RÄKI Volleyball: Six Athletes Coaches Need to Know

There is something different about the gym at RÄKI Volleyball. It is more than a training facility. It is a place built on belief. A place where an undersized athlete once told “no” found the courage to make her dreams come true.   Ashley Lee-Maldonado has lived the journey. From being overlooked at 15 to playing Division I indoor and beach volleyball, to going pro in Switzerland, to coaching at the collegiate level. She built RÄKI to give athletes a chance. A chance to be seen. A chance to compete. A chance to grow into the player they are meant to be.   That belief was the theme of RÄKI's invite-only training session. College-bound talent packed the gym, training side by side with intensity, focus, and purpose. These athletes showed that confidence is earned through work and that leadership is shown through every celebration, every chase down ball, every point.   Here are six players who not only stood out in the gym but also took the initiative to share their voice off the court. That type of follow-through matters at the next level and college coaches will want to follow these athletes closely this club season.    Bella is a versatile outside who brought a fast arm swing to the hitting lines and a determination to dig on defense. She is focused on mastering the split step to improve her efficiency in serve receive, taking more seam and more court with confidence.   “My energy sets me apart. I always want to see my teammates succeed and will do everything in my power to make sure that my team wins.”   Bella wants coaches to notice the range in her attack. She can swing with pace or choose smart shots to score. Her passing platform is calm and consistent, and she has put in meaningful work on her blocking which she expects will become a real strength this season.   Bella plays with joy and competitiveness that lifts everyone around her. Her game continues to rise and each time I watch her compete I see more strength, more confidence, and more presence on the court.   ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247     Elle plays with urgency, speed, and a competitive edge that fuels the gym. When I watch her play, you can feel a good outcome coming just from the way she moves. She is working hard on sharpening her timing so she can be earlier and more available as a scoring threat. She is also focused on staying vocal, positive, and ready every play, and she absolutely brought that to the clinic.   “I compete with intensity. I always find a way to make an impact on the court.”   Elle wants coaches to notice her ability to terminate on the right side, along with her consistent energy and communication. Her mindset is simple. Play for her team. Stay locked in. Earn points when they matter.   Elle brings fire to every possession and continues to elevate her game physically and emotionally.   ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247     Riley is calm on the court and brings composure to every rally. She is working on expanding her court vision and keeping tempo fast even when out of system. She reads hitters well, distributes the ball with intention, and makes adjustments to her hitters rather than expecting them to adjust to her style.   “I remain calm but still have an intensity to keep myself and my teammates focused.”   Riley wants coaches to see that she is reliable. Trustworthy in tough moments. A teammate who can pull a team through late in a set.   Her leadership comes through in how she moves the ball and how she competes. Riley may not be the loudest setter, but she is definitely one of the most consistent I have seen at finding chemistry with her hitters.   ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247     Abbey is a go-type libero. She does not wait for someone else to make the play. She is there first. During the digging drill her hustle and drive were clear. Her only focus was to get the ball up.   She is working on staying grounded defensively and maintaining strong angles instead of leaving her feet early. She stays steady with her platform and brings a composed presence behind the ball.   Her positive energy and consistency set her apart, along with her willingness to give her all every play.   Abbey wants coaches to see her aggressiveness and her commitment to winning the defensive battle. She keeps her team in system and keeps her mindset strong from point one to match point. I was very impressed with her ability to keep balls in play.   ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247     Sophia plays defense with zero fear. She is confident in her platform and her ability to deliver the ball to target. She is working on being faster to the floor and more aggressive reading servers and hitters. She takes pride in bringing loud energy and leadership every game.   “I am relentless. No ball drops. Every play is an opportunity to gain momentum.”   Coaches will love her hustle and her passion for celebrating her teammates. She truly believes positivity builds culture and she plays like she believes it.   Sophia is the type of defender who can flip the momentum with one chase-down play. She is relentless from start to finish.   ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247     KJ is one of the youngest athletes in the gym yet her volleyball IQ is already advanced. She is focused on refining quick jump setting and running a faster offense that creates one-on-one opportunities. She wants more chances to run slides and creative patterns with her middles to open up the court.   Her edge comes from “mindset, communication, leadership.” What she hopes coaches notice most is her hustle, perseverance, and the ability to push through tough moments.   KJ loves to compete and never stops moving. She wants to be the setter who changes the energy and gives hitters confidence to swing with freedom. Working with older players has clearly elevated her skill set and each time I see her compete, I know I am watching a star in the making.   ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247    <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />   <a href="https://www.rakivolleyball.com/about" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">If you are interested in training at RÄKI VB, there is an upcoming Clinic. Please visit their website for more information: </a>   <figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/12/image_c83259.png" alt="" class="wp-image-916012" style="width:327px;height:auto" /></figure>   <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 is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/09/image_cf4e03.png" alt="" class="wp-image-885470" style="width:125px;height:auto" /></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>!       <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />   <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" />   <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-full is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/10/image_e42f4e.png" alt="" class="wp-image-894323" style="width:126px;height:auto" /></figure>   <a href="https://prepdig.com/events/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The 2025 Prep Dig Exposure Tour is officially LIVE!</a>   We're hitting 20+ cities across the country this winter to give athletes a platform to compete, get seen, and level up.   Use Code: BamfordPD25   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />   🔥 Players — Use this article to grow. Take notes, study what makes others stand out, and apply it to your own journey. Want to go further? Reach out to a featured athlete and introduce yourself. Build connections, not just stats.   📣 Club Coaches & Directors — Share this with your teams. If your athletes are highlighted, celebrate them loudly. Post it, tag us, and help their stories reach the right eyes. Visibility is everything.   🎯 College Coaches — Tag these athletes in your University Athlete app and evaluate them as potential fits for your program. We're tracking their performance, growth, and impact through Recruitable Credentials — earned indicators college coaches recognize. Follow their journey with us and connect with athletes built for the next level.   🙏 Parents & Supporters — Thank you for being the backbone of this movement. Your subscriptions, shares, and belief in your athletes make this possible.   Thank you for making today's wins matter — one article, one player, one memory at a time.   ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247

There is something different about the gym at RÄKI Volleyball. It is more than a training facility. It is a place built on belief. A place where an undersized athlete once told “no” found the courage to make her dreams come true.