Inside the Minds of Seven Competitors

<a href="https://prepdig.com/subscribe/" id="https://prepdig.com/subscribe/">This article was shared with 150+ college coaches. Join PrepDig with 30% off using code: Coachable247</a>   The USAV GJNC Showcase was spectacular.   Every athlete who stepped onto the showcase court brought a unique combination of physical tools, competitive fire, and aspirations of playing at the next level. While athleticism often grabs attention first, what separates athletes over time is how they think, how they adjust, and how they continue growing when the match becomes difficult.   Following the showcase, I asked several competitors to reflect on their game, the adjustments they are making, the coaching that has shaped them this season, and what they want college coaches to notice when they step on the court. Their answers revealed far more than technical improvements. They revealed the habits, mindset, and self-awareness that continue shaping these athletes into stronger competitors.   Every player featured below approaches the game differently. Some rely on relentless effort. Others trust preparation, communication, or problem-solving. Each has discovered something about herself that is helping separate her game.   Let's step inside the minds of seven competitors.    As Alexandra Schenkelberg has continued developing as a six-rotation outside hitter, she has learned that changing momentum often comes from making the right decision rather than trying to overpower a defense. She enjoys playing in a faster tempo offense where she can attack instinctively, and she has become intentional about using her serve to push opponents out of system by targeting seams and vulnerable passers. Every contact has a purpose.   One adjustment has changed the way she approaches difficult moments. Instead of worrying about making the perfect kill, Schenkelberg now looks for the smartest point available, whether that's a well-placed shot or extending the rally for another opportunity. Technical work improving the separation between her upper and lower body has increased both her offensive power and defensive angles, while a simple mindset shift from "I'm doing this wrong" to "I'm learning from this rep" continues shaping the competitor she is becoming.   ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247     While some defenders feed off emotion, Avery Johns takes pride in bringing consistency to every rally. She describes herself as a player with strong court vision, dependable ball control, and the confidence to take ownership of the back row. That calm presence allows her to read developing plays, cover significant ground, and give teammates confidence regardless of the score.   Johns has also embraced the challenge of becoming more aggressive. Coaching feedback encouraging her to expand her range and attack seams has helped her trust herself to play more court instead of waiting for the ball to come to her. The result has been a libero who combines composure with increasing defensive impact, proving that steady play can be just as disruptive as spectacular play.   ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247     Reagan Senda thinks differently. If one of her hitters gets blocked or misses an attack, her first instinct is to set them again. That decision says as much about her leadership as it does her volleyball IQ. Trust, communication, and confidence are themes that consistently show up in the way she runs an offense, and they continue shaping her identity as a setter.   Her growth this season has extended well beyond setting. Senda has expanded her serving arsenal to include multiple serve types while learning to identify weak passers before the whistle ever blows. When momentum shifts, she returns to her fundamentals, keeps communication flowing, and searches for the hitter who can help steady the offense. It is a thoughtful approach that reflects a player constantly processing the game around her.   ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247     Evelyn Wilson has built her game around defending first. Her ability to dig hard-driven attacks and turn difficult contacts into playable balls has become one of the strengths that continues showing up in matches. Just as importantly, she has worked to become more dangerous offensively by improving the separation between her shoulders and hips, allowing her to attack with more power and a wider range of angles.   Wilson's answer to adversity is refreshingly simple. A piece of gum helps clear her mind, settle her thoughts, and redirect her focus toward the next rally instead of the last mistake. It is a routine that reminds us that competitors often develop personal habits that keep them mentally present when matches become challenging.   ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247     Five consecutive aces usually begin long before a player ever walks behind the service line.   They begin with hundreds of repetitions, technical adjustments, and the confidence to trust those changes when the match is on the line. That has been part of Faith Young's story this season. The Hawaii outside hitter described herself as someone who competes with speed, explosiveness, and relentless effort, but one area of her game has taken a noticeable step forward. Her jump float serve has become a weapon capable of changing momentum, highlighted by a recent stretch of five consecutive aces that helped her team take control of a match.   That same mindset carries into the rest of her game. When passes are not perfect, Young no longer chases perfection. Instead, she widens her target, simplifies the play, and focuses on giving her team a chance to stay in system. Coaching feedback about staying low, keeping her feet active, and holding her platform has translated into cleaner ball control and greater confidence in serve receive. Her athleticism may catch your attention first, but it is her willingness to make smart adjustments that continues separating her game.   ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247     Brooklyn Miehm has spent the past year training herself to recognize offensive patterns before the attack ever happens. She studies set location, hitter timing, and how her block is positioned to anticipate tips, hard-driven swings, and defensive responsibilities before the ball leaves the attacker's hand. That preparation has helped her cover more court while becoming an increasingly reliable defender.   Her technical approach extends into every phase of the game. Rather than allowing frustration to speed her up, Miehm focuses on efficient movement, disciplined footwork, and trusting the training she has built over countless repetitions. Staying calm through serve receive and recovering quickly after late-moving float serves have become noticeable areas of growth, reinforcing the value of preparation over panic.   ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247     Aziah Amosa describes herself as a player who competes with energy, works relentlessly, and wants her teammates to succeed as much as she does. Whether chasing down difficult balls or bringing encouragement after tough points, she believes her responsibility extends well beyond her own performance.   That perspective has grown through coaching this season. Rather than simply correcting her own mistakes, Amosa has embraced the challenge of becoming another voice on the court by helping teammates recognize adjustments, offering encouragement, and keeping communication flowing under pressure. Her ability to slow herself down with deep breaths before becoming more vocal reflects a competitor who understands that leadership is often built through service rather than attention.   ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">If You Enjoyed This Article, Help Us Keep the Momentum Going</h2>   🔥 Athletes   One of the biggest takeaways from this group is that growth rarely happens by accident.   The athletes featured here talked about simplifying the game, trusting their training, communicating more, embracing feedback, reading the court, and making smarter decisions when matches became difficult. None of those lessons showed up overnight. They were built through repetition, honest self-reflection, and a willingness to keep learning.   Study this group closely. Notice that each athlete found a different path toward improvement. The competitors who continue separating themselves are often the ones who understand that physical ability may open the door, but mindset determines how far they can go.   📣 Club Coaches & Directors   Thank you for creating environments where athletes are encouraged to think as much as they compete.   Throughout this article, your athletes referenced technical adjustments, leadership, communication, emotional control, and learning from mistakes. Those habits are developed through intentional coaching, meaningful conversations, and a commitment to helping athletes understand the game instead of simply playing it.   If one of your athletes is featured, celebrate them. Share this article, tag @PrepDigCA, and continue helping others see the growth taking place inside your program.   🎯 College Coaches   Recruiting is about more than evaluating physical tools.   The responses throughout this article offer a glimpse into how these athletes process competition, respond to adversity, apply coaching, and continue improving. Self-awareness, problem-solving, and coachability are qualities that rarely appear on a stat sheet, but they often become defining characteristics of successful collegiate athletes.   As these competitors continue developing, their mindset may prove to be just as valuable as any measurable skill.   🙏 Parents & Supporters   Thank you for supporting the countless moments that happen long before match day.   The confidence to trust a new technique, the discipline to embrace coaching, and the resilience to keep improving all begin with consistent encouragement from the people surrounding these athletes. Every early morning, every long drive, every extra rep, and every conversation has helped shape the competitors featured here.   Thank you for continuing to invest not only in their volleyball development, but in the character, confidence, and perspective they will carry long after the final point is played.   🚀 <a href="https://prepdig.com/my-account/subscriptions/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Upgrade to a PrepDig+ Subscription</a> Access exclusive rankings, deeper analysis, and the full Prospect Index to follow every athlete's journey.   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/>   Want More Exposure? The PrepDig Showcase Series is 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.   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">registration is open</a>.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2026/05/image_7a4b01.png?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-991561"/></figure>   Thank you for making today's wins matter — one article, one player, one memory at a time.   ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247

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