Nevada Expo Showcase Preview: Five Freshman Pin Hitters to Know

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 2030 pin group already includes a varsity kills-per-set leader and a previous Prep Dig Top Performer. With their first high school season behind them, these five freshmen get an early chance to show how they respond to unfamiliar setters and more experienced blockers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='988698' first='Ava' last='Zhelev'] | 2030 | 5'6” | OH | Amplus Academy</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Zhelev made an immediate impact on varsity as a freshman, leading Amplus Academy with 2.4 kills per set and recording 188 digs across 80 reported sets. She has a fast arm that produces a heavy ball, and she can score from both the front and back rows. Her 15 kills and 20 digs against Spring Valley showed how much she can contribute on both sides of the ball. At the Expo, I'm looking forward to seeing how quickly she finds her timing with new setters, especially on back-row attacks. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='959329' first='Kokoro' last='Harling'] | 2030 | 5'8” | OH | Palo Verde</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Harling played JV at Palo Verde as a freshman and earned Top Performer honors at the Nevada Freshman Showcase. The [program_tooltip program_id='636812' first='Vegas' last='United'] prospect has experience at both pins and consistently puts in extra reps. She reaches high on her swing, giving her a high contact point to work with against a formed block. At the Expo, I'm looking forward to seeing how she uses that reach to vary her shots and adjusts her approach to different setters' tempos.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='991238' first='Skye' last='Morgan'] | 2030 | 5'8” | OH | Shadow Ridge</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Morgan stood out right away at a previous showcase, earning Avoli Committed Athlete recognition for showing skills ahead of her age group. She played JV as a freshman at Shadow Ridge, helped the Mustangs win the Panther Classic championship, and carries a 4.0 GPA. In 16 reported JV sets, she recorded 30 kills, 32 digs, and 12 aces, averaging 1.9 kills per set. She plays aggressively, and I'm looking forward to seeing how she brings that same approach to the Expo against older competition. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1057290' first='Faith' last='Stehno'] | 2030 | 5'6” | OH | Basic</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Stehno played JV at Basic as a freshman and made the most of an early varsity opportunity, recording four kills in four reported sets. Getting those reps as a freshman suggests the coaching staff saw ways she could contribute. The Expo will be our first chance to scout her in person, and getting a first look at new faces like Stehno is one of my favorite parts of these events. Listed as both an outside hitter and a middle blocker, she's someone I'll be watching in transition, especially when she has to come off a block at the pin and get outside quickly for her next swing</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1062446' first='Jakiyah' last='Todorova'] | 2030 | 5'6” | OH | Arbor View</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Todorova is a freshman outside from Arbor View. She will be another new face at one of our showcases.I'll be watching how she times her approach with different setters and what she does with a ball that's too far off the net for a clean swing. Those reps will offer an early look at how she solves problems on the pin.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We are excited to see both familiar and new faces at this upcoming event. Be sure to stay tuned to our Instagram <strong>(<a href="https://www.instagram.com/prepdignv">@prepdignv</a>)</strong> for live video updates throughout the event and post-event articles.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->