Sunday, November 16, 2008

Weekly Review #14: All Stars

#6 posting 11.16.2008
your daily dose of girls volleyball news & information

Weekly Review #14: All Stars
The weekly reviews aren't quite done yet. The State tournament has come and gone. The All Star games this week gave another shot to the class of 2009 (and some 2010s) a chance to put the uniform on one more time. The All Star Series sponsored by the Ninhams and All Star Athletic Promotions put on two All star events this weekend. I attended the South Central All Star Series at Bloomington Jefferson yesterday. It gives me the chance to see some players I don't get a chance to see during the year. I did see 8 of the players during the course of out & abouts during the fall, but 19 were new.

All Star teams by their nature are artificial creations. Fans around me were wondering how teams were going to celebrate after a point. Once the ball was put in play all teams made plays. Rallies lasted a bit longer than some high school action.

TEAM OF THE WEEK
This has to go to Navy the team that won the South Central event yesterday. Navy had a strong passing game with Kirstee Rotty and Grace Sanders patrolling the back court. Up front Navy had three players with double digit kills. What set them apart from the other two teams was their serving. Navy had 19 aces to 9 and 4 for Blue and Scarlet. Navy was most adept at FBSO with a .667 %. The other two teams were under .500. Navy led at the key break points 21/26 times on the day (.808).
Photo: players in the pregame introduction, but I inadvertantly left two players off the photo. photo by kja.

PLAYER OF THE WEEK
This goes to outside hitter Nikki Meinz of Navy (Sauk Rapids-Rice). Meinz is not very big on the outside (5-5) put she packed a wallop of a hit, had good spring in her jump, and had a deadly serve.

Team of the week
OH Arriel Mewhorter, Blue (Blaine)
OH Nikki Meinz, Navy (Sauk Rapids-Rice)
MH Jessica Clark, Blue (Triton)
MH Crissi Schewe, Blue (Sleepy Eye St. Mary's)
RH Libby Augedahl, Navy (Caledonia)
S Cassie Gran, Navy (Caledonia)
L Kirstee Rotty, Navy (Farmington)

Photo: Meinz going up for a hit on the left side. photo by kja.

The season ending review will appear next week ---I think

Next up: Tomorrow morning