Thursday Night's Preseason Player Standouts

The Skyridge Falcons, ranked No. 4 in 6A, improved to 3-1 on the season after taking down the No.3 Mountain Ridge Sentinels in a five-set thriller (25-17, 25-27, 22-25, 25-22, 17-15). While the result won't count toward their respective region standings, the matchup carried plenty of weight with two of 6A's top-ranked teams battling the whole match.   This game was filled with competitive plays, depth, and resilience that could make them contenders when the games begin to count. With momentum shifting back and forth throughout the match and key players stepping up in pressure moments, this preseason battle provided an early glimpse of what these two teams could develop into as the season progresses.    In last night's five-set match, Lucy posted 14 kills. She showed good power over the top of the ball, maintained consistent timing at the net, and was aggressive with her swings. Lucy did a good job closing to the pins with her hands and staying disciplined at the net.     Emma recorded 15 kills in the match, hitting an efficient .282. She found her kills by swinging high, staying composed out of system, and attacking holes in the Sentinels' defense. Her passing was consistent in serve receive, and she read the ball early on defense, making difficult balls look routine.     Having one of the best liberos in the state definitely comes with its perks, and [player_tooltip player_id='793934' first='Estelle' last='Slaney'] showed exactly why. She recorded 25 digs while staying disciplined off the edge of the block, anticipating dumps and tips, and making aggressive but controlled moves to the ball. Her angles and footwork were early in serve receive and kept difficult balls on target.     [player_tooltip player_id='1021413' first='Lucy' last='Meck'] posted seven kills and five blocks in last night's matchup. She stayed consistent with her timing and spacing throughout the match, establishing herself as a strong, offensive option for the Falcons. In the 5-1, Lucy effectively utilized the slide and backside options to keep the blockers disciplined.     [player_tooltip player_id='1021414' first='Kylie' last='Grossenbach'] features an aggressive approach, consistent contact, and solid power. She did a great job getting her feet to the ball and swinging high and hard around and off the block. Her ball placement was intentional, allowing her to expose weaknesses in the defense. At the net, she read the overload well and pressed early. Kylie is definitely an athlete I look forward to watching more throughout the season.     [player_tooltip player_id='894184' first='Lexi' last='Rushton'] steps into her sophomore season and showcases a stronger, more confident ability to use different shots to score. She posted 15 kills on the night, swinging high and attacking different zones on the court.   One area of her game that has continued to develop -- and could become a major weapon for the Sentinels -- is her backrow attacking. Her timing has improved, along with her ability to generate both direction and power from behind the 10.     [player_tooltip player_id='897548' first='Anzlee' last='Holt'] posted 11 kills and hit a .364. As an undersized hitter, Anzlee generates good power through her rotation on top of the ball and does a great job getting her feet to the ball. She found success attacking the angle and targeting the deeper seams to score.

The Skyridge Falcons, ranked No. 4 in 6A, improved to 3-1 on the season after taking down the No.3 Mountain Ridge Sentinels in a five-set thriller (25-17, 25-27, 22-25, 25-22, 17-15). While the result won't count toward their respective region standings, the matchup carried plenty of weight with two of 6A's top-ranked teams battling the whole match.