Defensive Dynamos Vol 1

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Who is proving on the court that they are the best of the best in their position?  Some say that numbers do not lie and we have the numbers that are being reported by coaches across the state.  California is one of the best states in the nation when it comes to this wonderful sport and we are here to highlight all of our amazing players.  Let's meet a few of the players who are killing it on the court!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["484007"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66f21ecc689c4"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Jaedyn is currently an unranked prospect in the 2025 class according to our Prep Dig California State Rankings, but is on our official Watch List.  There is no doubt in my mind that she will be ranked once I update the list in a few weeks. She stars in the back row for Orange Lutheran High School and plays club for the Balboa Bay volleyball program.  Miss Houston just recently committed to play volleyball at the next level for Long Beach State University and will help shore up their ball control the moment she steps on campus.  Recently this season, she broke the thousand dig mark for her high school career and she is not done yet.  Her ability to soften contact with her platform and keep the ball on her team's side is uncanny.  This young lady can flat out dig the ball with the best in the nation.  When you watch her play, you see a libero who is in total control of her role on her team and body while playing.  I am not sure why opposing attackers even try to hit to her direction as she is a genius in the back row.  There are no weaknesses in her defensive game at all.  In my opinion, she is the prototypical perfect libero. The way she reads the hitter well before they contact the ball and the way she uses every ounce of her body to keep the ball in play are unparalleled.  If you have not seen her do her thing in the back row, I strongly suggest you watch her.  If you have a younger player who wants to emulate someone, I strongly encourage her name to be at the top of your list. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["482033"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66f21ecc68a67"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Mckenna is currently an unranked prospect in the 2026 class according to our Prep Dig California State Rankings, but is on our official Watch List.  She plays at Centennial High School and also plays for the Pipeline volleyball club.  Miss Giles is very well known by us at Prep Dig as she has shined very bright during our showcases that she has attended.  Her relentless pursuit and overall ball control that she showed our scouts this summer has not stopped this school season.  She has helped her team be one of the best in the state with her defense.  Currently she has amassed 289 digs and 280 service receptions.  There is no doubt in my mind that she deserves a lot of looks by college scouts just based on her production alone.  This young lady must have ball magnets in her arms because the ball always seems to find her in almost every rally.  It doesn't matter if it is a hard driven ball or a deflection off of the block, the chances are that Mckenna will make a very athletic move to the ball and keep it in play for her squad.  One thing that really helps her pursuit is how she stays on the balls of her feet when the ball is contacted.  Her weight is always going forward and it really allows her to push off toward the ball.  Unlike a lot of other defenders who plant their heels into the ground at the point of contact by the attacker, she is able to take a very quick first step toward the ball if need be to sprawl out and get a touch.  She has done everything she can in order to make the state rankings in our next update and I cannot wait to see if she makes the cut.  Stay tuned to see!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Ariminty Yu","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2028","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'3u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"32926","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"San Marino","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"San Gabriel","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66f21ecc68b4a"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Ariminty is currently an unranked prospect in the 2028 class according to our Prep Dig California State Rankings, but that is only because we have not released them yet.  She plays for San Marino High School and plays club for the San Gabriel volleyball club program.  Miss Yu has really burst onto the scene in only her freshman season.  She is currently leading THE ENTIRE STATE in digs.  This includes every grad class.  In only 51 sets played, she has tallied 413 digs.  If she continues on her 8.1 digs per set or 22.9 digs per match this season, she could be on target to break some school and state records at some point in her high school career.  Her focus is perfectly reading the setter to put herself in the best position to play the ball.  She knows her role very well and understands her team's pursuit rules.  When hard driven balls come her way, they are no problem for her soft touch on the ball.  I love how she absorbs the contact with her platform and creates a solid angle right to her setter.  So far this season, she has proven that she belongs in the conversation for defensive player of the year in her conference.  If not, then at least she should be considered for newcomer of the year.  She has our vote for sure!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->