Standout Junior DS/Ls at Iowa Top 250 Expo

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Defensive players are some of the most agile beings on the planet. They have to be able to go to the floor and then get back up and maybe powerfully hit a ball to the other side of the court's back boundary and do it fast. They determine the outcome of matches by being great or getting beat. They are responsible for saving points made against their team. They are the last line of defense. Let's look at the junior group of defensive specialists from the Prep Dig Top 250 Expo in Iowa.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='490017' first='Rian' last='Schlief']</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:image {"id":489161,"width":"165px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"thumbnail","linkDestination":"none","align":"left"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-thumbnail is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/12/449-Rian-Schlief.jpg?w=150&amp;h=150&amp;crop=1" alt="" class="wp-image-489161" style="width:165px;height:auto"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='490017' first='Rian' last='Schlief'], DS/L from Southeast Valley HS, class of 2026.</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Schlief is a 5'6" defensive specialist from Southeast Valley High School. Schlief is a brave athlete and is not scared of anyone on the court. She will sacrifice her arm, sometimes literally, to keep the ball from hitting the ground. She will chase a ball until there is no chance of returning it to play. She has a great platform, often digs the hardest of hits, and has tons of stamina. She is a powerful athlete and would be an asset to any team.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":584930,"width":"166px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"thumbnail","linkDestination":"none","align":"right"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-thumbnail is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/08/37-Lydia-Cox.jpg?w=150&amp;h=150&amp;crop=1" alt="" class="wp-image-584930" style="width:166px;height:auto"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='730467' first='Lydia' last='Cox'], DS/L from Waukee HS, class of 2026.</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='547128' first='Lydia' last='Cox']</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cox is a 5'7" DS/L from Waukee High School. Cox has perfect form and is a study of intentional play. She will work to get the ball back into a rally until it is gone completely. She has a great platform, has speed, agility, and quickness, and never seems to get winded. She is athletic and can hit with power from the back row when called upon to do so.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='730469' first='Macy' last='Person']</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:image {"id":489160,"width":"179px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"thumbnail","linkDestination":"none","align":"left"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-thumbnail is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/12/448-Macy-Person.jpg?w=150&amp;h=150&amp;crop=1" alt="" class="wp-image-489160" style="width:179px;height:auto"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='730469' first='Macy' last='Person'], DS/L from ADM, class of 2026.</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Person is a 5'10" defensive specialist from ADM High School. Person is an exceptional hitter on the outside and is a really good defensive specialist in the back row. She is most likely a 6-rotation player at this point in time and could be used in a million ways in college depending on where she ends up. She is definitely someone I would take a look at if I were recruiting a team. She has a great platform and a long reach. She can get down on the floor quickly to play a ball up to a setter, and she can kill from the back row with an attack that is powerful and painful.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"> [player_tooltip player_id='730416' first='Grace' last='Vandehaar']</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Vandehaar is a 5'4" DS/L from Southeast Polk High School. Vandehaar is little and quick. She is super athletic and whipcord strong. She has a great platform, is very consistent under the ball, and moves around the court well. She can dig, serve, and hit from the back row with power. She was quite impressive the day of the expo and I cannot wait to see her again because she was fun to watch while they scrimmaged.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='730444' first='Kendra' last='Smith']</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Smith is a 5'6" defensive specialist from ADM High School. Smith has so much ability to move to the ball and return it to play. She has a great platform and will use it to save points. She is hard to beat and was everywhere on the court. She has a high volleyball IQ and knows where the boundaries of the court are to use that knowledge to her advantage. She is not giving away any touches by the back line and will let you lose points if you try to catch her. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->