September’s Team of the Month

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>When you hear the term “Dream Team” most of your parents and sports fanatics will revert back to the 1992 USA men's basketball team. They are known as the original "dream team" and where the name sake comes from. We did something very similar with this, as we put together a team of 10 girls that if PrepDig could create a volleyball team to compete based off how they did in September this year, these would be our 10 choices&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Now obviously some parameters were put in place because we would just pick the top 5 ranked juniors and seniors in the rankings if we wanted to create a “super team”. We wanted this team to have some drama and reward players who have done well in September to get some recognition on this team.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here were the following requirements we made when putting together this team:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list {"ordered":true} --> <ol class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Your team had to be ranked inside the top 10 for your respective conference in powerpoints.&nbsp;</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>We could only take one position from each conference. For example we could only take one MB from 6A, the other had to be from a different conference. We wanted some parity on this team, and not just picking from 6A.&nbsp;</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Only two players from each position could be picked, and it had to be the position you play for the school team. Our team has 2 setters, 2 liberos, 2 OH, 2 MB, 2 OPP.&nbsp;</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>We could only have half our team be ranked in the top 10 for their respective class rankings, that way this wasn't just an easy choice. We had to use our 5 picks wisely from the top 10 in each class to make our team.&nbsp;</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Last, we had to see you live or have seen your film (make sure to tag us in clips) so we can accurately compare you to everyone from the state.&nbsp;</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ol> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>If you met those requirements you were eligible for our PrepDig September Dream Team. Now.. on to who is on the team and how we decided to build it.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The first thing we need on this team is a bonafide outside hitter who can hit from all over the floor, and can play 6 rotations as we need another option out of the backrow. Here comes our two outside hitters in [player_tooltip player_id='774402' first='Tessa' last='Larkin'] and [player_tooltip player_id='807263' first='Sara' last='Bowcutt']. These two define the true power outside hitter we are looking for on this team. Both these girls are averaging over 4 kills a set, and both hitting over .300. What is even more impressive is these two don't need a perfect set to terminate the ball. Both these hitters are terminating the ball at over 45% and are doing that from the front and back row and even out of system ball as well. Trust me when I say we won't need a perfect pass to terminate the ball with these two on the floor.Throw in the fact they both are fantastic passers and defenders and we have our true 6 rotational outside hitters to start our team off on the right foot.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Now we can't have just two power hitters on the left side, we need to be able to balance the floor and have some hitting and blocking come from the right side of the floor. When we get our pins going on both sides this will open the floor for the middles as well. Taking some heat from our outside hitters on the opposite side we have [player_tooltip player_id='882705' first='Petra' last='Zepeda'] and [player_tooltip player_id='874777' first='Clara' last='Schramm']. These two can not only terminate the ball as well, but put up great blocks as well. Our team needs to have an all around aspect to it and our opposites on this team needs to be able to hit and block. These two can for sure carry the load on offense as both of them are averaging 4 kills a set, hitting over .300, and getting over 3 blocks a match combined. These two can hit from all over the floor as well, giving our setters the creative ability to run and be imaginative in how to use them when we are in system.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With the pins hitters taking all the attention away from our middles, we will be getting 1 on 1 match ups out of the middle and that is going to be the biggest mistake other teams can make. We have some of the most efficient offensive weapons waiting for them here on this team. [player_tooltip player_id='784641' first='Sadie' last='Wahlin'] and [player_tooltip player_id='502333' first='Hayden' last='Conner'] are both some of the most efficient hitters in the state and nation based on their numbers. Both of these middles are hitting a combined .526 and Sadie is actually having a historic season by hitting .574 (number 4 all time in AZ history) at the moment. Both are killing the ball 55% of the time while also getting almost 4 kills a set. I can tell you as a coach being able to run a middle to over 4 kills a set is one of the more impressive things and a testament to how well these two hit in front and behind the setter. They are capable like our other hitters of running a fast and imaginative offense to beat the defense of any team. They are also fast and athletic middles who close a majority of their block on the pins so teams won't be able to beat our block and will have to find ways around our block.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We have to be able to get all these offensive weapons the ball as well, and personally I have a preference of running a 6-2. This will give us the option of always having 3 hitters in the front row at all times and give them the most options to feed the ball too. However I also wanted to pick setters who are also capable of running a 5-1 if we need to (we are all about versatility on this team). This is why we picked [player_tooltip player_id='536784' first='Lily' last='Rolfes'] and [player_tooltip player_id='520375' first='Fara' last='Bronson'], both top end setters who run a 5-1 and both are setters capable of running a fast offense with our hitters and have top end connections when we are out of system. These two setters have a very high IQ and seem to know the best place to put the ball every time. One of the best parts of these two is the all around game they both bring. Not only do they have amazing hands but they play great defense and are both tremendous with their serves. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Speaking of defense… The last two members of this team are our two liberos who can serve, play defense, and serve receive at the highest level. Our last two members of this Dream Team are [player_tooltip player_id='534541' first='Mattea' last='Saunders'] and [player_tooltip player_id='808979' first='Mackenzie' last='Benso']. In these two we have two liberos who have helped lead their team to undefeated regular seasons (in powerpoint matches) and both these liberos have been a big part of it. They seem to cover a majority of the ground on the floor and will make the lives of our pin hitters that much easier by being able to take so many balls from them. They pass easily and efficiently to the setter and do a great job of transitioning to cover the hitters as well. They two are very vocal backrow players and are very good at doing the little things that most coaches can't teach.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Overall, this team wouldn't lose to many or if any teams from other states if they were to put together their own team. You would be hard pressed to find another set of "Dream Teams” from other states that could compete with this team at any given time. We have 10 athletes who can do multiple things for this team, and are capable at any given time of carrying the team. We never have to rely on any one of these girls on this team, as together they would all be able to contribute and at a high level. We look forward to seeing who is on our October “Dream Team” in a few weeks as well!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->