Midwest Border Star: Mandy Duellman

Photo: fitz twitter- christ Fizt

Prep Dig Staff

September 13, 2020 @ 12:33 PM

(Midwest Border Star series goal is to bring light to an area of talented volleyball that is sometimes overlooked. It's not in the Milwaukee hub nor close enough to the Metro hot spot, but boast a handful of players that Wisconsin and Minnesota both need to take note of!) Another athlete from the bluffs along the Wisconsin - Minnesota border is the lively, libero Mandy Duellman. A self-proclaimed leader on the court, Mandy plays for Winona High School and [program_tooltip program_id='428651' first='V-Hawk' last='Xtreme'] out of Lacrosse. Her passion for the game and tenacity in the back court, make her a perfect player to highlight for this series. Size: Mandy is a 5'6'' defensive specialist. The physicality that she brings to the back court is unmatched by others. She is fast, strong, and more athletic than others in the same position. In fact, on another team, she may be asked to use her power as an outside hitter. Her body control and fitness level give her an edge on long rallies. Skill: Perhaps her best skill is her ability to cover more than half of the court. She reads her hitters and her reaction time makes it hard for hitters to score on her. A fast, first step helps her anticipate hitting patterns. She moves quickly from side-to-side with a swift first step. Likewise, Mandy excels on serve receive using a strong understanding of different serving styles. Her ability to recognize top-spin and float serves puts her in a position to deliver a efficient offense. Her play from the service line also separates her from other liberos. She has a fast-tempo jump serve that is explosive from the end-line. She can deliver accuracy and a high ace percentage at the same time. This helps her to contribute to her team's offense in a whole other way. Spirit: Perhaps what makes her such a unique prospect is her energetic style of play and passion for the game. Her desire to improve and excel is something special that can not be taught. The minute she takes the court, there is a sense of urgency in her play; she can't wait to make a play happen. This helps elevate those around her too. Mandy is always searching out new opportunities, coaches, and programs that will drive her to be the best she can be. There is no quit in this girl and her energetic passing will carry her and teammates far. (Midwest Border Star series goal is to bring light to an area of talented volleyball that is sometimes overlooked. It's not in the Milwaukee hub nor close enough to the Metro hot spot, but boast a handful of players that Wisconsin and Minnesota both need to take note of!)