A Player for Each Skill to Watch From a Week 8 Match
Below are five athletes to watch from a recent CIF match: Teagan Cooling Teagan Cooling 6'1" | RS Leigh | 2026 State CA | 6’2″ | 2026 | MB/OPP | Leigh High SchoolWatch for Tegan Cooling then look again because…
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Continue ReadingBelow are five athletes to watch from a recent CIF match:
Teagan Cooling
Teagan
Cooling
6'1" | RS
Leigh | 2026
State
CA
| 6’2″ | 2026 | MB/OPP | Leigh High School
Watch for Tegan Cooling then look again because she will likely be at another spot on the court. This versatile hitter is one that seems like she can hit from anywhere in the front row. When in the front, she can hit left, middle, and a one foot approach on the right. She has a great first step that is small and allows her to adjust her timing. When Cooling gets in the air, her swing leads to an attack toward the bottom part of the ball. This drives the ball deep into the opponent’s court.
Camryn Ryken | 5’11” | 2024 | MB | Leigh High School
Camryn Ryken is a a teammate that is rallied around once she scores a point. A suggestion that her personality lights up a group is an understatement. The hard working middle blocker reads a set well to help close a block to her outside blockers. This volleyball IQ and hustle certainly must contribute to her success and likeability as a teammate. She touches a height of the second red on the antenna. When attacking, she hits mostly to left back. Additionally, she does reach high and hits deep when hitting from behind the setter.
Claudia Salquist | 2024 | S | Leigh High School
Setters playing defense is also a question before watching any setter, and Claudia Salquist is one that will dig first. Always eager to set the offense, setters usually run up to the net with no intent to play the ball. However, Salquist is excellent on running up to the net but in a lot of cases it is chasing down a ball and bringing it back up. When setting, she makes the safe set and will bumpset if needed. Specifically, the choice to go with a bumpset rather than forcing a handset increases the chances that the rally will continue after her contact.
Melody Pho | 4’11” | 2024 | L | Evergreen Valley High School
A quick and controlled back court presence is one way to describe the play of Melody Pho. When the ball will land behind her, she does great at opening up her body. This allows for much more court coverage. Additionally, she somehow still manages to contact the ball close to her body even when her body is near perpendicular to the net. The most fun part of her game is to watch her pick up an attack that is so very close to hitting the ground. It seems that Pho comes out of nowhere to dive in and get the ball up. Look for her to just throw her arms out in order to keep a rally going.
Jaslyn Wallace | 5’6″ | 2026 | RS | Evergreen Valley High School
A young but yet seemingly experienced hitter is a quick summary of the attack game for Jaslyn Wallace. This team definitely looks to her when they need points. She usually hits cross court but also has a great ability to hit down the line. How she does this is usually one of two ways. First, she takes her approach, jumps and hangs in the air. When waiting in the air she allows for time to pass to open up space that the blockers are trying to defend. Second, Wallace has an excellent wrist snap on the ball that can cut the direction off on many of her hits.