Top 18s/16s Defenders From PVL Tournament 1

<p>The Premier Volleyball League out of Southern California debuted last season and is back for its second run in 2022. The 18s and 16s age groups gathered Saturday and Sunday for Tournament 1 at the CLAVA facility in Lake Forest. We were able to make it there for Day 1 action and witnessed both age groups go at it. Check out eight liberos/DS who caught our eye and why.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="160148" first="London" last="Haberfield"], Sr L/DS, Wave 18 Kevin</strong> – Haberfield was really good in holding down the left back spot. She was money getting up cross court shots that came her way and she plays the position with little fear, once standing in the way of a rocket and somehow getting it up off her body.</p> <p><strong>Caitlyn Lopez, Sr L/DS, Tstreet 18 Madi/Liz</strong> – Holding down the back court playing left back, Lopez was proficient in picking up the cross-court attack. She also handled herself well in serve receive with some crisp passes.</p> <p><strong>Kaila Yang, Sr L/DS, Vegas Aces 18 UA</strong> – Vegas Aces is certainly outnumbered, playing with seven players but Yang does her part at libero and providing scrappy defense. She’s active, covers well and had a few nice ups on would-be attacks.</p> <p><strong>Charlotte Hobson, Sr L/DS, SG Elite 18 Rosh</strong> – Overall, SG Elite 18 Rosh is a scrappy bunch and Hobson brings that attitude to the back row. She anticipates well and is typically in position to make the play that is there, but can come up with a couple unexpected ones as well.</p> <p><strong>Maddie Kaufman, Sr L/DS, SG Elite 18 Rosh</strong> – Kaufman was used as defensive specialist and she’s part of the reason why SG Elite is good at extending rallies and making opponents earn their kills. She fills the right back spot well and helped hold down the coverage when in.</p> <p><strong>Lauren Lynch, Fr L/DS, SG Elite 16 Rosh</strong> – Playing up an age group, Lynch fits right in. She’s smooth in coverage and passes nails when challenged in serve receive.</p> <p><strong>Kamyrn Santi, Soph L/DS, Tstreet 16 Carson</strong> – Santi showed solid skills making steady plays when the ball came her way. She isn’t necessarily flashy but doesn’t need to be as she usually made the play that was in front of her to make.</p> <p><strong>Annah Legaspi, Soph L/DS, Momentous 16 Dan</strong> – Momentous goes as its ball control goes and that’s where Legaspi factors in. She’s a capable passer out of serve receive to help keep Momentous in system. And she can make her share of digs to keep the point alive.</p>