Colorado August Difference Makers – Liberos

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hi Everyone! I'm Alex Purvey, a PrepDig analyst covering all things Colorado volleyball. High school volleyball is back and is as exciting as ever! I'll be breaking down August's early season standouts by skill group so make sure to check back for more August highlights. This season, there are SO MANY good liberos that it's really hard to pick just a handful in one post. I'm excited to watch these top defenders continue being difference makers as we enter September. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='201021' first='Ella' last='Vogel'] 2024 | Chaparral </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Vogel is starting her junior year season off with a bang with a recent commitment to the University of Florida. However, it's no surprise because this athlete is GOOD. She reads the play so well that it looks like she is three steps ahead of everyone else. Vogel has already racked up 76 digs and eight aces to lead her team to a 7-1 record. She is dynamic, extremely quick in her movement, and commands the back row. It's going to be a tough road for any team that will face this libero, she is a program changer.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Macy Thornburg 2023 | Castleview</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Thornburg is one of those players that a coach dreams of having in the gym. She is one of the hardest-working athletes that I've seen in years. There is no ball that is out of reach and no tip that is hitting the ground when this kid is on the court. When asking one of her former club teammates about Thornburg, they said, “I've never played with someone who wants it that bad, she makes me want to work harder.” This is the kind of player that will run through a brick wall for her team. Her team is 5-2 in the preseason and Thornburg has an impressive 120 digs, just second in 5A.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Brenna Kelly 2024 | Grandview</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Brenna Kelly is a key piece to the excitement around the Grandview volleyball program this season. In serve receive, she is calm and extremely accurate. I'm looking forward to seeing more of Kelly this fall season as Grandview continues to battle toward a top spot in their league.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Delaney Russell</strong> <strong>2024 | Valor</strong> <strong>Christian</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Delaney Russell sits at the top of the defensive leaderboard with 121 digs so far this season. This third-year varsity libero is a force that brings experience and confidence to the team's successful 10-0 season start. On defense, she moves her feet well to pick up tips and makes digging powerful attacks look easy. It's fun to watch her get excited on the court with her teammates and has that special “it factor” that just might help lead her team to a state championship run.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Eve McLaury</strong> <strong>2024 | Chatfield</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Eve is a dynamic 6'1 libero that has a wingspan to cover so much space on the court. She already has 104 digs early in the season as well as 17 out-of-system assists. She handles powerful swings with ease, especially down the line. She is an obvious leader on the court and steps up to make plays that her team needs to stay in the fight.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Rya Fingerlin</strong> <strong>2024 | Lutheran</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Fingerlin makes this sport look easy. She seems to always be in the right spot where her digs are constantly continuing rallies. Her platform passing is textbook, reaction time is ridiculously fast, and she has that gritty hustle that coaches look for in a libero.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->