PSVBA 17 Legacy- Nationals Preview: Player Takeover!

<h2 class="wp-block-heading">2025 Setter [player_tooltip player_id='250424' first='Maddie' last='Taitano'] 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 takes the reigns and provides insight into their teammates and the season. Our twelfth team is [program_tooltip program_id='495382' first='Puget' last='Sound Volleyball Academy'], PSVBA 17 Legacy. The team earned the National Bid at the PSR Regional Tournament, emerging with a victory over SVA Joe 17 in a three-set final. It was a challenging schedule, including the Northern Lights Qualifier, Las Vegas Classic, Pacific NW Qualifier, Salt Lake City Showdown, the PSR Power League, Emerald City, and more. Coaches Pat Taitano, Kayla Skipworth, and Logan Winn helped guide the team through the grind of the club season. It all paid off with a trip to Vegas and USAV Nationals. PSVBA 17 Legacy will play in the Nationa Division with five matches in day one and two pool play.   2025 setter [player_tooltip player_id='250424' first='Maddie' last='Taitano'] will introduce the team, and we will finish with a look at her game.   <figure class="wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped"> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/07/Selfie-PSVBA-17-crop-467x307-1719885427.png?1719885458" alt="" class="wp-image-559555" /></figure>   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/06/PSVBA-17-2-crop-401x263-1719885370.jpg?1719885458" alt="" class="wp-image-559553" /></figure> </figure>     "I am honored to recognize and celebrate my teammates through this write-up! I want to take this opportunity to shine a light on them and express my thanks for inspiring me to be a better player and person. Every single player has played a special role in our success, and I am proud of every one of them!" -[player_tooltip player_id='250424' first='Maddie' last='Taitano']    From Maddie- "It's hard not to write a full essay about Layne since we have been playing together since we were nine years old! For starters, seeing her grow into the person and player she is now has been a privilege! She exemplifies loyalty, perseverance, and competitiveness. These values are evident not only on the court but also off the court. As some may know, our team has gone through so much adversity in the past years, and Layne has fought through it all! Despite the noise about our team, she continued to grow her skills and toolbox. That makes her game so great; she can mix her shots when adversity is added to the match. You can count on her to constantly challenge the defense across the net, from bringing down the hammer on the line to cutting a sharp cross. Layne is a player who can take the game into her own hands when it's crunch time. As a setter, I can trust Layne to make a match-winning shot, even when our opponents expect it. She has become a great leader who holds her teammates accountable and encourages them through rough patches in practice and games. She has her teammates' backs. Without a doubt, [player_tooltip player_id='250418' first='Layne' last='Dent'] is a cornerstone for our team."     From Maddie: "Dora brings her Croatian flare and a different perspective to the team. Hard work and passion flow through her veins! Although she is from Croatia, she's our Swiss army knife; she can hit from both pins, swing from the middle, and isn't afraid to step in to set when needed! Her dynamic arm swings allow her to power through and tool the block. Speaking of blocking, she's natural when it comes to it. Her form is incredible; she's able to press over the net and take away attackers' shots. Dora has been a great addition to our squad and is always eager to get in the gym and work on her craft!   "     From Ava- "She plays tough on the pin and in the back row. Stella is consistent and can always be counted on in tight situations. Her ball placement and ability to adjust to sets are impressive … Plus, she can smash it! "   <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/hgiTQDKVZ1Q?si=JrVsOVbFG7Gc_1Bz </div></figure>     From Maddie: "I've had the pleasure of playing with Lauren in club and high school! Lauren's dedication and athleticism have shaped her into a very versatile player. In the middle, she gets her head above the net with a great bow and arrow form, making it easy for her to hit the window. She can crank a hit in the corner or even tip around the block, keeping the defense on their toes. She was also one of our main contributors to Bellarmine as an outside. When she rotates to the back row, she delivers a consistent tough serve and is never afraid to challenge the libero on the other side! Besides her crazy hops, she brings a smile to everyone around her!"     From Maddie: "As a newcomer this season, Layla has done a fantastic job of gelling with our team. She brings a sense of humor that you can't miss. She plays defense with a good head on her shoulders. She consistently makes an effort to discuss her passes with me, which is something I deeply value, given the crucial relationship between passer and setter. Layla also does a great job celebrating plays even when the point doesn't go our way."     From Maddie: “Kailee was an exciting addition to the team. Her graceful but deceptive approach allows her to generate speed into a hit you cannot see coming. She has a competitive nature and delivers timely kills for our team. With her quickness, Kailee can run from corner to corner in the back row, showing off her hard work and grit. Kailee has been my pepper partner all season long, and something that stands out to me is her love for volleyball and greater compassion towards her teammates and the people around her. When you pass by our team, you will always see Kailee jumping up and down, celebrating her teammates."     From Maddie: "Muna has taken tremendous steps forward in terms of skills and her leadership! Muna is one of the lead voices on the team, from giving a pregame speech to pulling us in during the match to reset. She leads the defense and serve-receive with a solid platform. She puts up dimes that make for seamless plays and kills."     From Maddie: "A killer combo about Ki is that she's determined and hardworking! She will easily transition off the net for a three-, six-, one- or slide. You name the route, and she can run it. Her communication is loud and clear. She tracks the ball well and makes smart decisions according to the pass. Ki is a prominent piece of our offense; she does a great job cutting sharp shots and holding our blockers for our pins! Although she was injured at the Emerald City Classic, she made it a point to be present and push her teammates. Even though she couldn't play, her competitiveness still shone through!"           <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/06/PSVBA-17-3.jpg?w=400" alt="" class="wp-image-558797" style="width:444px;height:auto" /></figure>   Volleyball Honors and Accomplishments     First Team All-League SPSL (Jun. year) MVP of Bellarmine Prep Varsity Volleyball team Captain Award Bellarmine Prep Varsity Volleyball team 2023 Honorable Mention Washington All-State Team 4A (Jun. year) 2022 Honorable Mention All-League SPSL (Soph year) 2024 Coaches Award Co - MVP 2023 Emerald City Classic - Class of 2025 All-Star Team       Non-Sport: St. Vincent de Paul School c /o ‘21 Salutatorian National Honors Society           PrepDig Washington on Maddie:   The 2025 setter out of Bellarmine Prep operates efficiently out of the 5-1 offense PSVBA 17 Legacy deploys. Taitano has terrific anticipation and length, and she takes advantage of both to smoothly take the second ball with her hands in almost every situation. At a willowy 5'10", she can turn and take a quality swing on a tight ball or opt for a crafty left-handed dump to terminate a point. A coach's kid, Taitano, has grown up around the game, and you can tell by her decisions as a setter. She will find the right matchup and also has the feel for when to feed the hot hand. Her outstanding connection with OH Dent is tough to beat when the two combine to put away a set or match. Taitano competes hard on defense and is hard to deal with when she is on the service line. She plays with an encouraging and positive attitude and enjoys her teammate's success.   Thank you to Maddie for contributing to our Player Takeover Preview Series! Good luck to the PSVBA 17 Legacy squad at Nationals!   <figure class="wp-block-gallery aligncenter has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped"> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/07/unnamed.png?1719887073" alt="" class="wp-image-559567" /></figure>   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/07/Selfie-2-PSVBA-17.png?1719887134" alt="" class="wp-image-559571" /></figure> </figure>