Team Featured: 2023 Las Vegas Classic Koafa 18s

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Finding a volleyball club can be an easy or difficult task. Athletes try to find the best fit with location, pricing, reputation and more. There are hundreds of volleyball clubs in California They provide the necessary training and teachings for athletes who want to excel in the sport. The team featured today is Koafa Volleyball Club 18s. Koafa can be found in the city of Barstow, located in San Bernardino County.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Koafa played in the 37th Annual Las Vegas Classic. Coached by Dorothy Ili, Seiblesierra Ili and Monroe Ili. Koafa's roster consisted of eight players. They are a young team who stepped onto the court with resiliency and grit. Meet the players below.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":326640,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Eris Blaine","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2023","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'9u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"32924","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Barstow High School","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Koafa 18","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"u003cstrongu003eEris Blaine u003c/strongu003eis listed as a middle but can be utilized at any hitting position. She has great jumping ability that allows her to block at the net or get a quick kill. She is a versatile player who can step into another position and adjust her skills to make things happen. Blaine also has a nice serve that can capitalize on an ace.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":326642,"_player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"Sophia Jimenez","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"2023","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"5'6u0022","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"32564","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"Hesperia High School","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"Koafa 18","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_1_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"u003cstrongu003eSophia Jimenez u003c/strongu003eplays all around, front and back row.  She knows how to drop in serve receive to help with passing and start the offense. When playing back row, she can effectively dig an attack. Jimenez can make a good swing by adjusting her hit no matter where the ball is set.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["160995"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_player_featured_image":326645,"_player_evaluations_2_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"u003cstrongu003eAli'itasi Lealofi u003c/strongu003eis a three-sport athlete. Along with being a talented volleyball player, she also plays basketball and softball. She has the power and strength to get through a block at the net. Lealofi is an all-around player who can play defense back row and score from outside, right side, and, pipe. She can adjust to sets that are off and still get the ball over the net. She reads the court by finding the open areas and tips, roll-shot, or kills to score. The strength she uses behind a ball gives her an advantage in tooling the block while playing on the outside or right side.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_player_details_selected_featured_image":326659,"_player_evaluations_3_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"Emersyn Ebel","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"5'6u0022","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"32561","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"Barstow High School","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_3_player_details_club_team":"Koafa 18","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_3_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"u003cstrongu003eEmersyn Ebel u003c/strongu003eis a quick setter and strong hitter. I was able to catch her in action doing both. She runs her offense with great communication. She has steady hands to deliver smooth balls that lack or are limited in spinning. Ebel can create good sets from passes that are off and perfect sets from passes that are on. She is another versatile player who can set and hit. Her quick jump up and timing allowed her to bang balls from pipe and score. 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She knows where she is on the court which makes it easier to read if a serve is going out or staying in. Copeland can get short serves and is not afraid to dive or slide to pop a ball up.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_5_player_details_selected_featured_image":326684,"_player_evaluations_5_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_5_player_details_player_name":"Ariyah Avila","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_5_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_5_player_details_height":"5'3u0022","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_5_player_details_position":"32926","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_5_player_details_school":"Barstow High School","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_5_player_details_club_team":"Koafa 18","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_5_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_5_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"u003cstrongu003eAriyah Avila u003c/strongu003ehas a quick reaction to the ball and transitions from offense to defense to make plays happen. She is a hustler in the back row by covering her hitters and getting back to position.  She can make good passes to keep the offense in system after receiving a powerful attack. She had no fear of sacrificing her body to get a ball.","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_6_player_details_selected_featured_image":326691,"_player_evaluations_6_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_6_player_details_player_name":"Maya Sanchez","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_6_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_6_player_details_height":"5'6u0022","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_6_player_details_position":"32926","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_6_player_details_school":"Barstow High School","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_6_player_details_club_team":"Koafa 18","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_6_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_6_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"u003cstrongu003eMaya Sanchez u003c/strongu003estepped onto the court ready to play.  She is a libero that can also play right side. Her ball control makes it look easy when passing from back row. She knows how to cover her pins and is ready for a tip. As a libero, Sanchez does not have any attacking responsibilities and must chase down all the defensive balls she can get.  She can receive serves, dig balls and pass free balls to the setter.","_player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_7_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_7_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_7_player_details_selected_featured_image":326693,"_player_evaluations_7_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_7_player_details_player_name":"Angelique Lealofi","_player_evaluations_7_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_7_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_player_evaluations_7_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_7_player_details_height":"5'8u0022","_player_evaluations_7_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_7_player_details_position":"32924","_player_evaluations_7_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_7_player_details_school":"STEM Academy","_player_evaluations_7_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_7_player_details_club_team":"Koafa 18","_player_evaluations_7_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_7_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_7_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_7_evaluation":"u003cstrongu003eAngelique Lealofi u003c/strongu003eis an 8th grader, class of 2027 who has the talent and skills to hang with an 18's team. She is a middle blocker who gets up high enough to protect the net creating a wall with her hands. She can take the speed off of an opponent's kill by deflecting a ball and keeping it in play. Her quick lateral movement helps her get into position so she can go up with her pins and block at the net.","_player_evaluations_7_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":8,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-63f7cb976f168"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Koafa 18s is a young team with players determined and focused. The coaches were standing up and engaged in their players performances providing input and teachable moments. As the season moves on, look forward to more club/ teams being featured and players being showcased. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A great way to support our volleyball athletes and teams is by sharing our stories with family, friends, and fans. This can be done by subscribing or sharing on social media. Follow Prep Dig and Prep Dig California on their many different social media platforms ie: Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Sometimes unintentional errors happen. For any corrections, please email them to niqnaq23@gmail.com and put “PrepDig correction” in the subject line. Thank you for the support and happy reading!! *If you are a player, please claim or create your player profile.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->