New and Improved – Statement’s Made at Mount Vernon

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>What is always exciting about the start of any season is to see the improvement of athletes from the last time I saw them play.  That was the highlight for me at the Shirley Ryan Invite at Mount Vernon this past weekend was seeing athletes for the first time in the 2022 high school season.  Some I had seen on the club circuit earlier this year, others I saw last high school season, either way they had an impact for their team and made a statement. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"right","id":224170,"width":375,"height":269,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2022/09/DSC07144-1024x735.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-224170" width="375" height="269"/></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='215385' first='Chloe' last='Meester'] - Mount Vernon </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Meester is getting real good, real fast, she has always been physically gifted where she has plenty of physical attributes to her game that sets her apart from others.  Now, her skill is catching up where she is able to hit multiple tempos and is starting to find her groove in the backrow.  I knew going into this event she would be one of the best athletes in the field, however what I most enjoyed were her intangibles on and off the court.  She smiles, she celebrates for everyone, she hits a ball out and comes back to her huddle and makes eye contact with her teammates.  There are a lot of great players out there, but for athletes to still stay engaged with their teammates even when they make a mistake really shows who they are.  Meester has it and will be fun to continue to see her progress this season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"right","id":224158,"width":407,"height":271,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2022/09/DSC07095.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-224158" width="407" height="271"/><figcaption>North Scott</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='215406' first='Abbey' last='Hayes'] - North Scott</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='251673' first='Sydney' last='Skarich'] - North Scott</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='215767' first='Emee' last='Allard'] - North Scott</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Seeing North Scott vs Mount Vernon go head to head in pool play was so exciting. A three set battle eventually won by Mount Vernon.&nbsp; North Scott has a lot of new names on their court this year and the more experience they gain over the course of the season, the more dangerous they will be.&nbsp; Hayes is absolutely electric from the outside, she has a high touch and a big arm swing where she can score in multiple ways.&nbsp; [player_tooltip player_id='251673' first='Sydney' last='Skarich'] and [player_tooltip player_id='215767' first='Emee' last='Allard'] were two other names who really stepped up for the [program_tooltip program_id='431978' first='[program_tooltip program_id='431978' first='Lancers' last='']' last=''] and could score points from the pins.&nbsp; North Scott has always had a program with depth, and despite a lot of really talented athletes lost to graduated, they have reloaded.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='251662' first='Maryn' last='Bixby'] - Dike-New Hartford</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"right","id":224163,"width":422,"height":281,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2022/09/DSC07122.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-224163" width="422" height="281"/><figcaption>Peyton Petersen and [player_tooltip player_id='251662' first='Maryn' last='Bixby'] </figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I've seen Bixby play before, but this time it was just a little bit different for Dike-New Hartford.  Bixby was strong and physical on the right side, she is a really tough matchup for the other side of the net.  She was creativing havoc with her block and was transitioning hard to be available to attack from the right or could even run a route down the middle.  She is from the Class of 2024 and someone who needs to be on the list of a lot of college coaches.  With the progress she has shown the past year, her upside is scary.  She will be a force for the Wolverines next year and at the next level. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Maren Miller - Des Moines Christian&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I saw Maren Miller at the state tournament last November, but I think I saw a different Maren Miller this past weekend.&nbsp; I mean that in a really positive way where Miller was exploding off the floor.&nbsp; Physically she was contacting high above the net and was hitting various angles that made it real tough for the other side to defend.&nbsp; A fast twitch middle who can run various runs and hit different angles makes for a difficult matchup.&nbsp; DMC is looking to get back to state and has the pieces to do it.&nbsp; If they can stay in system, they will be really tough to stop when Miller can score points like she did on Saturday.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='215398' first='Alexie' last='Hogan'] - Beckman Catholic </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"right","id":224169,"width":447,"height":298,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2022/09/DSC07075.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-224169" width="447" height="298"/><figcaption>[player_tooltip player_id='215398' first='Alexie' last='Hogan']</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Beckman is another strong program who took a big hit to graduation from last year's state tournament team.&nbsp; They are reloading as well and the libero changed, but the last night didn't.&nbsp; [player_tooltip player_id='215398' first='Alexie' last='Hogan'] was in the libero jersey this weekend, taking over libero from her older sister Olivia Hogan who is now a freshman at Northern Illinois.&nbsp; She has such range and was extremely consistent.&nbsp; She moves really well on the court and has a quiet platform that keeps their side of the net in system.&nbsp; Beckman is no sleeper this season with some key pieces back and some really exciting athletes coming in.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='215761' first='Ellie' last='Schubert'] - Davenport Assumption</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This will be the third Schubert coming down the line after Emma Schubert (Class of 2020 outside hitter), [player_tooltip player_id='79708' first='Ava' last='Schubert'] (Class of 2023 committed to Tennessee Tech), and now Ellie.&nbsp; [player_tooltip player_id='215761' first='Ellie' last='Schubert'] stepped in as a setter for the Knights who had a huge weekend, defeating Mount Vernon in the semifinals before losing to Dike-New Hartford in the finals.&nbsp; Schubert has the volleyball IQ and all-around game where she finds a way to contribute, and make things simple for the Knights even in a chaotic situation.&nbsp; She is getting better with each touch and is a pure playmaker.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Ellie Knock - Dike-New Hartford</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I was extremely impressed with Knock out of the middle.&nbsp; She is 6'1, strong, athletic, physical, and a playmaker where she can do a lot for her squad.&nbsp; She connects extremely well with veteran setter, [player_tooltip player_id='108422' first='Madelyn' last='Norton'] (Western Illinois), and is savvy for block.&nbsp; The challenge for the middles is all about positioning.&nbsp; Getting to the right spot for the block and being able to transition to be available for the setter is so key.&nbsp; Knock does it, she gets to the spot and is so efficient for the Wolverines.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Emma Meester - Mount Vernon </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Kyla Vaughn - Mount Vernon </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mount Vernon has a roster loaded with big names, but some athletes who came up with key swings and blocks were Emma Meester on the right side and Vaughn out of the middle.&nbsp; When these two are scoring and blocking, it's a huge boost for their squad and gets everyone fired up.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->