The Back Row Players Who Win Before the Swing

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepdig.com/subscribe/">Four back row players, four ways to control a rally. Unlock full profiles with code Coachable247 for 30% off.</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Before a hitter swings, someone has to make the pass, keep the dig alive or serve the other team out of system. The four players below did that work in CIF-SS finals. Two of them did it in rallies that decided a five-set match. Newbury Park freshman libero [player_tooltip player_id='731906' first='Olena' last='Harasymowycz'] dug 29 balls in that same match, and her feature runs soon.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["770397"],"_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-6af261f541c4c"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='770397' first='Sienna' last='Cicero'] led all players in the Division 1 final with 23 digs and added six assists. That is more than a third of Mater Dei's 63 digs from one libero, against hitters with a lot of power. She had 17 digs through three sets and six more in the fourth.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>My notes read the same all night: solid defense, huge defense, digging machine, getting everything up. When the pass broke down, she set a good ball with excellent hands. She takes her job seriously.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>She has made a real position change in public. In October 2025 she showed up on our California stat leaders list as a freshman outside hitter at Orange Lutheran with 201 kills. This fall she is Mater Dei's libero. Before the Santa Margarita match she told us, “libero is still a new position for me... serve receive is really important to helping [player_tooltip player_id='533581' first='Kalea' last='Lee'] and [player_tooltip player_id='515127' first='Riley' last='Stringer'] run our offense.” In that match she had 16 digs and an ace. After the final, she told us what she thinks about before a hitter swings.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“Playing in any game, before the hitter swings, all I am thinking about is, 'Are you gonna do whatever it takes to keep the ball up?' As a libero, it's my job to bring energy and help lead the floor by doing whatever it takes to keep the ball off the ground and in system. Especially when hitters like last night have a lot of power, keeping your body calm so you can control your digs is very important! It definitely comes a little easier than it used to when you practice with girls who bring just as much heat every day in practice, but overall, just giving my team the opportunity to run our offense throughout rallies is really important for our team's success, so staying calm, collected and ready to do whatever it takes is key!”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>That is a libero thinking about the offense, not herself. She names the job (keep the ball in system), the skill (stay calm so you can control the dig) and the reason (give the team a chance to run its offense). College coaches should put her on their 2029 libero list, especially if they want a player who has already changed positions and led a state final in digs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mater Dei hosts Cathedral Catholic on Saturday at 6 p.m.</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":["745719"],"_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-6af261f541c62"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='745719' first='Blake' last='Gurney'] finished with an ace, six digs, four serve receptions and two assists for Sierra Canyon. In the first set she served an ace, and my notes also have a serve that sent the setter running. She had solid serve receive when Sierra Canyon needed a clean first ball to run its offense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>She is a junior libero who keeps adding to her game. Our February 2025 workout list had her as a setter. In May she told us she was moving to libero and described herself as a gamer with drive and grit. In June she said leadership and staying present when the game sped up translated best at a college camp. On 7/31 she took Top Performing Middle Blocker honors at the SoCal StockUp Showcase for attacking slides and quick threes with confidence. In the first round of the playoffs she told us what the job looks like now.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“The most important thing in these matches is to stay present and be able to move on from mistakes and stay consistent and confident, especially in the back. Moving schools and switching from setter to libero at the same time has pushed me to grow so much as a player. I'm playing with and against some of the best players in the country, and our coaches expect the best from us every day, so I've put in extra work all season to make sure I'm ready for whatever my team needs from me in the back. I think the big advantage we have over the other teams is how close we all are, we are genuinely playing for each other and that's why I am so confident in our ability to win it all.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>She has made two big changes in one year and talks about both without excuses. College coaches looking for a 2028 libero who has also played setter and middle should have her on their list.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sierra Canyon hosts Torrey Pines on Saturday at 6 p.m.</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":["1063015"],"_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-6af264df71eae"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1063015' first='Eden' last='Brown'] finished with seven digs, two aces and a kill on her one swing. Both aces came in the late sets. She served one in the fourth set when Corona del Mar was fighting back from a 2-2 match. She served another in the fifth set, after Newbury Park's timeout at 8-10, in a set Corona del Mar won 15-13.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A back row player who can win a point at the service line after a timeout helps a team close. She can also pass, dig and swing when the rally calls for it. She played that role in a title match.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>College coaches should note a 2028 back row player who brings pressure at the service line and can attack when needed.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>She is with Balboa Bay 16-1 this club season.</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":["1063013"],"_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-6af264df71f06"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1063013' first='Sarah' last='Rosing'] finished with two aces and three digs, and she brought as much energy to the service line as anyone in the Division 3 final. She serves with tons of energy and plays with a smile. In the first set my notes had her hustling into defensive position right after the serve, with fast feet that never stopped moving and good communication with her teammates.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Those habits matter in a final decided 15-13 in the fifth. A server who stays loose and gets back into the floor quickly gives her team a free point and a body in the defense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>College coaches should put her on their 2029 back row list, especially if they want a server who plays fast and keeps her team loose.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">What These Back Row Players Showed Us</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The back row decides whether the offense gets to run. Cicero kept the ball in system against hitters with power. Gurney moved from setter to libero and kept her composure. Rosing and Brown served with energy when Corona del Mar needed it. Coaches should watch how each one responds when the first pass is not perfect.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>All stats and results are sourced from MaxPreps</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Article Cover Photo Credit @kennee.photos</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">If You Enjoyed This Article, Help Us Keep the Momentum Going</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>🔥 Athletes</strong><br><a href="https://prepdig.com/prospect-index/">Update your PrepDig Prospect Index profile</a> so it's complete and current, with a photo, your club, your school and your latest film. 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