Five 2024s Playing Good Volleyball

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Below are five athletes to watch from a recent CIF match:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Logan Stern</strong> | 5'10" | 2024 | S | St. Ignatius Preparatory High School<br>A player that adjusts well, like Logan Stern, can open up many opportunities for a team. When she is setting or finding herself hitting, she makes the necessary footwork while maintaining balance to perform the skill well. Additionally, she is looking for open court. When attacking, sometimes Stern just simply two hand sets a ball into a donut area on the court. Her vision is so great that she identifies where that hole may be. As it changes she is on top of it and almost seems a step ahead. After a kill she remains cool, calmed, and collected ready for the next point. She is a skilled player that just looks comfortable on the volleyball court.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Suraya Newman</strong> | 5'9" | 2024 | MB | St. Ignatius Preparatory High School <br>Suraya Newman is an attacker with a very wide open window to attack. A setter's dream. Her open arms come through making for an abrupt ending to a rally. Usually that ending comes in two different forms. When she approaches toward the setter, she hits a sharp cut shot in the direction of her approach. In the exact opposite way, she with power tip a ball in the direction of her approach going away from the setter. Much like her teammate Stern, she is all business when scoring a point. Watch for Newman to catch a 10 kill performance quietly yet effectively. Her arm speed definitely makes her stand out but her kills are very precise point by point.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Ava Morandi</strong> | 5'7" | 2024 | L/DS | University High School<br>A player that can be counted on, like Ava Morandi, even when her number is called upon seldom can often be viewed as one of the most valuable players on the team. Technically, she handles the ball very close to her body. She is exciting to watch because after contact she charges forward almost as if to ask for more. Specifically, Morandi does not let any attack bring her body posture backward. That hold her ground mentality is inspiring for her teammates. When the ball is not hit right to her, she handles it with ease. Specifically, this is with her hands or extending out to dive. After contact, she follows the play in support of her teammates to make sure none of her efforts are wasted.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='321541' first='Kinnari' last='Atluru'] </strong>| 6'1" | 2024 | OH | University High School<br>A player that attacks the ball like a bug swatter, as [player_tooltip player_id='321541' first='Kinnari' last='Atluru'] does, can make an occasional "wow" attack. Her armswing comes through in a way that can make a loud thud and that will excite nearly any volleyball fan. Her armswing leads itself to make attacks that a driven deep. Additionally, this can provide many opportunities to score by using the opponent block as a target. Those are so frustrating. Before all that happens, Atluru has very good patience waiting for a set. Even when it seems like there is no time because a dig or a pass gets up to the setter quickly, she makes time to stop and gather. After any point, she always seems eager to do it all over again.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Nicki Gaito </strong>| 5'5" | 2024 | L | University High School<br>Being in the right spot, like Nicki Gaito often is, requires focus, concentration, and information processing that is often underestimated. It sometimes seems as though she draws a line from the hitting to the blocker and then to where she should be waiting. She handles the ball well between her knees and her shoulders especially when positioned in the right place. This is an contact zone that results in incredible accuracy. When she sees a tip or offspeed, she just keeps going. This builds trust in her from her teammates. As a senior captain for the Red Devils, she looks to others for consistent celebration and motivation.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->