Illinois Top 250 Expo: Emerging Players
In addition to Sunday’s Top 250 Expo, we expect to see some rising stock risers come from the event, however, there are some emerging athletes that caught my eye as well during their warm ups, skills and drills and down…
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Continue ReadingIn addition to Sunday’s Top 250 Expo, we expect to see some rising stock risers come from the event, however, there are some emerging athletes that caught my eye as well during their warm ups, skills and drills and down to the game play.
Emerging players are those whom are still in a developing stage between their foundational training and fundamental training. These emerging athletes, just like most great athletes, have minor tweaks that can be made and continue to develop them into rising elite athletes over time.
Gianna Basile– DS/Impulse
Basile is one athlete that is without a doubt on the path of being an elite athlete through her work ethic she demonstrates and the skill sets that she already has as an athlete. When it comes to her swing, she has a steady swing, but her swing can use the work in keeping the consistency when it comes to her approach onto the net. Her ability she has now is enough to keep her going and she isn’t a beginner, but like most successful athletes there are just small things that need to be adjusted.
Morgan Stewart– RS/FC Elite
I enjoyed watching Stewart and her development throughout the showcase. Stewart is a very strong willed athlete, who has a determined mindset and pushed through each one of her drills and managed to out do herself each time. The noticeable fix that is needed to better Stewart and her ability to be a rising elite athlete, is perfecting her fundamental training. She redeems herself in her skills and drills, showing off the strong swing she can produce and how well she works with her rotational setters.
Madalyn Mardock- OH/ VC United
Mardock displays a nice swing and has a powerful punch when it comes to setting up her swing on the ball, but the smallest thing that can be worked on is her consistency with her swing. When it comes to being a successful athlete, consistency is everything and all athletes experience a time that they need that extra help. Her form is solid and her foundation is present.
Cristal Lopez– S/Chicago Sky
Lopez is a very traditional setter and works well within the rotation of hitters at the showcase. Lopez has soft sets, however, some noticeable sets were a bit high when it came to being able for the hitter to accurately hit the ball. Not all sets are going to be the same, but making adjustments to higher sets can be made accordingly depending on the height of the hitter she is passing to. Lopez has a strong foundation and solid fundamental training, but tweaking how high the sets are can drastically change the consistency of her overall sets.