7 Freshman Defenders Leading With Their Voice

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepdig.com/subscribe/" data-type="link" data-id="https://prepdig.com/subscribe/">Use code Coachable247 for 30% off. Subscribe to follow these defenders as they set the tone for their teams this fall.</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Some players carry a defense with their hands. These seven carry it with their voice. Seven incoming freshman defenders lead with communication, keeping teammates locked in, energized, and accountable point after point. Here's who they are, and how they hold a defense together.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1010127"],"_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-6a847f157218e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Aiyanna Oneal wants coaches to notice one thing above everything else, that she's always talking, even when her team is down. Communication is the trait she leans on hardest, and it shows in a piece of coaching advice that's stuck with her: fill your mind with the positive, the stuff that helps, because filling it with negative self-talk becomes exactly the outcome you were afraid of. Oneal is competing at a faster, higher level during her freshman season, and her goals are refreshingly simple, keep learning, and make every experience fun. She's aiming for a college with strong academics and an excellent volleyball program. When things get tough for a teammate, her response is immediate, she tells them...</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:quote --> <blockquote class="wp-block-quote"><!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hey, we got it, let's go, we can do this.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --></blockquote> <!-- /wp:quote --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1009458"],"_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-6a847f157222c"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ava Lin brings energy through humor, and she wants a college coach to notice how outgoing and funny she is, and how she works to uplift everyone around her, on and off the court. A coaching cue from last club season became a habit for her, directing her hitters on exactly where to hit, cross court, line, a tip, whatever gives her team the best shot at the point, and that habit reinforced something bigger, staying loud and encouraging as a constant. Lin is most motivated by playing alongside her best friends, and her goals for her freshman season center on building strong bonds with new teammates while also targeting a top academic school that fits her future plans. When things get tough, she works to lift the mood and get her team hyped for the next point.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["849503"],"_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-6a847f15722ae"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Brooke Scherlacher plays with a calm court presence, and she wants coaches to notice her effort and her ability to stay composed and keep playing well point to point. She's built a personal reset phrase she repeats to herself after every point: </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:quote --> <blockquote class="wp-block-quote"><!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>You can't change what happened, what you can change is what happens next.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --></blockquote> <!-- /wp:quote --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>That single line does a lot of work for her, keeping her even-keeled whether the last play went well or not. During her freshman season, Scherlacher has enjoyed meeting new people and experiencing high school volleyball for the first time, and she's motivated simply by how much she loves the sport and the people around her. Her goal for the season is to earn playing time through consistent effort on and off the court, and when a teammate is struggling, she makes herself available for support, making sure they don't get stuck in their own head.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["884854"],"_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-6a847f157232f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cameron Kavelaars Eakins brings a loud, energetic presence to the court, and she wants a college coach to notice her attitude and her love for the game right away. A passing cue from her club season has become second nature to her, she uses the acronym TAS, track, angle, stick, to simplify her thinking before serve receive and keep her decision-making fast and clean. Kavelaars Eakins is learning from upperclassmen during her freshman season, and what keeps her motivated is knowing there's always another opportunity to improve. Her goal for this season is simply to learn as much as she possibly can, and long term she's looking for a college program that's competitive and pushes her to grow as both a player and a person. She shows up for teammates by reminding them she needs them in the moment and reinforcing the player she knows they are.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["759310"],"_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-6a847f15723b0"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Catherine Tanuwidjaja is usually the loudest person on the court, and she pairs that energy with strong serving and accurate passing that college coaches will notice quickly. A simple cue, split step and get behind the ball before passing, has sharpened her consistency during her JV season. Tanuwidjaja has taken on that challenge directly, and her goal for her first high school season is to be the libero her teammates and coaches can always count on in fast-paced games. She's hoping to land in a college program somewhere in Orange County, Los Angeles, or the Inland Empire, where she can keep growing as a player and contributing to a competitive team. She communicates on every single play and keeps energy up even from the sideline.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["982504"],"_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-6a847f157242c"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Samantha Uribe brings consistent, accurate passing and digging, but just as important to her is the communication she provides through tough moments and misunderstandings, along with the energy she brings to hype up her team. She wants coaches to know that her consistency isn't accidental, it comes from hard work and dedication on and off the court. A coaching cue taught her to protect her headspace after every point, staying focused and present no matter what just happened. Uribe is motivated by looking back at how far she's already come, and her goal for her freshman debut is to stand out to coaches while keeping her team spirit up and having fun along the way. Long term, she's eyeing a Division II or Division I program in a major that fits her academic goals. She shows up for teammates by encouraging them to look forward and stay focused on what's next.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["989807"],"_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-6a847f15724b1"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Starlette Barajas wants a college coach to see that her focus isn't only on her own success, it's on her teammates' success too, and she backs that up with a coachability that shows up in how hard she competes for every single point. She's enjoyed meeting new teammates and testing herself against older, more experienced competition, and she's especially driven by the depth of talented liberos she's competing against for a roster spot. A piece of coaching feedback simplified her mental approach entirely, stay focused on the next play no matter what just happened, and she's applied that same lesson to how she reflects on her game afterward rather than in the moment. Barajas is looking for a college program with a competitive environment and excellent coaching that rewards hard work, somewhere she can keep learning from the best around her. She shows up for teammates by supporting them and reminding them to keep pushing when things get difficult.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">If You Enjoyed This Article, Help Us Keep the Momentum Going</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">🔥 Athletes</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Take time to explore the player profiles featured in this article. Look at how these defenders talk about communication, the calls they make, the energy they bring, the way they steady a team through a rough stretch. If your game leans on your voice too, this is not the time to compare your timeline to theirs. It's time to look at what's transferable, the specific habit or cue that works for them, and start building your own version of it.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">📣 Club Coaches &amp; Directors</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Celebrate the defenders from your program who were featured, and use this list as a real conversation starter with your younger back-row players. These are freshmen already talking about communication and composure with real intention. Use their habits as a coaching tool, help your athletes see what it sounds like to lead with their voice this early, and build those same habits into your program's culture. Keep your club updated with the <a href="https://prepdig.com/california/clubs/club-programs/">California Club Program Database</a> and stay connected to every opportunity we create for exposure.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">🎯 College Coaches</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>These profiles represent incoming freshman defenders already showing the communication and composure programs look for years down the line. It's early, but the habits on display here, keeping teammates locked in, staying steady under pressure, leading with their voice, are worth tracking now. <a href="https://prepdig.com/college-subscribe/">Use a Premium College Subscription</a> to start building a book on this class as their games continue to develop.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">🙏 Parents &amp; Supporters</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This is one of the most exciting stretches in your athlete's journey, the very beginning of it. Thank you for supporting her through it. Take a moment to appreciate what it means for your freshman to already be leading her team with her voice. Share this article, look through the featured profiles together, and use it as a conversation about where her game is headed next, not as a measure of where she stands against anyone else.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>🚀 <strong><a href="https://prepdig.com/my-account/subscriptions/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Upgrade to a PrepDig+ Subscription</a></strong><br>Access exclusive rankings, deeper analysis, and the full Prospect Index to follow every athlete's journey.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><a href="https://prepdig.com/events" data-type="link" data-id="prepdig.com/events">N<strong>eed More Exposure? Attend a PrepDig Showcase</strong></a></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong>Use Code: MichelleBamford10 for $10 off on all Showcases</strong></em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>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.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>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"><strong>registration is open</strong></a>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"lightbox":{"enabled":false},"id":1014117,"sizeSlug":"full","linkDestination":"custom"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://events.prepdig.com/e/2436/register/prep-dig-vegas-showcase"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2026/08/image_d44281.png" alt="" class="wp-image-1014117"/></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:image {"lightbox":{"enabled":false},"id":1023459,"width":"355px","height":"auto","aspectRatio":"0.7607768620605846","sizeSlug":"full","linkDestination":"custom"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><a href="https://events.prepdig.com/e/2508/register/prep-dig-exposure-tour-norcal"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2026/08/image_d759b6.png" alt="" class="wp-image-1023459" style="aspect-ratio:0.7607768620605846;width:355px;height:auto"/></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:image {"lightbox":{"enabled":false},"id":1023460,"width":"362px","height":"auto","aspectRatio":"0.738161635305266","sizeSlug":"full","linkDestination":"custom"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><a href="https://events.prepdig.com/e/2509/register/prep-dig-exposure-tour-socal"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2026/08/image_784f29.png" alt="" class="wp-image-1023460" style="aspect-ratio:0.738161635305266;width:362px;height:auto"/></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Thank you for making today's wins matter — one article, one player, one memory at a time.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->