'Bros in Beast Mode at the Gauntlet

The libero position continues to develop, and the athletes impress every year. Some stand-out liberos and defensive specialists really had a huge impact on the Gauntlet. This article focuses on athletes in the class of 2025 and 2026 who are not yet committed to play in college.    Sophia played defensive specialist for 1st Alliance, and she was impressive in everything she did. Her consistency and ability to get a clean contact on the ball really set her apart. She was disciplined on serve receive and made great passes time and time again.     Bella is another defensive specialist who just took control of the court. Her serve was unstoppable, it was both powerful and precise. She communicated well and covered the back court from corner to corner. Bella really impressed me in all of her skills.     Lucy's ball control is next level. From free balls to powerhouse swings, Lucy can control the ball efficiently. She is quick and dynamic and never seems to run out of energy. She takes up a lot of space on serve receive and is a reliable force in the back row.     What set Kate apart from the crowd was her speed. She was all over the court, picking up free balls and tips and getting great touches in coverage. It was hard for opponents to out-pace her because she was explosive to the ball. She was relentless on the court and was fun to watch.     Rylee was well-rounded at the libero position. She consistently did each aspect of the position well. Her serve receive was clean and efficient and her defense was explosive. Rylee impressed me with her court awareness and the amount of space she covered in the back row.     Addison played absolutely lights out at the Gauntlet. She was engaged and energetic and picked up nearly every ball that came her way. She made the tough plays look easy and the impossible plays possible. She never wavered on the court and was fearless and relentless in every play. Addison showed grit and resilience, which was impressive to watch.     Siena was at the libero position for Sting 16 Gold for most of the tournament, including all of day 2. I have seen her play numerous times, but the maturity and confidence she displayed at the Gauntlet were incredible. She was level-headed even against some of the top servers and hitters in the country. She never seemed to get rattled and kept her team motivated and disciplined in every play. The way Siena played at the Gauntlet gave us a glimpse of the kind of impact she could have at the collegiate level.     Madeline was all over the court. There wasn't an inch of space that she couldn't cover at the Gauntlet. She was fearless and competitive, fighting hard to keep her team in every play. Madeline is a huge recruit in the class of 2026 and one who could make a big impact at the next level.     Elexis was a natural leader for her team at the Gauntlet. She never missed a beat on the court and got some crazy pickups. Elexis was a libero in beast mode on every single point. She does all of the little things right, and her intangibles really set her apart.     Addy was another libero who controlled the ball very well. She excelled in defense, though was impressive in all aspects of her game. Addy has awesome court awareness and a high volleyball IQ. She is disciplined in her movement but still reads the opposing offense effectively.     I was really impressed with how much space Peyton took up in serve receive. This helped free up her hitters and ensure a consistent pass. Peyton did anything she could to fight for every point and to help better the ball for her team.

The libero position continues to develop, and the athletes impress every year. Some stand-out liberos and defensive specialists really had a huge impact on the Gauntlet. This article focuses on athletes in the class of 2025 and 2026 who are not yet committed to play in college.