High School Preview: Mater Dei

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Below are a five athletes to watch from Mater Dei High School:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='159533' first='Isabel' last='Clark'] </strong></strong>| 6'1” | 2024 | OH | WAVE<br>Look and be amazed at how deep [player_tooltip player_id='159533' first='Isabel' last='Clark'] can consistently hit the ball. What has been thought of as an international style of play, Clark can hit the back two feet of the court when hitting cross or line. Her contact on the ball if often on the back of it. Additionally, she quickly wraps her wrist around to create topspin. This back of ball contact point likely makes it easier for her to hit it so deep regularly. Expect a roll shot from an out of system set and using her hands on a deep serve. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Cymarah Gordon</strong> | 6'0” | 2024 | OPP | <br>Punishing is a word that comes to mind when watching the attacking of Cymarah Gordon. She pummels the ball to the floor or chops away at an exposed blockers arms, whichever comes first. Specifically, she must simply aim for a few feet out of bounds on every swing. And since she jumps up high in the air, she gets on top and slams it down without regard to those in the path of the ball. When a set is to her side and she must attack it coming over her shoulder, she displays excellent athleticism. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='160998' first='Julia' last='Kakkis']</strong> | 6'0” | 2024 | S | <br>[player_tooltip player_id='160998' first='Julia' last='Kakkis'] is a disciplined, well trained setter. She utilizes spin set footwork when setting in front. She incorporates the traditional left-right footwork when setting behind. When Kakkis contacts the ball, it happens at a low point in the air. This will allow her to fire in any quick, middle set effectively. Additionally, she has a quick release of the ball. Defenders need to be on their toes because her attacking will score points on any tight set. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='159532' first='Malyssa' last='Cawa']</strong> | 5'7” | 2024 | L | <br>Fleet of foot is a phrase to describe the libero game of [player_tooltip player_id='159532' first='Malyssa' last='Cawa']. Her active feet almost make a person watching think that she will never have to hit the floor to dive. It is amazing to watch her reading the game with those thoughts going in action following her footwork pattern. She steps into the court but even more quickly can recover back towards the sideline when a set goes to an antenna. Cawa has a firm, flat platform when the ball comes to her midline and also when her arms are extended out to get a ball. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='159534' first='Babi' last='Gubbins']</strong> | 6'3” | 2024 | OH | <br>This natural across the body attacker, [player_tooltip player_id='159534' first='Babi' last='Gubbins'], is playing on a different level. When all systems are go, she will most likely drop a tough line shot and hit a backrow attack back toward the setter. Watch out though, the level above the net she play at also allows her to hit the occasional sharp angle. When she adjusts her approach accordingly, she can hit the ball to the opponent's outside hitter time and again with ease. Additionally, the opponent's middle is in a tough spot against Gubbins because she covers a lot of ground quickly across the net. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->