State Championship Freshmen to Watch This Club Season

Competing on varsity as a freshman is already a significant accomplishment. Getting real playing time in a CIF State Championship is another level. It takes poise, pace management, and the ability to impact the game in front of a high pressure crowd. The freshmen below did more than just step on the court. They contributed. They made plays. They proved they belong in conversations about long term development and early recruiting identification. These are the names college coaches should track as the club season begins.    [player_tooltip player_id='780053' first='Brooklyn' last='Lopez'] was one of the most impressive freshman outsides in the building. She describes her strongest skill as “never giving up, no matter what the score is,” and that resilience is evident in every phase of her game. She hits with speed, beats the block, and hustles into defense from the service line. She recorded 15 kills, 2 aces, 5 digs, and 17.5 points.   The State run reminded her that “there's a real reason I made it this far” and allowed her to appreciate competing with some of the best players in California. Her favorite moments were realizing that every win meant more time with the team she loves. Off the court she enjoys arts and crafts and building Legos, choosing creativity over electronics. She values being a big sister figure to her younger cousins. ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247     [player_tooltip player_id='697336' first='Johanna' last='Lawler'] is a 6'4 freshman with a consistency she already recognizes as her strongest tool. Her impact grew throughout the match and she delivered a clutch ace to close the first set 26 to 24. She knows when to swing and when to tip and she adjusts cleanly on the block. She finished with 5 kills on .625 hitting and earned 7.5 points.   She shared that State taught her “it is fun and you need to work hard to get there.” Her moment came when she earned the kill that put Hilmar at championship point. Off the court she is active in FFA and will be showing lambs this year, a detail that reflects her discipline and responsibility. ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247     [player_tooltip player_id='900152' first='Maliah' last='Williams'] identifies her athleticism and jumping ability as her strongest skills, paired with her commitment to staying positive for her teammates. Her play reflects that combination. She presses well on the block and works the ball around hands on offense. She played all three sets and finished with 4 kills while impacting the match in transition and defense.   State taught her to stay connected with her team through every moment. She shared that after each match “we'd pull each other into a group hug,” and those moments grounded her even when she felt she underperformed. She enjoys the team rituals before matches and says they help build confidence and connection. ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247     [player_tooltip player_id='767589' first='Sidney' last='Jones'] is a high flying freshman who elevates over the block and applies pressure from the service line. She delivered a major block against some of the top hitters in the gym and showed the instinct and timing college coaches look for in young middles.   Coach Dan O'Dell from Mater Dei noted her impact, saying, “The freshman middle, number 10, is going to be an absolute stud. She is hitting almost over our block at times to the corners and did a really good job with how quick and high she was attacking the ball.”   ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247     Kennedy Hull plays with a strong technical understanding of timing and air speed. She formed a solid wall at the net with a disciplined press and forced hitters into uncomfortable decisions. On offense she was equally effective, creating situations where opponents had to adjust their game plan around her presence. She finished with 5 kills and 8 points. ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247     Cami Chernekoff contributed in every phase of the game. She plays with intent, moves well, and finishes rallies with confidence. Her line swing to end a long rally showed how steady she is in big moments. She played all three sets and totaled 6 kills, 3 aces, and a strong 17 digs. ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247     Madeline Fieraru brings pressure from the service line and stays composed on the outside. Her fast arm swing challenges the block and keeps defenses off balance. She recorded 5 kills and 6 total points while showing clear offensive upside for a young player. ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247     Yanley Rodriguez made an impact at the net with clean movement and disciplined blocking. Her presence on the front line created challenges for opposing hitters and showed the type of foundation that will translate to club season development. ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247     Katelyn Hull controls the net with presence. She shut down the outside multiple times, including a stretch of three blocks in a row in the same rally. She is developing into a physical wall and a point scorer with next level potential. She finished with 7 kills and 11 points. ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247     Lliya Little continues to develop on the outside and produced a significant block against one of the strongest hitters in the building. She continues to improve her timing and decision making in real time, which stood out on a big stage. I am excited to see what she brings to club this year. ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247     [player_tooltip player_id='748210' first='Jael' last='Smith'] continues to elevate her net speed and movement, following in the footsteps of standout blockers like [player_tooltip player_id='391082' first='Addison' last='Coady'] and [player_tooltip player_id='455792' first='Emma' last='Kingston']. Her presence at the net is becoming more dominant each time I see her play, and she is already showing true athleticism that will only grow as she gains more experience. ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247    <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">If you enjoyed this article, please help us keep the momentum going!</h3>   <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-full is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/09/image_cf4e03.png" alt="" class="wp-image-885470" style="width:125px;height:auto" /></figure>   ✨ Help a player get discovered — share this article using the share buttons and tag us on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/prepdigca/?hl=en">PrepDigCa</a>!       <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />   <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-full is-resized"><a href="https://prepdig.com/subscribe/"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/04/image_ff10cb.png" alt="" class="wp-image-770394" style="width:98px;height:auto" /></a></figure>   🚀 <a href="https://prepdig.com/my-account/subscriptions/">Upgrade to a PrepDig+ Subscription</a> — exclusive rankings, in-depth analysis, and access to the full <a href="https://prepdig.com/prospect-index/">prospect index</a>.     <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />   <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-full is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/10/image_e42f4e.png" alt="" class="wp-image-894323" style="width:126px;height:auto" /></figure>   <a href="https://prepdig.com/events/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The 2025 Prep Dig Exposure Tour is officially LIVE!</a>   We're hitting 20+ cities across the country this winter to give athletes a platform to compete, get seen, and level up.   I'll personally be directing at NorCal (11/29), and Arizona (12/14), and can't wait to welcome some of the region's top talent to the gym. Use Code: BamfordPD25   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />   🔥 Players — Use this article to grow. Take notes, study what makes others stand out, and apply it to your own journey. Want to go further? Reach out to a featured athlete and introduce yourself. Build connections, not just stats.   📣 Club Coaches & Directors — Share this with your teams. If your athletes are highlighted, celebrate them loudly. Post it, tag us, and help their stories reach the right eyes. Visibility is everything.   🎯 College Coaches — Tag these athletes in your University Athlete app and evaluate them as potential fits for your program. We're tracking their performance, growth, and impact through Recruitable Credentials — earned indicators college coaches recognize. 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Competing on varsity as a freshman is already a significant accomplishment. Getting real playing time in a CIF State Championship is another level. It takes poise, pace management, and the ability to impact the game in front of a high pressure crowd. The freshmen below did more than just step on the court. They contributed. They made plays. They proved they belong in conversations about long term development and early recruiting identification. These are the names college coaches should track as the club season begins.