Prospect Spotlight – Uncommitted 2024 Opp/MB Lillian Croshaw
Who wants to hit the lottery? This is a “can’t miss” prospect! Our number one goal across our entire Prep Network site is to spotlight those players who excel in their sport in hopes of creating much needed exposure for…
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Continue ReadingWho wants to hit the lottery? This is a “can’t miss” prospect! Our number one goal across our entire Prep Network site is to spotlight those players who excel in their sport in hopes of creating much needed exposure for them to get recruited. Normally we highlight multiple athletes in each article to maximize our reach. Every now and then we will do some solo articles on some special players for different reasons. This article is about one of those special players who has been phenomenal over the course of her junior volleyball career and is not verbally committed to a college program yet. We were able to sit down with Lillian Croshaw Lillian Croshaw 6'3" | RS Northwest | 2024 State #164 Nation TX and get to know who she is and what she can offer a volleyball program at the next level. Let’s take a closer look at who she is as both a person and a player.
Lillian Croshaw Lillian Croshaw 6'3" | RS Northwest | 2024 State #164 Nation TX [2024] 6-3 Right Side/Middle (HS: Byron Nelson/Club: Drive Nation/Verbal: Uncommitted)
Lilly is currently ranked as the 23rd best overall prospect and 2nd best right side in the 2024 Class according to our Prep Dig Texas State Rankings. She plays for Byron Nelson High School and also for the nationally recognized Drive Nation volleyball club. We have covered her extensively over the last three years and have seen her dominate at the Open level ever since. She is no stranger to playing on the big stage as she was a pivotal starter who helped her squad win the USA Volleyball 16 Open National Championship last season. This season she joined forces with some amazing players to form a “Dream Team” of volleyball athletes that have been running over opponents all season. Miss Croshaw is dynamic on the court because she is able to play multiple positions at a very high level. I would classify her as a shut down blocker at the net who can swing block or use traditional footwork if need be. She has a very strong upper body that can seal the net very well by her press. What I truly love about her versatility is how she can change tempos from quick to higher without skipping a beat and messing up her timing. What is also difficult but yet she masters, is the ability to let the ball cross her shoulder during right side attempts and still keep her arm swing timing very quick to attack the ball as opposed to the ball coming toward her if she was in front of the setter. Not many would be able to run routes in front of and behind the setter in the same game and be effective at both, but Lilly is a stud. Her volleyball IQ is very high and when you match that with immense power, it is a recipe for a monster volleyball player.
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We were able to ask Lilly a few questions to get to know her better and here are her responses.
Prep Dig TX: Why Volleyball? Why is it important to you? What do you love about it?
Lilly: I love volleyball because of the experiences and people it brings to me. Obviously, it is an escape for me and when I have a hard day, I can forget about those certain things at practice for a few hours. But nothing beats that some of the teammates I’ve had that will forever be my best friends. Volleyball has given me connections and experiences, from traveling to different cities to meeting new people. It also teaches me many life lessons like teamwork, time management and discipline that I know will be helpful later in life.
Prep Dig TX: Tell me what you love about your position on the court the most?
Lilly: As far as whether I like playing middle or right side more, it depends on the day. For middle, you are dished the ball and then you swing as hard as you can around the block. It’s very fast paced. For the right-side, it’s a little harder for me because of the timing of out of system balls. It takes more patience to wait, then approach fast. But either way, I like swinging smart and I try to read the block the best I can. I feel like blocking on the right side is one of my strengths and I’ve been working on my form and how to press and hold. There are pros and cons to each position for sure, but I do love both!
Prep Dig TX: What are you looking for in a college program/coach?
Lilly: As far as a college program, I am looking for a competitive and supportive environment. For the volleyball program, I do want to have an impact on the growth of the program. I am aware this goal takes work and it is certainly not a given. I also want a coach who knows me as a person. I feel like how I work best is when I am confident that my coach wants the best for me and trusts me. I am not afraid of the harsh truth. I really do want to become the best player I can and I am aware that my goal does come with criticism. Team chemistry is also a huge aspect of what I view as important. As a collegiate team you are together pretty much 24/7, for however long you choose to go to school. If you don’t love the people you are spending most of your time with, it’s going to be pretty miserable. This doesn’t mean you have to be best friends with every single person, in fact that is the opposite of reality. Having one goal and keeping each other accountable until you achieve it together is ultimately one of the best feelings ever. I look at a team how I look at my 2 sisters. Sure, we get into fights all the time, but at the end of the day we love each other enough to work it out and continue our lives.
Prep Dig TX: What are you looking to potentially major in during college?
Lilly: I have 2 routes I am thinking of going down academically in college. Path #1 is Architecture and Interior design. I have been in a ‘pathway’ that my high school offers towards this career. It really interests me and I have even learned different software programs and some of the more difficult aspects of architecture in general. It’s definitely more complicated than it looks. Option #2 is sports broadcasting/ communications. I feel like it would be really fun to stay within sports, just on the opposite spectrum of what I’m used to. Making the decision between the two will be difficult because they are two completely different directions!
Prep Dig TX: What does Leadership mean to you? How do you plan on becoming a better leader this season?
Lilly: To me, anyone can be a leader and depending on the situation, leadership can look very different! I have been on teams where I am a vocal leader and I have also been on teams where I have been able to lead by example. In my opinion, every single person on a team is a leader, it just looks different. There are the quiet ones that lead by doing. You see them change something or start jogging to the huddle, and you start to do it. There are also the vocal leaders. These are the people who will tell you what’s up and if something’s not to the standards. They will tell you to change it. There are physical leaders. Athleticism hasn’t ever come easy to me, so I personally look up to these people. These are the ones that jump out of the gym and can squat 500 pounds. They inspire me to work hard. For me, I try to lead by first being a good teammate. I love hyping my girls up when they do something good. It is so fun. I think that when others do that to me, it raises my confidence. That’s why I try to be kind and be there for my teammates’ to talk to, along with being their biggest fan.
Prep Dig TX: What are you looking forward to most this club season?
Lilly: With this club season coming to an end, I am looking forward to nationals. I think that if the team works hard over this offseason to physically and mentally prepare for the 4-day tournament, we will have a good shot of being successful. And, winning back to back Open National Titles would be a pretty cool accomplishment!
Prep Dig TX: What do you think is your biggest obstacle this year compared to last season? How do you plan to overcome it?
Lilly: I think the biggest obstacle for me this year is the fact that I’ve never had a coach like mine. The attention to detail is something that I’ve never experienced before. Whether it is watching film or practicing, you have to get in the mindset to be able to soak in a ton of information. I think that this type of discipline is something that is going to help me a lot later in life.
Prep Dig TX: What are three individual goals that you have for this club season?
Lilly: My three individual goals for this club season are to one- increase my athleticism and agility, two- come into every practice with an open mind, ready to learn, and three- increase my level of volleyball IQ and my overall knowledge of the game.
Prep Dig TX: Tell me why a college program should choose you.
Lilly: I think that for me, I am ready to play at the next level. I love being surrounded by a competitive atmosphere. In fact, I feel like my best play comes out whenever it is a more challenging game. I pride myself on my respect for my coaches and my openness to learn everything they have to tell me. When my coach gives me something to fix, I work at doing it, both at practice and at home. I am also an awesome teammate. If I’m your teammate, I’m your biggest fan. I am able to bring some variety to the team, meaning, I can swing an out of system ball on the right side then go straight into hitting from the middle in serve receive.
Prep Dig TX: Tell me a time when you faced adversity in life and how you overcame it or a lesson you learned from it:
Lilly: One adversity I have faced throughout my life is definitely moving around. My dad’s work has moved us all across the country. I have lived in 3 different states, 7 houses, and attended about 6 schools. That is hard. The most difficult part about it is being able to really get close to people and form relationships, because after this cycle of being the new kid and then leaving after 1 or 2 years, you get used to staying in your shell. This has made it hard for me to be outgoing, especially when meeting new people. A lot of people think I’m scary because of this and also my height. I would say I’m the person that has to really warm up to you, but then when I do, I can get very talkative. This is usually the case on my volleyball teams. Although moving has been difficult, the people and experiences I have been able to encounter have made me the person I am today.
Prep Dig TX: Name two people that have influenced you in volleyball the most.
Lilly: I think the people who have influenced me in volleyball the most are my mom and my grandma, 100%. They are my all time biggest fans. I actually used to despise volleyball, because I was a basketball player. I thought it was a ‘girly sport’. When we moved to Texas, my mom met the owner of a new club at my sister’s swim practice. The next week, I was forced to go try volleyball at something like a group lesson. I was so mad. I don’t think I’ve ever been as mad at my mom than I was that day. I threw a complete tantrum. But I went and instantly loved it. It’s hard to put aside my pride and tell my mom she was right. Without her, I wouldn’t even be playing this sport. And my grandma, she is just my biggest supporter. She watches every single live stream of my games from her couch in northern Minnesota. I seriously don’t think she’s missed a game. I don’t think she realizes how much that means to me. Knowing that even if no one is at my game in person, she’s always watching and cheering me on.
Prep Dig TX: What is something that a coach has told/taught you that lives in your head rent free?
Lilly: Something that a coach has told me that I will always remember is something so simple but such a good reminder for myself. It is the simple phrase, ‘you can do this’. No matter what the circumstance is, I know that I am stronger than I think I am, whether it’s mentally or physically. I CAN do this.
Prep Dig TX: What other hobbies/interests do you have outside of volleyball?
Lilly: Outside of volleyball, I love going on hikes with my family and friends, although it’s hard to find good areas here in Texas. Simply hanging out with my siblings or friends is always fun. I also like going to sporting events or just whatever is going on in the area. Lately, I’ve been trying to make some more time for myself, whether it’s resting or going on a walk while listening to music. I also love cooking. Other than that, I’ll help my dad with his work sometimes.
This young lady has been a joy to watch over the last three years and she is poised to play at the next level. If you have not been able to watch her in person, please take some time to give her a look and you will not be disappointed. You can watch her this summer in Chicago at USA Volleyball Junior Nationals as her and her amazing team will be battling for a 17 Open National Championship. She can help a lot of big time programs at the next level in two different positions so someone is going to score big time when they scoop her up. Stay tuned to see who the lucky program will be.
Check out the link to her SportsRecruits page and you can watch all of her highlight reels from this season.
As always stay tuned for more articles on your favorite athletes. If you have anyone you think we should watch out for, please shoot me an email with some info at Michael@prepdig.com Also don’t forget to help these kids get more exposure by sharing our stories with your friends. Help us help them by simply retweeting on Twitter or sharing on Facebook. Thanks for following us, Prep Dig Texas Family! Don’t be afraid to interact with us. We love the likes, shares, and quotes/comments. Keep them coming!