Lefty Hitters You Need to See

Happy National Left Handed Day! In honor of my fellow lefties I thought it only fitting to highlight some players that are perfecting their craft from the 'less dominant' side of sports. The game is tough to learn for any newcomer, but what happens when an athlete runs into a coach or team that is not familiar with training a specific skill set? Let's talk about it. Here are some lefties that have shared their struggles, lessons, and favorite parts of being left handed in this game.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Lefty Hitters </h2>    [player_tooltip player_id='906553' first='Nariah' last='Miller'], a dominant lefty hitter out of San Antonio, Texas. Facing the challenges of adjusting to sets coming across her body and learning opposite side footwork, she has put in a lot of work personally to develop her game to a higher caliber. Miller states, that a big aid to her volleyball growth has been "attending showcases and [being around] other athletes that are left handed." Working to build her game by working with other players has been the biggest part of her development and it shows in her ability to connect well with others on the court with her. Throughout her time playing, Nariah has grown into a strong force at the net with great energy and leadership qualities. As a lefty she has grown to love swinging down the line from the right pin, as most are not prepared for an oppo hitter to turn that shot off of an inside set, and Nariah has developed as knack for the surprise attack.     [player_tooltip player_id='1003409' first='Audrina' last='Dalla Costa'], a strong left handed pin hitter from Houston, that turns heads when she's on the court. As she developed her skills as a hitter, she ran into the challenge of having to "relearn everything as a left handed hitter." Being taught most footwork and movements with right handed hitters also gave her an advantage in making adjustments across the net in out of system play, able to save an over-set ball with her right hand. Working to perfect her footwork as a hitter has given her a laser focus for her own growth and development that has carried over to the court. In her time playing, she has established a favoritism for the surprise she delivers from the outside pin as she throws the blockers timing off with a line shot that must first cross her body. Audrina is a strong and versatile player that will no doubt give defenders a run.     [player_tooltip player_id='1017830' first='Natalee' last='Steele'], a big energy lefty from Wichita Falls has been put on the radar after a season of playing up a class. Lighting up the line every chance she gets, has made her an ideal right side threat. Bringing a solid swing to the court and fine athleticism, she has faced the challenge of running into coaches that are not used to training a lefty. Through her own commitment and, that of past coaches, to learning the court from the opposite side. Taking the time before and after practices to get the extra reps has been a big help to enhancing her game, and further understanding her ability as a left handed hitter. As she has grown in the game, she has come to love hearing teams shout the warnings about a lefty being on the court, giving her a confidence boost, and pushing her to be the threat from the pin.     [player_tooltip player_id='990917' first='Chloe' last='Miles'], a 6 rotation right side that has faced more than the challenge of being left handed as she also is stated as an "undersized" hitter. She has developed herself into a vocal and hard working player, pushing past the difficulties of hitting on the outside as a lefty. In her time developing her style of play she has been faced with having to make adjustments finding the ball across her body and connecting with setters about the change in set for her to be successful at the net. In turn, her ability to communicate and be patient in play has aided her on the court. As a lefty, Chloe has come to favor the surprise she serves to most blockers. Utilizing her athleticism alongside her training has encouraged her to enjoy the gift of being an oppo hitter.     [player_tooltip player_id='907094' first='Morghan' last='Pickens'], a 6'0 lefty MB/RS from Katy, Texas, shows much potential as a hitter. Her greatest challenge at the net has been adjusting to setters who may not be too experienced with left handed hitters and reading the blocks. Timing and connection are crucial to the game of volleyball, and Morghan has committed to focusing her efforts on perfecting these two things. As she continues playing, her greatest help has been repetition with her setters and coaches willing to take the time to learn alongside her. She has taken a liking to keying in on her blocking technique as she continues to develop her hitting mechanics with her setters. Her size and surprise from the pin give her the confidence boost on the court and clearly make all the difference in her play.

Happy National Left Handed Day! In honor of my fellow lefties I thought it only fitting to highlight some players that are perfecting their craft from the 'less dominant' side of sports. The game is tough to learn for any newcomer, but what happens when an athlete runs into a coach or team that is not familiar with training a specific skill set? Let's talk about it. Here are some lefties that have shared their struggles, lessons, and favorite parts of being left handed in this game.