18U Scrimmage Standouts: MOCO’s 17s vs 18s
A team’s success should always be attributed to their effort as a whole and never to any single athlete, in my opinion. In the same breath, I would also say that it’s unfair not to address some of the highlight…
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Continue ReadingA team’s success should always be attributed to their effort as a whole and never to any single athlete, in my opinion. In the same breath, I would also say that it’s unfair not to address some of the highlight moments and MVPs of matches well-played. For their standout efforts in a recent face-off against their sister team, here are four athletes from Monmouth County Volleyball Club’s 18U team that pushed them over the edge to victory.
Lauren Jeremich, 5’11”, RS/MB, Red Bank Catholic, 2021
Jeremich is big and strong and packs a powerful punch on the right side. When faced off against the 17U outsides, she staked her claim as the veteran at the net. She stayed disciplined and was always right on time to the block. Her block made it challenging for the outsides to hit hard and down; it forced them to get creative and even sometimes make errors while they compensated.
Jeremich brings a tremendous energy to the front row as a hitter as well. Her team can count on her to end a long rally with a strong kill or a well-placed cut-shot. If she pounds one into the block, she’s usually the first one calling for the ball again to finish what she started. Lauren Jeremich is loud, proud, and a great teammate.
Noelle Hor, 5’4”, L, Freehold Twp, 2021
Noelle Hor is one of the most serious athletes I’ve ever seen. Even when she’s off the court for a middle’s serve or between sets, she keeps her game face on. She’s tough and she rarely makes mistakes, often bettering balls that we wouldn’t have even expected her to play.
If there’s a touch on the block or a shanked pass, you can expect that Noelle will have read it early, doubled down, and made it to that ball to keep the play alive. She’s quick on her feet, has a solid foundation, and is strong and controlled enough to make unthinkable plays on tough balls. By the end of a long day of playing as I saw in this scrimmage, she probably took a long and well-earned ice bath.
Talia Stolker, 5’7”, OH, Holmdel, 2021
Starting off with 11 straight aces, Talia Stoker was a key component in her team’s recent success over MOCO’s 17U team. She has a fierce jump float that trends low over the net. She has nice control over her serve placement as well and keeps the opposing serve receivers guessing. After she’s done serving her face off, she continues to be an offensive threat in the back row. With her heavy hand and strong shoulder, Stolker is a force to be reckoned with no matter where she hits from.
Once she’s front row, she’s capable of blasting through solid double blocks and making the opposing defense flounder. With someone like her hitting at you, you need to be prepared for trouble.
Mary Huegal, 6’0”, OH/MB, Colts Neck, 2022
Mary Huegal is a true hidden gem of New Jersey volleyball. Standing squarely at 6 feet tall, most high school programs would use her for a middle blocker due to a lack of appropriate personnel and her obvious height. From the few hours of gameplay I saw last month, I got a great look at just how much of an outside hitter she truly is.
Her height makes her hard to beat in this position, of course. She gets up quickly with her approach and often can deliver a deadly swing right over the top of her opposing blockers. However, it’s her tenacity that puts her over the edge. You can see from the way she moves that she wants the ball. When she has the opportunity to put the ball down: she doesn’t hesitate. The same goes for her serving and defense; Huegal is an all-around all-star who trusts herself to be the best option to make any play in the back row or at the net.