President’s Day Weekend: The “18 And Uncommitted” Standouts
Last weekend, Valentine’s Weekend, President’s Weekend, and probably one of the most anticipated weekends in the volleyball community finally came and went. President’s Day weekend is a time to rise and shine among the many eyes of recruiters. It’s a…
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Continue ReadingLast weekend, Valentine’s Weekend, President’s Weekend, and probably one of the most anticipated weekends in the volleyball community finally came and went. President’s Day weekend is a time to rise and shine among the many eyes of recruiters. It’s a big weekend for the girls who have yet to be recruited. But, it’s an even bigger weekend for anyone who is 18 and uncommitted. So, let’s take a couple of 18’s players that stood out and are looking for a chance to take it further than high school.
Emma Goerger Emma Goerger 6'4" | MB Wayzata | 2022 State MN – 2022 – Middle Hitter – #26 Wayzata High School – #12 Minnesota Select – Unsigned
Emma, standing at 6’4″, is a staple on the Minnesota Select 18-1’s roster. Currently seeking to receive an offer to further her college career, she has been working hard both as a player and a teammate.
Emma contributed to the infamous 2019 Wayzata High School state championship win over the undefeated Eagan ‘ last=”]’ last=”] High School volleyball team. In the win over Eagan ‘ last=”]’ last=”], the overall 2019 high school volleyball season, and now the 2021 club season, one thing stands out; Emma Goerger Emma Goerger 6'4" | MB Wayzata | 2022 State MN has been practicing.
The first thing to notice is her approach. Emma’s approach is now more aggressive than the previous year. Because of this aggressive approach, of course, comes an even greater hit. Her presence on the court this year sends two messages to her recruiters. One, she can hit with authority. Two, she is coachable and willing to get better.
The second thing that sticks out is her blocking ability. Emma’s blocking has always been a stable in her game, and it just keeps getting better. With her long legs, she can cover a lot of ground in a little amount of time. In addition, she gets her blocking hands over quickly. With Emma’s quick hands over the net, she creates positive touches and blocks to remember.
Highlights:
Noelle VanOort – 2021 – Right / Left Side Hitter – #3 Kasson-Mantorville High School – #37 Mizuno Northern Lights – Unsigned
Noelle, an all-around solid player, teammate, and a great source of energy. Noelle gives off a humble presence to her team and a sense of leadership. Being on the shorter side of the volleyball world, Noelle has still found herself a part of one of the top two teams in one of the top volleyball organizations in the state of Minnesota. Noelle is 5’9″, but she doesn’t play like it.
First is her speed. Noelle is quick and efficient. Her transition off the net and hunger for the ball are unmatched. Noelle also has quick feet off the net. The momentum of Noelle’s fast off the net contribute to her quick feet back to the net. Noelle also utilizes her long arms to quickly get her from the ground to the air as fast as possible. Her gather from point A to point B allows her to get up, get high, and get there fast – a coach’s dream.
The second is her quick thinking. Noelle may be considered “short” by volleyball standards, but there is more than one way to score. Noelle is quick to tool when it comes to her hitting style. If she finds that she is off the net, she takes a point to find other ways to score than powering through. In addition, she is versatile. Learning both the left and right-side hitter positions, Noelle can be used anywhere on the court. Versatile and a quick study are two very valuable things to have in a player.
Lastly, she’s a great teammate. Below, there is a YouTube video of Noelle, going deep into her high school team’s analytics and their playing style. They had been coming off a couple of losses, and Noelle used that opportunity to show that the team doesn’t see that as a loss but a learning curve. She seems always to have a positive twist and a strong mind in a bleak situation. She also prides herself on her energy! And all volleyball players know, a team can win off of energy alone.
P.S. Here are here 2020 accomplishments for your to ponder: 1st team All-Conference, 1st team All-Area, and earned All-State Honors.
Noelle’s quote she wants you to remember her by: “As a player, I pride myself on being a great teammate, an energy giver, and always working hard.”
Highlights: http://www.hudl.com/video/3/13299434/5fbf13755b3d55098c45722d
Kinsey Cronin Kinsey Cronin 5'11" | MB Medford | 2021 State MN – 2021 – Middle Hitter – #16 Medford High School – #4 Mizuno Northern Lights – Unsigned
Kinsey Cronin Kinsey Cronin 5'11" | MB Medford | 2021 State MN , a middle attacker who shows no fear and gives it all she has. She and her team finished 2nd in the Club division last Presidents day weekend, and she and her team seem hungry for more wins. Now searching for a place to call home after high school, Kinsey gives her 100% every time she steps on the court. However, that is something not new to her as she has been a part of many upsets and challenges throughout her entire volleyball career.
The first thing to notice about Kinsey is her attitude. She has the soul and the heart of a winner. With every approach, hit, and celebration, it seems like she is playing for the last point of a championship game for every point of every game. This type of personality and attitude cannot be taught but, seeing as it already is in Kinsey’s blood, it is a weapon in her arsenal she isn’t afraid to use.
Aside from her attitude, however, Kinsey has the power to back it up. As seen over the President’s Day Weekend and shown in her upset against a ranked team in the highlight video below, Kinsey plays to win. Her aggressive approach and eye for the opposing block get her open spots on the court all day. On top of her power and keen eye, Kinsey hits the corners. Every college coach knows it’s all about the corners. Kinsey can both hit the corners and hit the sharp angles. And, with the heart of a winner and the spirit of a teammate, she is coachable and willing to do whatever it takes to win.
Highlights: http://www.hudl.com/v/2CYYzE
Laura Wellbrook – 2021 – Outside Hitter / Opposite Hitter / Defensive Specialist – #5 Northfield High School – #40 Mizuno Northern Lights – Unsigned
Laura Wellbrook, she can do it all. Laura has spent her entire volleyball career being versatile and coachable. In being versatile, Laura has honed her skills in being an effective pin hitter on both sides and a great defensive player earning her a spot on the Northern Lights 3’s team, one of the country’s top clubs. Laura and her team finished 2nd in the Club Division over the Presidents Day Weekend, which was a fantastic feat that Laura was a significant contributor towards.
With so many aspects of Laura’s playing to talk about, let’s start by breaking down her hitting abilities. Laura is the definition of fundamentals. Being on the shorter side, Laura relies on her volleyball I.Q. and her training to get ahead of her opponents. If the donut is open, Laura takes the donut. Her roll shot is one of perfection, with her full aggressive approach masked by an extended arm and a last-minute draw-back to hit just in front of the ten-foot line. Her recognition of the donut not only shows a high volleyball I.Q. But a willingness to train and be trained. If there is a line shot, Laura is taking it. Listening to her teammates and her eyes, Laura takes the line shot when given to her. And, lastly, tooling off the block. The most useful and underrated weapon in volleyball, and Laura shows to use it to her advantage. Laura may be on the shorter side; however, she understands her opponent’s weaknesses and exploits them with her fundamentals.
Next, Laura’s work without the ball. Working hard in transition, Laura is always an option for her setter. In addition, she works hard to get as far off the net that is needed. If the ball is out of system, Laura is working hard to be behind the setter. If the ball at a faster tempo, Laura speeds up her footwork to make something almost out of nothing. Laura, all in all, is a downright hard worker.
Lastly, Laura’s defending ability and mindset. Laura is one to get after it not only on her hitting but in her defense as well. And, one word still stands when it comes to her defense, too; fundamentals. Laura stays on her feet when running through balls and dives to the floor when necessary. Laura is also quick to defend with both her platform and hands. As the game of volleyball advances, many defensive specialists seem to rely on both their platform and quick hands above the head. Laura has added that to her arsenal and uses it at any moment’s notice, especially for digs down the line.
Hitting Highlights:
Serve Receive Highlights:
Defense Highlights: http://www.hudl.com/v/2Ecbwa