Inside a UA Next All America Team Fire Practice

In the heat of preparing for the UA Next All-America Game on January 2, 2024, the athletes from PrepDig California are gearing up for action. Amidst a whirlwind of eager anticipation and shared camaraderie, the quartet from California—[player_tooltip player_id='162772' first='Charlie' last='Fuerbringer'], [player_tooltip player_id='159532' first='Malyssa' last='Cawa'], [player_tooltip player_id='160971' first='Kennedy' last='Osunsanmi'], and [player_tooltip player_id='348432' first='Kendall' last='Beshear']—took the court for their first practice session. While their performance was impressive, the focus here is to shed light on the experience within a practice session where exceptionally talented girls flourish. This level of coaching and skill is a rarity for most athletes, coaches, and parents, providing a glimpse into an unmatched high-tempo competitive environment.   Exploring the intricacies of a practice session with athletes of this caliber might seem overwhelming, yet head coach Tanya Starrett and UA Next All America Game alumnus, Nicklin Hames, orchestrated the session with mutual respect between coach and player. This article aims to provide our readers with an in-depth breakdown of the exclusive UA Practice Plan, accompanied by insights from both players and coaches.   The practice kicked off with standard ball handling and peppering exercises but took an exhilarating turn. Without awaiting instructions, [player_tooltip player_id='159532' first='Malyssa' last='Cawa'], bound for Stanford, took charge rallying the team, saying, "Are we all warmed up? Let's do three-on-three." Seamlessly, the players engaged in a spirited 3-on-3 warm up, escalating into a full-fledged competition. This wasn't the customary "Queen of the Court" routine used to fill time; instead, it evolved into a high-paced rally—a testament to their competitive spirit.   Speaking to Coach Starrett about the players' initiative, she remarked, "We had other warm-up drills planned but these are the best of the best, not only is their athletic ability shown but their leadership is apparent and just hopping into that type of competitive warm-up drill; I am not surprised.”   The coaches allowed the girls to compete until UA Founder, Kevin Plank, delivered an inspiring speech brimming with life lessons. He emphasized that while talent brought them here, it wouldn't sustain them. It's the network and relationships they build that matter—the essence of All America isn't merely a ticket but an opportunity, echoing Jay Z's famous quote, "I'm not a businessman, I'm a business, man." The wisdom imparted during this speech was invaluable and intended to resonate not only throughout the week but also in the players' lifelong journeys.   Moving forward, the practice delved into specific drills. In coach's language, the first drill consisted of three groups: outside hitters, middle-back, and left-front, all engaged in passing to set up hits. One player assumed the role of the server while two hitters aimed to execute hits. Setters were responsible for orchestrating plays, focusing on setting the Outside Hitter for Go/Pipe or Bic plays. Meanwhile, Liberos were tasked with passing from position 1.   Initially designed with a promising tempo, the drill faced challenges in real-time, particularly when facing players with exceptional serving abilities who consistently aced their serves. To address this, the coach introduced a modification: a second ball toss, facilitating additional reps for the middle players, ensuring they received more opportunities to practice and refine their connection with the setter.   In the subsequent round of the drill, the focus shifted to the Right Side and Pipe plays. Liberos were directed to pass from positions 1 and 5, while the Right Side players were encouraged to pass short, setting up hits for the 9's zone.   These adjustments and variations in the drill aimed to enhance the players' proficiency and adaptability while simulating game scenarios, ensuring a comprehensive practice session that targeted different aspects of gameplay.   While I refrain from disclosing the defensive strategies for competitive reasons, it's evident that Team Fire was meticulously honing their skills and teamwork. The synergy between players like [player_tooltip player_id='411370' first='Nayelis' last='Cabello'] and [player_tooltip player_id='162764' first='Ayden' last='Ames'], Jaela Auguste, and Kaia Castle, showcased the dominance of the middle blockers.   After concluding the defensive drills, the team transitioned into the USA Drill. Team Fire lined both sides of the court in one of the six rotations. After the free ball, down balls were given to the setter. Balls were entered to the rally-winning side until one side converted three free balls in a row earning the opportunity to serve for a “big point” The girls battled in games to 3 and then the coach made line-up switches.   Following the practice session, I caught up with Coach Tanya Starrett to delve into the strength, energy, and innate passion the players brought to the practice. I also inquired about her role in coaching these exceptional athletes within the limited span of just two sessions. “The most important things are getting comfortable with each other, understanding our offense and the tempo. Focusing on the setter hitter connection and letting them play.”   Additionally, I asked Coach Starrett about having alumna Nicklin Hames alongside her to connect with the players. She praised Hames as one of the best setters of all time and expressed her honor and excitement at coaching alongside her.   Finally, to wrap up, I caught up with our superstar athletes for their impressions on today's practice.   In their voices:   [player_tooltip player_id='162772' first='Charlie' last='Fuerbringer']: “Today's practice was so fun!! It was awesome playing with and against such dynamic and passionate girls.”   [player_tooltip player_id='160971' first='Kennedy' last='Osunsanmi']: “Our first practice was so much fun. I loved our energy and how fast-paced it was.”   [player_tooltip player_id='159532' first='Malyssa' last='Cawa']: “I thought today's practice was an amazing opportunity to get to know each other and get a feel for how everyone plays. I'm excited to see how this goes!”   [player_tooltip player_id='348432' first='Kendall' last='Beshear']: “The practice was incredible. It was so beyond fun playing with such high-level athletes. It was a little intimidating at first but everyone is so nice and uplifting it's hard not to love it. These girls build a big fire on the court and it's hard not to feed into it. Day one was amazing.”   As Team Fire prepares for Day 2, rest assured that PrepDigCa will be there to capture all the action on the court.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/12/IMG_3419-crop-3262x2142-1704070146.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-496992" style="width:332px;height:auto" /></figure>

In the heat of preparing for the UA Next All-America Game on January 2, 2024, the athletes from PrepDig California are gearing up for action. Amidst a whirlwind of eager anticipation and shared camaraderie, the quartet from California— Charlie Fuerbringer Charlie Fuerbringer 5'11" | S Mira Costa | 2024 State #2 Nation CA , Malyssa Cawa Malyssa Cawa 5'7" | DS/L Mater Dei | 2024 State CA , Kennedy Osunsanmi Kennedy Osunsanmi 6'2" | MB West Ranch | 2024 State CA , and Kendall Beshear Kendall Beshear 5'11" | OH Palos Verdes | 2024 State CA —took the court for their first practice session. While their performance was impressive, the focus here is to shed light on the experience within a practice session where exceptionally talented girls flourish. This level of coaching and skill is a rarity for most athletes, coaches, and parents, providing a glimpse into an unmatched high-tempo competitive environment.