Round 2 – Coaches Comments – Middles Gray & Markowski; Pin Hitters Kepler & Krause
Nebraska High School 2020 Preseason Player to Watch Missing that March Madness…We are now into April and ROUND 2!!! Round 2 will focus on coaches’ comments and the team. Players that make it to Round 3, get your marketing hat…
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Continue ReadingNebraska High School 2020 Preseason Player to Watch
Missing that March Madness…We are now into April and ROUND 2!!! Round 2 will focus on coaches’ comments and the team. Players that make it to Round 3, get your marketing hat on and start thinking of a great slogan for your team and why!
As always, it takes an entire team to be successful, but check out our 2020 Pre-Season Player to Watch Bracket with 32 of the top players throughout the state of Nebraska!
March 31 Winners – Middle Erison Vonderschmidt, Falls City Sacred Heart; Pin Hitter Ella Waters Ella Waters 6'3" | OH Norris | 2022 State NE , Norris
Prep Dig – Pre Season Player to Watch Updated Bracket
Vote for these players on our Twitter site between 9 a.m. – 9 p.m. on Thursday, April 2.
ROUND 2
MIDDLES
Rylee Gray, Elkhorn South Vs Alexis Markowski, Lincoln Pius X
RYLEE GRAY, 2021
Rylee Gray, Elkhorn South.Comments from Coach Chelsea Potter:
Area Most Improved in 2019
Blocking consistency and added responsibilities of serving and playing back row
Volleyball technique
Rylee’s technique is consistent. She worked with our setter all season to create the best tempo of offense possible to highlight her strengths and complement our other hitters.
Work ethic or drive for volleyball
When Rylee is on the court, it is like having an assistant coach out there. Her ability to notice opponent tendencies in several facets of the game and communicate that effectively to her teammates is so highly valued by the coaching staff.
Role model on the team and in the community
Rylee is a 3 sport athlete and competes at a high level constantly. She also is a leader in the classroom, with a rigorous course schedule and is dedicated to her education. Her lead-by-example standard sets a model for all players in our program to follow and her ability to balance challenging her teammates and helping them feel supported along the way to reaching that challenge shows maturity beyond her years.
Team insight
Our team loves to compete at a high level. That drive for competition balanced with their desire to support each other and create a family within the team helps to shape our goals and strategy to achieve our goals.
ALEXIS MARKOWSKI, 2021, pictured above.
Comments from Coach Katie Wenz:
Area Most Improved in 2019
Running a faster offense, being a more forceful blocker, stronger serving, overall strength in the game, adjusting to playing different positions, being more dominant in her swings, overall just a stronger player athletically, mentally, physically.
Volleyball technique
Alexis is one of those players who is so athletically talented she is able to adjust to any play at any time. She has amazing blocking technique and really focuses on pushing the ball to the other side of the net. She is strong in the shoulders and with her ability to jump she has the great ability to get on top of the ball during kills that allows her to strategically put the ball where it needs to go. She has good setting hands if she has to set, can pass well when needed, and can read a ball from the opponent very well.
Work ethic or drive for volleyball
Alexis loves sports and loves to compete, therefore she loves to get better for each practice. Alexis will make other players step up if they are not playing at their full potential. She works hard. I know basketball is her first love, but during volleyball season she competes just as she does on the basketball court. She plays club and during times she cannot practice, she is engaged, attentive, and still listening to learn.
Role model on the team and in the community
Alexis is an overall good kid. She is an incredible athlete but is a very humble athlete. One example where I personally experienced Alexis being a role model was during state basketball. The team had just won the semi-finals and were watching the next game to see who they would play in the state finals. That night I was there and watched the game with my 10-year-old niece, Olivia, who loves anything to do with basketball. My family and I told her to watch one girl the majority of the time and learn something from her. Olivia watched Alexis and fell in love with her, as a teammate and a competitive player. After the game Olivia really wanted to meet Alexis, I told Olivia, Alexis is probably too busy and focused on the next game, but I will try to track her down and ask if you can meet her. I texted Alexis and asked if Olivia could meet her. Of course, we did. Upon meeting Alexis, Olivia was star struck, and pretty nervous. What really made me see Alexis as a role model was when she made Olivia feel like she was the star. Asking Olivia about her basketball team, what position she plays, where she goes to school, what she loves about basketball, the list goes on and on. At that time Alexis could have done a quick hi and moved on, instead, she took the time to engage with a 10-year-old who was meeting a celebrity. Alexis and the basketball team took pictures with Olivia and made sure to invite her to the Pius volleyball camp with Aunt Katie. It was this moment, as I sat and watched, I saw Alexis make it more about the game and more about kindness and genuine care in others. That is how I see Alexis as a role model, genuine and kind (on the court with a little more competitiveness), in everything she does.
She is not one I feel I ever have to talk to about being better and living above the line. She respects people and wants to do well for others.
Team insight
I have good, dedicated and competitive kids who want to play. But what makes them work together and makes them have success is, on and off the court they are friends. They may not hang out every minute of the day, but they respect each other and know that with respect and care for each other and the game, success comes. Our team focuses on small goals, not quitting, working through the mental and physical challenges to get success in the big picture. The team is also very disciplined. Weights at 6 am, school, practice, homework, family. Together they hold each other accountable and hold the coaches and everyone in the program accountable. Without discipline, we would have different challenges. We also respect the program, those who had a part in building the Pius X program, those who are in the program, and those who want to play in the future. Pius X volleyball has a rich tradition to be successful in volleyball, each player knows that and each player wants to be a part of continuing that tradition.
PIN HITTERS
Hannah Kepler, Milford Vs Lindsey Krause, Omaha Skutt Catholic
HANNAH KEPLER, 2021
Comments from Coach Emily Restau:
Area Most Improved in 2019
Hannah improved her mental game the most this past season. She had a quick mindset and did a great job moving to the next ball. Skill-wise she improved on her shot selection – understanding how other teams were playing her and being able to adjust to that.
Volleyball technique
Hannah is very coachable, she is a quick learner and has a very good understanding of the game of volleyball. She is a powerful hitter, but she does a great job on defense as well. She has a keen eye on reading hitters and adjusting to their strengths.
Work ethic or drive for volleyball
Hannah has definitely put in the work to be where she is today. She plays club volleyball for Nebraska Juniors. Her intrinsic motivation is outmatched and her teammates feed off of her. She always wants to know what she could do better and implements feedback immediately.
Role model on the team and in the community
Hannah is a role model/leader by doing. She pushes herself in practice and the off-season. She puts in a ton of time in the off-season to become a better athlete – this helps her understand the game of volleyball and bring it back to her teammates as well. There were countless times during a drill that she would see her partner doing something wrong and she would help them fix the skills to make her teammates and team better. She also helps with little kids volleyball camps and she is a key member of the basketball team.
Team insight
They love each other so much and are extremely selfless – When teammates love each other and want the best for each other they are able to work well together no matter the obstacle set in front of them.
What is Hannah’s nickname?
Hank
What’s Hannah’s favorite way to wear her jersey – tucked in or not?
Tucked in
LINDSEY KRAUSE, 2021
Comments from Coach Renee Saunders:
Lindsay Krause, Omaha Skutt CatholicArea Most Improved in 2019
Her termination and her ball control
Volleyball technique
She is a power player. She has a very high volleyball IQ and also is very critical and wants to everything perfect every time.
Work ethic or drive for volleyball
Lindsay loves volleyball. She loves her team and she loves to compete. She lives and breathes competition and being the best she can be.
Role model on the team and in the community
Lindsay is a natural leader, both by example and with her voice. She is not afraid to call people out for cutting corners, but she is also a very sensitive young women who cares about others.
Team insight
Lindsay provides confidence to the rest of the team when she is on the floor. She is such a competitor and that rubs off on everyone. The team embraces her for who she is and she shines when the lights come on.
About Lindsey
Lindsay is a fierce competitor who does not accept anything less than her best every time she steps on the floor. Oh and we call her Linda!
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.