Living on the Edge: Pin Standouts from the Stock Up Showcase

Life on the edge isn't always a bad thing, especially when you're making a living attacking from the pins. From South Kansas to Eastern Missouri, we saw outsides and opposites bring their A game last weekend. Here are some of the players I was able to see and capture notes on. This will be part 1 of a 2-part pin article.    Entering her senior year, Curry looks ready for a big finale at Iola. After a breakout junior season, her performance at the showcase showed she's prepared to take on that responsibility. What stood out to me was Curry's ability to use the block to her advantage and find ways to score. She may not be the biggest attacker on the court, but she understands how to be effective, using the hands of defenders and tooling the block rather than simply trying to overpower it. That ability to find different ways to terminate should serve her well as she takes on an even bigger role this fall.     I walked away impressed with Freeman's play after watching her during six-on-six competition. Offensively, she does a good job of reaching high and getting on top of the ball, allowing her to generate some extra pop on her swings and attack with authority. Her athleticism was also evident on the defensive side of the net. Freeman moved well and used her ability to get off the floor to get plenty of touches on the block, disrupting attacks and giving her defense opportunities to make plays behind her. That combination of athleticism and impact on both sides of the net made Freeman one of the pins who caught my attention.     Overall, I thought Maka was one of the top outside hitters in the gym when it came to her impact on the game. She found ways to score from all across the front row and did so with a high level of success. However, it was actually her back-row play that earned the first note on my sheet. Maka moved well defensively, came up with multiple digs, and showed she can be a factor even when she's away from the net. And as you want to see from an outside capable of playing six rotations, she also showed she can remain an offensive threat from behind the 10-foot line. Her ability to impact the game in multiple ways made for an impressive all-around showing.     The first note I scribbled in my notebook was, “really solid in passing drills,” which immediately caught my attention for a player listed as a right side. She also showed she can be productive offensively. When you see a player who splits time between middle and right side, I pay close attention to the footwork, and I thought her approach and movement to the ball from the right pin were solid. That attention to detail helped her adjust when sets weren't always perfectly located, allowing her to still get herself in position to take a quality swing. Add in what she showed as a passer, and there was plenty of versatility to like in her performance.     Y'all who follow me know I love my southpaw opposites, and we have another one in the Truman Patriot. Lesane didn't cheat herself with her swings, taking some good rips at the ball when I watched her during scrimmage play. At 5-foot-7, she may be undersized for the position, but she uses her athleticism and ability to get off the floor to help make up for it. I liked the aggressiveness she showed as an attacker and her willingness to go after the ball rather than play it safe. After getting some varsity run as a freshman, Lesane looks ready to take another step, and I expect her to be a breakout candidate during her sophomore season.     Defense is what stood out right away when I watched Haines. She was very active at the net and consistently found ways to get touch after touch on opposing attacks. Those touches may not always result in a stuff block, but her ability to slow the ball down and give the back row time to get in position for easier defensive plays can't go unnoticed. That's valuable work at the net and can make a big difference in extending rallies. Offensively, Haines also showed an understanding that power isn't always necessary to score. She found different ways to put the ball on the floor, showing good awareness and giving herself options beyond simply trying to overpower the defense.     Salmon is another pin player who caught my attention with how well she handled herself during passing drills. At 6-foot-2, that ability is huge as she continues developing into an opposite who has the potential to stay on the floor for six rotations. Offensively, I liked the aggressiveness she showed with her swings and her willingness to attack with intent. That same mentality showed up at the net, where Salmon wasn't afraid to take advantage of an overpass and put the ball straight to the floor. With her size, offensive mindset, and developing back-row skills, she has the tools to impact the game in multiple ways.     The first part of the day was drill work, and that's where Cary first caught my eye. With pin players, I'm always watching to see how well they handle themselves in serve receive, and she passed the test. Her platform was solid, her passes were consistently delivered to location, and overall, she did her thing. When play moved to the front row, Cary made the most of her opportunities and showed she can contribute offensively as well. With another year of development ahead of her, she looks poised to take on a bigger role and make an even greater impact during her sophomore season.     Thompson had a strong day overall and showed she can be an effective scorer from either pin. She looked comfortable attacking from both the left and right sides, and that ability to be used interchangeably is a valuable skill to have. It shows that she can adjust to different roles and gives coaches more options for how to utilize her, especially as she looks toward playing at the next level. Another asset to Thompson's game is what she brings behind the service line. During competition play, she put pressure on serve receive and delivered multiple aces. Her ability to contribute from both pins and impact the game with her serve made for a well-rounded showing.     Coming to work with your toolbox is important, and Termini came ready to do business. What stood out to me, especially for a rising sophomore, was her shot selection and ability to adjust to what was given to her. She mixed things up depending on the location and quality of the set, showing she didn't need a perfect ball to find a way to be effective. Termini showed a good feel for identifying what shot was available and where she could attack the defense. That ability to process what she sees and make adjustments in the moment was one of the highlights of her day and gives her a nice foundation to build on as she continues to develop.

Life on the edge isn't always a bad thing, especially when you're making a living attacking from the pins. From South Kansas to Eastern Missouri, we saw outsides and opposites bring their A game last weekend. Here are some of the players I was able to see and capture notes on. This will be part 1 of a 2-part pin article.