Power Pins, Outside and Right Side Attackers: Sophomore ID Camp

At the Sophomore ID Camp, the pin hitters brought the fire. Whether they were crushing cross-court kills, tooling the block, or handling tough serves in six-rotation systems, these athletes made their presence known. The Outside and Right Side positions demand versatility, resilience, and grit. They're the go-to hitters when the play breaks down, the players who swing fearlessly, chase balls out of bounds, and bring both power and poise under pressure.   To get a better sense of how these athletes think, lead, and compete, I asked them to share more about their role, their mindset, and how they elevate the team around them.      💪🏽 What's something specific you've been working to add to your game this season, and why? This season I've been working on increasing my vertical with extra agility training. I've also focused on improving my block timing and making smarter hitting choices based on how the defense is positioned.   💡 How would you describe your role on the court, and what do you do to elevate the players around you? As an opposite hitter, I bring focus, energy, and consistency to every match. I take pride in making smart attacking decisions, shutting down key hitters with effective blocks, and being reliable in coverage. I try to be a dependable presence that helps drive momentum and support my team from every angle.   🧠 In high-pressure moments, what's your mindset and how do you stay composed? When the pressure is on, I remind myself to stay calm and locked in. I bring positive energy into the huddle and tell my teammates, “We got this!” That encouragement helps keep us united and focused on the next point.   🌟 Off the court, how would your coaches and teammates describe you, and what personal qualities do you bring to a team culture? My teammates and coaches would describe me as positive, inclusive, and fun to be around. I work hard to lift people up, bring good energy, and help create a supportive team culture where everyone feels encouraged.   💥 What's a fun fact about you that you'd want college coaches to know? I'm the oldest of three sisters. One of them is my twin who competes in gymnastics, and the youngest is following in my footsteps and plays volleyball too!   ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247     💪🏽 What's something specific you've been working to add to your game this season, and why? This season, I've been working on leadership and consistency. That means being loud on the court, encouraging my teammates, and showing up every day with the same focus and mental toughness. I know strong teams need steady leaders, especially in tough moments, and I want to be that person for my team.   💡 How would you describe your role on the court, and what do you do to elevate the players around you? On the court, I see myself as both a competitor and a teammate. I focus on consistency and bring energy through constant communication and encouragement. I hold myself and my teammates accountable, and I work to create a positive environment where everyone feels confident and connected so we can play as one unit.   🧠 In high-pressure moments, what's your mindset and how do you stay composed? When the pressure rises, I focus on what I can control—my attitude, effort, and energy. I take a deep breath, trust myself, and stay calm. I keep the team energy steady by staying grounded in my role as a teammate.   🌟 Off the court, how would your coaches and teammates describe you, and what personal qualities do you bring to a team culture? My coaches and teammates would say I'm honest, kind, hardworking, and courageous. I believe in building strong relationships, being genuine when giving feedback, and owning my mistakes. I want to be someone people can count on—not just in the game, but in life too.   💥 What's a fun fact about you that you'd want college coaches to know? I love baking, and I bring cookies to my friends and family!   ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247     💪🏽 What's something specific you've been working to add to your game this season, and why? This season, I've been focused on strengthening my mental game. I've worked hard to bounce back quickly from mistakes and bring intentional energy to the court. These aren't physical skills, but they're essential to being the leader my team needs. I know my teammates look up to me, so I can't get in my head or drop the energy. When I started owning this mindset, our team chemistry and performance took off. I want to keep building on that.   💡 How would you describe your role on the court, and what do you do to elevate the players around you? My role on the court is to be a consistent player my teammates can rely on. I encourage others and do my best to make sure every single one of my touches positively impacts the team. Whether I'm swinging for a point or keeping a ball alive, I want to be the type of player that brings momentum and trust to the court.   🧠 In high-pressure moments, what's your mindset and how do you stay composed? In high-pressure moments, I remind myself that this is the sport I love. Even when the situation is intense, I ground myself by remembering how much joy the game brings me. I stay present by narrating the game in my head, which keeps me engaged no matter what's happening. It helps quiet the overthinking and keeps me locked in, even when I'm not the one touching the ball.   🌟 Off the court, how would your coaches and teammates describe you, and what personal qualities do you bring to a team culture? They'd say I'm someone they can always rely on. I bring a competitive drive, relentless work ethic, and the fire to win no matter what. Whether it's a drill, a scrimmage, or a match, I'm always pushing to be the best and bring out the best in others. I'm the kind of teammate who is all in for the group and willing to do whatever it takes to win.   💥 What's a fun fact about you that you'd want college coaches to know? I'm a multi-sport athlete. I played club soccer for eight years, ski regularly with my family, and was on the varsity track team as a freshman. I helped win the Mission League Title. No matter the situation, I show up, step up, and give it everything I've got.   ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247     💪🏽 What's something specific you've been working to add to your game this season, and why? I've been working on adding more shot variety to my game. At first, I just swung hard every time, but I've realized that mixing it up with tips, rolls, and different angles makes me harder to defend. I want to be a smarter hitter, not just a strong one. Reading the block and finding open space has become a big part of how I train.   💡 How would you describe your role on the court, and what do you do to elevate the players around you? As an outside, I aim to be that go-to hitter, but also the one who brings great energy to the court. I know my job is to score, but I take just as much pride in hyping up my teammates and keeping the vibe positive. If someone's having a rough game, I'll give them a quick "you got this" or just stay loud and supportive from wherever I am. I believe energy is contagious, so I do everything I can to bring it for the whole team.   🧠 In high-pressure moments, what's your mindset and how do you stay composed? When things get intense, I try not to overthink. I remind myself that I've put in the work, so all I need to do is trust it. If I make a mistake, I focus on the next play and reset. Breathing helps a lot too. I'll take a moment, tell myself, “You've been here before,” and listen for my teammates' voices to ground me. Knowing they're with me makes a big difference.   🌟 Off the court, how would your coaches and teammates describe you, and what personal qualities do you bring to a team culture? They'd say I'm outgoing, loyal, and a little goofy. I like to keep things light with music, dancing, and jokes. But I'm also the one people can come to if they need advice or just someone to talk to. I care about building strong relationships and making sure everyone feels part of the team, no matter their role.   💥 What's a fun fact about you that you'd want college coaches to know? I'm really into music from different languages. Even if I don't fully understand the words, I pick up on the sounds and sing along. It's helped me connect with all kinds of people, on and off the court.   ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247     💪🏽 What's something specific you've been working to add to your game this season, and why? I've been working on making my topspin more consistent and making my approach more explosive. These adjustments give me more control and power, helping me become a more reliable attacker in every rotation.   💡 How would you describe your role on the court, and what do you do to elevate the players around you? My role on the court is to lead by example. I always try to play with purpose and bring high energy that keeps everyone locked in. Whether it's my hustle, communication, or attitude, I want to be someone who lifts the team and keeps our momentum going.   🧠 In high-pressure moments, what's your mindset and how do you stay composed? In big moments, I lean into the trust I have in my teammates and the trust they have in me. I stay aggressive and focused, ready for anything that comes our way. My mindset is simple: be prepared, be fearless, and never let up.   🌟 Off the court, how would your coaches and teammates describe you, and what personal qualities do you bring to a team culture? They'd say I'm a passionate leader with high energy that's hard to contain. I bring intensity and fire to everything I do, and I use that to keep the team motivated and focused during practices and games.   💥 What's a fun fact about you that you'd want college coaches to know? Outside of volleyball, I love surfing, golfing, and snowboarding. I'm all about learning new skills and pushing myself in different environments.   ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247     💪🏽 What's something specific you've been working to add to your game this season, and why? This season, I've been working really hard on becoming a consistent all-around player. I want to contribute in every rotation and bring steady play that helps lead a team to victory. Focusing on consistency also pushes me to grow in my overall skill set.   💡 How would you describe your role on the court, and what do you do to elevate the players around you? On the court, I bring a sense of calm and confidence to every point I play. I would describe myself as a quiet leader, someone who is level-headed and confident in my ability to make plays happen. I never give up on a point and always give 110 percent effort in everything I do. I make it a priority to uplift everyone I play with, bringing hype and celebration to our successes and encouragement when things don't go our way.   🧠 In high-pressure moments, what's your mindset and how do you stay composed? My mindset instantly shifts to keep fighting. I focus on making smart plays and remind myself that nothing hits the floor. I actually find pressure moments exciting, because that's when my most competitive and hardworking volleyball comes out. I stay composed by trusting that my team has my back and knowing that I have theirs.   🌟 Off the court, how would your coaches and teammates describe you, and what personal qualities do you bring to a team culture? People often describe me as extremely nice, kind, and hardworking. I bring dedication, compassion, and focus to every environment I'm part of. I take pride in how I carry myself and how I support the people around me.   💥 What's a fun fact about you that you'd want college coaches to know? I play five instruments and I'm a motorsports enthusiast. I love everything from F1 and car meets to karting and off-roading. I also love to travel.   ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247     💪🏽 What's something specific you've been working to add to your game this season, and why? I've been working on adding a sharp cross-court hit and power tip from both the left and right side. These new tools expand my range as a hitter and allow me to make smarter decisions in tough situations.   💡 How would you describe your role on the court, and what do you do to elevate the players around you? On the court, I try to be constantly talking no matter what is going on in the play. I believe communication helps elevate the players around me and encourages them to be vocal too. It creates a high-energy, confident environment that helps us all play better together.   🧠 In high-pressure moments, what's your mindset and how do you stay composed? In high-pressure moments, I do my best to keep a calm mindset. I simplify the moment so it doesn't feel as big or stressful in my head. That helps me stay grounded and just play the game I know, whether it's match point in a championship or a routine play in practice.   🌟 Off the court, how would your coaches and teammates describe you, and what personal qualities do you bring to a team culture? Off the court, my coaches and teammates would describe me as funny, friendly, and maybe a little shy. I try to create a welcoming vibe that helps others open up too, especially those who might be quieter like me. That connection helps build a stronger, more unified team.   💥 What's a fun fact about you that you'd want college coaches to know? I'm a former gymnast, and that background has taught me how to focus on the small details and perform with confidence when the pressure is on.   ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247    <h3 class="wp-block-heading">If you enjoyed this article, please help us keep the momentum going!</h3>   <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-full"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/04/image_b3bd7c.png" alt="" class="wp-image-770392" /></figure>     ✨ Help a player get discovered — share this article using the share buttons and tag us on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/prepdigca/?hl=en">PrepDigCa</a>!   <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-full is-resized"><a href="https://prepdig.com/subscribe/"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/04/image_ff10cb.png" alt="" class="wp-image-770394" style="width:98px;height:auto" /></a></figure>   🚀 <a href="https://prepdig.com/my-account/subscriptions/">Upgrade to a PrepDig+ Subscription</a> — exclusive rankings, in-depth analysis, and access to the full <a href="https://prepdig.com/prospect-index/">prospect index</a>.     <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />   Throughout August, as tryouts, preseason training, and early matches unfold, high school players enter a critical stretch of growth, leadership, and visibility. 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Thank you for making today's wins matter — one article, one player, one memory at a time.   ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247

At the Sophomore ID Camp, the pin hitters brought the fire. Whether they were crushing cross-court kills, tooling the block, or handling tough serves in six-rotation systems, these athletes made their presence known. The Outside and Right Side positions demand versatility, resilience, and grit. They're the go-to hitters when the play breaks down, the players who swing fearlessly, chase balls out of bounds, and bring both power and poise under pressure.