Up and Coming Outsides Chasing Precision, Not Just Power

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepdig.com/subscribe" data-type="link" data-id="prepdig.com/subscribe">Shared with 150+ college coaches: meet the young outsides building more than a big swing, and save 30% with code Coachable247.</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Every young outside wants to hit hard. The ones worth tracking are learning how to hit smart. At the SoCal UpNext Showcase, this group talked less about raw power and more about approach speed, arm swing mechanics, and shot selection, with two of them changing positions this season. These are outsides building the habits that turn a big swing into a reliable one.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["974669"],"_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-6aa0387ce9d98"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='974669' first='Sophia' last='Edmondson'] wants to be known for more than just a hard swing. She talks about learning to play strategically, using every skill available to her rather than relying purely on power, and she is currently focused on sharpening the speed of her approach to unlock more offense. She describes herself as supportive, hardworking, and diligent, someone who steps into a leadership role on the court no matter the score. She was raised bilingual in Portuguese and English, and while she has lost some of her second language over time, she still understands most of it, a connection to her mother's Brazilian roots that she carries with pride.</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":["987520"],"_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-6aa0387ce9e25"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='987520' first='Madison' last='Nance'] already thinks like an attacker even as she takes on a brand new role. Her team recently moved her into the setter position, and she has embraced learning what it takes to make smart decisions and set her teammates up to score, all while still working on her own hitting, precise passing targets, and a developing jump serve. She describes herself as a positive, supportive teammate who listens closely to feedback and applies it fast. Off the court, she is a self-described math whiz who scored in the 90th percentile and dreams of becoming an engineer, proof that her problem-solving instincts extend well past 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":["939459"],"_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-6aa0387ce9e70"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='939459' first='Kate' last='Groves'] plays with an intensity that shows up the moment she gets a kill or a block, and she calls that feeling a real sense of accomplishment. She is currently working on opening up her shoulders and driving her arms back during her approach, along with tightening her serve receive platform, small mechanical details that add up to bigger power. Her coaches and teammates describe her as competitive, coachable, and intense, a combination that tracks with someone who says she always gives 100 percent. She spent six months living in Austria as a third grader, an early lesson in adapting to new environments that likely still shows up in how comfortable she is stepping into new 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":["1015508"],"_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-6aa0387ce9eb1"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1015508' first='Emma' last='Bray'] chases the thrill of a good kill, and that competitive edge shows up everywhere in how she talks about her game. She is in the process of transitioning from middle blocker to outside hitter, which has her focused hard on defense, vertical, and strength training to build the explosiveness the position demands. She describes herself as energetic and competitive, someone who thinks about winning the moment she steps on the court. She carries that same drive into the classroom, taking Honors and Accelerated coursework while also finding time to play three musical instruments.</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":["948629"],"_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-6aa0387ce9ef7"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='948629' first='Josephine' last='Adamson'] finds her identity on the defensive side of the net just as much as the offensive one. She talks about the thrill of a roof at the block and the satisfaction of a clean dig in the back row, and she is currently focused on sharpening her back row positioning and becoming scrappier in defense. She describes herself as calm but also someone who loves celebrating with her teammates, a balance of composure and joy that shows up in how often she smiles on the court. Away from volleyball, she has a background in musical theater, once taking on the lead role of Dorothy in a local production of The Wizard of Oz.</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":["918977"],"_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-6aa0387ce9f35"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Harper Mckee has learned to make up for size with precision. As a shorter outside hitter, she has focused her training on her arm swing and draw back, working to jump higher and become a smarter hitter who scores through technique rather than height alone. She describes herself as competitive and hardworking, and her coaches have told her repeatedly that she is easy to coach, a trait that has helped her hold a six-rotation role for two seasons running. Outside the gym, she enjoys math and finds a similar precision in cooking and baking.</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":["877379"],"_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-6aa0387ce9f72"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='877379' first='Marli' last='Farrior'] treats her jump serve with the same intensity she brings to her attack. She has spent recent training sessions dialing in the precision of her toss and generating more explosion out of her approach, chasing a serve that can do damage before the rally even begins. She sees herself as a positive light on the court, someone who steps up to score points exactly when her team needs them the most. Outside of volleyball, she acts in commercials, television, and film, balancing a completely different spotlight with the one she finds 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":["1022804"],"_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-6aa0387ce9fb3"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1022804' first='Kennedy' last='Gensel'] likes being the one who starts the point. She named serving as one of her favorite skills specifically because it puts the opening move in her hands, and she pairs that with a love of finding different techniques and strategies when she attacks. Her current training is focused on her footwork through the approach and getting her whole body behind her arm swing, the foundation for more consistent power. She describes herself as coachable and a hard worker, and away from the court she has her sights set on a future flying fighter jets in the United States Navy.</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":["987654"],"_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-6aa0387ce9ff3"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='987654' first='Brooklyn' last='White'] brings an identity built around making a difference the moment she steps on the court, which is exactly how her coaches and teammates describe her. She loves hitting and is currently focused on tightening up her serve receive, rounding out her game so she is a threat in more than one phase of play. She calls herself a dynamic player and a leader, someone who wants her presence felt in every rotation. When she is not playing, she enjoys beach camping with her family, trading the intensity of competition for open space and quiet.</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>Power at the pin is not an accident. It comes from footwork, approach mechanics, and hours spent perfecting a swing long before it ever shows up in a kill. The outside hitters featured here are proof that chasing precision, not just force, is what separates a good attacker from a great one. 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>Outside hitters carry a heavy share of the offense, and the athletes featured here show what it looks like when arm swing, footwork, and approach mechanics are being developed with real 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. 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 approach mechanics, shot-making, and attacking IQ 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 real power and precision, 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 power does not appear overnight. It comes from repetition, footwork drills, and a willingness to keep refining a swing long after it already looks good. PrepDig helps you understand that value through events that put her in front of real evaluators and articles that tell her story as a competitor who is still building toward her best game.</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 --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->