Dakine 15 Surf- Nationals Preview: Player Takeover!

<h2 class="wp-block-heading">2027 Libero [player_tooltip player_id='459090' first='Analiah' last='Lauifi'] takes us through the squad!</h2>   Thank you to Michelle Bamford from PrepDig California and Emma Adams from PrepDig Oregon for inspiring this player takeover!   We kick off a two-week run of Nationals team previews with a new format- a player from each squad has taken the reigns and provides insight into their teammates and the season. Our third team is Dakine 15 Surf, out of the Puget Sound Region. The team earned the American Division bid to USAV Nationals in Las Vegas by finishing second at the PSR Bid Tournament. It was a terrific battle with Puyallup Juniors 15 National, with Dakine falling in three, 25-19, 23-25 and 15-17. The Dakine team played a challenging travel tournament schedule and will finish the season at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in early July against some of the best teams in the country.   2027 Libero [player_tooltip player_id='459090' first='Analiah' last='Lauifi'] will introduce the team, and we asked Analiah to answer our questions for an in-depth look at the rising sophomore at South Kitsap High School.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/06/image0.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-554231" style="width:811px;height:auto" /></figure>   Coach Roger Afalava and the Dakine Warriors 15 Surf squad!    From Aliah- "Leia's commitment is shown in the quality of her sets and hustle. Leia has a strong outlook and love for the game. She's a joyful teammate to be around and definitely brings the right kind of energy to the team."       From Aliah: "Kayla's shots from the right side are effective and explosive. Her strong arm swings and competitive spirit for the game make her an essential player to amplify our team. Kayla brings the fire with her kills and huge blocks. She is a great player and teammate."      From Aliah- "Al's ability to place her swings is incredibly valuable to our team. She shoots through blocks and plays hard defense. By being a strong player with a tough mentality, she always brings the fire and is a great teammate for that. "     From Aliah- "Beth is steady with her front-row abilities. Tracking the setter and always ready to hit, she creates chances for one-on-one plays. Beth's positive and uplifting personality plays a big role in our team, and she is a great teammate on and off the floor."     From Analiah- “P” is skilled in the consistency of her passes and defense. She is a reliable teammate to trust in the back row. Her dives are a sight to see when digging up the short balls. Payton's determined and supportive personality for the team makes her a great teammate."     From Analiah- "Ellie is a big asset to our team. She can make plays and call out match-ups with her consistent awesome location in her sets and passes. Ellie has a great personality; she led our team this season and is a great teammate and friend."     From Analiah-"AJ has fast feet and a special ability to react to other teams' play with her crazy speed. By slamming down sets and creating high blocks, she is a vital piece to our team. Her aggressive plays spark the competitor in our teammates."     From Analiah- "Lucy covers the middle court sideline to sideline. Getting under the ball and making successful digs and passes. Her mental toughness and playful personality make her a dependable teammate and defender in the back row."       From Analiah- "Peyton's able to perform efficiently at the net. She's up, ready to swing and block, and stays calm throughout matches. Her happy, fun, and welcoming personality towards everyone makes her a great teammate to connect with on and off the court. "     From Analiah- "Naia provides constant kills for our team. She is able to run fast-speed plays and execute her hits through blocks. She brings big energy to our team with her humorous personality and alpha mentality."     From Analiah- "Sav's ability to set and swing has contributed immensely to our success this season. Jumping over blockers, she gets up and hits through the blocker's hands. She's a force to be reckoned with when switching roles as a setter & hitter. Her encouraging personality provides positive energy for our team."   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://youtu.be/5KoFCgQDsv8?si=23AXMPnOotTX5sCa </div></figure>     From Analiah- "Maggie will make excellent adjustments to sets and find solutions to put balls away. Her ability to adapt on the court leads us to great plays. She sets a supporting tone for the team with her strong will, passion for the game for the game and a favorable attitude."     <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://youtu.be/QAe4bDXWcBU?si=3j2PjCOqm3C8fULk </div></figure>    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/06/image2.jpeg?w=768" alt="" class="wp-image-554242" style="width:390px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='459090' first='Analiah' last='Lauifi']</figcaption></figure>   Volleyball Honors and Accomplishments   Analiah was the starting libero for South Kitsap as a freshman and set the season record for digs, totaling 504 for the year! She was named SPSL (South Puget Sound League) Honorable Mention All-Conference for her efforts.   Dakine Warriors 15 Surf 2024 Season at a glance:   10th Overall in the Puget Sound Region 16's Power League 2nd in U15 Puget Sound Regionals, earning us an American Bid to the USAV GJNC Championships Competed in National level tournaments in Missouri (Twice), Texas, and Sandy, Utah.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/06/dakine-15-4.jpg?w=960" alt="" class="wp-image-554673" style="width:718px;height:auto" /></figure>   Please tell us your GPA and any college majors you are considering. Aliah has a 3.8 GPA and is considering majoring in Psychology or teaching and coaching. A combination of the two sounds extremely valuable; ask your coaches!   What do you like to do outside of volleyball? I enjoy spending time with my family, especially hanging out with my cousins. I like movie nights and playing cards and board games when relaxing with the family. If I am outside, it's all about playing volleyball at the park.     <ul></ul>   Have you played any other sports? Before volleyball, I played soccer, but that all changed when I was introduced to volleyball. Although my first volleyball season was cut short due to COVID, I continued practicing at home and playing any chance I got. I became passionate about the game, always wanting to learn, adapt, and train hard.   What has been the best moment with the team this season(s)? "A fun activity during practice. We grouped up into teams. One player from each team had to go through a series of obstacles while blindfolded. Our teammate's goal was to guide the blindfolded player to the net and back safely. This activity was fun and an opportunity to show how much we needed to trust our teammates and help each other. Most of our teammates played with each other for the first time this club season. So, building trust and learning about each other was how we built our team up this season. "   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/06/PDTop250_WA_TP_Analiah-Lauifi.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-554243" style="width:406px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='459090' first='Analiah' last='Lauifi']- Top Performer PrepDig Top 250 Showcase</figcaption></figure>   What are your strengths on the court? "I feel like I bring several key qualities to my team. I'm a “Hard worker” and a “Strong Defender.” I can read the game and position myself well to make effective digs to keep the ball in play for my team. Communication is also a quality I have and is always a skill I am working on. I am vocal, directing, and organizing defense with my teammates."   PrepDig Washington on Lauifi: A speedy defender, Lauifi consistently chews up and covers ground when she is in the libero jersey. Her change of direction is excellent; she can move on a ball that is redirected unexpectedly. Just a 2027 prospect, she already has excellent endurance and conditioning, and it's easy to see she trains hard on that aspect of her fitness. Liberos need to be tireless, and she has that quality—part physical, but also mental. Lauifi has great focus and stays locked in, keeping the "next-ball" mentality in mind. Coaches at the PrepDig 250 Showcase praised her positive attitude and easy connection with her team. She has a smile and a word to build up a teammate and keep the team on track and in the flow. Lauifi earned the ultimate praise from evaluators as "coachable and hard-working."     Thank you to Analiah for contributing to our Player Takeover Preview Series! Good luck to the Dakine Warriors 15 Surf squad at Nationals!