Day 1 Defensive Standouts- 3A State Tournament

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The defensive dynamos were on display at the Sundome on the first day of the 3A State Tournament. It's not all liberos- mighty middles and sizzling setters hustled all day long, digging up hard swings and racking up monster blocks when it counted most.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here are five 3A defenders who delivered for their squads on day one!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Everett- Ava Urbanzo</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["492274"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69166879e80d8"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Urbanzo is always alert and bettering the ball defensively from the setter spot. Everett was in tough against Lakeside and White River and bowed out of the tournament after day one. The 2027 setter will be an ideal pickup for a program looking for a scrappy leader and defender who can deliver quality sets to her attackers. Urbanzo is quick, with strong fundamentals in the back row, and stays disciplined in her positioning. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Seattle Prep- [player_tooltip player_id='434974' first='Maddy' last='Conner']</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["434974"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69166879e822f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Conner is a presence on the right side, with prototype size and outstanding press as a blocker. The Boston College commit continues to grow her game and looked increasingly athletic and confident in matches against Central Kitsap and Ferndale. Conner makes smart moves as a blocker and isn't afraid to dive into the angle or slide over and help on an obvious middle attack. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Mt. Spokane- [player_tooltip player_id='484723' first='Kela' last='Williams']</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["484723"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69166879e82be"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Williams is a dynamic defender and an outstanding setter when she has to deliver to the pins. The 2027 Wichita State commit keeps the offense flowing for the Wildcats and is the type of defender who has coaches and attackers stomping after a save on a sure kill. Mt. Spokane stormed through Timberline and headed to a curiously seeded and scheduled matchup with GSL foe and defending 3A State Champion Ridgeline in the second round.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">White River- [player_tooltip player_id='508351' first='Ema' last='Froemke']</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["508351"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69166879e83ff"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">White River seems to play with four liberos on the court all the time, with both hitters and the setter handling their business defensively. Froemke is quick and willing to get on the ground or jam herself into the bench to keep a rally alive. The 2027 prospect has a solid platform, and White River goes 1-1 on the day and stays in the hunt for a trophy. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Ferndale- [player_tooltip player_id='484727' first='Brooklyn' last='Larrabee']</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["484727"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69166879e8498"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Larrabee has a tremendous feel for the game and is always in the correct position defensively. She can make a stabbing dig with either hand and is confident hanging in against big swings on attacks down the line. Larrabee is a fun player to watch; she is completely bought in and raises the level and competitiveness of the players around her. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">THREE MORE THAT SHINED:</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='809853' first='Ryan' last='Libey']- RIDGELINE. Libey was dominant at the state tournament last season as a sophomore; she was tremendous defensively again on day one as a junior. Libey is as quick as anyone off her feet, and she can shut down teams' middle attackers one-on-one. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='446664' first='Sophia' last='Gao']- LAKESIDE. The Lions look hard to handle, and Gao is rock-solid in serve receive. Lakeside took down White River in 4 sets. Gao was setting up her offense with excellent passing and play in the back row. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='712013' first='Alivia' last='Snyder']- PRAIRIE. Snyder does anything that the Falcons need on the court, and she is a fierce competitor. The senior is listed in the program as OH/MB/S. She should list DS and Libero just to complete the package. Snyder was terrific- hustling and making plays on day one. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->