Dangerous DS/Ls from Minnesota Session 1: Sophomores

<p>I will always say that a team's defensive specialists are the last line of defense against losing points to an opponent. Sometimes it is the only thing that saves you in a championship match or when playing your toughest division rival. Every team needs defensive specialists who can pop the ball up and get it to the setter for the next offensive move for points. Taking points away is just as important as scoring them for your team. Let's look at what the sophomore class of defensive specialists in Minnesota has to offer at the Top 250 Expo.</p>   <p></p>   <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-thumbnail is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/12/150-Kira-Brundage.jpeg?w=150&h=150&crop=1" alt="" class="wp-image-492815" style="width:161px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='358686' first='Kira' last='Brundage'], DS/L from New Prague HS, class of 2026.</figcaption></figure>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='358686' first='Kira' last='Brundage']</h2>   <p>Brundage is a 5'7" sophomore defensive specialist from New Prague High School. Brundage has great court awareness and speed. She uses her amazing platform to send the ball to her setter to set up some amazing hitters. She is very flexible and can get under the ball to pop some up that I thought was for sure going down for a point. She has great control of herself and her movements on the court and can place the ball anywhere. Great athlete! </p>   <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-thumbnail is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/12/160-Charlotte-Hackett.jpeg?w=150&h=150&crop=1" alt="" class="wp-image-492833" style="width:165px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='261230' first='Charlotte' last='Hackett'], DS/L from Blake HS, class of 2026.</figcaption></figure>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='261230' first='Charlotte' last='Hackett']</h2>   <p>Hackett is a 5'3" sophomore defensive specialist from Blake High School. Hackett is one of the best defensive specialists at this expo. She is so quick and low to the ground that she can do amazing things to get under a ball. She sacrifices her body to make a play and has a great serve. She had several aces when serving at the expo. She has a great platform and great anticipatory skills.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-thumbnail is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/12/161-Kyla-Hellickson.jpeg?w=150&h=150&crop=1" alt="" class="wp-image-492835" style="width:172px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='261247' first='Kyla' last='Hellickson'], DS/L from Fillmore Central HS, class of 2026.</figcaption></figure>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='261247' first='Kyla' last='Hellickson']</h2>   <p>Hellickson is a 5'7" sophomore defensive specialist from Fillmore Central High School. Hellickson does it all. She has great hands and can serve/receive, set, and dig. She originally impressed me with her back-row hitting ability but is quite impressive with all of her skills. Nice!</p>   <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-thumbnail is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/12/Sadie-Rechichi.jpeg?w=150&h=150&crop=1" alt="" class="wp-image-492938" style="width:174px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='492627' first='Sadie' last='Rechichi'], DS/L from Ely HS, class of 2026.</figcaption></figure>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='492627' first='Sadie' last='Rechichi']</h2>   <p>Rechichi is a 5'8" sophomore defensive specialist from Ely High School. I absolutely love this athlete's hands. She has just the right amount of touch on the ball. Perfectly passes it to the setter every time. She can dig just about anything and is very quick and controlled in her movements. </p>   <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-thumbnail is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/12/181-Emily-Wagner.jpeg?w=150&h=150&crop=1" alt="" class="wp-image-492871" style="width:193px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='251394' first='Emily' last='Wagner'], DS/L from Eastview HS, class of 2026.</figcaption></figure>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='251394' first='Emily' last='Wagner']</h2>   <p>Wagner is a 5'3" sophomore defensive specialist from Eastview High School. Time after time I watched Wagner make a difference when scrimmaging for her team at the Expo. She has a great platform, great anticipation of where the ball is going to go, and can hit very well from the back row. She is athletic and quick with good reflexes. She seems to always be ready for the ball.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='447954' first='Brooklyn' last='Weise']</h2>   <p>Weise is a 5'8" sophomore defensive specialist from Holy Family Catholic High School. Weise is a great defensive player but also has some attacking skills she has worked on. She has a good vertical so looked good while hitting too. She is quick and can move around the court very well. She gets under the ball and sets it up with ease. She has a big and aggressive serving ability. She is great with serve/receive and setting. She plays well under the hitters at the net digging up loose balls following the block.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/06/NL152-Elexis-West-2-crop-4800x3152-1703063825.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-493293" style="width:271px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='385676' first='Elexis' last='West'], DS/L from Farmington HS, class of 2026.</figcaption></figure>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='385676' first='Elexis' last='West']</h2>   <p>West is a 5'6" sophomore defensive specialist from Farmington High School. She is an amazing defensive specialist and I would put her in the middle of my back-row for supreme coverage. She is very fast and has a great platform. She also tracks the ball, unlike many other players I have seen. She seems to always know where it is and where it is going and is then waiting for it when it gets there. Not much gets past her skills as a defender. Great athlete!</p>   <p></p>

I will always say that a team's defensive specialists are the last line of defense against losing points to an opponent. Sometimes it is the only thing that saves you in a championship match or when playing your toughest division rival. Every team needs defensive specialists who can pop the ball up and get it to the setter for the next offensive move for points. Taking points away is just as important as scoring them for your team. Let's look at what the sophomore class of defensive specialists in Minnesota has to offer at the Top 250 Expo.