2024/25 All-State Awardees: Small East Talents

The Oklahoma Coaches Association announced All-State awardees in mid-October. As the athletes prepare for their respective club season and look forward to the All-State game in July, let's look at the Small East Talents for the competitive match ahead.    [player_tooltip player_id='212413' first='Mary' last='Goodwin'] is a speed and accuracy setter. She is athletic and isn't afraid to go for the chaos balls and make in-system plays. She is comfortable with one-hand setting when the ball gets tight and sets her attackers up well for kills. Mary succeeds in both a 6-2 and 5-1 helping widen her profile. She is active on defense in the back row, always remembering to dig first before she releases. She is also active at the net when she rotates forward. She is unafraid to dump and score, especially when her team needs a quick side-out. She hides her dumps well making them tricky for the defense to read. She also consistently blocks at the net, rounding out her all-around power as a player. As a setter, Mary comes in with a lot of leadership and it will be fun to see how she leads the Small East team come July.     [player_tooltip player_id='297070' first='Olivia' last='Tucker'] is a dynamic attacker who can play MB, RS, and OH. Featuring on the outside for her high school team, Olivia led her team with big kills and consistent serve receive. She runs a 2 out of middle back serve receive which was lethal during HS play. Olivia is tall with a high reach and an athletic arm. She swings hard and on top of the ball allowing her to generate power and accuracy in her attacks. Olivia is skilled at reading the game and making quick adjustments, making her a valuable asset in both offensive and defensive plays. Her leadership and competitive spirit set her apart and make her a must-watch this year in both club ball and All-State debuts!     Elyse White is a defensive specialist and libero known for her quick reflexes and exceptional court coverage. She consistently delivers precise passes to her setters allowing her team to operate in-system more than not. She has a unique ability to read hitters and get under tough balls. She moves inwards on serve receive, taking up a lot of court and allowing her hitters to move out for their approaches. A word to sum Elyse up would be relentless. She is scrappy and quick and does all the "dirty work" to set her team up for success. Elyse's hustle and leadership energize her teammates, creating a cohesive and resilient back row. She will make a great All-State Small East libero!     Francesca Rollandini is a talented setter with quick decision-making and precise location skills. She has a natural athleticism and ability to distribute the ball effectively, running a strategic offense that keeps opposing teams guessing. What stood out to me about Rollandini was her tricky setting which confuses blockers and creates 1-on-1s for her hitters. Her ability to hide where she is setting is a key asset to what makes her a top OK setter. Francesca's clean hands and excellent court vision enable her to deliver consistent sets, whether in system or on the run. As a leader on the court, she keeps the flow of the game steady and energizes her teammates with communication and competitive drive. This All-State team has a couple of great setters and it will be exciting to see the offenses they decide to run in July.     Ellen Jenkins is a dominant middle blocker who stands out for her athleticism and power at the net. She is a standout in both offense and defense. Ellen reads setters well and uses her quickness to line up with opposing middles well and put up a large block. When she blocks, she blocks hard, shutting down attackers and generating momentum for her team. On the offensive side, her explosive approach helps her in a variety of attacks. She runs a nasty 3 that confuses blockers and makes her a consistent scoring threat. Ellen will be a huge force at the net during the All-State game and is set to take control of the net come July.    We look forward to the All-State game in July, it's gonna be a good one! If you have anyone we should keep an eye out for, please e-mail me at abisnailjoy@gmail.com. To help these athletes get exposure, please repost and share this article on your social media and with family and friends.

The Oklahoma Coaches Association announced All-State awardees in mid-October. As the athletes prepare for their respective club season and look forward to the All-State game in July, let's look at the Small East Talents for the competitive match ahead.