Bombs in the Middle at Summerfest: 17 Open
Like the temperatures outside, the volleyball is getting HOT! Columbus was on fire this weekend with some of the best teams in country coming together for one last tune up before we hit the road for nationals! The 17 Open…
Access all of Prep Dig
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingLike the temperatures outside, the volleyball is getting HOT!
Columbus was on fire this weekend with some of the best teams in country coming together for one last tune up before we hit the road for nationals!
The 17 Open was on fire with some of the biggest names in the nation going head to head. From the likes of Harper Murray Harper Murray 6'2" | OH Skyline | 2023 State #2 Nation MI to Nya Bunton Nya Bunton 6'5" | MB DuPont Manual | 2023 State #7 Nation KY and Ava Sarafa Ava Sarafa 6'0" | S Marian | 2023 State #14 Nation MI , the legends of tomorrow were on tap to throw down.
Here are some of the best middle blockers from Summerfest!
Laurece Abraham Laurece Abraham 6'1" | MB Country Day | 2023 State #111 Nation MI – 6’1 MB – Legacy
This player is getting better and better and I don’t think we have quite seen just all that she can do. A stellar blocker, her offense has grown leaps and bounds throughout this season and was on full display last weekend. Her slide attack has to be one of the toughest amongst the 17s.
Gritty gritty GRITTY!!!
Laurece Abraham finished the rally with a huge block! 🙌🏽 #JVA #SummerFest pic.twitter.com/jpukLkyUZy— Line Shot Volleyball (@LineShotVBall) June 5, 2022
Nya Bunton Nya Bunton 6'5" | MB DuPont Manual | 2023 State #7 Nation KY – 6’3 MB – KIVA
Man, can this girl JUMP! This University of Texas commit is one of the highest fliers you’ll see and not much can get in her way from either scoring or stuff blocking her opponent. Nya Bunton Nya Bunton 6'5" | MB DuPont Manual | 2023 State #7 Nation KY can easily get her head above the tape blocking and it created some fun opportunities to score, or not.
Nya Bunton🫢🫢🫢🫢 @TexasVolleyball pic.twitter.com/ruc6WtpTI0
— Line Shot Volleyball (@LineShotVBall) June 5, 2022
Brooke Bultema Brooke Bultema 6'3" | MB Ursuline | 2023 State #36 Nation OH – 6’3 MB – Elevation
This was my first look at Brooke Bultema Brooke Bultema 6'3" | MB Ursuline | 2023 State #36 Nation OH live and WOW! I need more! Not only does this girl have the hops like her counterparts, but she can obliterate a ball. Set her in the gap, on the 1 ball or on the slide – my personal favorite of hers – Bultema is going to crush it.
She may be going to Kentucky, but I was getting some SERIOUS Anna Stevenson vibes from Brooke Bultema this weekend!!!! This kid is dangerous! #JVA #SummerFest @KentuckyVB @UKCoachSkinner pic.twitter.com/eywLcKerJ8
— Line Shot Volleyball (@LineShotVBall) June 5, 2022
Emma Beretich Emma Beretich 6'2" | MB Pickerington Central | 2023 State OH – 6’2 MB – Mintonette
This Mintonette squad was a lot of fun to see live in action this weekend. With such a pin heavy offense that they run, this opened up a lot of opportunities for Emma Beretich Emma Beretich 6'2" | MB Pickerington Central | 2023 State OH to score. As if she needed the distractions, Beretich is not only a big jumper, but she is fast in the air, giving little time to react.
Brielle Kemavor Brielle Kemavor 6'5" | MB Charles J. Colgan | 2023 State #148 Nation VA – 6’5 MB – Metro
This middle oozes of pure physicality. Whether it is in her block or when she is attacking, Brielle Kemavor Brielle Kemavor 6'5" | MB Charles J. Colgan | 2023 State #148 Nation VA carries such a big presence on the court, she is virtually unstoppable. And this team can really come and go with the usage of Kemavor, if the passing allowed it.
Neele’ge’ Sims Neele’ge’ Sims 6'1" | MB Corunna | 2023 State MI – 6’1 MB – Michigan Elite
We had quite a few players out on Day 1 for the Michigan State track meet on Saturday. After Neele’ge’ Sims Neele’ge’ Sims 6'1" | MB Corunna | 2023 State MI jumped a top 20 finish in the long jump, she sprinted her way down to Columbus, not even missing a beat. Sims continues to impress with her speed and athleticism in the middle and it is a game changer for Michigan Elite.
Fresh off of a day on the track for Michigan’s state finals – Neele’ge’ Sims gets to Columbus and makes immediate impact!!! 👏🏽👏🏽 pic.twitter.com/VrcJsykT8l
— Line Shot Volleyball (@LineShotVBall) June 5, 2022
Gabrielle Gerry Gabrielle Gerry 6'5" | MB Assumption | 2023 State KY – 6’5 MB – KIVA
Opposite of Bunton, Gabrielle Gerry Gabrielle Gerry 6'5" | MB Assumption | 2023 State KY rotates in the middle for a lot more trouble for opponents. She towers over her competitors at 6’5 and lengthy wing span. Her block was impressive all throughout the championship run, a crucial piece to their epic run. And her offense has come a long way since I saw her last in January.