2023 PD Illinois Top 250: The Big 'Bros

<h6 class="wp-block-heading"><em>bBe sure to follow @lshotvb on Instagram, Tik Tok and Twitter for all things volleyball!</em></h6>   <h6 class="wp-block-heading"><em><a href="https://prepdig.com/top-250-expos/">Join us at the Prep Dig Top 250 Expo</a>! </em><em>Use code LShotVBExpo2023 for 10% off your registration fee.</em> (APPLICABLE TO ALL EXPOS)</h6>   <h6 class="wp-block-heading">–</h6>   <p>Top Flight Volleyball was top tier today in terms of volleyball talent in the gym.</p>   <p>From Michigan and Indiana, to Illinois, the Top 250 Expo tour continues on. Once again, the Illinois stop proved to be one for the books. Elite talent on display, fun atmosphere and a lot of great volleyball throughout the day.</p>   <p>Let's kick off who shined with the top liberos at this year's Illinois Top 250.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='260968' first='Rylie' last='Almoradie'] - Top Flight</h2>   <p>She may be one of the smallest players in the field, but her play is one of the biggest. With a strong posture and really efficient movement, [player_tooltip player_id='260968' first='Rylie' last='Almoradie'] has a real big presence on the court. She's quick with her feet, makes great reads to beat the ball, and she has an infectious attitude when she steps in the back court. Almoradie was a lot of fun to see live.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='483448' first='Kayla' last='Paige'] - Future </h2>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='483448' first='Kayla' last='Paige'] was showing off some really strong touches in the position aspect of the showcase. But what I liked most about Paige, was that she is a gamer. When it came to scrimmage time, that's where she shined the most. This performer has really good court awareness, in competition, she seems to always be a step ahead of the play.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='443054' first='Charlie' last='Fleegle'] - [program_tooltip program_id='432009' first='Sky' last='High']</h2>   <p>This is a really strong overall defender. For a lot of back row players, they have their bread and butter in which zone they excel best out of. But doesn't seem this one can relate. You can catch [player_tooltip player_id='443054' first='Charlie' last='Fleegle'] just about anywhere around the court and excel defensively in every zone. She's very steady on her feet and holds a quick reaction time to the play. She also brought in a strong, floating left handed serve.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='260974' first='Shae' last='Mason'] - Lions Jrs</h2>   <p>I had a lot of fun watching this player in action. [player_tooltip player_id='260974' first='Shae' last='Mason'] has a really strong presence when she steps on the court. Not only in her athletic plays, but her personality shines just as bright. Particularly strong in middle back, she has a solid base and quick nature to her movements. Mason can cover a lot of court in little time, unafraid to dig a ball with any means necessary. Alongside her defensive prowess, Mason showed a particularly strong left handed serve that when she got ahold of it, could have a pretty nasty hook to it.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='204781' first='Bailey' last='Wallace'] - [program_tooltip program_id='431567' first='Adversity' last='']</h2>   <p>You catch [player_tooltip player_id='204781' first='Bailey' last='Wallace'] just about anywhere in the backcourt and she does solid work. She was one of the more lengthier defenders in the gym and knows how to use her longer reach to her advantage. Even with her length, Wallace had some of the best footwork in the gym when it came to players in service reception. She can beat the ball at her base without having to do to much in her upper half. She's always in solid posture and creating space between herself and the ball. </p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='490072' first='Freya' last='McBride'] - Adversity</h2>   <p>Try and swing as hard as you can at her. However, if she is in line of even the hardest attacks, this player does a great job making it look like nothing. [player_tooltip player_id='490072' first='Freya' last='McBride'] knows how to get in front of the ball and just absorb it. Not many times was she touching the ball and making a bad play off of it. McBride also did super well in her receiving game creating solid angles for the dime pass.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Jelena Jevtic - Sports Performance</h2>   <p>This player did some impressive things throughout the showcase. Jelena Jevtic showed a lot of range in her defensive play. In serve receive, she was holding up quite nicely against the toughest of serves. I really liked seeing her in the positional aspect of the 250, she really got to show off some strong technique.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='488367' first='Charlotte' last='Kozak'] - [program_tooltip program_id='431567' first='Adversity' last='']</h2>   <p>One of the smoothest platforms out of the bros, [player_tooltip player_id='488367' first='Charlotte' last='Kozak'] does a great job finishing her moves on every ball she touches. Whether it's defensively or in reception, she's always in great position for a dimed pass. With her platform, comes a really solid foundation at her feet. She is really fluid-moving player around the back court. Kozak also brings a vastly moving float serve that caused fits for many.</p>