SLC Showdown Showcase 2024: DS/Liberos
In this article:
We look closer at the Washington liberos participating in Weekend 2 of the Salt Lake City Showdown Showcase. The group had terrific overall skills and work ethic, and the energy from all of the players was high. Here are profiles…
Access all of Prep Dig
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingWe look closer at the Washington liberos participating in Weekend 2 of the Salt Lake City Showdown Showcase. The group had terrific overall skills and work ethic, and the energy from all of the players was high. Here are profiles of several of the defenders from the Showcase.
Neal was named a top performer at the Showcase after displaying toughness, excellent communication and quickness in Salt Lake City. Her Skagit Island Volleyball Academy 16 squad finished 4-4 for the tournament, rattling off 3 wins in a row including knocking off an Invicta Volleyball Kass team that had handed them a day 1 defeat. Neal has all the elements you like to see in a libero, maybe most importantly a winning mentality. Her Meridian team placed 4th in state during the high school season and SIVA 16 Blue is highly competitive again this season after a nice run with mostly the same group in 15’s last season.
Dodson has setter hands, the Dakine 17 Surf libero covers her hitters with terrific reactions and keeps the ball playable for her team. She plays with more length than her listed 5’6″, covering tips and cutting off balls in the seam with a nicely angled platform. The Auburn Riverside 2025 prospect is extremely confident running the show in the back row, Dodson will be a terrific add for a college program looking to add a skilled defender.
Chum-Schultz is a consistent and strong defender who makes plays from any position in the back row. Seattle Volleyball Academy has her playing in the middle back at times, and she operates fluidly covering tips and ranging to the corners to track down shots. She handles hard shots right at her cleanly from the middle back spot, delivering digs to keep the offense moving and set up her team in the transition phase. Chum- Schultz is a 2025 prospect from Kentwood High School, and is a well trained, dedicated defensive player.
Highlights
Eastep (Harris) is a class of 2026 libero from Lewis and Clark in Spokane who has come on strongly this season. The sophomore has great size at 5’9″ and plays the ball easily with her hands, and has very nice location when she steps in to set the second ball. Her Club South 16 Carolina team has been in the mix and competitive all season, Eastep keeps the energy high and plays with grit in the back row.
The class of 2026 prospect from Selah high School and CRU 17 is an excellent athlete. Shurtleff roams the middle back for her CRU team, and has the strength to handle swings and serves with big pace. She adjusts well and absorbs the ball, keeping her setter out of the net and the offense running smoothly. Playing as a six-rotation outside for Selah has her well prepared for making plays defensively, and her 5’9″ frame gives her a bit extra when she extending out to make a stab to save a point.
Highlights
Jessica Pak
Jessica Pak
Pak is able to get out of her area and make acrobatic digs, the Emerald Ridge 2026 libero has a knack for making the one-hand stab to keep a rally going. Her PSVBA 16 Legacy team has her handling the left back, and she shows a good quick first step when reacting to tips and balls off the block. Pak is a tough defender and she showed a willingness to get on the ground at the Showcase.