Illinois Top 250 Showcase: Upper Class Hot Hitters

<p>Good hitters have high confidence and believe they can make the play. These upper-class athletes are very well-trained and can score easily on the court. They call for the ball, can block at the net, or dig up the ball, and they can set other hitters with ease because they know what they need as a hitter. Each of the hitters from the expo is special in their own way and possesses many of these traits. Let's look at each of them and see what makes them unique.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='533521' first='Abbey' last=''] Garcia</h2>   <p>Garcia is a 5'9" outside hitter from Deerfield High School's senior class. Garcia's biggest strength on the court was her speed and understanding of the game. She knows what her team needs from her and is able to provide it without issue She has great hands and is anticipatory of the ball's movements. She knows where it is going before it happens and reacts quickly, getting to the ball before it hits the ground. Natural athletes like Garcia are great for any team looking to score.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/12/6-Jada-Clark-crop-2455x1612-1735358815.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-736893" style="width:227px;height:auto"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='546321' first='Jada' last='Clark'], outside hitter from Merrillville HS, class of 2026.</figcaption></figure>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='546321' first='Jada' last='Clark']</h2>   <p>Clark is a 5'7" outside hitter from Merrillville High School's junior class in Indiana. Clark has an awesome vertical and knows how to play off a block put up by a 6'2" right-side hitter across the net. She got her several times with a touch hitting high off her blocks. She tooled around her block by being patient and knowing when to hit. She has a high volleyball IQ and was impressive at the showcase.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/12/7-Amber-Czerniak-crop-2112x1387-1735358975.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-736896" style="width:223px;height:auto"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='491008' first='Amber' last='Czerniak'], outside hitter from St. Charles North HS, class of 2206.</figcaption></figure>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='491008' first='Amber' last='Czerniak']</h2>   <p>Czerniak is a 5'9" junior outside hitter from St. Charles North High School. Czerniak is a high-flying hitter with a nasty swing and great accuracy. She can put the ball down on the back line or cross-court and it comes really hard when she swings. She can also be tricky at the net and surprise opponents by putting it down at impossible angles to defend. She is smart around a block and hangs when she hits.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/12/8-Aubrey-Fair-crop-2263x1486-1735359162.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-736899" style="width:242px;height:auto"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='709285' first='Aubrey' last='Fair'], outside hitter from Bloomington Central Catholic, class of 2026.</figcaption></figure>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='709285' first='Aubrey' last='Fair']</h2>   <p>Fair is a 5'11" junior outside hitter from Bloomington Central Catholic High School. Fair is fast with a powerful swing and is willing to play any part to make her team successful. She shares the ball well with other hitters on her team and moves it around to whichever hitter has an advantage on the court. She has speed, agility, and quickness in spades and is an asset on the court.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='627459' first='Kotryna' last='Melstrad']</h2>   <p>Melstrad is a 5'11" outside hitter from Hinsdale South High School, class of 2026. Melstrad is a hard-hitting and tough-playing athlete. She has a great platform, a good vertical, and a nasty swing that will land you on your backside when trying to receive what she has hit. She is quick on her feet and good at handling and controlling out-of-system balls.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/12/23-Laci-Smith-crop-2484x1631-1735358203.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-736889" style="width:223px;height:auto"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='329956' first='Laci' last='Smith'], outside hitter from Wauconda HS, class of 2026.</figcaption></figure>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='329956' first='Laci' last='Smith']</h2>   <p>Smith is a 5'8" outside hitter from Wauconda High School, class of 2026. Smith is good at dealing with out-of-system balls and makes plays that gain points with them. She is athletic and has a great vertical. She gets on top of the ball and brings it down hard. She has great reflexes and makes an impact on the court.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/08/11-Cassandra-Verley-crop-940x617-1735359349.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-736901" style="width:254px;height:auto"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='489943' first='Cassandra' last='D Verley'], an outside hitter from SEHS Dual Credit - ECC, class of 2026.</figcaption></figure>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='489943' first='Cassandra' last='D Verley']</h2>   <p>Verley is a 5'10" junior outside hitter from SEHS Dual Credit - ECC. When she gets a good set she can climb on top of the ball and injure a back-row defender with the strength of her swing. She has a great platform, an intense vertical, and is always ready to make a play at the net. She is a good blocker and has a great serve.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/12/29-Olivia-Ziemer-crop-2332x1531-1735359498.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-736903" style="width:264px;height:auto"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='324012' first='Olivia' last='Ziemer'], an outside hitter from Normal West HS, class of 2026.</figcaption></figure>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='324012' first='Olivia' last='Ziemer']</h2>   <p>Ziemer is a 5'11" junior outside hitter from Normal West High School. Ziemer is fast and athletic with a great vertical. She was all over the court covering everywhere during scrimmages at the expo and was good at handling the ball to set other hitters or to smack the ball into defenders on the other side of the net. Her speed, agility, and high volleyball IQ were an integral part of her team's ability to be successful.</p>

Good hitters have high confidence and believe they can make the play. These upper-class athletes are very well-trained and can score easily on the court. They call for the ball, can block at the net, or dig up the ball, and they can set other hitters with ease because they know what they need as a hitter. Each of the hitters from the expo is special in their own way and possesses many of these traits. Let's look at each of them and see what makes them unique.