Top Five Defenders On State Final Saturday

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Use code KypExpo2024 for savings off of your registration to our Top 250 Expo December 7!</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>To wrap up our positional Top Fives from championship Saturday, we talk about the kids with the first contact. Some have already either signed or are committed to play at the next level, while the other three REALLY showed out and are ready to earn that commitment. Here are five defenders from five different teams in all four classes.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">#5: Alex Davidson, Brownstown Central ('27)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Braves ran into their second straight buzzsaw in Worthen Arena, earning runner-up honors both years. That is NOT a fault of BC, but of how exceptional play can be at the highest level. The ladies from Brownstown are known for their ability to excel at ball control and run their system perfectly because of that ball control. In order for that to happen, you need to have a stable of passers that can (1) limit errors, and (2) shut out the noise and play ball. Miss Davidson saw time in all six sets in both the '23 final and this year's final, all while never donning the libero jersey. In this year's final, Alex finished with 10 serves without a service error and 15 serve receptions without being aced. That means she was targeted by Western Boone and never flinched. That's a lot to ask for a sophomore three-rotation DS, but on the biggest stage, Alex showed up. She played in every set this past season, has already earned two runner-up medals, and is my odds-on favorite to wear the special jersey next fall for BC. Is she flashy? No. But to be on the biggest stage, making ZERO service or reception errors in either final says something about her character and work ethic, and that stuff cannot be taught.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">#4: Olivia Smith, Western Boone ('25)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Speaking of WeBo, Miss Smith was the libero for the Stars' first state title, and was CLEARLY the target of Brownstown Central's serves and attacks. Yes, she got aced....ONCE. But on the biggest stage, 26 receptions (1 error) and a match-high 15 digs to go along with a couple of assists and three aces? That's a thick stat line for ANY libero. This is the starting libero coaches dream of anchoring their defense with, and she's been that girl for two seasons. No, it doesn't come with flash or look-at-me vibes, she just gets the job done. Unsung and unheralded, Olivia earns attention from me, and I'd be lucky to have her on my team. It is a CRIME that this young lady didn't receive All-State or, at the very least, All-District honors.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">#3: [player_tooltip player_id='413233' first='Reagan' last='Turk'], Roncalli (West Virginia, '26)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>From DS High School.....oops, I mean state champ Roncalli, Reagan continues to do her job, be in charge vocally and physically on the floor, and make few (if any) errors. A First Team All-State honoree, Miss Turk is a Big 12 libero, ready to play big time ball NOW, even though she has two club seasons and another chance at a state title next fall. 12 digs and 13 receptions without an error are standard numbers for her, and she makes the position look so fluid and "easy". FYI: it isn't.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">#2: [player_tooltip player_id='378035' first='Laura' last='Roeder'], Trinity Lutheran (IU Indianapolis, '25)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Coach Kroger got an absolute STEAL of a player when Laura committed last spring, and I'm not wrong. A First Team All-State honoree, Laura has been THE libero for the Cougars for some time now, and is used to not only the spotlight, but the work it takes to be the best at her craft, whether it's in the classroom or within the 900 square feet she might call a second home. She was also the Mental Attitude award winner at the 1A final, earned by kids who do a ton outside of volleyball as well as excel within the sport itself. With IU Indy on the cusp of making the Horizon League conference tournament for the first time in forever, the addition of Miss Roeder makes them better in a hurry.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">#1: [player_tooltip player_id='562298' first='Cala' last='Haffner'], Carroll ('28)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>POV: you're a freshman and the libero for a team that's trying to win their first state title in volleyball. What do you do? Oh, no big deal, just produce 10 digs, 6 assists and receive 24 serves without erring against the perennial blue-blood known as Yorktown in a gym that felt like an away game. This is stuff of legend, and how great players become BIG TIME. Yes, there are a ton of talented kids around you on your team, but YOU'RE wearing the special jersey. Cala didn't flinch, and as the match wore on, you could tell that Yorktown's game plan wasn't working. Miss Haffner seemingly improved as the title match got late. I would have done the same thing as coach---serve the freshman, hit attacks at the setter to get them out of system. But to produce at a high level and win a state title? Sheesh. Well done, young lady.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->