15 Athletes with Dominant Day 1 Performances at the PD Gauntlet
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A full day of play has been completed, and teams are preparing for day 2! The competition was ON FIRE in the gym today, and everywhere I looked, there were more athletes to add to my notes. The energy, talent,…
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Continue ReadingA full day of play has been completed, and teams are preparing for day 2! The competition was ON FIRE in the gym today, and everywhere I looked, there were more athletes to add to my notes. The energy, talent, and level of play were next level. Here are athletes with dominant day 1 performances at the Prep Dig Gauntlet.
This 1st Alliance team is a group I have seen play several times this season. And they never fail to impress me with their grit and growth every time I see them. And Sophia is an athlete I have been impressed with time and time again. She is consistent yet explosive and is simply a high-level athlete. She was all over the court today and really did it all. She took care of business from the serving line and manufactured points in the front row.
Peyton is an incredibly talented middle. She is very athletic and gritty in her play. She took huge momentum-changing swings today and was an impact player on every point. She never batted an eye at taking multiple jumps per play and was always aggressive with her choices on offense. Peyton also put up a consistent block.
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Abigail was dominant today. From her explosive approach to her clean and simple passing, she excelled in every rotation. As a pin, she checked all of the boxes. She was aggressive yet limited her errors. She made scrappy and athletic plays but was controlled in the right moments. Her play is all about balance, and it really impressed me throughout the day.
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I have not seen this RVA squad play yet this year, and wow, am I impressed with their growth. Lucia is no exception. She played all six rotations today, swinging in the front row and setting in the back row. She is a gritty athlete and a gamer. Lucia knows how to get the job done. She is engaged in every moment of every play and had some incredible defensive plays today.
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Isabelle is a setter that caught my eye numerous times this afternoon. She has great form and plays a smart, clean game of volleyball. She runs the court with quiet confidence and is an athlete you can just tell has huge potential and a bright future in the sport. She has a high volleyball IQ, spread her offense, and excelled at the intangibles as an athlete and leader for her team.
Logan was absolutely dominant in all six rotations today. Her swing packs a punch, and she is truly an elite athlete. She executes on nearly every play and is a natural leader on the court. She makes smart choices, moves her shots around, and is a key player in the back row as well.
If you are looking for a powerhouse middle, you can stop right here. Shelby is an energizer on the court and makes some plays that make you stop and say ‘wow.’ She has a great connection with her setter, Ella Craggs, and is an absolutely dominant force on the court.
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Sidney played as both a libero and six-rotation outside hitter today, and she excelled at both. She has a massive vertical and great form. Her court awareness is stellar, and she uses it to make great shots, earn points, and read opponents on defense. She plays high-level serve receive and is always ready for the ball.
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I would love to know what Josie’s hitting percentage is because I swear, every time I saw her take a swing, it was a kill. Josie is powerful and efficient. She can just as easily rip a ball full power to the 12-foot line as she can find a deep corner or tool the block. She plays all six rotations and is a steady force in all of her skills.
Anya really impressed me today. I remember seeing this team play at the Prep Dig Resolution Tournament and noticing the amount of raw talent they possessed. Not only has Anya’s play improved, but her confidence and leadership have also improved as well. She played as a setter and right side today and had some key kills for her team. Anya balances being aggressive and smart and minimizes her errors.
Kylie is a relentless athlete. She will never give up on a ball. I swear, if she were able to, she would run through a wall to keep the ball alive. I saw her almost take herself out on a scoring table today. She is aggressive, smart, and a true team player on the court. Kylie is a fun athlete to watch play because she makes even the toughest plays work.
Alana makes tough shots look easy. She plays in all six rotations and can swing well on either pin. When she is on the right side, she can cut the ball back to the line, which is tough for opponents to read and pick up. Nearly every time she executed that swing, it was a kill. Alana really stood out in her consistency on serve receive on defense. She is a very well-rounded player that had a huge impact on her team’s play today.
Maggie is a setter that knows how to run a team. She is confident, consistent, and smart. Maggie moves the ball around with practiced ease and utilizes every hitter on the court. She runs down balls well and is a really solid blocker as well. Maggie runs a 5-1 and makes it look easy. She is a very talented athlete who I can’t wait to see more from.
Kendall took off today, almost literally. She is a high-flying powerhouse pin who can play in all six rotations. She showed what she is made of throughout the day today. Kendall never seemed to miss a beat. From her stud defense to her efficient offense, she was firing on all cylinders from the first point to the last.
Gwen has so much potential. She is already playing at a very high level and is just an athlete that never stops. She has big power and a very high ceiling. What set her apart were her intangibles. Her communication, energy, and leadership were all key for her team today. Gwen impressed in every aspect of her game and is a go-to hitter for Illini Elite.