Julia Shi sees defense as the position with the power to change a match. She talks about the ability to shift momentum through a single big dig, and she is currently putting in serious work on her serve receive to make that impact more consistent. She calls herself scrappy, someone who gives 100 percent effort on every play regardless of the score. She jokes that she can either run on six hours of sleep or sleep for fourteen hours straight, a small detail that hints at the same all-in mentality she brings to a match.

~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247

Julia Shi earned Top Performer at the SoCal UpNext Showcase, August 29, 2026.

Julia Shi passes the ball with the kind of footwork discipline that shows up first in serve receive. She moves early to get her platform in position rather than reaching, and that quickness lets her stay clean on contact even when the serve is tough. Coaches evaluating a young libero want to see that habit form early, and Shi already has it.

~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247