. Right now UNK and midland are front runners and UNO is also in that mix. I’m not ruling out NW Missouri state though, i like the coach a lot and I’m excited to get on campus. I am planning on making a decision by mid-May. I am planning on majoring in psychology. I am looking for a school that can either help me get into a master’s program for that or already has one.
Volleyball Mentors
My sister Alex and my cousin Allison are my biggest influencers. I’ve watched them play since I was a little girl up through their college careers.
Team Motto
“Dig deep”
I struggled a lot with trying to find a good slogan because our team has used all of the ones I like in the past. I like this phrase because it can be both physical and mental, it can apply to a game or just practice. I also love the 29029 one that the huskers used.
Prep Dig strives for the readers to get to know the players and teams. These young ladies are amazing in their work ethic, leadership, and just being great kids.