Senior Leaders Ready to Own the Back Row

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><a href="https://prepdig.com/subscribe/"><strong>More than 150 college coaches shared this article.</strong>&nbsp;<strong>Join PrepDig with 30% off using code "digdakotas30."</strong></a></em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em><a href="https://www.instagram.com/prepdigdakotas/?hl=en">Follow on Instagram@prepdigdakota</a></em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Defense can turn a game in a hurry. One dig keeps the rally alive. One good pass gives the offense all its options. The best back row players know where the ball will go before it's even hit. They read hitters, stay disciplined in serve-receive, and refuse to let the ball hit the floor. They are the players who quietly change games.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here are a few players I'll be watching closely as we prepare for the high school season. This is not a list nor a ranking. It's a group of defenders who consistently make plays, earn their teammates' trust, and can take over the back row. They're the type of players who make everyone around them better and will be a big reason their teams are successful this fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["455603"],"_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-6a5ad314e3f59"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='809402' first='Kezlyn' last='Pinckney'] makes defense look effortless because she's almost always in the right position before the attack happens. She reads hitters well, stays balanced through contact, and consistently gets her platform behind the ball. Hard-driven attacks that look like clean kills often turn into controlled digs because she's already there waiting. Teams are going to have to earn every point against her because she doesn't give away easy kills and forces hitters to keep swinging. <strong><em>~Theresa@prepdigdakotas</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["447961"],"_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-6a5ad314e3f93"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='447961' first='Kenna' last='Hennessey'] is not going to make rallies easy. She covers a ton of ground, chases down tips that most players would give up on, and somehow finds herself in the middle of one defensive play after another. Her energy is relentless, and that style has a way of frustrating hitters who think they've already won the point. She prolongs rallies and gives her teammates more opportunities to score, making it hard for the opponent's offense to finish a point. <strong><em>~Theresa@prepdigdakotas</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["391765"],"_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-6a5ad314e3fb4"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Pressure never seems to speed [player_tooltip player_id='391765' first='McKinley' last='Hardle'] up. When attacks come at her with pace, she stays composed, keeps her platform quiet, and absorbs the ball instead of trying to force a highlight play. Those controlled touches keep the offense in rhythm and allow her setter to run the entire court. Teams that rely on serving tough and creating chaos won't find many free points when the ball is coming their direction. <strong><em>~Theresa@prepdigdakotas</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["455615"],"_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-6a5ad314e3fd2"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='455615' first='Taylor' last='Peterson'] does an outstanding job reading the game before the hitter even contacts the ball. She's already adjusting her depth, sliding into the seam, and positioning herself to defend the next attack. That anticipation allows her to turn difficult swings into playable balls while keeping the defense organized around her. Hitters will have to work for points because she's consistently taking away angles and forcing them to look for another option. <strong><em>~Theresa@prepdigdakotas</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["461571"],"_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-6a5ad314e3fef"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='461571' first='Kendall' last='Dahlen'] stands out in serve-receive. She welcomes contact, remains calm under pressure, and routinely provides passes that give her setter every offensive option. Quality ball control starts the offense, spreading confidence throughout the lineup because teammates know it. Teams trying to break up the offense from the service line will find out how hard it is to get her out of the system. <strong><em>~Theresa@prepdigdakotas</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["455612"],"_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-6a5ad314e400c"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='455612' first='Estella' last='Garcia'] never loses a rally. She makes a defensive play, and she's already moving to cover the next ball, chasing tips, tracking deflections, and filling open space without hesitation. You can't miss her effort, but what really stands out is how often she's in the right place before the play even develops. Opponents must be patient because she turns potential kills into another rally for her team. <strong><em>~Theresa@prepdigdakotas</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Thank you to all my readers for making this journey possible. My goal has always been simple: to shine a light on athletes at every level, from Division I to NAIA, and give them a platform to keep chasing their love for the game. 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