The FAB FIVE: Players I Could Not Stop Watching at Nationals

Remember the last time you were in a facility with multiple courts of volleyball, you're wandering around and all of a sudden BAM...you can't keep your eyes off of one specific player? Whether it's because of their skill, their raw athletic ability or the energy they bring to the floor, some players just demand your attention. These five young ladies did just that at the NCHV Championships this past weekend - they got my attention with their incredible volleyball talent and then kept it with their contagious energy and fierce competitive spirit.    Abby first caught my eye during warmups, where she was consistently hitting on the outside with both pace and precision. Standing at 5'8" she is an awesome leaper for sure and had probably the best line shot of any outside I watched all weekend. But what kept me watching Willingham was her energy and the way she encouraged and uplifted her teammates. She celebrated every point as if it truly mattered and that is also how she plays. In the backrow she is DIALED IN, always focused and unwilling to let the ball drop to the floor. Abby swings really well in the back row too, hardly making errors, but often getting kills. She is the epitome of a must have 6 rotation OH; any coach would be grateful for this kid to show up in their gym! The icing on the cake with Willingham? Her respectful and kind character that I was able to witness firsthand (see Melody Coleman below).     Melody was at the top of my list for front row players due to her jumping ability, strength, insane block touch and joy she exuded while playing. You can imagine my surprise when I asked her how old she was, and she told me 15! This sophomore (class of 27) is easily going to be a high level D1 recruit over the next year or so, especially considering she plays at a great club in [program_tooltip program_id='510661' first='Houston' last='Skyline']. Coleman can regularly BOUNCE balls, hardly ever got blocked and puts up her own huge block on the right side - basically everything you want in an OPP, all wrapped up in a strong, yet joyful package. My favorite thing about Melody? Just like her teammate Abby (see above), it was her respectful manner. When I chatted with them both, they smiled the whole time, looked me in the eye and always said, "yes ma'am."     Ruby was the clear physical leader of her national championship runner up OKC Storm team. They would set her in most high-pressure situations, whether she was in the front or back row. And for good reason. Farris can hit any shot on the court, with an absolutely deadly sharp cut shot and a highly effective backrow attack. She attacks the ball with a ton of pace and was easily one of the hardest hitters I saw all weekend, along with Coleman (above) and Cannon (below). One thing that struck me was her efficiency for an OH; Ruby was set A LOT and rarely made errors, but often put the ball away - exactly what you want from your go-to player. I love how fearlessly she played, never seeming to worry about a big block in front of her, but rather swinging away, even on match point. Farris is the kind of player you want at the end of the match when everything is on the line because she is going to fearlessly and ferociously go for it!     Devlin was the standout libero of the tournament for me for a few reasons. First, she had such a calm, yet confident demeanor. Sophia seemed in control of her emotions at all times, no matter what the score; you could tell she is a rock for this OKC Storm team. Her serve receive was excellent no matter what zone/position she was passing from, and I never saw her miss an opportunity to cover for her hitters. Devlin was a beast at both picking up tips and digging hard driven balls and literally NEVER QUIT on a play, even if it meant running full force toward the bench or bleachers. I think it is a gift when you come across a libero who has that knack for bringing both energy and calm confidence to the court and Sophia has IT.     Loseli is a powerful 6 rotation outside hitter who has a very mature knack for finding the tiniest of seams and holes in the block - a skill you usually don't see develop until later in a player's career. If you give her even the tiniest sliver of line she is going to hit it and make you pay, but if you take the line completely, she can hit a cut shot with a lot of pace and make you pay that way too. Cannon's ability to hit every shot on the outside (including tooling/high hands) really makes it difficult and frustrating for the opposing defense. She passes calmly and efficiently and always looks ready to hit out of the back row. Lastly, as an off blocker, she actually plays defense and can use her hands or her platform well. Again, off blocker defense is a skill that a lot of players her age have not developed yet or slack on, but Loseli is not your average player...she is a standout who makes you take notice.    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">If you loved this article, please follow our <a href="https://www.instagram.com/abovethenetvolleyball">Instagram</a> page for exclusive content and behind-the-scenes action.</h2>   After following our page, take the next step and subscribe to PrepDig! By subscribing, you'll not only stay connected to the latest coverage of your favorite events, but you'll also be helping to shine a spotlight on rising volleyball talent.   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Remember the last time you were in a facility with multiple courts of volleyball, you're wandering around and all of a sudden BAM...you can't keep your eyes off of one specific player? Whether it's because of their skill, their raw athletic ability or the energy they bring to the floor, some players just demand your attention. These five young ladies did just that at the NCHV Championships this past weekend - they got my attention with their incredible volleyball talent and then kept it with their contagious energy and fierce competitive spirit.