Liberos and Setters Breaking out at Junior Nationals

There were a number of liberos and setters who broke out at the Junior Nationals. Some of them may have already been ranked but at the lower levels. I tried to focus on them for this piece. Many in the class of 2030 may have seen their first exposure. This will be the final article on Junior Nationals. The frosh and stock up showcase are in July while updated rankings come out in August. August also begins our reporting of the high school season. Lots on the table.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Liberos</h2>    I always try to watch every team in the Junior Nationals on the first couple days of pool play. If not, I probably would have missed the play of Kaylee. 540 lost their first seven matches. It would have been interesting to watch them play in that eighth match when they took the third set 15-9 for their first win.   When watching them play early Kaylee was always communicating on the court encouraging her teammates as well as identifying her responsibilities. She appeared to read the blocks well moving to the open spot. Kaylee always has her feet moving. She also has strong hands for setting out of system or digging high balls.   It would not surprise me if she makes the varsity roster as a frosh for North Stafford but it all depends on the number of returning back row players.     Definitely one of the more intense liberos I've seen play. She flies around the court with the attitude that there is no ball she can't dig if it is on or near the court. Her hands are also strong for making the out of system sets. At some point she may have had thoughts about becoming a setter.   Tenley is not afraid to hit the floor, however she anticipates well that hitting the floor only occurs when she is chasing a shanked pass or another unexpected ricochet.   Tenley has been identified as one of 30 players to watch in Washington County. As a frosh she averaged a little over four digs per set.     Aleah saw a lot of time at the libero position for [program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last=''] 15. She made some great digs and shows good hustle. Aleah has also been identified as one of the 30 players to watch in Washington County.   She made the varsity as a frosh sharing the back row at North Hagerstown with [player_tooltip player_id='731631' first='Zalikah' last='Pabalan']. She finished third on the team in digs.   Next year she will again share the back row with Zalikah, who played for Metro 16 National. Aleah played with [player_tooltip player_id='787919' first='Charlotte' last='Booth'] at [program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last=''], her current teammate at North Hagerstown.     Arianna impressed me with her libero play with SERV. She made an excellent out of system hand set, showed good hustle and always seemed to appear in the right spot when making a dig.   As a class of 2027 she missed the spot light because I don't get the chance to get to Virginia Beach much. The Junior Nationals gave me the opportunity to give her a look. Arianna has committed to Old Dominion. They snagged a good one.     Watching Caroline play libero made me wonder if she set early in her career. She showed some soft hands, including putting up an out of system back set. She was also one of many Virginia players at this year's USAV Prep Dig showcase identified as a top performer.   Playing for Woodbridge High she earned libero of the year accolades for the Cardinal District. She also earned first team all district and second team All Region. And after I wrote about her setting I learned that she was the starting setter for Woodbridge her frosh season. That doesn't surprise me.   It appears lots of versatility exists in her game. Perhaps this coming season she will hit outside.     Sofia seemed to be everywhere on the court making a dig for the [program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last=''] 16 team. Given opportunities for second chances they climbed to second place in the Junior Nationals National Division. While she did not find a spot on the USAV all tournament team I would bet she was close. For the 16s she earned a spot on the Prep Dig All Tournament team for libero, along with [player_tooltip player_id='612399' first='Riley' last='Ko'] from Metro.   It is interesting that the previous year on the Paramount 15 second team Sofia played as an outside hitter/setter. As a hitter she put some good velocity on the ball while playing six rotations. It appears that good passing and defense on the second team as an undersized outside transformed her to a libero on the [program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last=''] 16 first team. It would not be a surprise that she continues to play a six rotation outside for Lightridge.    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Setters</h2>    Ava played for American, which played in the USA Division. They may have been a bit overmatched in that Division finishing 2-8 but Ava's only comment was "I loved the competition. It can only make me better," or words to that effect.   She sets while staying to hit right side when in the front row. She actually sets up in serve receive and nailed a pass to the setter. At 5'7" she will need to grow a couple inches if she hopes to stay in the front row at the older ages. However, she has the will and intensity to succeed.   Ava is the second North Stafford player on this list with the potential to make varsity. Libero [player_tooltip player_id='915687' first='Kaylee' last='Miller-Wood'] is the second.       You have to love her enthusiasm for the sport. She is more than ready to promote herself to play at the next level. For [program_tooltip program_id='450416' first='East' last='Coast Volleyball Club'] Black she shares the 6/2 with MacKenzie Butler. Both run an effective offense allowing East Coast to win their first four matches. They struggled in their next three to drop to the Bronze B Division but won their next two matches to win that.   Natalie currently has a 9'1" approach jump that should increase with growth and strength. She will play for Hickory High School, which has lost two of their setters. Their starting setter [player_tooltip player_id='887089' first='Kyla' last='Goode'] plays for East Coast 16 Black. Kyla ranks 159 in the class of 2028.     Last year Eva set for a strong Maryland Juniors 14 team. She lost some opportunities to set because [player_tooltip player_id='748513' first='Scarlett' last='Netherton'] was given some opportunities in the setting role as well. Eva did win a top performer award. During that time my advice to her mother was that it would be best if she played her grade.   It appears she accomplished that earning a spot on the Metro 16 National team. With Maryland Juniors I always thought she was the most technical of their three setters. When Scarlett struggled with her setting in the back row Eva was brought in to right the ship.   Eva sets for Glenelg, which last year won the Maryland Class 2 State Championship. [player_tooltip player_id='529251' first='Jessica' last='Li'] normally sets a 5/1 but with her experience with Metro Eva may see more opportunities.     Katelyn has already won a couple top performer awards. At 6'0" she provides good height for a setter. For Libero she remains in the front row to hit. If she falls short of making it as a setter she has the ability to fill in as a right side hitter.   One of the concerns with taller setters is their ability to maintain that quickness to get to the ball to use their hands. Katelyn seems to have maintained that quickness. It would be interesting how effective she would be setting a 5/1.   Katelyn will play for Bullis this coming year. After winning a ISL championship the previous year they appear to be in a rebuilding mode. Katelyn is a key piece of that and may get her opportunity to set a 5/1.     At the Junior Nationals [program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last=''] Alec 16 would start Amanda at left side. From there she would set a 5/1. After a full rotation the team would switch to a 6/2. For the most part Amanda would stay in the front row to hit. At 5'10" she has good height to play the position. Her approach jump of 9'6" ranks top on the [program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last=''] second team.   Last year Amanda set for Paul VI along with [player_tooltip player_id='541140' first='Maris' last='Francescon'], who set for [program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last=''] Maureen16. It is also possible that [player_tooltip player_id='728459' first='Ali' last='Joyce'] who plays for the [program_tooltip program_id='476729' first='Paramount' last=''] 17 second team returns to set for Paul VI. This should establish some healthy competition.   Last year Maris led the team in assists while Amanda finished second. However, Amanda is one of the hardest workers at improving her craft. It would not shock me to see her win one of the starting roles.     Coming into this tournament I was not that familiar with [player_tooltip player_id='807368' first='Sophia' last='Grimm']. She shares a 6/2 with [player_tooltip player_id='325403' first='Annabelle' last='Kim'] for Virginia Elite. Both carry approach jumps of less than 9 feet so front row is not an ideal position for either.   One skill that impressed me with Sophia is how clean the ball came off her hands when she set. While that does not matter in this world of no doubles the ball still travels in a juicy position for the hitter to pounce on the ball. She also shows good timing for the quick tempo sets. Don't be surprised to see her make her debut in the rankings at this late stage.   Sophia sets for The Potomac School. Last year she shared the setting duties with [player_tooltip player_id='763132' first='Raegan' last='Giuliani'].     Ellen was one of two setters who ran the offense for Paramount Jazz 14. Penelope Hsu was the other. Sometimes setters who run a 6/2 fail to get noticed. With Ellen she was the court captain. That shows leadership.   Ellen moved the ball well to her hitters. She kept all her hitters active early. As the game progressed those hitters who were hot she fed them. Her serving was quite volatile with a number of aces to her credit. She stood out enough to make the Prep Dig all tournament 14 team as one of the three setters.   Ellen stands 5'6' with an approach jump of under 9 feet. Unless she grows or improves her jump her frequency of setting in the front row will be limited. However, if you can lead a team to gold you get noticed. Coaches love a winner or a player that can lead their team to a championship.     Eliana impressed while at the USAV Prep Dig showcase. Another setter to keep an eye on. She was one of two setters who ran a 6/2 for Metro 14. [player_tooltip player_id='888185' first='Abigail' last='Chang'] was the second setter. Both played excellent defense.   Eliana will attend South County, which could make some noise this year. They appear to have two players who play for Metro National/Travel on their future roster in [player_tooltip player_id='917866' first='Sloan' last='Tann'] and another incoming frosh. Abigail lists as home schooled.   Eliana plays a little beach when not on the hard court. For the Virginia class of 2030 she ranked in the top ten.

There were a number of liberos and setters who broke out at the Junior Nationals. Some of them may have already been ranked but at the lower levels. I tried to focus on them for this piece. Many in the class of 2030 may have seen their first exposure. This will be the final article on Junior Nationals. The frosh and stock up showcase are in July while updated rankings come out in August. August also begins our reporting of the high school season. Lots on the table.