Four Athletes Poised for a Big April

Andy Cole

March 31, 2023 @ 11:52 AM

These four will have a great April.   Alyssa Meraz (2024) | 5'7” | OH/DS | Icon Clear the runway when Alyssa Meraz hits a volleyball as it makes clouds through an airstream no more than 30 feet. The volleyball certainly finds a line be that either a blocker's arm or a line on the court. Meraz waits, sees, and hits while she burns energy through the ball out to the court. This also happens while she hits an offspeed hit toward the middle of the court. In those times, the cloud is created through the activity of her opponent's movement on their side of the court. Meraz also makes an occasional cloud of dust zig zagging her way to a set. [player_tooltip player_id='285549' first='Kalia' last='Teofilo'] (2024) | 5'8” | S | APEX1 When a player has, as [player_tooltip player_id='285549' first='Kalia' last='Teofilo'] does, a serve that dances as much as players dance when they celebrate, people should turn and watch. She has lots of fun on the court after her business is taken care of. Teofilo makes sure hitters are ready to hit and at the same time plays with a relaxed style of play. It, specifically her offense, is crafty at times as she sneaks in a tip that starts out as a set. She leads a defensive effort and attitude running around the court and sticking digs high, low, and all around. She will not be fooled though as she will block and dig in just one second flat. [player_tooltip player_id='309763' first='Kaitlyn' last='Eugene'] (2025) | 5'9” | OH/DS | Empower of Eastvale Nothing drops on [player_tooltip player_id='309763' first='Kaitlyn' last='Eugene']. With the exception of her off-speed hits dropping, nothing does drop when she full-length sprawls or appears to run an agility ladder drill around teammates to make a play. In fact, a cone drill could probably also be set up in the pattern of her defensive movement. Her service is full of movement and blocking can be described as setting up a wall post. She is reliable to teammates when they are blocking as she minds the gap very well. Chase Silva (2024) | 5'10” | OH | Motherlode A wave crushes down a Chase Silva hit volleyball and any undertow will likely not be a continuation of a play with the technique after her crushing arm swing. She finds a place on the court and wears that area down to take advantage in the hitting versus blocking battle. Seeing Silva do anything other than to her left is out of rhythm as this outside hitter goes with the flow. Continue to watch her and see how high of a wave she creates as she hits more and more sets to either antenna.

These four will have a great April.