NLQ: Dominant Defenders Who Made an Impact:

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Northern Lights Qualifier is one of the most competitive volleyball tournaments in the country, showcasing elite talent from across the Country. It is easy for huge swings and powerful blocks to steal the spotlight, however through watching the competitive 17s division this weekend, I think that everyone watching was reminded that great volleyball starts with a solid backcourt! Here are a few defensive standouts that made an impact for their teams this weekend:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["249652"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","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-679fc90946441"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Emy's court was the first I watched this weekend, and she immediately set the bar high. Her confidence is contagious, elevating her entire team and making her a natural leader on the court. I was especially impressed with her ability to consistently deliver perfect out-of-system sets to her pins. On top of that, she has a wickedly aggressive serve that often puts opponents out of system. Miller is definitely a player to keep an eye on—I was incredibly impressed with her performance!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["504466"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","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-679fc909464ab"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Hailey is the kind of teammate you can trust completely. She is remarkably consistent and composed in serve receive, making it look effortless. Her scrappiness and quickness allow her to cover an incredible amount of court. I was especially impressed by her ability to read hitters on the other side of the net—she always seemed one step ahead, never caught off guard no matter what type of shot came her way!</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":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Lily Lemieux","_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":"null","_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":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"ACE Elite VBC","_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-679fc90946547"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Lily is a relentless competitor who never lets up on any ball that comes her way. Her energy is infectious, and her ability to cover her hitters off the block is outstanding. She made some incredibly hard-driven balls look effortless to pick up. I'm excited to see what the rest of this club season holds for Lily—I can already tell her future is bright!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":[521583],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","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-679fc90946597"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Lydia was an exciting player to watch compete this weekend. She consistently stepped up in big moments, showing no fear and encouraging her teammates along the way. Her court awareness was outstanding—she always seemed to be in the right place at the right time, making tough digs look effortless. In serve receive, she was a reliable leader in the backcourt, delivering consistent, high-quality passes to her setters. Lydia was a key factor in her team's success this weekend!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["211208"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","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-679fc909465fb"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Alaina is a player who leaves it all on the court for her team. Her speed and agility, combined with her height, allow her to chase down balls that seem nearly impossible to reach. I really admire her energy—she brings so much fire to every point and keeps her teammates hyped up. What stood out to me the most was her exceptional block coverage. I was amazed by how she could fully lay out for a dig and then, almost instantly, be across the court covering for her teammates. She's definitely a player to keep an eye on for the rest of this club season!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["733081"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","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-679fc90946640"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">I had the privilege of watching Kaitlyn compete at the Minnesota Top 250 Expo, and after seeing her in live gameplay this weekend, I'm just as impressed! She consistently makes big plays for her team—whether it's laying out for a dig, stepping in to take the second ball, or going on a run behind the service line. Her communication with her teammates is outstanding, and her relentless energy sets her apart. I'm looking forward to the next time I get to watch her compete!<br><br><br><br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->