Five Fantastic Floor Defenders Available In The Class Of ’26

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Want money off of your registration to our summer Stock Up Showcase? Use code KypDig2025 for a discount at checkout!</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We've come down to our last available category---the first contact queens that do all of the work and get very little of the publicity. Here are five DS's from five different clubs that can make a difference for their future teams because of the behind-the-scenes work they've been doing this whole club season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["503936"],"_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-6833ff3ea7cc9"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Boy, I was WAY off on this one. Miranda is a three-rotation defender for TI's top 17s team, and has come such a long way in such a short amount of time. Readily holding down the middle back position for her Dawgz, Miss Bledsoe is a quick-footed and calm-platformed defender that can easily be the libero on any other squad. She makes such an impact in the three rotations she's a part of that she's often part of a two-person serve receive (with the libero) when she's in. I like the relentless nature she plays with, her willingness to hit the floor when necessary, and always being around the ball in every coverage situation.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["778462"],"_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-6833ff3ea7db2"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">With length and a ton of long strides, Sierra is a solid, long and quick DS for the top 17s team at Academy. Already seeing a ton of high-end play this club season, her middle back play has really improved from the beginning of the season to now. She's also an ace when it comes to serve receive, and holds her platform well when served. I like her read and react abilities, as her long strides allow her to pursue a ball without having to hit the floor, thus making her available to cover the attack quickly.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["247782"],"_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-6833ff3ea7e70"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Mia is another three-rotation DS, this time in the right back. One of the harder spots to play because of the responsibility required, Mia plays for perennial state power HSE and, despite her size, uses every bit of her size to cover off-speed shots well, get to serve receive balls with ease and reads hitters better than most in this class. I like the minimalism that allows her to get the job done in as few steps as possible even though she's on the smaller side for a DS. She could play as a libero for a ton of other programs, but is more than holding her own on Circle's 17-1 and should show out well in Dallas in a few weeks.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["534556"],"_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-6833ff3ea7f2b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Already accustomed to wearing the libero jersey from the season before, Aubry is a highly coachable and active DS that can play any of the three DS spots at any time and in any situation. For a kid as small as she, Miss Dowling is more than capable of passing half the court when needed in serve receive, cover a ton of ground on off-speed and deep corner shots and be an all-around nuisance to opposing attackers that are used to seeing their shots hit the floor. The team she's on won the Hoosier Regional earlier this club season, so playing a high-end open-level schedule is not too tough for her in the least.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["495131"],"_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-6833ff3ea7fe5"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The libero for Munciana's 17 Blaze (read: 17-1), Emi is a serve receive queen whose relentless pursuit of perfection is her calling card. Off the chart smart in the classroom and easily one of the better serve receivers available, her calm and coachable demeanor will carry her far regardless of what school takes her. She can handle the hard-driven ball just as easily as a tough serve, and her active feet get her to every ball without having to hit the floor. Emily will make <em>someone</em> at the next level very happy for two reasons; (1) they've found their future libero, and (2) you won't have to recruit her position again for a few years.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->