The Pins That Demanded Attention at the Stock Up Showcase

Terminators. That's the first word that came to mind while watching this group of pin hitters compete at the Showcase this past weekend. They were young, fearless, and absolutely unloaded on the ball every chance they got. Their confidence was contagious, their athleticism jumped off the court, and they had no interest in tipping when they could put a ball away. That is one of my favorite attributes of young pins - they simply want to hit, and hit hard, without overthinking it. This was a fun group to watch, and it's easy to see why they'll be on plenty of college coaches' radars in the years to come.    It's hard to believe she's only an incoming freshman because she looked like one of the most complete pin hitters at the showcase. She attacks with a big, explosive approach, showing great patience before accelerating into her jump, and she was equally confident terminating from the front row and the back row. Her transition game was outstanding, getting off the net quickly and creating quality swings even on out-of-system balls. Just as impressive was her all-around game—she's a fundamentally sound passer with a quiet platform, rounded shoulders, and great ball control - no surprise for a Boiler Jr athlete. Despite her talent, she carries herself with humility, lets her play do the talking, and works as hard as anyone on the court. She has the complete package, and her future is incredibly bright.     For an incoming freshman, her pass-to-attack game was as good as any I saw all weekend. She consistently turned quality passes into aggressive, high-powered swings and never hesitated to take a big cut at the ball. While she was effective on the left, I actually think her future could be even brighter on the right side, where her length and ability to put up a big, disciplined block really shine. Plus, she attacks very effectively and confidently on the right. Offensively, her unique, almost "roundhouse" arm swing makes her difficult for blockers and defenders to read, allowing her to generate kills from a variety of angles. She has the confidence, versatility, and physical tools to become a high-level pin, and she's another young player with a tremendous amount of upside.     Few players got as many reps as she did, yet her effort never faded. She seemed to be on the court all day, competing with the same intensity from the first play to the last and never taking a rep off. Physically, she has the ideal build for a collegiate pin hitter, and her length makes her just as intriguing on the right side, where she also showed the ability to put up a strong, disciplined block. Offensively, she had the best deep line shot of any of the young pins at the showcase and paired it with a high-level wrist-away shot that kept defenders guessing. As she continues to develop, I'd love to see her reach higher through contact when attacking and use every bit of her length, because raising her contact point will make an already dangerous attacker even tougher to defend.     If you only looked at the roster, you might assume her 5'8" height would be a disadvantage. The second she stepped on the court, that assumption disappeared. She elevates so well that her height is almost a non-factor, consistently attacking above the block with what was arguably the heaviest arm and hardest cross-court swing of any pin hitter at the showcase. She looked equally comfortable terminating from either pin and carried herself with a level of confidence that never seemed to change, no matter the situation. What impressed me just as much was her ability to adjust to out-of-system plays, consistently getting her feet behind the ball and still producing quality, effective swings. Add in her advanced serve receive and defensive skills, and she has all the tools to develop into a true six-rotation pin at the next level.     She first caught my eye during the warm-up games, and it didn't take long to see why. Her deep float serve was one of the most dangerous at the showcase, immediately putting the other side under pressure while racking up aces. She stands out right away with her confidence, powerful arm, and aggressive mindset, showing the ability to terminate down the line at will whenever the set is there. What impressed me most, though, was her maturity. When the set wasn't perfect, she consistently adjusted, made smart decisions, and found ways to score instead of forcing low-percentage swings or making a ton of hitting errors. That's not something you see every day from an incoming freshman, and it's a testament to the high-level volleyball she's already played. She has all the tools of a next-level pin hitter, and I expect her to be on plenty of college coaches' radars in the next couple of years as she continues to develop.     She may have been the biggest leaper among the pin hitters, but her athleticism was only part of what made her stand out and make me completely forget that she is "undersized" (silly word anyways). She competed with relentless effort, never wanted to leave the court, and attacked every rep with the same energy from start to finish. Her speed, defensive instincts, and willingness to chase down every ball make her a true six-rotation player, and I could easily see her excelling as a defensive specialist or libero if that was the path she chose. At the net when blocking, she kept things simple and fundamentally sound, avoiding unnecessary drift and putting up one of the best blocks of any pin at the showcase. Her competitiveness, versatility, and speed make her the type of athlete every coach wants in the gym.     Some players make an impact with their play, while others elevate everyone around them. She did both. From the very first rep, she was communicating with confidence while many players were still getting comfortable, and no matter which court she was on, she was easily the loudest voice there. Her confidence shined in the 2-on-2 games, where her poise, decision-making, and experience allowed her to thrive even in challenging situations. She consistently made smart choices when attacking poor sets and out-of-system balls, and when she rotated to the back row, she was constantly calling seams and helping her hitters see the court. Even as the day wore on, her energy never faded—she continued encouraging teammates, communicating, and competing with the same enthusiasm she showed at the beginning of the showcase. She's the kind of player who not only makes her team better on the court but also raises the level of everyone around her, making her an athlete any coach would love to have in their gym.    <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">If you loved this article, please follow my Instagram page, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/abovethenetvolleyball" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Above The Net Volleyball</a> for exclusive content and behind-the-scenes action.</h3>   After following our page, take the next step and subscribe to PrepDig! By subscribing, you'll not only stay connected to the latest coverage of your favorite events, but you'll also be helping to shine a spotlight on rising volleyball talent.   Use discount code Smith30 for an exclusive discount!   Year-Round Coverage: Access all PrepDig articles nationwide.   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Terminators. That's the first word that came to mind while watching this group of pin hitters compete at the Showcase this past weekend. They were young, fearless, and absolutely unloaded on the ball every chance they got. Their confidence was contagious, their athleticism jumped off the court, and they had no interest in tipping when they could put a ball away. That is one of my favorite attributes of young pins - they simply want to hit, and hit hard, without overthinking it. This was a fun group to watch, and it's easy to see why they'll be on plenty of college coaches' radars in the years to come.