Skyline Classic #12 – Defensive Specialists
The tail end of the club volleyball season represents an interesting scouting opportunity for us at Prep Dig. While most of the top teams and prospects avoid competing every week and set their eyes on the big prize – the…
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Continue ReadingThe tail end of the club volleyball season represents an interesting scouting opportunity for us at Prep Dig. While most of the top teams and prospects avoid competing every week and set their eyes on the big prize – the National Championship -, the others are still out there, trying to make the most of every opportunity they have to be on the court.
The few tournaments that are still taking place bring a unique opportunity for us to watch players we otherwise wouldn’t if the big dogs were still around and do our best to make the most out of it and give the emerging talents the exposure they deserve.
This past weekend I was at the Skyline Classic #12, a nine-team tournament reuniting 16s teams from the Houston area at the popular Houston Skyline Juniors club. I’ve been sharing my findings during the week and in the last positional piece, it’s time we know the defensive specialists that made their teams better.
Ally Bernas – Catalyst 16 Green – HS: Clements – 2024
Ally Bernas gave Catalyst 16 Green’s backcourt a nice upgrade every time she was on the court. Typically brought on to replace the team’s right side, she did an excellent job playing on the right on defense and also added a lot with her passing. She had tremendous numbers during the last high school season with Clements, producing 527 passes and 292 digs.
Olivia Birmingham – Allegiance 16 Royal – 2024
Olivia Birmingham gets to cause a positive impact on her Allegiance 16 Royal team from the second she enters the court as her serving ability is among her main assets as a player. Birmingham also contributes a lot on passing and defense as her excellent ball control allows her to truly split the court and the defensive duties with the team’s libero.
Gabrielle Ignacio – Asics Willowbrook 16 Black – 2024
Gabrielle ‘Gabby’ Ignacio makes Asics Willowbrook 16 Black’s backcourt stronger when she’s on the court. She’s typically called upon to replace one of the team’s outside hitters on the court and gets to add a lot of with her solid defensive skills. Besides having good ball control and positioning, she also adds a lot with her ability to track plays, cover hitters and recover balls.