High School Preview: Saugus

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Below are a five athletes to watch from Saugus:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><strong>Leila Ballard </strong></strong>| 5'10" | 2025 | OH | <br>Watching a near textbook slow to fast approach, like that of Leila Ballard, is enjoyable to watch. The smooth, coordinated movement of her approach into the ball that gradually moves into a jump setups up Ballard for hangtime to decide where to hit. When hitting out of the backrow, she even makes time to wind up a bit more before hitting. However, she does keep her arm in closer to her body on that backrow attack. Even more impressive, she gets low to pass and pops up right away to begin her approach.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Morgan Guardado</strong> | 5'8" | 2025 | S | <br>Morgan Guardado has a left handed dump that is delayed as long as possible. This 5-1 setter patrols, commands, and asserts her presence during net play. That is a great mindset to be in as a leader and also the one player that is designed to touch the ball on her side during every rally. Her active net play must inspire her teammates when they are looking for that extra spark. When in serve receive, she often waits and takes her time to gauge what is happening with the pass. After that thought, it appears she has a plan on where that second contact will go.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='538020' first='Gabriella' last='Cascione']</strong> | 5'8" | 2025 | L | <br>The spatial awareness of [player_tooltip player_id='538020' first='Gabriella' last='Cascione'] is excellent, Specifically, she can turn around and find a ball quickly. This ability will only continue to stay with her to help as the level of opponent continues to increase and she needs to read more and more. She gets excellent results on the easy plays. To do that she finds angles to the target with her body almost unconsciously. When making contact on a hard driven ball, her rigid, unrelenting platform leaves no thought of uncertainty in her mind. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Katelyn Nelson </strong>| 5"11 | 2025 | OH | <br>The determining factor of where Katelyn Nelson will hit the ball is often decided in where she begins her approach. As she starts wide, she hits cross. As she starts close to the line, she hits line. This is a wonderful connection to a strength of hers that is the power she generates from her elbow to wrist. When Nelson hits, almost everything she puts into the ball comes from her right arm. For how hard she does hit, it is impressive that it all comes from pretty much one place. With that, be careful because she has enough control to sneak the ball past blockers through the narrowest of seams.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='160983' first='Taylor' last='Treahy'] </strong>| 6'1" | 2024 | OPP | <br>A lefty that has the potential to take over a match is one way to describe the game of [player_tooltip player_id='160983' first='Taylor' last='Treahy']. Lefties are always difficult to block because the slight difference in timing. As a hitter, she manages that timing well. Whether the ball comes across her right shoulder before hitting or she goes and chases a ball in front of her, Treahy makes solid contact. Mostly a cross court hitter, she can also find a place on the court just inside the line. This variety will keep a middle back defender guessing.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->