18s Under The Radar Players From PVL Tourney 2 (Part 2)

Chris Tobolski

February 16, 2022 @ 04:00 PM

The Premier Volleyball League continued on two weekends ago out of the CLAVA facility in Lake Forest. The two-day tournament was the second of the season for the 18s, which features 12 of the top teams in So Cal. Sunshine 18 LA fended off Coast 18-1 in Sunday’s final to finish on top of the second tournament. Below, we write about seven players who fly under the radar but without doubt contribute to their teams in positive ways. Leneia Niko, RS, So Cal 18 Iona – One thing Niko brings to the court is her energetic play. With her ability to hit hard from the right side she adds a physical presence in the front row for So Cal and provides the offense some pop. Dana Branavets, OH, Coast 18-1 – There’s much more glue than there is flash to Branavets’ game and that’s a good thing for Coast. She fills a definite roll for Coast as she can do a little bit of everything well. She’s a solid back row defender and passer with a good serve. She’s also a heady attacker which helps her be able to score against often bigger blocks. Kaialani Breeden, OH, Surfside 18 Legends – Surfside is usually fighting an uphill battle in a strong 18s division but Breeden does a lot in the role she plays for them. She’s a six-rotation player who the team relies on in serve receive plus will set her front and back row. Sophia Lindus, OH, Sunshine 18 Westside – Lindus is an anchor on the outside for Sunshine who helps keep it all together as she does just about everything above average. She’s a solid passer and defender in the back row. She also jumps really well which allows her to score against bigger blocks and carry the offensive load. Vivian Lisboa, MB, Rancho Valley 18 Premier – Lisboa can be a spark plug at times for Rancho Valley with her infectious energy. She has a knack for making some timely plays, be it blocking for a point or putting one down to end the rally. Caroline Sele, S/RS, A4 Volley 18 Joaco – Depending on the lineup A4 runs, Sele can hit and set or set as part of a 6-2. That type of versatility is valuable. Sele’s able to get her hitters consistent looks while also being a capable attacker when called upon. [player_tooltip player_id="162790" first="Ellie" last="Hanson"], OH, A4 Volley 18 Joaco – Hanson has in hands in a variety of what A4 does. She covers a large area in serve receive as she’s a steady passer and also steady defending in the back court. In addition, she’s a reliable hitter who helps carry a good portion of the offensive load for A4.