Gabi Weidemann keeps setting the standard for Mars girls volleyball, but colleges aren’t calling — yet
ADAMS TWP — Gabi Weidemann has been the engine behind Mars' girls volleyball success for the past two-and-a-half seasons.
But the junior hasn't been badgered by college coaches just yet.
“Not too much yet,” Weidemann said. “It's still kinda early in that phase. … I kinda just play. I try not to think about it too much, but it's definitely something that's in the back of my mind.”
There are certainly reasons why programs at the next level would be interested.
Weidemann was the starting setter as a freshman for a Planets team that won its second WPIAL Class 3A title and made its first PIAA championship game. She’s dishing out assists at an incredible rate. And she’s now the Planets’ veteran leader.
She's been around the sport from a young age — her mother and older sister, Jasmine, played in college. Weidemann depends on the latter, who took the court at South Dakota State, for advice on recruiting.
Weidemann, who moved into Mars Area School District before her freshman year, has been sharpening her craft on the high-level club scene for years. Planets head coach Tami Caraway described her former travel club — Northern Lights Volleyball — as a feeder system for setters, and sees the traits of a future Division I player in Weidemann.
She recently reached 2,000 career assists, a number that most setters never reach in four years, much less barely two.
“It's obviously a plus,” Weidemann said. “I try not to think about it too much. Obviously, I'm really proud of that, and that's obviously something that looks good, but I try not to think about it too much.”
“Two thousand is a big number, and it's not tournaments, it's not scrimmages, it is only matches that we count the stats,” Caraway said. “So she's doing a phenomenal job.”
During Weidemann's initial season with the Planets, she had five girls to whom she could dish the ball, including Cecilia Christy and Rylee Wooldridge, now playing at Elon and Seton Hall, respectively.
Now, Weidemann's classmates have joined her on varsity, and she's grown into a leadership role.
“Being able to step up is such an honor, and just kinda replacing those seniors and working with the girls that we have this year is special,” Weidemann said.
Caraway said she's all a coach could want as a teammate.
“Just who she is as a person, she's a great teammate, she's the first one to help, just has a positive attitude all the time, and it's been great having her here,” Caraway said.
At the moment, Weidemann is zeroed in on helping Mars (8-5, 7-2 WPIAL Section 3-5A as of Friday) make the postseason again in their new classification, 5A, since the PIAA expanded the sport to six classes this summer.
“I think, right now, she says she wants to focus in on high school and helping the team be successful this year,” Caraway said. “She's kinda leaving her (college) options open for what comes next.”
