Powerhouse Pins Who Dominated the Top 250 Expo

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It was quite the morning at the Courts in Beaverton on Sunday, November 20th. With over 70 athletes from across Oregon gathering to compete, it was a fast-paced and high-energy-filled gym. Here are the pin hitters that caught our eye at the Oregon Top 250 Expo. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:gallery {"imageCrop":false,"linkTo":"media","sizeSlug":"medium","style":{"spacing":{"padding":{"top":"var:preset|spacing|30","right":"var:preset|spacing|30","bottom":"var:preset|spacing|30","left":"var:preset|spacing|30"}}}} --> <figure class="wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default" style="padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30)"><!-- wp:image {"id":249000,"sizeSlug":"medium","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-medium"><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2022/11/rachel-peterson-passing.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2022/11/rachel-peterson-passing-200x300.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-249000"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><em>Photo: Jenn Bowers</em></figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:image {"id":248987,"sizeSlug":"medium","linkDestination":"media","className":"is-style-default"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-medium is-style-default"><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2022/11/jane-christensen-blocking.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2022/11/jane-christensen-blocking-200x300.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-248987"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><em>Photo: Jenn Bowers</em></figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --><figcaption class="blocks-gallery-caption wp-element-caption"><em>Pictured: (left to right) [player_tooltip player_id='246421' first='Rachel' last='Peterson'] digging, [player_tooltip player_id='248074' first='Jane' last='Christensen'] blocking</em></figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:gallery --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["248074"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":248948,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-637c617579a99"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Christensen brought the hammer on Sunday. A lefite, she shines on the right-side. However, she is an athlete, and can easily transition to the middle if need be. She does an exceptional job putting up a solid block and definitely got quite a few at the Expo. She showed us that not only can she hang with the top athletes in Oregon, she can contribute in more ways than one. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["126034"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":248950,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-637c617579af7"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Fulton is a dynamic outside hitter with a fast approach and a high, fast arm swing. On Sunday, she showcased this, getting lots of reps on the pins. While she can hit down on the ball no problem, she likes to hit the ball deep corner when possible, to get the kill. She took to the court with confidence and was a leader amoungst the group.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["244431"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":248951,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-637c617579b3f"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Koch is an impressive athlete to watch. Coming from St. Paul, we finally got the opportunity to see her, and her twin sister [player_tooltip player_id='244432' first='Gracie' last='Koch'], in action. With an explosive approach and a high reach on the ball, she terminates from the pins. Surprisingly enough, Koch has not played club volleyball, focusing on basketball, track and field, and softball during the off-season.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["246421"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":248952,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-637c617579b82"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Peterson is the definition of a utility player, with the ability to step onto the court in any position and excel. She plays smoothly, with confidence and control. Her ball control is solid across the back row, so her ability to step on the court as a defensive specialist is natural. She also has an explosive approach, with a high vertical job, and the ability to hit plenty of shots and different angles.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["161886"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":248953,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-637c617579bc5"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Scholl caught our eye early on during Queens, a warm-up game. She was ripping at the ball from everywhere on the court, front row, back row, middle, or the pins. With a heavy arm, when she connects with the ball, it tended to hit the floor. Only a c/o 2025, she is one to watch over the coming seasons given her height, physicality, and athleticism.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["244417"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":248955,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-637c617579c06"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Having watched Walker early on in her club season, seeing her play at the Expo was inspiring. She is a different player than she was a year ago. Once timid and unsure on the court, she now oozes with confidence, always ready to take the big swings. And on Sunday, she was taking loads of big swings.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->