<p>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.</p>
<p><strong>Leneia Niko, RS, So Cal 18 Iona</strong> – 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.</p>
<p><strong>Dana Branavets, OH, Coast 18-1</strong> – 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.</p>
<p><strong>Kaialani Breeden, OH, Surfside 18 Legends</strong> – 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.</p>
<p><strong>Sophia Lindus, OH, Sunshine 18 Westside</strong> – 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.</p>
<p><strong>Vivian Lisboa, MB, Rancho Valley 18 Premier</strong> – 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.</p>
<p><strong>Caroline Sele, S/RS, A4 Volley 18 Joaco</strong> – 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.</p>
<p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="162790" first="Ellie" last="Hanson"], OH, A4 Volley 18 Joaco</strong> – 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. </p>
