USAV Showcase: Middle Blockers Creating Buzz

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><a href="https://prepdig.com/subscribe/"><strong>More than 150 college coaches shared this article.</strong>&nbsp;<strong>Join PrepDig with 30% off using code "digdakotas30."</strong></a></em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em><a href="https://www.instagram.com/prepdigdakotas/?hl=en">Follow on Instagram@prepdigdakotas</a></em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There's one position group at every showcase that seems to continue drawing a crowd. This year it was the middle.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The talk throughout the day wasn't just about who finished with the biggest numbers. It was about the athletes making changes before the stat sheet ever knew it. A touch block at the right time. Closing a seam that made an attacker take a different shot. Getting to the spot before the setter and taking away a first option. Plays that changed matches as much as the kills did.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Each of the players below created their own buzz. Some were offensive presences, others took away space at the net, and a few managed to touch almost every rally they were involved in. They each played the position differently, but they all gave people a reason to stop, watch, and keep talking long after the whistle blew.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["789370"],"_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-6a40a3b576904"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='789370' first='Layla' last='Duncan'] was on point because her fundamentals came across from drills to live action. In the positional work, she was always light on her feet, kept close to the antennas, and pressed her hands across the net the whole time. And the same habits showed up when the scrimmages began. She was ready in transition, got off the floor quickly, and made opposing hitters change their swings with how she set up her block. <strong><em>~Theresa@prepdigdakotas</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["998446"],"_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-6a40a3b576942"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Sienna Schroeder felt comfortable at every phase of the show. She did a good job reading the setter's release and getting to the block on time in drills. I saw how well she could move laterally in competition without losing balance and taking away space at the net. Offensively, she was active and ran a good tempo and gave her setter a reliable option in the middle. <strong><em>~Theresa@prepdigdakotas</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["940932"],"_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-6a40a3b576968"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">One of the things that made [player_tooltip player_id='940932' first='Stella' last='Scarborough'] different was how connected she remained to every rally. She didn't make it a block-and-stop. She immediately cleared the net, rebuilt her approach, and worked to be available again in transition. That effort was evident in all the scrimmages. She always found a way to get to the point, whether it was closing a seam on D or getting up the floor on a quick attack before the block could be set. <strong><em>~Theresa@prepdigdakotas</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["998141"],"_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-6a40a3b57698b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Vivienne Schooler displayed a lot of discipline in drills and live competition. She didn't overplay or overcommit on defense. Instead, she depended on her footwork, squared to the attacker, and worked to seal quality blocks. In the offensive, she kept the contact point high and seemed comfortable taking on quick sets. As the showcase progressed, details of her game still came in sharp contrast. <strong><em>~Theresa@prepdigdakotas</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["979871"],"_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-6a40a3b5769ab"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Kateri Arah kept gaining momentum as the showcase wore on. I thought she did a strong job with the technical work in drills, but what impressed me most was how naturally those skills translated into competition. She knew when to be patient at the net, blocked with purpose, and was always there after transition. As her team was turning defense into offense, Kateri was already working on getting to the next scoring opportunity. <strong><em>~Theresa@prepdigdakotas</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Thank you to all my readers for making this journey possible. My goal has always been simple: to shine a light on athletes at every level, from Division I to NAIA, and give them a platform to keep chasing their love for the game. 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