Flurry of 2023 Commitments for Two Nebraska College Programs
The open recruitment of 2023s began on June 15th. A month later, there’s a lot to talk about. Behind the scenes, a lot of us wondered which college programs would get a quick jump on the recruiting trail. Camp season…
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Continue ReadingThe open recruitment of 2023s began on June 15th. A month later, there’s a lot to talk about.
Behind the scenes, a lot of us wondered which college programs would get a quick jump on the recruiting trail. Camp season has been roaring along for the past couple of weeks, and it has given thousands of athletes a chance to showcase their skills and experience volleyball in a collegiate environment.
In particular, Creighton and Nebraska have hosted some talent-laden camps lately. These events allow schools to establish both a regional and national recruiting footprint. And, guess what: we’re already seeing evidence that it’s working.
The two aforementioned schools have just seen a huge influx of commitments. Let’s take a moment to recap all the action and give a shoutout to this talented group of players.
A Kansas City Crew for Creighton
There’s almost always a huge battle for the top prospects in the Kansas City metro, and Creighton has already managed to land two big ones.
Ava TeStrake Ava TeStrake 6'4" | OH Olathe Northwest | 2023 State #65 Nation KS gave her pledge to the Bluejays after having a standout year with a vaunted KC Power 16-1 team. This talented pin hitter does most of her damage at opposite, where her ability to hit indefensible angles has landed her at one of the premier volleyball programs in the country. I continue to be impressed with TeStrake’s development in seeing the block and hitting the open seams. Her growth as an athlete will serve her well when she makes the move to Omaha.
TeStrake is not the only KC-area 2023 bound for Creighton, however. Committing soon after TeStrake was Jaya Johnson, a product of Performance Volleyball Academy and Olathe South High School. Johnson is a physical hitter who can swing from pretty much anywhere, but she is perhaps best suited as an anchor in the middle. Creighton has recently made a habit of turning regional middle prospects into dominant forces at the net, and Johnson has the skills to be the next in line.
Dream Team Trio for Nebraska
I got a fun opportunity to lurk in the shadows of Nebraska’s Dream Team camp at the Devaney Center last week, and it was chock-full of exciting players. As it turns out, the camp yielded three Cornhusker commitments in very quick succession.
The first pledge came from Bergen Reilly, a do-everything setter from South Dakota’s Kairos Elite club and O’Gorman High School. Reilly came to the Dream Team camp fresh off a dominant championship run in the 16 Premier division at AAU Nationals. Not only does Reilly show brilliant touch and creativity at the setter position, but she also showed a hammer of an arm on the pin for O’Gorman. Her combination of finesse and physicality will suit her well in the Big Ten.
Committing to Nebraska mere hours after Reilly was middle blocker Andi Jackson. Representing The Diff volleyball club in Colorado, Jackson is a fast, explosive middle who already has experience playing up on 18s. Her colossal 10’5 reach helps her find success even while playing up a couple of age groups, and Jackson’s lateral speed makes her a nightmare for opposing blockers to track. Jackson is clearly one of Colorado’s most electrifying prospects.
Rounding out the Nebraska commitment frenzy was Caroline Jurevicius Caroline Jurevicius 6'2" | OH NDCL | 2023 State #5 Nation OH , our top-ranked 2023 in the Ohio rankings. On a broader scale, though, Jurevicius is simply one of the best 2023s in the entire country. She has showcased her skills well on a very talented AVC 17s team. Jurevicius can elevate, see the court like a seasoned veteran, and unleash an absolute cannon that’s impossible to dig. Her athletic family is surely proud of what she has accomplished. Jurevicius will look to continue her rampage, too.