Outsides Who Win Every Phase at SoCal UpNext

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Use code Coachable247 for 30% off. Sub<a href="https://prepdig.com/subscribe" data-type="link" data-id="prepdig.com/subscribe">prepdig.com/subscribe</a>scribe to follow every setter building her game through the SoCal UpNext Showcase pipeline.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Not every outside hitter builds her identity around a single swing. Some of the most dangerous ones are the athletes who show up in every phase of the game, passing, defending, covering, and communicating, so that their team never has to worry about where the ball is going to end up. The SoCal UpNext Showcase brought together a group of outsides who play exactly that way, athletes whose value shows up across the entire court, not just at the net.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1006687"],"_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-6aa883026182a"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Analeya Silva gets the same thrill from a great set as she does from putting the ball away, and that appreciation for the whole rally shows up in how she plays. Her serve receive is sharpening by the day as she works toward becoming a more consistent, all-around threat. She competes with real volleyball IQ and brings a coachable, dependable presence that her teammates can count on. Outside of volleyball, she enjoys learning songs in different languages even when she does not fully understand them, a curiosity that mirrors how she approaches picking up new skills on the court.</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":["1006129"],"_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-6aa8830261891"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Joy Ngo is in the middle of pushing herself past a naturally quiet instinct on the court. She is developing her hitting on the right side and sharpening her setting, and she is learning to call for her own sets and communicate louder rather than staying passive when the moment calls for aggression. Her coaches see a hardworking, coachable teammate who supports everyone around her. She spent time training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, a pursuit that helped build the same confidence she is now bringing onto the volleyball court.</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":["850009"],"_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-6aa88302618e0"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Christiana Montoya reads the game like someone who studies it as much as she plays it. She finds different ways to score by reading the block and adjusting her shots rather than relying on pure power, and she is sharpening her blocking timing and eye work so she can press over the net instead of simply jumping high. She competes with real energy, stays coachable when corrected, and brings a goofy, supportive spirit to her team even when things are not going well. She has been acting and modeling since she was six years old, balancing a life in front of the camera with a serious commitment to volunteering in her community.</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":["1016308"],"_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-6aa883026193a"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Elika McAfee chases the same feeling every time she gets a good kill, the full-body momentum of a clean approach and a strong finish. Her passing is the piece she is working hardest to round out right now, a clear sign of someone building a complete game rather than staying comfortable with what already works. She stays positive on the court and moves on quickly to the next point regardless of what just happened. Outside of volleyball, she rides her bike everywhere and reads fiction, small habits that speak to someone who values momentum in more than one part of her life.</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":["966239"],"_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-6aa8830261987"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lucia Mateo treats serve receive as a craft worth mastering, reading the server early, moving quickly, and keeping her platform angle clean enough to deliver a consistent pass. She is currently building out-of-system attacking into her game while also working on landing with lightness after a powerful jump. She plays with an aggressive, vocal energy, the kind of player who builds her teammates up and helps everyone reset after a mistake. Outside of volleyball, she plays and watches football, practices pilates with her mom, and loves to travel with family and friends.</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":["936843"],"_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-6aa88302619d3"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Chloe Alaura is on a mission to prove that height does not decide who can hit. As an undersized outside, she is intentionally rounding out every other part of her game, passing, serving, setting, and blocking, so her attacking is backed up by a complete skill set. She stays locked in and focused throughout a match, always ready to cover for a teammate. Her life outside volleyball is just as full, with Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, snowboarding since age nine, gymnastics, and accelerated math rounding out a schedule built on discipline.</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":["1010831"],"_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-6aa8830261a20"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Faith Ngo finds her identity in the trenches of defense, passing and digging with a level of activity that earned her a coachable award last season. She is currently training toward becoming a libero and setter, expanding her range well beyond a single role. She brings genuine energy to every rep and stays engaged from the first whistle to the last. Her time in Girl Scouts outside of volleyball has shaped the same helpful, responsible qualities that show up in how she plays for her team.</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":["779549"],"_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-6aa8830261a70"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sophia Orozco lives for the moment a long rally finally ends in her favor. Putting the ball away is her clear favorite part of the game, and her personality matches that energy, loud, encouraging, and outgoing enough that teammates and coaches alike describe her as fun to watch. She brings a celebratory spirit to every point, win or lose. Outside of volleyball, she has spent seven years training in various forms of dance, a discipline that likely shapes the rhythm and body control she brings to her approach.</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":["1001271"],"_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-6aa8830261ac0"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kennedy Burford plays with a confidence that shows up the moment she steps on the court, walking in ready to win regardless of the score. She spent last season on the outside and right side before shifting into more setting work this year, a positional range that makes her a genuine asset in more than one spot on the floor. Her coach sees a natural leader and an encouraging teammate in her. Outside of volleyball, she has spent eight years riding horses, a sport that demands the same composure she brings to competition.</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":["1014307"],"_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-6aa8830261b00"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mila Tracy finds pride in both ends of the net, hitting and blocking, because both moments let her feel like she directly helped her team. She is working on her jumping and building more explosive, quick movements to add power to both sides of her game. She plays with focus and energy, the kind of teammate who uplifts everyone around her and keeps team spirit high. Outside of volleyball, she has built her own nail art business over the summer, running it with the same drive she brings to her training.</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":["1014888"],"_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-6aa8830261b3f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Abby Thamrin finds a rare kind of ownership in her serve, since it is the one point in the game she can control and earn entirely on her own. She thrives under that pressure, and she is currently sharpening her hitting mechanics and blocking to build out the rest of her game around that same confidence. She brings a positive, motivating energy on the court and an easygoing, bubbly presence off it. She also carries a 4.0 GPA as an AVID student, proof that the same discipline she brings to her serve extends into the classroom.</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>Range matters as much as power at the outside hitter position, and the athletes featured here are proof that being reliable in every phase of the game, passing, defense, communication, and attacking, is what builds a complete player college coaches trust. PrepDig gives you three ways to build on that identity: showcases like UpNext put you in front of real evaluators outside of regular season play, our social media turns performances like these into content coaches and clubs actually see, and our articles start building your name around the habits that matter most at the position.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">📣 Club Coaches &amp; Directors</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A well-rounded outside hitter is one of the hardest players to build, and the athletes featured here show what it looks like when passing, defense, and attacking are all being developed with equal intention. Showcases like UpNext give your outsides a chance to be evaluated specifically for those habits, outside of pool play pressure. PrepDig works as an extension of your program at every position, whether that means getting your pin hitters seen or building recognition for the players who carry your offense and your defense. 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>This group represents young outside hitters whose all-around range, defensive habits, and communication already stand out at the middle school level. PrepDig exists to make long-range evaluation easier, combining live scouted events, consistent coverage, and detailed athlete profiles so you can start tracking the hitters building a complete game, long before they reach your radar the traditional way. <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 evolve.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">🙏 Parents &amp; Supporters</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>An outside hitter's value does not stop at her arm swing, and the athletes featured here show how much a disciplined platform, sharp defense, and constant communication add to her game. PrepDig helps you understand that value through events that put her in front of real evaluators and articles that tell her story as a leader in the making.</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 {"id":1039891,"width":"600px","height":"auto","aspectRatio":"1.1790813549386594","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2026/09/image_44584c.png?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1039891" style="aspect-ratio:1.1790813549386594;width:600px;height:auto"/></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 -->