Freshmen Turning Varsity Coaches' Heads This Fall

<a href="https://prepdig.com/subscribe/" id="https://prepdig.com/subscribe/">Use code Coachable247 for 30% off. Subscribe to follow these freshmen as they take on varsity this fall.</a>   Some freshmen spend their first year finding their footing. This group is stepping straight into the deep end, some already locked into a varsity roster, others fighting for that spot through tryouts this month, all of them treating year one like it matters right now. Here's who they are, and what they're chasing.    Abby Pullen has built her game around performing under pressure, whether that's serving on match point, staying aggressive, or keeping her team's energy up when things get tight. Tryouts are next week at Palisades Charter, and making varsity as a freshman is the goal driving her right now. A piece of coaching advice reshaped her approach at the plate as a relatively undersized six-rotation hitter, she learned that timing and position matter more than arm swing mechanics, and applying that lesson improved her approach timing out of serve receive on fast tempo sets. Her goals for this first season are to earn a starting role and help build a strong team dynamic, and her sights are set on a Division I program down the road, where her six-rotation skill set could contribute as either a hitter or a defensive specialist. She stays calm under pressure and works to keep her teammates loose in stressful moments, and she's looking forward to competing against girls her age from across California while building friendships with other players and coaches.   ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247     [player_tooltip player_id='773032' first='Blake' last='Perry'] sees herself as a natural leader on the court, someone who steps in when a teammate is lost or needs help, and who genuinely loves celebrating her teammates' good plays. She's stepping onto varsity as a freshman at Orange Lutheran, and she knows that means competing against older, more experienced players from day one. A quote from a coach reshaped how she thinks about her own game, that motivation shouldn't be what drives her, discipline should, and that shift pushed her to bring the same intensity to practice that she wants to bring to games. Perry's college dreams are set on the Division I level, and she understands what that requires, consistent daily work toward that goal. She comforts teammates after a rough play or a bad practice, reminding them that one moment doesn't define them as a player or a person, and she wanted to be part of the Freshman Showcase for the exposure and the chance to sharpen her skills against other talented athletes.   ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247     [player_tooltip player_id='988190' first='CC' last='Guy'] leads with quick arm action and a knack for finishing plays, and she's stepping into her freshman season at Newport Harbor with a clear mindset, a fresh start, and the challenge of proving herself against older girls. A small technical fix, a split step before serve receive, sharpened her passing noticeably. Her goal isn't just to show that she belongs, it's to make a name for herself, and she backs that ambition with a team-first approach on the court, staying supportive and positive with a next-point mentality. Guy wanted to be part of the Freshman Showcase to start building real exposure toward playing college volleyball.   ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247     [player_tooltip player_id='727730' first='Gia' last='Bella Ellis'] is stepping onto varsity as a freshman at Viewpoint School, and she's doing it with her sights already set on 2030, when she wants to look back and know she helped build the program into something special. She wants coaches to notice her energy, athleticism, and power in transition, but just as much, her defensive read, tracking the ball and working relentlessly to keep plays alive. A coaching mentality shift changed how she attacks entirely, she was taught to swing with purpose and confidence instead of holding back, and that adjustment made her a more powerful, more effective hitter. Ellis is targeting a competitive Division I program long term, one built around a winning culture that pushes her to grow as a player, teammate, and person. She brings positive energy and a never-give-up mentality for her teammates, especially in tough moments, and she wanted to be part of the Freshman Showcase again after strong past experiences, hoping to keep growing and stay visible to college coaches.   ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247     [player_tooltip player_id='547181' first='Havanah' last='Rylee Lowery'] describes her game like a chess match, always thinking one play ahead, and she takes pride in having a complete offensive toolbox, power, placement, tempo, and shot selection that keeps blockers guessing. She's heading into her freshman season ready to compete against older, more experienced players, believing that's exactly where the biggest growth happens. A lesson from her coach, Carlos Briceno, about always being ready, has shaped how she prepares mentally, staying composed under pressure and trusting her training from the very first point. Lowery's goal is to make an immediate impact while continuing to grow as a complete player, with a long-term target of Division I volleyball in a program built on hard work and accountability. She shows up for teammates by encouraging them after mistakes and celebrating their successes, believing confidence is contagious, and she wanted to be part of the Freshman Showcase for the chance to compete against talented athletes while building relationships with college programs.   ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247     [player_tooltip player_id='752867' first='Layla' last='Marquez'] leans on her athleticism, explosiveness, and versatility to stand out, along with an ability to place her shots anywhere on the court. She's chasing a varsity spot as an incoming freshman at Archbishop Mitty, and her ambitions don't stop there, she's aiming for WCAL Freshman of the Year and a shot at a state championship in her very first season. A coaching note about keeping a good platform and staying relaxed on her passing is the piece she's currently working into her game. Marquez has already identified the kind of programs she sees herself fitting into, Louisville, SMU, Texas A&M, and USC among them, drawn to a style of play she feels matches her own. She leads by building her teammates' confidence, keeping their energy up, and encouraging them through tough stretches, calling that where her leadership kicks in. She wanted to be part of the Freshman Showcase for the chance to compete against talented players, and she's hoping to walk away having sharpened her game and shown coaches exactly the kind of teammate and competitor she is.   ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247     [player_tooltip player_id='988054' first='Luisa' last='Penzias'] is the only freshman on varsity this year at Calabasas, and she's using that spot to lead, not just play. What sets her apart is her ability to lift up the people around her regardless of their skill level, paired with a habit of communicating even through the rough patches of a game. A piece of coaching advice pushed her to stay aggressive through tough, tight matches, which has sharpened her composure in high-pressure moments. Her goal for her freshman debut is to be someone who moves her team closer to success, and she's aiming to earn as much playing time as she can as the lone freshman on the roster. Long term, she's looking for a school that offers a strong level of play and coaching while also preparing her for life beyond volleyball. She stays positive and works to uplift her team when things get difficult, and she wanted to be part of the Freshman Showcase for the high-level coaching, the chance to compete against new talent, and a fresh perspective on the game.   ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247     [player_tooltip player_id='995110' first='Olivia' last='Anorga'] already runs an offense with a setter's instinct for detail, soft hands, a clean release, and sets her hitters can count on even off a bad pass. She just made ProPlay's 16-1s at 14 years old, meaning she'll be one of the youngest players on the court once club starts in November, and she says that's exactly why she wanted it, she doesn't improve when things are easy. Right now her focus is high school, where making varsity as a freshman and earning real minutes is the goal, she doesn't want anything handed to her. A fix to her follow-through this summer changed her game significantly, she'd been cutting it short, making her sets flat and inconsistent, and finishing all the way through the ball made her sets more hittable and her hitters' approaches cleaner. Anorga wants to play Division I volleyball eventually, somewhere academics matter as much as the sport, and she leads by staying steady for her hitters, going right back to a hitter who's struggling rather than losing trust after a couple of tough swings. She wanted to be part of the Freshman Showcase to find out where her game actually stands before club and high school both begin, and to start getting on coaches' radar early.   ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247     [player_tooltip player_id='1011005' first='Rory' last='Corrales'] is the only freshman to make the varsity team at Loma Linda Academy, and she calls that opportunity incredible, knowing how much she'll learn just from watching and playing alongside older teammates every day. Her confidence and consistency are what she wants a coach to notice first, along with the calm she brings to her team in high-pressure situations, backed by a coachability she takes real pride in. A piece of advice, play your game even when you're not 100 percent, reshaped how she handles an off night, teaching her that the best players don't let a rough moment define how they compete. Corrales's goal this season is to grow alongside her varsity teammates while contributing wherever her team needs her, and she's picturing a college program down the road built on education, teamwork, and a positive culture. As a multi-team captain in her past, she leads by bringing people together and reminding teammates they can count on her, especially when the score isn't in their favor. She wanted to be part of the Freshman Showcase to grow as a player, gain feedback from experienced coaches, and start building connections toward her goal of playing college volleyball.   ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247     [player_tooltip player_id='1009535' first='Samantha' last='Molina'] wants coaches to see her as a team player and a leader, someone who's coachable and performs well under pressure after years on competitive teams where every point matters. As a freshman on the varsity team at El Dorado, she's leaning on her teammates and coaches daily to teach her new techniques and push her game forward. A piece of coaching feedback changed how she attacks, she learned that swinging just to swing isn't enough, she has to be smart about shot placement, read the block, and find where she can actually score. Her goals include learning as much as she can from her older teammates while continuing to build her volleyball IQ and physical strength, with a long-term target of a Division I program. She encourages her teammates by reminding them they're all in it together and can lean on each other's strengths, and she wanted to be part of the Freshman Showcase for the exposure it offers, hoping to see where she stacks up and to keep growing from the feedback she receives.   ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247    <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">If You Enjoyed This Article, Help Us Keep the Momentum Going</h2>   🔥 Athletes Take time to explore the player profiles featured in this article. Look at how these freshmen talk about themselves, what they're already working on, and the habits showing up in their own words this early in their careers. If you're just starting your own high school journey, this is not the time to compare your timeline to anyone else's. It's time to focus on what's in front of you right now: showing up to tryouts ready, being coachable, and building the habits that will carry your game for the next four years.   📣 Club Coaches & Directors Celebrate the athletes from your program who were featured, and use this list as a real conversation starter with your incoming freshman class. These are athletes at the very beginning of their high school and recruiting journeys, and the habits they build now, communication, coachability, competitiveness, are the foundation everything else gets built on. Help them understand that exposure starts early, but so does the work. Share this article and use it to set the tone for the season ahead.   🎯 College Coaches These profiles represent incoming freshmen already turning heads at the varsity level across California. It's early in their recruiting journeys, but the habits, IQ, and competitiveness on display here are worth tracking now. Use PrepDig to start building a book on these athletes as they enter high school, and keep an eye on how their games develop over the next four years.   🙏 Parents & Supporters This is one of the most exciting stretches in your athlete's journey, the very start of it. Thank you for supporting them through it. Take a moment to appreciate what it means for your freshman to already be stepping into varsity-level competition. Share this article, look through the featured profiles together, and use it as a conversation about the road ahead, not as a measure of where they stand against anyone else. There's a long runway in front of them, and this is just the beginning.   🚀 <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"/>   <a href="https://prepdig.com/all-events/?type=Showcase" data-type="link" data-id="https://prepdig.com/all-events/?type=Showcase">Need More Exposure? Find a PrepDig Showcase </a>   Our showcases are 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-full"><a href="https://prepdig.com/all-events/?type=Showcase"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2026/08/image_e80cf3.png" alt="" class="wp-image-1014116"/></a></figure>   <h1 class="wp-block-heading">HEADING TO DURANGO?</h1>   <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://prepdig.com/all-events/?type=Showcase"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2026/08/image_d44281.png" alt="" class="wp-image-1014117"/></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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