Spotlight on Six Juniors

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Now is the opportune moment for juniors to amplify their exposure. It's crucial to start narrowing down to their top viable school options. With the club season approaching, I aim to spotlight six juniors who can serve as sources of inspiration: one who's already committed, another juggling visits and discussions, and a few who are just beginning to dip their toes into the ocean of recruiting.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Let's dive in. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["340126"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='340126' first='Morgan' last='Graves'], 2025: 5'10” Outside/Opposite hitter for Rancho Valley Volleyball Club and committed to San Jose State UniversityrnrnMorgan, a junior, has achieved a remarkable milestone that many aspire to reach, securing a committed offer from a Division 1 college. Her dynamic training videos earned her a spot in our u0022First One In, Last One Outu0022 series. However, it's her exceptional hitting, digging, and passing skills that have propelled her to a prestigious PrepDig Ranking of #28 in the state. Morgan stands as a shining example for aspiring players who aim to tread a similar path. We take immense pride in sharing her incredible accomplishment with you. You can catch a glimpse of Morgan's talents this club season with Rancho Valley Volleyball Club before she takes center stage as a Spartan.rnrnWhen I inquired about advice for aspiring players hoping to emulate her success, Morgan shared, u0022put all your love and passion into the game because one day it'll create something bigger.u0022","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["468978"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_player_featured_image":484966,"_player_evaluations_1_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"u003cp style=u0022text-align: leftu0022u003eSkye Dunn, 2025: 5'4 Libero/DS for Crossroads School (Santa Monica) and Actyve Volleyball Club 17-1 BLACKu003c/pu003ernSkye is an absolute force when it comes to digging on the volleyball court. Her strong sense of discipline, determination, and unwavering resilience define her style of play. With a high volleyball IQ, Skye showcases exceptional decision-making skills, pulling off precise moves even in the most intense moments.rnrnWhat sets Skye apart is her exceptional skill in passing, especially during serve receive situations. Her agility and quick footwork enable her to cover the court swiftly. Fearlessly diving and rolling, she retrieves challenging balls with lightning-fast recovery. She excels in out-of-system settings, adeptly delivering passes to her pin hitters with efficiency. Skye's ability to foresee plays and analyze opponents allows her to direct her hitters to exploit open areas on the court.rnrnAdditionally, her serve is a game-changing weapon, often guaranteeing aces per set and giving her team a significant advantage. When I asked Skye about her preparations for the upcoming year, she shared her approach by saying, u0022My preparation involves balancing both physical and mental aspects of the game while maintaining academic success. Rigorous training sessions, proper nutrition, rest, and recovery have become my daily routine for enhancing my overall performance. Mentally, I am honing in on my game IQ, watching film, studying opponents, and refining my decision-making on the court. I am committed to leaving no stone unturned in my pursuit of making a lasting impression on college recruiters and securing a spot on a collegiate volleyball team.u0022","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["478355"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='478355' first='Mackenzie' last='Murphy'], 2025: 5'6u0022 L/DS for Rocklin High School and OMNI 17 LaurenrnrnMackenzie is a highly competitive athlete, driven by her passion for competition and her relentless pursuit of improvement. Her exceptional defensive skills and adeptness in serve receive earned her a spot on the First-Team All League for the All Sierra Foothill League.rnrnBeyond her regular club and high-school practices, Mackenzie dedicates her mornings to rigorous speed and agility training with a personal trainer. She also invests time in private lessons with her club coach. Her personal efforts extend to working on ball control, conquering hills with a weighted vest, and studying footage of her own performances to pinpoint areas for improvement.rnrnAll her dedication and hard work have culminated in an official visit scheduled for Oral Roberts University in January. Additionally, Northern Illinois University, Bryant University, Notre Dame, Harvard, Elon University, Bucknell University, ACU, and James Madison University have all caught her interest.rnrnWe are thrilled to utilize the PrepDig platform to further elevate Mackenzie's exposure. Her unwavering commitment is truly commendable, and we are excited to witness her continued success.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"Abby Pekrul","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"6'0u0022","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"32924","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"Temecula Preparatory School","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_3_player_details_club_team":"951 Elite Volleyball","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_3_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"Abby Pekrul, 2025: 6'0 for Temecula Preparatory School and 951 Elite VolleyballrnrnAbby stood out to me when she was recognized as the Southern California News Group Athlete of the Week. Excelling as an outside player for Temecula Preparatory School, she's transitioning to the middle blocker position in her club team, 951 Elite. Confident and driven, Abby's expertise lies in blocking and hitting on the court. She's always planning ahead, constantly contemplating the next steps in her volleyball journey.rnrnTo elevate her game, Abby actively observes older players in action and stays connected with her coaches. She has engaged in some conversations with Division 1 (D1) and Division 2 (D2) coaches in California and is excited about the potential opportunities that lay ahead.rnrnCurious about the role of social media in her volleyball journey, I asked Abby for her thoughts, and she responded, u0022I see girls my age that are already committed, and it makes me want to work even harder to do my best.u0022","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":484972,"_player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='485760' first='Gabriella' last='Colombo']","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"5'4u0022","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"32926","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"Cerritos High School","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"Pulse","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_4_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='485760' first='Gabriella' last='Colombo'], 2025: 5'4” Libero / DS for Cerritos High School, Cerritos and Pulse 17-JaclynrnrnGabriella brings an impressive nine years of volleyball experience to the court, demonstrating her dedication to reaching the top. Her secret to success revolves around starting each game with a positive mindset. She believes in the u0022next pointu0022 mentality, where she focuses on the upcoming point, regardless of what happened before, all in pursuit of her ultimate goal.rnrnGabriella's drive for improvement knows no bounds. She spends time studying college-level game footage, analyzing her own performances, and putting in extra practice outside of regular team sessions. Her motto, u0022you can never get too many reps,u0022 perfectly captures her commitment to continual progress.rnrnHer strengths lie in digging, passing, and serving. With her sharp skills in these areas, she covers more on the court, allowing her teammates to concentrate on their specific roles, especially hitting. Moreover, her powerful float serve not only builds momentum but also throws off opponents' strategies, disrupting their rhythm.rnrnGabriella is laser-focused on maximizing her time on the court and increasing her visibility. She's proactively engaging with college coaches and has her sights set on attending various camps to explore new opportunities and advance further in her volleyball journey.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_player":["219440"],"_player_evaluations_5_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='219440' first='Aleina' last='Manaois'], 2025: 5'8 Setter/Outside for Clark Magnet High School (La Crescenta) - Glendale (Off Campus Sports) and [program_tooltip program_id='429511' first='San' last='Gabriel Elite'] Volleyball ClubrnrnI'm excited to highlight Aleina, especially after witnessing her incredible performance in the CIFState final game where she and her teammates secured a victory for Glendale. Aleina's standout performance earned her the title of PrepDig Player of the Game.rnrnAs I've mentioned before, Aleina is a remarkable hitter, displaying a wide array of shots that range from delicate tips to powerful line kills. Her serves also stand out, posing a challenge with their impressive side-to-side movement mid-air.rnrnAleina's competitive spirit shines brightly on the court, evident in her passion for the game. In preparation for this crucial club season, she's actively reviewing her own game footage to fuel her improvement. We're eagerly anticipating Aleina's contributions this club season with SG Elite.","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":6,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6567f298317fa"} /-->