More Than Power: These Pin Hitters Are Evolving

<a href="https://prepdig.com/subscribe/" id="https://prepdig.com/subscribe/">This article was shared with 150+ college coaches. Join PrepDig with 30% off using code: Coachable247</a>   Power has always been one of the first qualities people notice in a pin hitter.   A heavy swing can change momentum, energize a team, and earn plenty of attention. But as the game continues to evolve, so do the athletes who play it. Today's most effective pin hitters understand that scoring consistently requires much more than simply hitting harder than the player across the net.   The athletes featured here are learning how to read blockers, recognize defensive tendencies, use a wider variety of shots, and make better decisions when rallies don't unfold exactly as planned. They're becoming students of the game, finding ways to create points through volleyball IQ, court awareness, and adaptability as much as physical ability.   Following the USAV GJNC Showcase, I asked several pin hitters what they believe separates their game, what they are working to improve, and what they hope coaches remember after watching them compete. The athletes below each arrive at that lesson differently, but together they illustrate an important truth about today's game. The pin hitters who continue separating themselves are often the ones who understand that becoming harder to defend starts with becoming more complete volleyball players.    Alexandra Schenkelberg is still discovering exactly who she wants to become as an outside hitter, and that may be one of the most exciting parts of her development. After spending years as a middle blocker, she has embraced the challenge of learning an entirely different position. Rather than trying to force her old game into a new role, Schenkelberg is focused on developing the instincts, confidence, and decision-making that allow outside hitters to impact every rally. That willingness to evolve says as much about her future as any individual skill.   Her growth has centered on trusting herself. Defensively, she is working to eliminate hesitation and simply go after the ball instead of second-guessing her first read. The same mindset carries over offensively. Every rep is another opportunity to build confidence instead of searching for perfection. She wants teammates to remember her positivity, relentless effort, and the joy she brings to the court because she believes great volleyball is built on encouraging one another through both successes and mistakes. That perspective continues shaping a player whose ceiling is still rising.   ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247     Jersie Rodriguez understands that becoming a difficult pin hitter to defend is often about precision rather than power. She takes pride in moving the ball around the court, attacking open spaces, and making defenses pay when they lose discipline. Instead of relying on one swing, Rodriguez is intentionally expanding her offensive options by developing sharper cross-court attacks while continuing to improve the placement that already separates her game.   That awareness extends beyond the front row. Rodriguez enjoys studying hitters before they attack, paying close attention to shoulders and approach angles so she can anticipate where the ball is likely to go. It's an approach built on observation as much as athleticism. She also hopes coaches remember that she competes with enthusiasm, celebrates the success of her teammates, and embraces every opportunity to make an impact on both sides of the ball.   ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247     Alisynn Garau already thinks about the game like a player who wants to solve problems instead of simply creating power. She believes one of her greatest strengths is recognizing open areas of the court and placing the ball where defenders aren't expecting it. That type of offensive awareness often develops through experience, and Garau is intentionally building on it while learning how to become a stronger communicator and more vocal presence for her team.   Leadership is another part of her identity that continues to grow. She wants teammates to know they can look to her during difficult moments and trust that she will stay confident while helping guide the group forward. Garau hopes college coaches leave remembering a competitor who leads with composure, supports those around her, and refuses to let mistakes define either herself or her teammates. That combination of court awareness and leadership gives her game a strong foundation moving forward.   ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247     Kaylee Tolson believes one of the biggest differences between good hitters and great hitters is recognizing when not to take the obvious swing. Reading the defense, making adjustments, and finding intentional ways to score have become defining pieces of her game. Rather than attacking without purpose, she enjoys solving what the defense gives her and using volleyball IQ to create better offensive opportunities.   That same mindset shows up in the areas she continues developing. Tolson is working to generate more controlled power while maintaining the ability to make smart decisions under pressure. She wants teammates to rely on her court awareness and intentional playmaking, while hoping coaches remember an athlete who contributes in multiple positions and consistently encourages the people around her. Her versatility and understanding of the game continue making her a player capable of impacting rallies in a variety of ways.   ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247     Emerson Steers has learned that being undersized doesn't mean playing small. Instead of relying on overpowering opponents, she has developed a game built on reading the defense, identifying open space, and making intelligent decisions with every swing. Her ability to move the ball around the court has become one of her biggest strengths, allowing her to score without becoming predictable. Combined with dependable serve receive, she's building the type of all-around game that keeps her involved in every rotation.   Steers is now focused on expanding her defensive range while maintaining the calm demeanor that has become part of her identity. She wants teammates to trust her in pressure moments, not because she'll always deliver the hardest swing, but because she'll make the right play. Whether she's filling in at setter, middle, or outside, her willingness to adapt reflects a player who values helping her team however she's needed. That versatility, paired with her volleyball IQ, continues to shape her evolution as a pin hitter.   ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247     Addison Lehman has embraced the idea that scoring is about creativity as much as power. She doesn't measure success by how hard she hits the ball. She measures it by finding ways around blockers, using a variety of shots, and creating points when the obvious swing isn't available. That offensive versatility has become a defining characteristic of her game and continues to separate her from many athletes her age.   As her offensive game expands, Lehman is equally committed to becoming a more dependable six-rotation player. Improving serve receive remains a major focus because she understands that complete pin hitters influence the match long before they take an attack. She also wants teammates to know they can rely on her leadership in the biggest moments. Whether she's chasing down a difficult ball or finding a smart way to finish a rally, Lehman is building a game centered on effort, adaptability, and continual growth.   ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247     Olivia Drucks believes one of the best ways to score is by giving the defense something it isn't expecting. She enjoys using a variety of shots based on the situation rather than relying on the same attack over and over again. That willingness to adjust, combined with a calm and positive presence on the court, has helped shape an offensive style built on decision-making as much as athletic ability.   She's now working to strengthen the defensive side of her game by improving her posture and staying lower in serve receive, recognizing that quality first contact creates more offensive opportunities. Drucks also hopes coaches remember the energy she brings to every rally and how quickly she moves on from mistakes. Considering she's only in her second season playing volleyball, her commitment to learning and adapting suggests there's still plenty of room for her game to grow.   ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247     Cora Noskoff Sanchez is developing into the type of pin hitter who values smart volleyball as much as aggressive volleyball. Reading the court, recognizing scoring opportunities, and making intentional decisions with the ball have become central pieces of her offensive identity. Rather than forcing plays that aren't there, she works to understand what the defense is giving her and respond accordingly.   That same thoughtful approach carries into the areas she's working to improve. Serve receive consistency and placing attacks with greater precision remain priorities because she wants to become a more complete player in every rotation. Cora also hopes teammates can count on her composure when matches tighten, believing reliability is built through calm decision-making and steady effort. Her journey toward college volleyball may have started only recently, but her commitment to learning the game continues to move her in the right direction.   ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247     Aziah Amosa has developed an offensive style built on awareness rather than predictability. Instead of attacking every set the same way, she enjoys finding different solutions depending on what the defense gives her. Whether it's rolling a shot into the middle of the court, tooling a well-formed block, or choosing placement over power, she understands that creating points often comes from making the smartest decision instead of the hardest swing.   As she continues expanding her game, Amosa is challenging herself to become just as confident in the back row as she is at the net. She recognizes that becoming a complete pin hitter means trusting herself to pursue every ball defensively with the same aggressiveness she brings offensively. Just as important, she wants teammates to count on her encouragement and positivity when matches become stressful. That combination of adaptability and selflessness continues shaping the competitor she is becoming.   ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247     Macy Warren's volleyball journey has taught her that intelligence can become a competitive advantage. Years of competing while smaller forced her to develop skills that couldn't rely on size alone. She learned to score through shot selection, ball control, and an understanding of how rallies unfold. Now that her athleticism is beginning to catch up with her volleyball IQ, she's blending power with decision-making in ways that continue expanding her offensive game.   That evolution hasn't stopped her from searching for the next area of improvement. Warren is focused on becoming a stronger blocker while continuing to embrace the versatility that comes from playing both setter and pin hitter. Seeing the game from multiple perspectives has helped her understand how to impact a match beyond statistics, and she hopes coaches remember a player who communicates, competes with confidence, and consistently finds ways to make everyone around her better.   ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247     Evelyn Wilson has built her game around solving difficult situations. One of the qualities she values most is her ability to turn out-of-system sets into productive swings, creating offense when the play doesn't unfold perfectly. That ability requires more than athleticism. It demands patience, creativity, and the confidence to adjust in real time rather than forcing low-percentage attacks.   Wilson is continuing to refine that offensive versatility by improving her shoulder and hip separation, allowing her to generate more power without sacrificing control. At the same time, she takes pride in being someone coaches can trust in serve receive, from the service line, and on defense. More than any single highlight, she hopes people remember the encouragement she brings to teammates and her willingness to contribute wherever she's needed. That all-around mindset continues making her a valuable player in every rotation.   ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247     Siena Tisalona believes versatility and court awareness are two of the most valuable qualities a pin hitter can possess. Rather than approaching every attack the same way, she enjoys reading the game, making smart decisions, and finding opportunities to create offense that fit the situation in front of her. Her goal isn't simply to score points. It's to make winning plays.   While continuing to sharpen her offensive skills by improving her wrist snap, Tisalona wants coaches and teammates to recognize something equally important about her game: reliability. She hopes they remember a player who competes with a positive attitude, works hard every day, and can be counted on to make intelligent decisions when the ball comes her way. Add in the unique ability to attack comfortably as a left-handed player from either pin, and she's continuing to build an adaptable offensive game with room to keep growing.   ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">If You Enjoyed This Article, Help Us Keep the Momentum Going</h2>   🔥 Athletes   One of the biggest takeaways from this group is that becoming a more dangerous pin hitter isn't always about adding power. It's about adding options.   The athletes featured here talked about reading blockers, using different shots, improving serve receive, becoming more versatile, and making better decisions when rallies don't unfold exactly as planned. Those adjustments may not always show up on a highlight reel, but they often become the difference between athletes who rely on one strength and those who can influence a match in multiple ways.   Study this group closely. Notice how each athlete is expanding her game in a different direction. The pin hitters who continue separating themselves are often the ones who understand that the smartest play can be just as valuable as the hardest swing.   📣 Club Coaches & Directors   Thank you for continuing to challenge athletes to think beyond the next attack.   The athletes featured here repeatedly referenced reading the court, making adjustments, embracing coaching, and becoming more complete six-rotation players. Those habits are developed through intentional coaching, meaningful repetition, and creating gym environments where athletes are encouraged to solve problems instead of relying on physical ability alone.   If one of your athletes is featured, celebrate her growth. Share this article, tag @PrepDigCA, and continue highlighting the work happening inside your program.   🎯 College Coaches   Modern pin hitters are asked to do far more than terminate the ball.   Today's game rewards athletes who can score with variety, handle serve receive, defend their position, communicate, and make quality decisions when plays break down. The athletes featured here revealed a clear understanding that expanding their offensive toolbox and becoming more complete players is just as important as adding velocity to their swing.   Those habits often continue translating long after physical advantages begin to level out.   🙏 Parents & Supporters   Behind every technical adjustment is an athlete willing to embrace the learning process.   The smarter shot, the better read, the improved platform, and the confidence to make a different decision under pressure all come from countless hours of repetition and encouragement. Thank you for supporting the long practices, extra touches, and daily commitment that continue shaping these athletes into more complete volleyball players.   Growth rarely happens all at once. It happens one adjustment, one conversation, and one rep at a time.   🚀 <a href="https://prepdig.com/my-account/subscriptions/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Upgrade to a PrepDig+ Subscription</a> Access exclusive rankings, deeper analysis, and the full Prospect Index to follow every athlete's journey.   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/>   Want More Exposure? The PrepDig Showcase Series is designed for athletes who want to take ownership of their recruiting journey and better understand how visibility, evaluation, and opportunity work together. These events offer more than competition. They provide athletes with a chance to learn how exposure works, compete in front of evaluators, build confidence, and gain valuable insight into what coaches are looking for at each stage of development.   Whether your goal is to improve communication, showcase your skills, earn recognition, receive meaningful evaluation, or simply learn how to stand out in a competitive environment, each showcase is built to help athletes grow both on and off the court. If you're ready to invest in your development, tell your story, and put yourself on the radar, <a href="https://prepdig.com/all-events/?type=Showcase" id="https://prepdig.com/all-events/?type=Showcase">registration is open</a>.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prepdig.com/all-events/?type=Showcase"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2026/06/image_7e2dff.png?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1000286"/></a></figure>   Thank you for making today's wins matter — one article, one player, one memory at a time.   ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247

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