Hirsch was not a student-athlete with which I was familiar before covering her Dubuque Senior team play host to Iowa City High earlier this week. The freshman is firmly on my radar now after watching her rank tied for second on the team in kills. Not the tallest kid on the court, Hirsch is an explosive athlete with a big vertical leap and more power in her swing than her frame might indicate. She showed a keen feel for the flow of the match and had a good idea what she wanted to do with the ball when given an opportunity. Hirsch is a player with a lot of promise. She’s part of a young Ram core that could have the program on the rise in the near future.