Rising 17’s: Redlands Recap

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Redland Rendezvous may be over, but the excitement from the 17s division still lingers. The 17s division was competitive and left me in awe of the Oklahoma talent we have. With each set, these athletes proved they are ready for the next step in their volleyball journey to the collegiate level. As the tournament wraps up, here's a look at the talent that made a lasting impression on me.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":739601,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='741339' first='Natalia' last='Ham']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'1u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"32926","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Edmond North High School","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"[program_tooltip program_id='505790' first='Oklahoma' last='Peak Performance'] 17-2","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6779ad3b12246"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='741339' first='Natalia' last='Ham']</strong> displayed great technical skill this weekend at the Libero position for her team. When watching her, you can't help but notice her out-of-system setting skills and how clean her hands are. She is a fast libero, which helps her most obviously on defense but also gives her the ability to get under second balls quickly in hopes of keeping the pace of the game fast for her hitters. On serve-receive, Natalia uses her quick footwork to move well forward, backward, and side to side. This attention to footwork allows Natalia to keep the ball outside her body and angle her pass to the target. As a libero, she showed great leadership skills with her positive attitude and enjoyment of the sport. To round her out as a player and leader, she goes the extra mile to cover her hitters and communicates well with her teammates. Great job this weekend Natalia! We look forward to watching you grow as a player in the tournaments to come. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":739600,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='741331' first='Anna' last='Spurlock']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'11u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"32924","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Mount St Mary","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Oklahoma Charge Volleyball Club 17 National","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6779ad3b1234c"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='741331' first='Anna' last='Spurlock']</strong> was all business this weekend in the middle. She utilized her high reach and lengthy stature to put up big blocks that were seemingly impossible to get around. When swinging, Anna was using every last inch of power to get through opposing blocks, not afraid of tooling off their hands. Anna was most effective on a 1 this weekend, getting up early and having her choice of power or cutback. Anna was also a great leader on the court, communicating with her pin blockers about calls and plays to ensure everyone was on the same page. Anna was intense, focused, and locked in during every aspect of the game this weekend and is someone to watch come the rest of the season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["285744"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":739598,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6779bd9400f45"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='285744' first='Alia' last='DeBerry']</strong> was a force on the outside this weekend. She was excellent when pulled back for serve receive, staying calm and remembering to pass before transitioning out to approach. She hit a wide variety of shots, including sharp cross and deep line over the blockers. She had an amazing low-to-the-tape float serve this weekend that caught passes off guard and standing up. Alia also had impressive court awareness, consistently finding open spots to place the ball and keeping defenders on their heels. Her energy and focus were contagious and it was a pleasure to scout her this weekend. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":739597,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='746709' first='Alyssa' last='Taff']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'5u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"32925","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Sand Springs","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Virago 17-1","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6779bd9400ffd"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='746709' first='Alyssa' last='Taff']</strong> showed great versatility this weekend on the right side. She was bouncy and athletic all weekend, keeping the pace of the game fast for her and her teammates. She pulls out a wrist-down shot to get on top of the ball and cut it short and sharp cross. Alyssa whips the ball with power, using a snappy wrist and a high vertical. As an older player, she was communicative and led her team by example. Staying focused during every play, Alyssa was one of the best on the court this weekend. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":739596,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Liza Griffin","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'10u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"32924","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Cascia Hall","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Tulsa Power Volleyball 17-2","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6779bd9401089"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700"><strong>Liza Griffin</strong> showed us what a solid middle blocker is supposed to look like. Defensively, she was quick on the block, getting up early and pressing over so attackers had limited options. Her footwork is fast out to her pin hitters when blocking, making it easy to close and shut teams down. Offensively, Liza was effective on the 1, choosing to swing either cutback or power depending on the opposing team's defensive setup. Similar to her teammates, Liza had one of the best attitudes this weekend. We watched as her coach addressed her and she took it all with a smile and a "Yes Maam". She is coachable, positive, and has fun on the court. I am excited to see what Liza and TPV 17-2 can do this season, with such a stacked line up.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Stay tuned for more articles on Oklahoma's finest volleyballers! If you have anyone you think we should watch, 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.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->