Freshman Prospects Make Varsity Roster – Part 2

In the highly competitive world of high school volleyball, making the varsity team as a freshman is no small feat. It takes a unique combination of skill, determination, and a strong work ethic to stand out among older, more experienced players. In this article series, we continue with six exceptional young athletes have done just that, earning their spots on the varsity roster and proving that they have what it takes to compete at the highest level. We begin by taking a closer look at the journeys and ambitions of [player_tooltip player_id='528320' first='Elle' last='Howie'], [player_tooltip player_id='576741' first='Emily' last='Barr'], [player_tooltip player_id='507980' first='Ameira' last='Hardin'],<div class="flex flex-col pl-4 md:pl-0 pr-4 py-2" style="--tw-translate-x: 0;--tw-translate-y: 0;--tw-rotate: 0;--tw-skew-x: 0;--tw-skew-y: 0;--tw-scale-x: 1;--tw-scale-y: 1;--tw-pan-x:;--tw-pan-y:;--tw-pinch-zoom:;--tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity;--tw-ordinal:;--tw-slashed-zero:;--tw-numeric-figure:;--tw-numeric-spacing:;--tw-numeric-fraction:;--tw-ring-inset:;--tw-ring-offset-width: 0px;--tw-ring-offset-color: #fff;--tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000;--tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000;--tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000;--tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000;--tw-blur:;--tw-brightness:;--tw-contrast:;--tw-grayscale:;--tw-hue-rotate:;--tw-invert:;--tw-saturate:;--tw-sepia:;--tw-drop-shadow:;--tw-backdrop-blur:;--tw-backdrop-brightness:;--tw-backdrop-contrast:;--tw-backdrop-grayscale:;--tw-backdrop-hue-rotate:;--tw-backdrop-invert:;--tw-backdrop-opacity:;--tw-backdrop-saturate:;--tw-backdrop-sepia:"></div>[player_tooltip player_id='507916' first='Addisyn' last='Gardenhire'], [player_tooltip player_id='507405' first='Rachel' last='Nemee'], and [player_tooltip player_id='516224' first='Ashlyn' last='Malone'] as they embark on their high school volleyball careers.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='528320' first='Elle' last='Howie']</h2>    Starting volleyball at the age of 9 in a youth league in Glendora, [player_tooltip player_id='528320' first='Elle' last='Howie'] quickly found her passion for the sport, leading her to join a club team by age 11. Now, entering her fourth season of club volleyball, she has spent three seasons with the [program_tooltip program_id='429558' first='Tstreet' last='Volleyball Club']'s 1's team. Elle's motivation stems from a love for the game, enjoyment of team dynamics, and the inspiration she finds in watching college volleyball. She aspires to play for the University of Miami like her favorite player, Grace Lopez.   Transitioning from middle school to high school varsity volleyball has presented several challenges for Elle, including increased physical demands and higher skill levels. She has worked on enhancing her speed, strength, and mental toughness to adapt. Overcoming these challenges has involved extra practice, feedback from coaches, and support from teammates. Essential skills for making the varsity team include technical abilities like serving, passing, hitting, and blocking, combined with strong court awareness and volleyball IQ. Elle also demonstrates key personal qualities such as dedication, work ethic, resilience, and a positive attitude.   Balancing academics and volleyball requires Elle to practice excellent time management, prioritize tasks, create a study schedule, and communicate effectively with her teachers. Her parents play a crucial support role, helping manage both school and sports responsibilities. Elle also emphasizes the importance of nutrition and rest to maintain peak performance.   For the current season, Elle's goals are for her team, the Bonita Bearcats, to win their league and advance to the playoffs. Personally, she aims to grow as a player, particularly as she transitions from a middle blocker to a right-side hitter.   In her own words: "I would like to give a special shoutout to the Seniors, especially Sadie Harper and Kaelyn Scoffinger. Sadie and Kaelyn took me in from day one, they cheer me on, they welcomed me to the team like I had already been there and made me feel like a part of their volleyball family. I am so lucky to have the most amazing teammates!"   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>Michelle Bamford @ PrepDig</li> </ul>    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='576741' first='Emily' last='Barr']</h2>    [player_tooltip player_id='576741' first='Emily' last='Barr'] began playing volleyball in third grade for an elementary team and started her first travel season with the 12's team at Dartfrog. Currently, she plays for the 16's team at Dartfrog Volleyball Club. Her motivation to play volleyball stems from the bonds she's formed and the sport's competitive nature.   One of the challenges Emily faced when transitioning from middle school to varsity volleyball was adapting to the faster tempo of the game. She is overcoming this by learning to run quicker sets and working hard in practice to keep up with the older players.   Emily attributes her spot on the varsity team to her coachability, a quality that her coaches have praised. She focuses on making adjustments quickly when instructed, which she believes has been crucial to her development as a player.   Balancing academics and volleyball is important to Emily. She plans to keep her teachers informed about her schedule to ensure she can keep up with her schoolwork even when she has to miss class for games. She is committed to giving her best effort in her studies.   Emily's goals for this season include improving her blocking and learning to run sets from behind when the setter is in the front row. She has been working on taking longer strides to reach the pins and refining her approach for slides to give her setter more options on the court.   In her own words, "I'd like to give a shoutout to Teagan Lee. Teagan is always supportive, fun and encouraging to everybody on and off the court. She is a very selfless teammate. She motivates everyone to do their absolute best, and is a true example of an amazing athlete. She puts in the work and gives her all at every practice. Teagan never fails to put a smile on me and my team's face, and encourage us to do our absolute best together. I'm very grateful for her."       <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>Michelle Bamford @ PrepDig</li> </ul>    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='507980' first='Ameira' last='Hardin'] </h2>    [player_tooltip player_id='507980' first='Ameira' last='Hardin'] initially started playing volleyball just to stay active, without serious intentions. However, she quickly fell in love with the sport. As her passion grew, she began watching game films, dedicating herself to improving her skills, and putting in the necessary work to reach her current level.   The transition from middle school to high school varsity volleyball presented challenges, particularly adjusting to a fast-paced offense. Competing against older and more experienced players has helped her adapt to the quicker tempo.   Ameira describes herself as an encouraging teammate who is very coachable. She is known for her fearless approach, swinging at every ball, embracing competition, and hustling for every play, always leaving everything on the court.   In terms of academics, Ameira excels in the classroom and plans to continue her strong performance by staying on top of her work. She maintains good communication with her teachers to ensure her education remains a priority, even when she has to miss class for games or tournaments.   Ameira's primary goal for this high school volleyball season is to make a name for herself, ensuring people know and remember who she is.   In her own words, "I want to give a shoutout to my whole team. Being a freshman on varsity is hard and it's a lot of pressure but they take off that pressure and help me with anything I need. They are so supportive and inspiring. I love every single one of them."   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>Michelle Bamford @ PrepDig</li> </ul>    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='507916' first='Addisyn' last='Gardenhire']</h2>    [player_tooltip player_id='507916' first='Addisyn' last='Gardenhire'] began playing volleyball at the age of 8 and quickly developed a love for the sport. Despite not seeing much playtime during her first year, her desire to improve drove her to practice relentlessly throughout the summer. This dedication helped her gain a deeper understanding of the game and improve her skills, ultimately earning her more playtime.   Transitioning to varsity volleyball presented the challenge of adapting to a faster tempo. Addisyn credits her experience playing with older girls from a young age with helping her adjust to the speed of the varsity game. Her ability to set a quick offense and effectively communicate on the court has been instrumental in securing her spot on the varsity team as a freshman.   To balance her academic responsibilities with the demands of being on a varsity team, Addisyn plans to stay in close communication with her teachers about her schedule and complete her schoolwork during practice breaks, in between games, and while traveling to tournaments.   Her primary goals for the season are to help her team reach the valley championships by consistently giving her best effort and maintaining a positive attitude. Additionally, Addisyn aims to excel as a student-athlete, setting herself up for future success in college.   In her own words, "I would like to give a shoutout to my whole team. I am so thankful for all of them. My team has helped me perform to the best of my ability with the amazing passes that I get from my passers and how my hitters are willing to work for any ball I give them. I'm especially thankful for my teammate Ellie, who is a senior on my team. Ellie is one of the ones that pushes me to perform to the best of my ability and is always a big cheerleader for me on and off the court!"   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>Michelle Bamford @ PrepDig</li> </ul>    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='507405' first='Rachel' last='Nemee']</h2>    Rachel Namee's athletic journey began in competitive swimming, where she excelled, winning gold medals in all four strokes and the IM at city championships in 7th grade. However, the camaraderie of her friends playing volleyball drew her to try the sport. After attending an all-skills camp at [program_tooltip program_id='545945' first='Rage' last='Volleyball Club'], she quickly developed a passion for volleyball. Her dedication and love for the team aspect of the game led her to join the 13-1s team after her first season.   Since her middle school didn't offer volleyball, Rachel's transition was directly from club volleyball to high school volleyball. One of the main challenges she faced was playing against older, more experienced girls. Despite the difficulty of digging balls hit by players up to four years her senior, this experience helped her improve her skills by practicing with highly skilled teammates.   Starting volleyball later than most, Rachel developed a strong work ethic to catch up with her peers. She takes weekly private lessons to enhance her reading, passing, and setting skills. She also challenges herself by participating in showcases, such as the Under Armour Next Camp at nationals, where she was named MVP for the class of 2028, and the PrepDig Northern California Freshman Showcase, where she was recognized as a top performer and leading libero. Her combination of defensive skills, playing confidence, and mental approach earned her a spot on St. Mary's High School Varsity Volleyball team.   Rachel understands the importance of time management to balance academics and athletics. St. Mary's provides a study hall after school on game days, which helps her maintain her 4.0 GPA. Her family has instilled the value that academics come first, and she receives strong support from her school's administrators and teachers.   With St. Mary's being the defending section champions, Rachel's goals for the season include helping the team become the best defensive unit in the league and winning the section title again. As a freshman, she aims to learn from the returning varsity players and consistently give her all to benefit the team. To stay healthy throughout the season, Rachel prioritizes body care and recovery, including weekly scraping and cryotherapy sessions and daily stretching routines.   In her own words, "Our varsity squad is filled with incredibly talented athletes. All of the girls on the team have been so welcoming and supportive. I am so fortunate to have the guidance of Bella Gutierrez, who is committed to play D1 volleyball at The University of Pacific. Her leadership, energy, and defensive skills are definitely something I want to emulate. I am also incredibly grateful to be on a team with [player_tooltip player_id='475609' first='McKenna' last='McIntosh']. She is a NDTP player and one of the best outsides in CA. Getting to play defense against her is the best training I could ever receive."   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>Michelle Bamford @ PrepDig</li> </ul>    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='516224' first='Ashlyn' last='Malone']</h2>    [player_tooltip player_id='516224' first='Ashlyn' last='Malone'] began playing volleyball four years ago, in sixth grade. From her first experience on the court, she knew she had a passion for the game. Motivated by the success of older players advancing to college, Ashlyn dedicated herself to improving her skills with the dream of achieving similar success.   Transitioning from middle school volleyball to high school varsity brought challenges, particularly as an underclassman needing to meet new people and integrate with older players. However, Ashlyn's loud and supportive presence on the court, along with her recognition of her underclassman status, has helped her secure a spot on the varsity team. She believes that being younger doesn't limit her capabilities compared to the older girls.   To balance academics and athletics, Ashlyn prioritizes her schoolwork, always putting it first. She ensures she completes her homework and studies for tests before heading to volleyball practice.   Her main goal for the high school season is to help her team win the section title and earn the coveted blue banner.   In her own words, "I would like to give a special shout out to [player_tooltip player_id='501118' first='Adriana' last='Dorn']. She has help me so much and made me feel so comfortable and like I belong on the team. I have looked up to Adriana for so long and finally getting to play with her is a dream come true!"   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>Michelle Bamford @ PrepDig</li> </ul>    <h2 class="wp-block-heading"></h2>   If you loved this article, make sure to follow our Instagram page, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/prepdigca/?hl=en">PrepDigCA</a> for exclusive content and behind-the-scenes action.   By subscribing to PrepDig, you're not just supporting coverage of your favorite events – you're also helping to shine a spotlight on talented prospects.   To see even more events and athletes featured, spread the word and encourage your friends to subscribe to <a href="https://prepdig.com/">PrepDig.com</a>.   Let's keep growing this positive player platform and create unforgettable memories and experiences together with your support.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Thank you for creating the journey!</h2>

In the highly competitive world of high school volleyball, making the varsity team as a freshman is no small feat. It takes a unique combination of skill, determination, and a strong work ethic to stand out among older, more experienced players. In this article series, we continue with six exceptional young athletes have done just that, earning their spots on the varsity roster and proving that they have what it takes to compete at the highest level. We begin by taking a closer look at the journeys and ambitions of Elle Howie Elle Howie 5'10" | RS Bonita | 2028 CA , Emily Barr Emily Barr 6'0" | MB/RS Frontier | 2028 CA , Ameira Hardin Ameira Hardin 5'9" | OH/RS Frontier | 2028 CA ,