High Level Attackers: Reading and Moving at Durango

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepdig.com/subscribe" data-type="link" data-id="prepdig.com/subscribe">Use code Coachable247 for 30% off. Subscribe to follow every prospect on their journey.</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Every hitter in this field found a wall the moment she looked up at the net. Eight of the nation's top ten teams and thirteen of the top twenty-five means the blocking Durango produced this year wasn't incidental, it was elite by design, and the high level attackers who held their own against it did so by reading a play before it fully developed. That's the real skill hiding at this position. An attackers reading value rarely shows up in a highlight, it shows up half a second earlier, in the footwork and the eyes that get her to the right spot before the set even lands.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This group ranges from athletes already locked into their college decision to sophomores just starting to build a list, but every one of them described the same thing when asked what carries them through a hard match: presence. Here's what they had to say.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["771839"],"_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"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6ab01c7633c84"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Olivia Manning is defined by a single word her teammates keep coming back to. "I am most known for being loud! I always bring my voice to the game, from both the bench and the court," she said. "My coaches and teammates rely on me to be an energetic force to boost morale." She's using this season to translate her middle skills to the right side, working to carry the same fast arm swing from a quick tempo into a bigger one. "How do I channel the mechanics of a 1 or slide into a 5?" she said, describing the technical work behind it. What she wants noticed most isn't a stat at all. "Before I'm a player, I'm a teammate," she said.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Olivia is committed to the University of Chicago, where she plans to keep competing at the next level while setting up a future she's already thought through carefully. She hopes to become an attorney specializing in child advocacy, and one day return to coaching to give back what her own coaches gave her.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cathedral Catholic finished 13th overall.</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":["545226"],"_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"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6ab01c7633ce0"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Stella Delgadillo plays faster than the eye can track. "I think my speed is hard to see, and people may underestimate how fast I can work to get set," she said, describing a slide that beats blockers before they even see her go behind them. This season she's tightening her transition, working to close the block faster and get set even off imperfect passes. Her teammates feel her presence before they hear the whistle. "I do my best to lift everyone up and be encouraging that we can get out of a long run," she said.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Stella is committed to Northwestern, where she'll compete in the Big Ten. Outside of volleyball, she loves to swim, drive around, and be outdoors.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Torrey Pines finished 9th overall.</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":["956458"],"_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"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6ab01c7633d25"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Colbie Netzley blocks with intention because so much else is out of her hands. "As a right side, getting set is out of my control and I never know when or if I will be getting set, so I try to focus on things I can control," she said. "Blocking is one of my top priorities." She's working on staying pressed at the net and using her block itself to score points, not just stop them. What she wants people to notice is the part of her game that tends to get buried by her defense. "As a primary blocker on my team I feel that my hitting can be overlooked, so I would like my attacking skills to be noticed more," she said.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Colbie is actively contacting college coaches and has received interest, hoping to play D1 or D2 volleyball on the West Coast.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Buchanan finished 28th overall.</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":["912342"],"_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"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6ab01c7633d65"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mia Labayen blocks with her eyes as much as her hands. "I've spent a lot of time working on my timing and reading the setter so I can get there as quickly as possible," she said, crediting lateral speed work off the court for helping her get to the net faster. She's also chasing a faster, more diverse offense this season, working on negative tempo hitting while staying aggressive. Her calm under pressure is what sets her apart. "It's really easy to get frantic and kind of stress out, but I feel like I'm really good at keeping the energy up and finding the calm in the storm," she said.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mia is building her college list and actively contacting coaches, hoping to compete at the highest level possible. Outside of volleyball, she loves to write and hopes to pursue it seriously one day.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cathedral Catholic finished 13th overall.</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":["968412"],"_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"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6ab01c7633da4"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Addyson Eslinger brings her energy before she brings her kills. "People have always said stuff to me or my parents about how I have great energy and good spirits while on the court," she said, though her finishing at the net, whether it's a one, a push one, or a slide, isn't far behind. This season she's building her vertical and strength specifically to protect her body at the next level. "I need to have my body fit and able to play at a high level so I don't get injured," she said.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Addyson is just beginning to learn about recruiting and is building her college list, hoping to play Division 1 while studying forensics or biology. Outside of volleyball, she was born in Honolulu and lived in Japan as a child.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cathedral Catholic finished 13th overall.</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 they built their profile, how they presented themselves, and what their evaluations say about the habits that got them there. If you're still early in your own recruiting process, this is not the time to compare your timeline to theirs. It's time to be honest with yourself about what's left to do. Reach out to coaches. Follow up on interest. Make sure your film, your evaluations, and your profile reflect where your game is right now, not where it was last season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">📣 Club Coaches &amp; Directors</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Celebrate the athletes from your program who were featured. Some of your athletes are already building real momentum with coaches. Others are still figuring out what the process looks like, and this is the stretch where your guidance matters most. Help them understand which conversations to prioritize, which opportunities are worth chasing, and how to present themselves as they head into a new high school season. Share this article and keep the sense of urgency honest without making it feel like pressure. 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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:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- 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 -->