Meet My Favorite Indiana Team from Round 2 of MEPL

The best teams are not always the ones with the most wins and least losses, at least not in my book. There is nothing more enjoyable when you are a fan of club volleyball than watching a team that works hard no matter the circumstances, loves seeing one another succeed, never gives up on the match and continually encourages one another to play their best. When I watched the Munciana 16 Giraffes compete against Metro VBC 16 Black, those qualities were exactly what I saw displayed in the Giraffes all match. And even though they didn't pull out the win (lost in 3; 25-12, 22-25, 14-16), I enjoyed every moment of watching them compete. Let's take a moment to highlight the young ladies who really caught my eye during their three-set battle with Metro VBC.    Addison was the real standout for me on this Giraffes squad, playing all six rotations well and swinging effectively on the outside. She is listed as a setter everywhere, but she is one heck of an OH and the absolute go-to player of this team. Pierce has a solid pass to attack game, where she passes well from both sides of the court and swings away hard at the block. On defense, Addison is just as good if not better; she reads hitters really well and is able to pick up off speeds without hitting the floor. Lastly, Pierce sets really well when needed which is no surprise seeing as she is a setter too. I am really amazed at how well this young lady plays all facets of the game - she can pass, hit, set and play defense at a high level - most players her age does one or two skills well and that's it; Addison does it all.     Gerig runs the show in the backrow from her middle back position and isn't afraid to take control of both serve receive and defense - a must have quality in a good libero. I love the way she doesn't just settle for getting the ball up, but rather works to dig hard driven balls TO TARGET every time, even if she has to hit the floor. Naomi takes most of the court on serve receive and does it well, leading the opposing team to try and avoid her on the serve, causing service errors or lollipop serves. She always covers and is actually ready when she does, plus her serve is tough even when the match is on the line. Gerig is your classic, hard-nosed, well trained Munciana libero that everyone loves to play with and watch.     For some of the match the Giraffes ran a 6-2, but in the end, they went with Whitenack and the 5-1. I'm not sure of Lyndi's height, but she certainly plays "tall," especially for a setter, putting up a big block and playing with a lot of confidence. She moves the ball around really well and runs a balanced, quick attack in the middle and to the pins. Whitenack is also very disciplined on defense and gets to the net quick when she doesn't play the ball - another reason she can run a faster offense than most setters her age. One of my favorite plays that Lyndi ran was when she set the middles on a post route (one foot attack in front of the setter), which is not a set you see often at this level, and it was very effective every time.     George is a great counterpart to Pierce on the outside, allowing the Giraffes to have a solid, strong swing in the front row at all times. One of the best shots that I saw her take was a deep corner line shot that she could hit with precision. I would love to see her keep hitting that shot until the opposing defense picks it up or they have to shift their defense (causing something else will open up). Taylor is a solid passer and can swing-to-attack when need be, allowing her to get that big approach that gives her the ability to jump high and swing over the block. Lastly, she has an innate knack to know when to tip - she doesn't overuse it but rather sprinkles it in at the most opportune times.     Comer was a solid DS who came in for George in the back row when I watched the Giraffes play. She played left back and was always dialed in and moving, never missing a chance to cover her hitters or dive into the seam of the block to dig a hard driven ball from the OH. Beth has great energy on the court, celebrating the success of others well and constantly communicating during breaks in play. Lastly, she takes care of the "easy" balls well and never wastes them, setting her team up for guaranteed success on free ball and down ball swing plays. Comer is the type of selfless player that really makes a team like this competitive and fun to watch.    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Other Notable Players</h2>   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='608966' first='Marley' last='Fraszier'] and Isabella Richards, MBs, Class of 2027: Both middles were hard workers at the net, especially when blocking. Most notable was how well they both communicated before the play about opposing hitters and the setter. Look for them to be more offensive if they can work on staying off the net when hitting, especially in transition.</li> </ul>   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>Raleigh Doerstler, OPP, Class of 2027: Raleigh is really good at setting the block up on the right side and not drifting, making it easier for the middles to close and have a solid block. She swings hard and isn't afraid to go for it every time when attacking. If she can work in some off-speed attacks and stay off the net so she can see the block better, I look for her to become an important offensive weapon.</li> </ul>   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li></li> </ul>   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">If you loved this article, please follow our Instagram page, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/abovethenetvolleyball">Prep Dig IN | Above The Net Volleyball</a> for exclusive content and behind-the-scenes action.</h3>   After following our page, take the next step and subscribe to PrepDig! By subscribing, you'll not only stay connected to the latest coverage of your favorite events, but you'll also be helping to shine a spotlight on rising volleyball talent.   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The best teams are not always the ones with the most wins and least losses, at least not in my book. There is nothing more enjoyable when you are a fan of club volleyball than watching a team that works hard no matter the circumstances, loves seeing one another succeed, never gives up on the match and continually encourages one another to play their best. When I watched the Munciana 16 Giraffes compete against Metro VBC 16 Black, those qualities were exactly what I saw displayed in the Giraffes all match. And even though they didn't pull out the win (lost in 3; 25-12, 22-25, 14-16), I enjoyed every moment of watching them compete. Let's take a moment to highlight the young ladies who really caught my eye during their three-set battle with Metro VBC.