2025 Defenders Entering the Rankings
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<p>We continue our rankings update to highlight more new players making their debut. Today we are focusing on the liberos and defensive specialist we learned more about this spring.</p>
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<p><strong>81. [player_tooltip player_id='506195' first='Lainee' last='Mustain'] - 5'7" - Lee's Summit West/Mavs</strong></p>
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<p>I had a chance to see Mustain this spring with her Mavs squad on a handful of occasions. She enters the ranking at 81 after displaying good skills along the back row. She passes with precision and has a quick first step to balls. Often I saw her in the middle back being active and using her voice to communicate with her team. </p>
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<p><strong>92. [player_tooltip player_id='540293' first='Cooper' last='Hook'] - 5'9" - Westminster/HPSTL</strong></p>
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<p>Cooper is another player who stood out due to court leadership and being vocal on the court. She is good in serve/receive and does a good job of handling tough balls. Another asset she brings to the court is the points she earns behind the service line. </p>
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<p><strong>117. [player_tooltip player_id='261290' first='Ella' last='Schwalm'] - 5'5" - Liberty North/Club North</strong></p>
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<p>Another player who stood out in the number 18 jersey in the middle back often this spring was Schwalm. She makes her ranking debut at 117 and should expect that to jump even higher after watching more film in the last week. She is steady and confident in her defensive playmaking abilities. </p>
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<p><strong>132. [player_tooltip player_id='540281' first='Danielle' last='Hecht'] - 5'3" - Rock Bridge/Alpha Omega</strong></p>
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<p>A solid spring lands Hecht in the rankings at 132 in her debut. She has been a valuable defensive piece for an Alpha Omega team who has qualified for nationals this summer. She comes in and does her job while keeping balls off the floor. You can depend on her allowing her setter to have options. </p>
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We continue our rankings update to highlight more new players making their debut. Today we are focusing on the liberos and defensive specialist we learned more about this spring.
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