Lockdown Defenders at #PDTheOpen

Finally, we’ve reached the final positional feature from The Open at the I-X Center. Some might say we’ve saved the best for last. I’m not sure how many times I can harp on how much a good libero can impact a team, but maybe it’s best to just demonstrate that through these defensive specialist features. Each of the liberos in this spotlight demonstrated the skills that define an impactful defender, including locking down both floor defense and serve receive. There’s no way we’re overlooking the influence of defenders here, and we have plenty of good ones to talk about from Cleveland. And, I can’t conclude without mentioning how exciting it has been to cover this event. Ohio is way beyond my normal stomping grounds, but I put this one on my calendar to catch all the incredible talent that was slated to compete at the I-X Center. These teams did not disappoint. So, with outside hitters, middle blockers, and setters covered, let’s get into the backcourt specialists.   [player_tooltip player_id="66295" first="Allison" last="Berent"] - 5’7 DS/L - L2 17-1 Berent was undoubtedly one of the most relentless defenders in the I-X Center last weekend. Her defensive range was something to behold. She commands the left-back area of the court and is so good and diving into the crosscourt to pick up anything headed into the campfire. Berent’s line defense shined, too, so it’s hard to find any weaknesses in her game.   [caption id="attachment_194436" align="alignright" width="400"]<img class="wp-image-194436" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2022/05/IMG_8992-crop-3544x2327-1651810190-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="400" height="263" /> Berezowitz competes with 17 Gold.[/caption] [player_tooltip player_id="91895" first="Molly" last="Berezowitz"] - 5’6 DS/L - MKE Sting 17 Gold The Berezowitz pipeline of standout liberos is sticking around for a while. 17 Gold has a libero that it can always rely on to produce eye-popping plays, but Berezowitz also just does all the little things well, too. This talented libero recently committed to Marquette and will keep her defensive dominance close to home at the next level.   Devin Dzienny - 5’8 DS/L - Legacy 15-1 Adidas Good ball control was the deciding factor in Legacy’s run to a 15 Open championship, and Dzienny usually found a way to make an impact in this phase. This libero consistently gets her feet to the ball and is particularly effective as a middle-back anchor in the passing formation. I’ll surely be keeping a close eye on Dzienny and 15-1 Adidas during the Nationals stretch this summer.   Avery Anders - 5’6 DS/L - AVC CLE Rox 16 Red Anders has plenty of experience in both the libero jersey and as a primary defensive specialist. That translates to some unwavering backcourt prowess no matter which zone Anders is in. She’s not afraid to play low to the floor and had plenty of layout saves en route to a podium finish in 16 Open.   [caption id="attachment_194441" align="alignright" width="400"]<img class="wp-image-194441" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2022/05/IMG_8903-crop-3885x2551-1651812272-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="400" height="263" /> Koscielak passes for 16 Black.[/caption] [player_tooltip player_id="122512" first="Georgia" last="Koscielak"] - 5’5 DS/L - MKE Sting 16 Black One of the highlights of the entire tournament was the gritty defensive battle that unfolded in bracket play between MKE Sting 16 Black and MKE Sting 16 Gold. Koscielak was a major contributor to this exciting back-and-forth action, as she patrolled the backcourt and made some crucial digs for 16 Black. The depth of MKE Sting’s libero position is as impressive as ever.   Madison Cigna - 5’5 DS/L - Pittsburgh Elite 17 Elite Cigna is certainly fitting in well with this Pittsburgh Elite squad. She was among the most active liberos in Cleveland, as she is constantly moving her feet and adjusting her positioning to fill seams in the block. I was also impressed with how well Cigna is able to turn transition digs into scoring opportunities for her team. Digging isn’t all about just keeping the ball alive, and Cigna consistently delivered the ball on target to generate transition plays.   Madison Cugino - 5’9 DS/L - Mintonette m.61 This is a libero that has been on my radar ever since NLQ in March. Cugino’s steady, even-keeled approach is so valuable to her team, even if it’s not the flashiest libero play you’ll see at a club event. Reliable passing and positive touches are a staple of Cugino’s game, and she just has a habit of making impressive digs look incredibly easy.