Outside Hitter Breakdown from the SkyHawk Invitational
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It was another incredible day of high-level volleyball at Omaha Skutt. The SkyHawk Invitational has delivered again. We’ll have plenty of coverage on all the big trends and standouts from the event. Today, our starting point is about outside hitters.…
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Continue ReadingIt was another incredible day of high-level volleyball at Omaha Skutt. The SkyHawk Invitational has delivered again.
We’ll have plenty of coverage on all the big trends and standouts from the event. Today, our starting point is about outside hitters. There’s a lot to talk about here.
The pin-hitting talent at Skutt this weekend was phenomenal. Every match presented an opportunity to see a future D1 talent or some up-and-coming stars that are just starting their prep volleyball journies. It’s always exciting to see that kind of variety in one building, and that’s what makes this tournament so compelling.
It’s hard to know where to start when breaking down all the outside hitters we saw, but we’ll jump right in anyways.
Perhaps we’ll begin with Ava Martin. The Creighton commit was bombing away throughout the day. She was particularly deadly on the two-ball combination play at the middle of the net. Martin also brings excellent ball control skills to her repertoire, so she will undoubtedly be a huge force at the collegiate level. Of course, her teammate Betsy Goodenow was equally efficient on the opposite pin.
While we’re discussing senior hitters headed to Nebraska colleges, Hayden Kubik was a menace throughout the day. The phrase “hits different” applies very literally to Kubik’s game. It’s been a while since I’ve seen a high schooler hit such a heavy ball.
Skutt’s Morgan Burke Morgan Burke 5'10" | S Skutt Catholic | 2023 State #132 Nation NE also stood out. What’s particularly impressive about Burke is that she’s probably best known for being an elite setter. For the SkyHawks, though, she’s a hard-hitting six-rotation outside hitter with an uncanny ability to produce in clutch moments. This Michigan-bound athlete will always carry the distinction of being able to do just about anything on a volleyball court.
As expected, Appleton North brought some big guns to the event. I was really excited to see the visitors from Wisconsin after getting a full briefing on them prior to the event.
Ella Demetrician Ella Demetrician 6'2" | OH Appleton North | 2024 State #40 Nation WI has a bright future, and her prep career is only just getting started. This 2024 pin hitter is at her best when she’s taking fearless rips from the left side. Her court vision is well beyond her years and I’m excited to watch her mature game develop further in the years to come.
Some assertive swings from Ella Demetrician Ella Demetrician 6'2" | OH Appleton North | 2024 State #40 Nation WI for Appleton North. A fantastic 2024 OH prospect from Wisconsin. pic.twitter.com/0wTrfjhC5D
— Austin Kingsley (@KingsleyATK) October 9, 2021
This Lightning roster has an impressive core of pin hitters with different skillsets, and Demetrician is far from the only scoring option. Kennedy Martin Kennedy Martin 6'6" | OH Nation Ford | 2023 #23 Nation NC will present blocking and hitting mismatches against nearly everyone. Karissa Fortune Karissa Fortune 6'2" | OH Appleton North | 2023 State WI is a stout passer in the backcourt and brought some big swings out of the pipe. The versatility of this group will serve Appleton North well as they make a title push later this year. I’ll be watching.
Reagan Fox Reagan Fox 6'2" | OH St. Teresa's Academy | 2023 State #104 Nation MO was as terminal as I remembered from last year’s invite. She had some great battles with Papillion-La Vista’s Morgan Glaser Morgan Glaser 6'0" | OH Papillion-La Vista | 2024 State NE and Anna Sis Anna Sis 5'11" | OH Papillion-La Vista | 2023 State NE on the auxiliary court. These pin hitters are going to keep improving and should see plenty more high-stakes volleyball matches in their future.
And, of course, the left side duo from Papillion-La Vista South was as sharp as ever. Stella Adeyemi Stella Adeyemi 5'9" | OH Papillion-LaVista South | 2023 State #95 Nation NE is such a dynamic athlete on the left side. One of her most underrated traits is her ability to see the block and hammer the ball through the seam. It’s one smart swing after another for Adeyemi.
Lauren Medeck Lauren Medeck 5'10" | OH Papillion-La Vista South | 2024 State #31 Nation NE , too, brings immense value to the court. She’s a prototypical six-rotation outside hitter whose skills shine regardless of the rotation. Medeck, like all the other athletes on this feature, is poised for many more accolades in the weeks, months, and years to come.
It’s an emphatic first-set win for the visitors on the Main Court. Left sides are bombing away in this matchup. pic.twitter.com/LeeuWbPFew
— Austin Kingsley (@KingsleyATK) October 9, 2021