Prospects to Watch @PrepDigCa: 15’s

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>PrepDigCa's Instagram shines a spotlight on our ‘Prospects to Watch,' providing invaluable social exposure to athletes aspiring to play at the collegiate level. Our featured prospects attract attention and ‘likes' from a diverse array of colleges, ranging from D1, D2, D3, NAIA, and JUCO. While highlight clips are informative, they can miss the essence of a player's personality and character. At PrepDig, we take a proactive approach, encouraging our athletes to actively participate in their recruitment exposure within our articles.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>When a player earns the title of ‘Prospect to Watch,' we reach out, extending an invitation to share their unique voice and perspective. We firmly believe that this transcends mere highlights, offering colleges a deeper understanding of the athlete as a whole. This article also offers players, parents, and coaches a window into the character of our prospects. It's with great pleasure that I present to you the voices of some of our standout Prospects to Watch.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["467596"],"_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":"u003cp data-pm-slice=u00221 1 []u0022u003eHalfway through this 2023-2024 season, the number one feeling I am having is gratitude.  Gratitude for the elite coaching I continuously receive from coaches Brennan, Casey, Mel, Evan, and Scott, my teammates who push me to be better each and every day and make life fun both on and off the court, my family for their unwavering support, and ultimately, the sport of volleyball, which has provided me the greatest amount of happiness I could imagine.u003c/pu003ernI came into this season working incredibly hard to make the switch from a Middle Blocker to an Outside Hitter.  It was a harder switch than I thought it would be.  Timing is different, hitting angles are different, sets are different, and something that we don't consider enough- you have to be just as good at serve receive and defense as you are as a hitter.  Your stamina also has to be strong enough for six rotations, which can be at times, exhausting.   What I have learned through this journey is that mindset is something that I had not previously worked on enough, but is the key. Being physically strong has taken me far in this sport, but to get to the level I aspire to be, I've had to work extremely hard on mindset.rnrnMindset for me is all about building mental toughness.  My mindset directly affects how I'm able to handle mistakes, pressure, and my ability to be a strong teammate. There will inevitably be moments of defeat or disappointment, whether it's losing a close match, making a critical error on the court, or facing criticism from others, so my work each day has been towards having that mental resilience to overcome adversity and learn from my mistakes.rnrnMy first real exposure to mindset came during my training last year with USA Volleyball's National Development Team Program.  Each and every day of the four-day training we spent time in mindset training sessions.  At first I was confused because I thought that we would be on the court doing drills and scrimmaging the whole time.  But hearing from Olympic volleyball players and coaches and getting trained by experts in sports psychology, I realized that the mindset training is just as vital as drills on the court. I came home from that trip and told my mom all about it.  To my surprise, she agreed, mindset was the weakest part of my game. It was one aspect of being an athlete that I never really considered.  My mom and I spent a lot of time discussing how mindset would mean the difference between a successful transition from Middle Blocker to Outside Hitter or an unsuccessful transition the following year.  We also discussed how mindset is an important factor in all aspects of our lives, not just volleyball.  With academics being a very important part of my life, I have seen how mindset has helped me improve in that area.  My role as a big sister to my little one-year old brother, Jaylen, has also been an even better blessing since my focus on mindset began.rnrnI have so much joy in me as I write this because I am at a place where I feel confident in my playing, I love my teammates and coaches, and I know I am striving each day for continuous improvement, on and off the court.  My journey towards mindset is ongoing.  What I do know is that the journey is worth it.  My focus has improved, my ability to stay calm under pressure has improved, and most importantly, I'm a better teammate, friend, and version of myself because of it.rnrnWave 15-1 Brennan recently won first place at our SCVA tournament and it felt so good!  Our team has immense talent and I think Nationals in July will prove that we are a top 15s team in the country.rnrnGO WAVE!!!","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66156db88b3f8"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://www.instagram.com/reel/C4a4YAiL3Px/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_linku0026amp;igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"instagram","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-instagram wp-block-embed-instagram"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.instagram.com/reel/C4a4YAiL3Px/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_linku0026amp;igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["523986"],"_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":"u003cp class=u0022p1u0022u003eKobe Bryant once said, “I don't want to be the next Michael Jordan, I only want to be Kobe Bryant.” —Kobe Bryant. I love this quote because it reflects individuality and the drive to forge our own paths rather than following in someone else's footsteps. It emphasizes the importance of pursuing our own excellence and carving out our own unique legacy rather than striving to replicate someone else's.u003c/pu003ernu003cp class=u0022p1u0022u003eMy name is Isabella Stojkovic and I am the team captain and 6-rotation, 6u00220, OH for Aspire 15 Premier. I was named #1 on the All-Academic first team in 6A in all of Arizona with a 5.0 GPA.u003c/pu003ernu003cp class=u0022p1u0022u003eGrowing up, I have always been into sports; due to my parents both being extremely athletic and their motivation to pass it onto me and my brother. While playing a variety of sports as a kid, I never really felt the way I feel for volleyball compared to any other sport. The love for my sport is a daily enduring passion that allows me as a hitter to maintain a high intensity throughout games, be adaptable and coachable to different circumstances throughout a game, and always trying to find ways to contribute to my team. I love playing at the highest level and I also ended up 2nd in the nation for 14 Open in GJNC last year, won first while playing in USAV All Stars, and played varsity as a freshman in high school! In my free time, I love watching college volleyball and my future opponents to better my understanding of the game and to help my team be successful. Outside of volleyball, I love to play the guitar, be around family and friends, and bake.u003c/pu003ernu003cp class=u0022p1u0022u003eI can't wait to discover what lies ahead for my team throughout the remainder of this season!u003c/pu003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66116746773d6"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://www.instagram.com/reel/C4vgchyRi3M/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_linku0026amp;igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"instagram","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-instagram wp-block-embed-instagram"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.instagram.com/reel/C4vgchyRi3M/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_linku0026amp;igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["527781"],"_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":"u003cp data-pm-slice=u00221 1 []u0022u003eAround the age of 9, I started playing volleyball. At first, I just thought of it as something fun to do with my friends. I didn't realize all of the opportunities it could give me and I really enjoyed it so I started to take it seriously. Since then, I have worked hard to become a better player.  Now it feels like I've been playing my whole life. Volleyball means so much to me and has taught me so many things. I always have so much fun playing and I'm so grateful for all the opportunities it has given me as well as the lifelong friendships I've made.u003c/pu003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66268cf36442e"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://www.instagram.com/reel/C4yLpquRU88/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_linku0026amp;igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"instagram","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-instagram wp-block-embed-instagram"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.instagram.com/reel/C4yLpquRU88/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_linku0026amp;igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed -->