Top Defensive Specialists: 2023

These five rising sophomores commanded the back row as freshmen, it will be exciting to watch them continue to dominate. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/profile/14064998/Kennedy-Cheung"><img class="alignleft wp-image-92310 size-thumbnail" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2020/05/kennedy-150x150.png" alt="" width="150" height="150" /></a>[player_tooltip player_id="91311" first="Kennedy" last="Cheung"], 5’2", DS, Westview High School, Oregon Juniors Volleyball Academy Cheung had a standout freshman season playing for the Westview High School Wildcats as their starting Libero. She had no problem stepping into a huge leadership role in her first high school season and did so with a great sense of calm. She is a quick and dynamic defender and her inability to let a ball hit the floor allowed her team to stay in rally after rally. Last club season she was the Libero for Oregon Juniors Volleyball Academy 15-1 National. <img class="alignright wp-image-99950 size-thumbnail" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2020/06/sam-k-150x150.png" alt="" width="150" height="150" />[player_tooltip player_id="91312" first="Sam" last="Keightley"], DS, Oregon City High School, Portland Volleyball Club Keightley was the lone freshman to make the Oregon City High School Pioneers Varsity squad. Although not in the Libero position like usual, playing behind [player_tooltip player_id="91140" first="Abby" last="Bareksten"], a 2021 Libero with First Team All-League honors, she made her way into the starting line up with her consistent serve receive and powerful serve. She helped the Pioneers finish second in the Three Rivers League. Last club season she played for Portland Volleyball Club 16-1 National Team. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPGXKhTooho"><img class="alignleft wp-image-102034 size-thumbnail" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2020/07/frances-150x150.png" alt="" width="150" height="150" /></a>[player_tooltip player_id="91320" first="Frances" last="Eisenhardt"], 5’8", OH/DS, Valley Catholic High School, Oregon Juniors Volleyball Academy Eisenhardt had a breakout freshman season for the Valley Catholic High School Valiants as one of two six rotation players on the team. She finished the fall season with the most aces out of anyone on the team and the highest perfect pass percentage. Her exceptional ball control, consistent serve receive, and smart attacking helped the Valiants secure the 4A State Championship for the second year in a row. During the club season, she fulfilled more of a defensive specialist role but was not afraid to go up against big hitters in the front row and put the ball away when given the opportunity. This past club season she played for Oregon Juniors Volleyball Academy 15-1 National. <img class="wp-image-92321 size-thumbnail alignright" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2020/05/sarah-jones-150x150.png" alt="" width="150" height="150" />[player_tooltip player_id="91321" first="Sarah" last="Jones"], 5’2", DS, Sprague High School, North Pacific Juniors Jones had a solid freshman season playing for the Sprague High School Olympians, who finished first in the Mountain Valley Conference. She saw court time as their starting Libero, a big role to fulfill for a younger player, but she did so with confidence and ease. She is a consistent serve receive passer and a quick defender with contagious energy making her a great asset to any backrow. This past club season she played Libero for North Pacific Juniors 15-1 National team. <img class="alignleft wp-image-102035 size-thumbnail" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2020/07/taylor-150x150.png" alt="" width="150" height="150" />[player_tooltip player_id="91332" first="Taylor" last="Bell"], DS, West Linn High School, Portland Volleyball Club Even though Bell was the lone freshman on the West Linn High School Junior Varsity team, she did not let that stop her. She became a steady libero for the Lions with her quick movements on defense and solid serve receive, keeping her team as in-system as possible. With the Lions graduating two defensive specialists in 2020, Bell will have an opportunity to make her way onto the Varsity squad for the 2020 season. Last club season she was a defensive specialist for Portland Volleyball Club’s 16-1 National team.