Midwest Border Stars: Buley & Veenendall
LaCrosse Central has a long tradition of building well-rounded volleyball athletes. They have MVC Championships for 1977,1978,1979,1980,1981, 1989 ,2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014. It has been a while since they have clenched this title, but there is an…
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LaCrosse Central has a long tradition of building well-rounded volleyball athletes. They have MVC Championships for 1977,1978,1979,1980,1981, 1989 ,2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014. It has been a while since they have clenched this title, but there is an up and coming pair of powerful players hoping to get them back on track.
Lauren Buley Lauren Buley 5'11" | OH Lacrosse Central | 2023 State WI is the first athlete. She is a 6′ sophomore hitter. As a freshmen, she often recorded double-digit kills. She ended up being the unofficial offensive leader for the team. They relied on her long reach and fast arm-swing. Buley does an excellent job of playing the ball deep in the court. It feels like the hits will land out of bounds, but seem to find the end line or corner. The power with which she hits gives the feeling of a big middle hitter. Central likes utilizing her across the net, hitting from both pins. Buley Highlights
There is a juxtaposition when it comes to her sweet personality and forceful style of play. Do not take her kindness for granted because the moment the whistle blows, she is a fierce competitor. She made the jump across state lines this past year to play club with Southern Minnesota Volleyball . She brought three things with her:
- powerful arm, swing
- competitive drive
- teammate and setter Avery Veenendall Avery Veenendall 5'8" | S La Crosse | 2023 State WI
Avery Veenendall Avery Veenendall 5'8" | S La Crosse | 2023 State WI is a talented setter with pristine form and an understanding of exactly how and where Buley likes her sets. The two friends have been a fixture for LaCrosse Central and now SMV. They balance each other out on the court. Avery is a very methodical player with a strong understanding of the strategy involved in running a fast offense. At 5’7” she has the potential to play all the way around or as part of a 6-2 offense.
Her dedication to each play is evident in her willingness to sacrifice her body to get the perfect set. Many times, she opts to set from her knees in order to use her hands for each touch. We love her ability to change the tempo on the ball. Avery has mastered a fast, shoot set to Lauren and keeps the blockers guessing with the pace on her middle and right side sets.
Although they didn’t get to compete this season in their conference, they have been training hard and clocking miles as the Wisconsin girls prepare for another club season in Minnesota.
(Midwest Border Star series goal is to bring light to the players on the Minnesota/Wisconsin border)