Four High-Efficiency Hitters Poised for Bigger Roles in 2020

<p>Hitting efficiency is probably the most relevant stat in volleyball as the ability to turn an attack attempt into a point is oftentimes what differentiates great from good players in the sport. For a number of reasons, though, not always the most efficient hitter is a team’s main scorer.</p> <p>These four players proved to be reliable options to their setters in 2019 and should be used more often by them during the upcoming season.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Gabrielle Faamausili – Middle-Blocker – Steilacoom</strong></p> <p>Gabrielle Faamausili was Steilacoom’s third scoring option in her sophomore year in 2019 with 166 kills, behind outside hitters Pomai Balderson (258) and Riley Debiec (186). She had, however, the fourth-best hitting efficiency in the entire state (.412) and that should be enough to grant her a few more sets in 2020. Chemistry for sure won’t be an issue as the Sentinels’ main setter is her twin sister Danielle.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Eva Atkins – Middle-Blocker – Roosevelt </strong></p> <p>Eva Atkins was easily Roosevelt’s most efficient hitter in 2019 as the sophomore had the 13^th-best rate in the state (.369). Despite that, she was the team’s third-best scorer with 210 kills. Expect the 6’3” Atkins to use her size to have an even bigger impact in 2020 with the departures of both players who were more used than her, graduating seniors Leandra Lortz (305) and Camille Duckett (211).</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="97014" first="Maddie" last="Sheron"] – Outside Hitter – Columbia River</strong></p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="97014" first="Maddie" last="Sheron"]’s .264 hitting efficiency was the best among the Chieftains and good enough for a top-50 spot in the entire state, but it still didn’t make of her the team’s primary offensive option. The outside hitter tallied 183 kills in 2019, fewer than sophomore [player_tooltip player_id="97213" first="Rylie" last="Reeves"]’ 229, but seems ready to carry a larger load in her final season of high school volleyball.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="96985" first="Karli" last="Tri"] – Middle-Blocker – Lake Stevens</strong></p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="96985" first="Karli" last="Tri"] had a hitting efficiency of .328 in 2019 and was Lake Stevens’ third most-used offensive piece with 157 kills. She showed some promise in her junior year and could see even more of the ball in her last season of high school volleyball, splitting the scoring efforts with the Vikings’ main star, senior outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id="96983" first="Samaya" last="Morin"], who registered 322 kills and a hitting efficiency of .377 last season.</p>