Dig This: Back Row Standouts from the Showcase

I don't know when this shift occurred for me, but the attention I've been paying to defenders in the last year makes me want to talk about them more often. Soooooo I am starting with my littles when providing a recap of the Stock Up Missouri/Kansas Showcase. There was no shortage of ballers in the building. I could say the same thing about many of them, but there were also specific things that stood out.    Kramer had a solid day across the board defensively. One thing I always look for in back-row players is how well they cover their hitters, and she excelled in that area throughout competition. Her ability to keep rallies alive is the type of skill coaches love and one that can earn you time on the court. You don't want to leave your hitters hanging, and Kramer did a great job of having their backs throughout the morning.     I like my passers to dial in, and Southard stayed locked in throughout the morning. I love watching passers keep their eyes on the ball from platform contact all the way through the pass, and she did that consistently. Southard is the type of passer who can anchor the back row and keep her team in system, even when facing challenging serves.     It's key for back-row players, in my opinion, to be loud and communicate, and I saw that from Henson. She took control in the backcourt, communicating with her teammates about who would cover particular seams. Overall, she had a good day defensively. One area where I'd like to see her continue to grow is staying active with her feet in serve receive and keeping her weight forward rather than getting caught on her heels. Doing so will help her react quicker and put herself in a better position to make a strong first contact.     I mentioned earlier the value of back-row players covering their hitters, and Breitling certainly fits the bill. She consistently put herself in the mix, staying engaged in plays and being ready to keep the ball alive when an attack came back off the block. That effort made her an asset on her side of the court and helped extend rallies that could have easily ended.   The Odessa junior also showed value beyond her defensive work. When called upon to take the second ball, Breitling stepped in and delivered quality sets that gave her hitters a chance to stay aggressive. Being able to turn a scramble play into a hittable ball is an important skill for a back-row player, and she showed she can do that. Her willingness to cover, compete, and contribute in multiple ways stood out throughout the morning.     Cabantac shined for me during the passing portion of drill work. She looked composed and consistently delivered the ball to target on a majority of the serves that came her way. What stood out was her activity before contact. Cabantac moved well laterally, using her feet to get behind the ball and put herself in a strong position to make quality passes. That movement, combined with a steady platform, allowed her to be consistent throughout the morning and showed the potential to be a reliable presence in serve receive.     What popped immediately for me was the quick first step and reaction speed Kendrick brought to the floor. You don't have to watch her long to see that she's a competitor, and she has no problem flying across the floor to keep a ball alive. Kendrick plays with an energy that can make her a spark plug defensively, turning tough saves into momentum and elevating the energy of her teammates with the plays she makes. That combination of quickness, effort, and competitiveness stood out throughout the morning.     Wickersham has already been highlighted by my colleague Austin, but that won't stop me from giving her some props of my own. I watched Wickersham closely during passing drills, and as I've mentioned, confidence is a big deal to me when evaluating back-row players. She was technically sound with her passing and had a noticeable swagger about her on the court. She looked comfortable, trusted her platform, and carried herself like she expected to make the play when the ball came her way. That's the type of confidence and steadiness that would make me feel good as a coach having her anchoring the back row. Wickersham looked like a player ready to embrace that responsibility.     The Staley High product was another defender who, in my opinion, separated herself in the passing department. Whether the ball was to her right or left, she moved her feet, got herself in position, and consistently delivered quality passes to the setter. There was a calmness about her game that I appreciated. She never seemed rushed or out of control, instead trusting her footwork and platform to handle what came her way. That steady presence in serve receive can go a long way in helping a team stay in system and giving the offense options.     I was impressed with the plays I saw Splane make during controlled competition. Her defensive work was key in helping her side stay in system and turn quality first contacts into strong attacks with opportunities for kills. What stood out even more was her willingness to use her voice. Splane consistently communicated with her hitters and teammates, something I didn't see as often across the courts. That combination of defensive effort and communication can bring stability to a back row, and Splane showed she wasn't afraid to take ownership of that role.     The Pleasant Ridge and [program_tooltip program_id='428889' first='Dynasty' last=''] athlete had a good day defensively during the showcase. She showed good effort throughout the morning and stayed engaged whether the ball was coming her way or not. I liked her willingness to compete for balls and do her part to keep rallies alive. She looked comfortable working in the back row and showed the type of steady presence you want from a defender. There may not have been one particular play that defined her day, but her consistency and effort across the different portions of the showcase made for a solid overall performance.     Another Arkansas product who had a strong day was Carroll. The rising freshman more than held her own against older competition and caught my eye with her work in the back row. Her quickness stood out, as she reacted well and showed the ability to move to the ball and put herself in position to make plays. For a young player competing in that environment, she looked comfortable and didn't shy away from the challenge. One area I'd like to see continue to develop is her communication and willingness to be more vocal in the back row. That should come with age, experience, and confidence, and she already has some of the physical tools to build around.

I don't know when this shift occurred for me, but the attention I've been paying to defenders in the last year makes me want to talk about them more often. Soooooo I am starting with my littles when providing a recap of the Stock Up Missouri/Kansas Showcase. There was no shortage of ballers in the building. I could say the same thing about many of them, but there were also specific things that stood out.