Dominating the Court: 7 Middles from the PD x USAV Showcase
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We partnered with USAV to host 2 Prep Dig Showcases in Chicago over the past week. There was a ton of talent there and so hard to watch every court to pick some of my favorites! So, let’s start with…
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Continue ReadingWe partnered with USAV to host 2 Prep Dig Showcases in Chicago over the past week. There was a ton of talent there and so hard to watch every court to pick some of my favorites! So, let’s start with the Middle Blockers that were dominating the net on Sunday.
Durham has a lot of power stored up and she releases it with a really heavy arm. She is 5’9 but has a high reach, runs a lot of different routes and has a huge vertical. Durham is powerful and definitely impressed at the Showcase. She covers a large area of court and trinisitions quickly between blocking and attacking.
Highlights
Hanfelt is a springy middle blocker that gets off the ground quickly. She has a whip for an arm and she explodes off the grown to take a swing. Her arm is fast as a whip and dangerous to try to defend. Hanfelt has quick footwork that helps her move laterally, make a quick change in directiuon, and make adjustments efficiently.
Highlights
McDonald is really athletic and can take a big rip on the ball when her squad is in or out of system. She has a heavy arm, a long reach and she helps keep their offense running on all cylinders. McDonald excels at reading the opponents attack choices and she positions herself accordingly. She is effective in one-on-one blocking and closing the block with her pin blockers.
Pulda gets off the ground fast and works hard in transition. She has quick footwork and will pound an overpass. Pulda is an exceptional athlete with a great reach, gets hands in the attackers face and is a total nightmare to attack against. She is not only a defensive force but also a really potent weapon on offense.
Highlights
Nevaeh Ware
Nevaeh Ware
Ware first caught my eye during the warm-up drill when she made a crazy hustle play to keep the ball alive. That kind of gritty play is hard to defend against. She’s got a strong armswing and solid block to go with a drive to keep her squad in the play. Ware takes a strong, well-timed approach to the net that enables them to execute a powerful and precision attack.
Aaliyah Brown
Aaliyah Brown
Brown is really explosive and knows how to get on top of the ball to bury it. She sees opportunity and uses them to take her opponents down. Brown can also hit right through the solid block in front of her. She has a quick arm swing that allows her to hit a variety of shots, including the fast tempo ball and slides.
Tori Staples
Tori Staples
Staples makes a high contact point and gets a great snap on the ball. She is a very efficient and effective player. Staples have excellent timing, coordination and lateral movement at the net. She closes the gap quickly and can form an impenetrable block.Staples has a solid vb IQ and understanding of the game.