Stock Riser 16s from Triple Crown NIT
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The star-studded field at Triple Crown every year allows athletes to separate themselves from the pack. It’s also an opportunity for under-the-radar players to make themselves known. By the end of the weekend, there were plenty of names that fit…
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Continue ReadingThe star-studded field at Triple Crown every year allows athletes to separate themselves from the pack. It’s also an opportunity for under-the-radar players to make themselves known. By the end of the weekend, there were plenty of names that fit these descriptions and made the most of their chances to face elite competition.
Let’s talk about some of those names. For this list, I’ll be hopping around the region and mentioning many of the talent-rich clubs that encircle the Kansas City area. Surely, it’s no wonder why Triple Crown was so stacked.
Here we go.
Grace Heaney – 6’2 RS – Premier Nebraska 16 Gold – Class of 2023
Heaney is the kind of opposite who can change a match in a variety of ways. She’s a long, lefty opposite who can hammer the ball from just about anywhere. Perhaps equally game-changing is her ability to be a shutdown blocker. Heaney is a nightmare matchup for opposing left sides and knows how to take away any angle. Following an admirable top-ten placing at Triple Crown, Premier 16 Gold will continue to look to their right-side hitter to produce in big moments.
Betsy Goodenow – 5’11 RS – MAVS KC 16-1 – Class of 2023 [Title Photo]
How about another left-handed opposite? My first in-person look at Goodenow was at NLQ in Omaha this May. It didn’t take long for her to impress. She’s a natural six-rotation right-side hitter who can hit a mean D-ball out of the back row. Goodenow’s lethal swing can produce floor-denting kills at the ten-foot line. This MAVS team is bound for success when she’s in rhythm.
Caitlyn Cobb – 5’6 DS/L – KC Power 16-1 – Class of 2023
This KC Power 16s team has an effective combination of consistent ball control and terminal pin hitters. Cobb is a player who helps anchor the ball control side, and she does it with precision and finesse. Able to play multiple zones in the backcourt, this defensive specialist can reliably place the ball on her setter’s head throughout a match. As a result, KC Power has found plenty of success and recently added a top-five finish at Triple Crown to its resume.
Ashley Mullen – 5’11 S – Dynasty 16 Black – Class of 2023
I’ve had the good fortune of seeing Mullen and the Dynasty 16 Black team a few times during this club season. They just keep improving. Part of that has to do with Mullen’s knack for putting her hitters in great spots. She’s incredibly deceptive and can push tempo to either pin. Dynasty has teams in multiple age groups that are surging up the leaderboard, and it’s talented athletes like Mullen that help make it happen.
Yet another team that I’m excited to see again: @dynastyvbc.
Strong, physical hitters and some brilliant setting. pic.twitter.com/XMY0csZBLd
— Austin Kingsley (@KingsleyATK) May 15, 2021
Kara Kassebaum – 6’1 OH/RS – VCNebraska 16 Elite – Class of 2023
Kassebaum is the kind of player whose length makes her comfortable on either pin. With an impressive standing reach, she is able to hit tough angles and put up a solid block. VCN is no stranger to developing physical outside hitters, and Kassebaum can become another good one regardless of which pin she decides to play.
Ellie Anderson – 5’11 OH – Club Ignit Select 16 Blue – Class of 2023
Iowa has had plenty of imposing outside hitters over the years, and Anderson is another one to keep an eye on. She’s particularly adept at hitting through multiple gaps along the net, making her a difficult target to track for opposing blockers. Anderson will only continue to improve, and that will be a fun development to watch as she gains even more high-level experience.