Lesterville's Taylor Cook signs LOI

[justwonderingNkc]

Lesterville’s Taylor Cook signs LOI last night after Winona game with MO Baptist out of St Louis. Taylor Cook has dazzled us for the last 4 years guiding Lesterville to the schools 3rd overall state championship in 2009. The 2 time all state volleyball and basketball athlete will take her talents to Mo Baptist and will fill right in at outside hitter for the Spartan varsity. Mo Baptist coached was impressed by the level of play from the Class 1 teams along with the huge crowd turn out.

Taylor has been a pleasure to watch over the years and will be sorely missed by the Lesterville athletic programs and by all the fans. Not only is Taylor a great athlete but a wonderful kid.

Good luck at districts and with your future volleyball career at Mo Baptist!

 

[vb2bb]

Middle Ground?

Question -

Other than a college coach getting out of their cave and seeing a player play, what does it take for a girl to get a Division II scholarship to play volleyball around here?

I see very capable players from the area take NAIA or DIII level scholarships and that is a very nice accomplishment, but I am wondering where all the DII coaches are slumming around at. Where are those middle size schools hiding in the recruiting wars?

Seen very many capable players in the SEMO, Mineral Area, and Jeffco conferences go to smaller schools when its pretty evident they could play higher.

The Zickfield and Henderson girl from Cape and Fredericktown go small Division 1 and you know a lot of that is size - especially with the former. But I have seen quite a few kids around here with talent equal to or exceeding the Fredericktown girl go small college.

Does a college coach every pick up a newspaper and read it OR attend a high school game on a whim to see what's out there anymore? I know a lot of these kids play club ball and its not always on elite teams - its on teams with their HS teammates. Do coaches even attend mid level USA VB club tournaments?

Think some DII schools especially could fill some roster spots with some nice players in the area if they would get out a bit.
This post was edited on 10/20 10:00 AM by vb2bb

 

[SEMOVBFanatic04]

Re: Middle Ground?

That's a good question, vb2bb. I'm wondering the same thing. I've seen a lot of talent in the really small schools go to play at local community colleges in the area, but I, too, have been wondering why they don't get recruited to play at any Division II or I schools. I don't know if college coaches just overlook the small schools or if they have this perception that there's no talent in the small schools, or that because they are a small school, they are not up to par with the competition of the girls playing in the larger schools.

It's good to see that Taylor Cook has been signed somewhere. I think it will be only a matter of time before Jasmine Johnson (Bell City) is recruited somewhere, same for Katie Hogan and Mikah Simpson (Scott City).

I do think most of it has to do with size. I'm not a college coach so I can't speak for them, but I think that they go to these bigger schools to see the bigger players.

 

[molten123]

Re: Middle Ground?

A couple of points. Not only does size matter but first and foremost college coaches want 6 rotation players. They have fewer allowable substitutions and need size that can play back row. Secondly I think vball players have to aggressively contact schools they want to play at to be seen. I do not think it is a matter of not wanting to see players play but even at the D2 level it is a matter of time contraints and available staff to go watch players. The bigger the club tournaments obviously will attract more college coaches but players should contact college coaches and give them a list of their tournaments and most will attempt to go watch somewhere. They have a lot more free time during club season than during their regular season.

 

[vb2bb]

Re: Middle Ground?

I totally understand the size thing. I get it. In most cases they want a big gal with 2 left feet instead of a player.

But this is their job - and their livelihood. Sending out an assistant to a gym once or twice a week in season is too much?

Also ... would a DII or small D1 college coach rather go to the top notch tournaments and then pick the talent carcass after the big schools are done, OR actually go to a smaller tournament and discover a quality kid that is playing with their HS team?

If I am a DII coach, I'm gonna work my butt off to make my team better.

I know their time is limited in season, but I suspect some of it is just flat out being too lazy to get out. There are some darn good players falling through the cracks down this way.

 

[Volleydad]

Re: Middle Ground?

As was stated earlier you need to send tape to a coach offering the academic needs of your daughter. Then let that coach know you are interested in playing for their program. Otherwise unless you are at a national qualifier you will not even see a coach much less get noticed. Even at National Qualifiers you need to let a college coach know where you are to come watch you. Don't hesitate to call college coaches...

 

[Buzzma]

I respectfully point out that, at least in Jefferson County, players could go to Jeffco for free (under the A+ program) and play for a coach the caliber of Jo Ellen Stringer. That's pretty attractive.....
Also, wouldn't you say that for the most part, the really good players tend to be strong academically as well? I think they and their parents understand that it is risky to focus on getting an athletic scholarship, where you're one injury away from not being able to play, when you have the tools to get an academic scholarship instead. Maybe it isn't that the coaches aren't getting out there to look -- maybe it's that the better players aren't in the market for what coaches have to offer.
Just a thought, offered respectfully.
Vb2bb, I have long admired your posts and think you are almost always spot on with your comments. Thanks to you and the others who post for making this interesting

 

[900 sq.ft.]

Re: Middle Ground?

another good source of contact is through the player's high school coach. If the coach is using an online statistical site (MaxPreps) and keeping video of each game, it makes the recruiting process move in the favor of those players. Believe it or not, there are some coaches that make it their priority to get their high school players the most opportunity to play at the next level; But like all the other posts have mentioned, there has to be an active role being taken either by the player or someone on behalf of that player.