Junior DS/L Stock-Risers at Dallas Top 250 Expo

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Defensive specialists are vital to any team's opportunities for success. They are the stability, the confidence, and the glue for most teams. They are counted on to make amazing plays to stop the opponents from scoring and nullifying the efforts of their team. Let's look at some of the individual star players from the expo.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":726173,"width":"186px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none","align":"left"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/11/IMG_5554-crop-2250x1478-1733019038.png?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-726173" style="width:186px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='466335' first='Cloey' last='Petty'], DS/L from Bangs HS, class of 2026.</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='466335' first='Cloey' last='Petty']</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Petty is a 5'2" defensive specialist from Bangs High School. Petty is a good all-around player. She has great skills and can hit from the back row, serve, or dig with ease. She has a great platform and is a useful asset to her team because of her versatility. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Darion Rankins</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rankins is a 5'2" DS/L from Harlan High School. Rankins is good with out-of-system plays and can do whatever skill is required of her to move the ball. She can set well, hit from the back row if needed, and has a killer serve that drops at the end making the other team's defense have to jump to get to the ball. She has a high volleyball IQ and knows where to be at all times on the court. Because of this skill, she can dig up more balls than others might expect. She is a very versatile athlete.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":726208,"width":"214px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none","align":"right"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/11/IMG_5555-crop-2250x1478-1733024001-crop-640x421-1733024072.png?w=639" alt="" class="wp-image-726208" style="width:214px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Shiloh Cassady, DS/L from The Colony High School, class of 2026.</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Shiloh Cassady</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cassady is a 5'3" defensive specialist from The Colony High School. Cassady has great control of the ball and an amazing platform. She looks like she has honed her skills and is an intelligent athlete on the court. She is anticipatory and whatever is coming at her, she can handle.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Mia Garcia </h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Garcia is a 5'6" defensive specialist from Holy Cross of San Antonio High School. Garcia is a solid top performer with a great platform, she is a solid server and is very consistent. She is a verbal athlete, coordinating on the floor when needed, and is under the ball before you notice her moving. She is a great defensive specialist.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":726169,"width":"151px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"thumbnail","linkDestination":"none","align":"right"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-thumbnail is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/11/IMG_5553-crop-2189x1438-1733018496.png?w=150&amp;h=150&amp;crop=1" alt="" class="wp-image-726169" style="width:151px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Skylar Leonard, DS/L from Frisco Heritage High School, class of 2026.</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Skylar Leonard</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Leonard is a 5'5" DS/L from Frisco Heritage High School. Leonard is great at taking speed off of the ball in serve/receive, putting speed on the ball in her serves, and anticipating where she is needed to get the ball from hitting the floor and giving it to her setter. She is a powerful player and very agile in her movements on the court. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='726184' first='Kat' last='Matthis']</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Matthis is a 5'4" DS/L from Premier High School. Matthis is a very dependable player on the court. If she is near the ball she is getting it to her setter and doing whatever is needed to get the ball away from the ground. She has athletic, quick feet and is always moving to the ball with speed. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->