Tournament Gems: Unstoppable “Littles” from the NorCal Exposure

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As I wrap up my coverage on the liberos and defensive specialists at the NorCal Exposure Tour, I wanted to make sure to highlight some of the unstoppable "littles" that brought their A-Game to the court. These tournament gems were tough as they tracked down some of the toughest balls, made incredible saves, and came up with some huge digs on the day. The following are some of the ones to remember as while they may be small in stature, they are BIG time players.  </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Remember to follow me on Instagram @Prepdigamy and Facebook @PrepDig Amy for up to date event coverage, stories, and more.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["905662"],"_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-692f3bcc88a87"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">DeMuro showcased extreme quickness and excellent court awareness by making consistent efficient movements with rarely a false step. She does a solid job reading her hitters which allowed her to anticipate tips, run through the off speed shots, and change directs in a split second. What I really liked about DeMuro is that she is very aggressive in her pursuit of the ball which kept her defense stable and allowed her to extend plays. Overall, DeMuro demonstrated great court awareness, exceptional footwork, and exceptional decision-making that elevated her team's play. This gem is one to keep tabs on in the future. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["777568"],"_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-692f3c0db004e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Carter is a defensive specialist/libero that brought steady, reliable play to the courts at NorCal, showcasing her strong reading skills and hustle on every play. She consistently provided excellent coverage for her hitters and kept plays alive with accurate positioning and quick reflexes. When playing middle back, Carter wasn't afraid to take a big aggressive swing out of the backrow, contributing to the teams offense when needed. Her versatility and work ethic make her a huge asset on the court at all times.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["728049"],"_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-692f4e84e23c5"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Dixon was a defensive dynamo that played with tremendous energy and hustle along with a huge work ethic that elevated everyone around her. She communicated constantly with her teammates which not only kept them engaged on every play, but she also created a positive and competitive court for her team to compete on. Her intensity and enthusiasm not only created a high defensive backrow but also kept her team's momentum and energy high through out the entire tournament.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["779898"],"_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-692f4ffd39e02"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Hardcastle is a fierce little that plays at an elevated level. She knows how to stay low and balanced, absorbing big attacks with ease and making tough plays look effortless. Her speed, reactions, and exemplary reading ability allowed her to anticipate balls and react meticulously. She also brought finesse to the game, as she accurately delivered free balls to target and to the pin when out of system. The combination of speed, poise, and overall skill level make her a backcourt standout.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->