2022 Club Season Spotlight: Premier 17 Gold
Let’s keep the 2022 club previews rolling. We’ve got a lot of teams to cover, and we just took a look at Premier 18 Gold yesterday. Now, it’s time to step over to the 17s division and feature Premier 17…
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Continue ReadingLet’s keep the 2022 club previews rolling. We’ve got a lot of teams to cover, and we just took a look at Premier 18 Gold yesterday. Now, it’s time to step over to the 17s division and feature Premier 17 Gold.
This 17 Gold group is bound to produce plenty of headlines this year. You could argue that they’ve done this already with the release of their new-look roster. So, let’s break down this 17 Gold squad that hopes to rake in plenty more titles for the Premier program.
New Destinations
I just alluded to the presence of some new arrivals on this team. These players could have a huge impact on 17 Gold’s standing in the national race.
Longtime Nebraska Elite teammates Destiny Ndam-Simpson Destiny Ndam-Simpson 6'1" | OH Omaha Westside | 2023 State #37 Nation NE and Olivia Mauch Olivia Mauch 5'7" | DS/L Bennington | 2024 State #49 Nation NE are joining the Premier fray this winter and can help take 17 Gold to new heights. They’re both coming off of huge seasons on the high school side. This is sure to translate into plenty of positive momentum in a new environment.
These outstanding athletes are joined by a third major new addition to the fold, Brooklyn Fuchs Brooklyn Fuchs 6'2" | MB Lincoln East | 2023 State NE . The Lincoln East middle blocker joins 17 Gold after several standout seasons with VCN and a breakout 2021 campaign with the Spartans. Fuchs’ stock will rise as she continues to develop this winter and spring.
Familiar Faces
Of course, it’s only fair to have a discussion of the players who have been lighting it up in the Premier gym for a while now.
There’s depth at every position. The left pin is stacked with the aforementioned Ndam-Simpson, in addition to returning all-state performer Stella Adeyemi Stella Adeyemi 5'9" | OH Papillion-LaVista South | 2023 State #95 Nation NE . There are two D1 commits on the pins, too, with Purdue commit Grace Heaney Grace Heaney 6'2" | RS Elkhorn North | 2023 State #33 Nation NE on the right and Louisville-bound Alanna Bankston Alanna Bankston 6'1" | MB Millard West | 2023 State #68 Nation NE , who can play on either pin or in the middle. What a terrifying lineup.
Clearly, firepower is a standout trait on this roster. At the same time, though, the versatility of 17 Gold’s players cannot be overlooked. Ivy Leuck Ivy Leuck 5'8" | S Skutt Catholic | 2023 State NE , for example, can play just about any position on the court. She has experience as a setter, opposite, and defensive specialist. Fuchs can step in to play opposite if needed.
This team also has the potential to have a formidable defense in both the blocking and digging phases. Kailey Hrbek has always been a wall at the net for this group. In the backcourt, Makenzie Dyrstad Makenzie Dyrstad 5'7" | DS/L Papillion LaVista South | 2023 State NE with form a nice tandem with Mauch to keep balls alive. Reese Booth Reese Booth 5'7" | S Elkhorn North | 2024 State NE is also a stout right-back defender at setter.
I feel like I don’t even need to tell you to keep an eye on this group. You already know. Premier 17 Gold looks like a serious title contender, and the journey to Nationals is about to begin.