Abby Pullen has built her game around performing under pressure, whether that’s serving on match point, staying aggressive, or keeping her team’s energy up when things get tight. Tryouts are next week at Palisades Charter, and making varsity as a freshman is the goal driving her right now. A piece of coaching advice reshaped her approach at the plate as a relatively undersized six-rotation hitter, she learned that timing and position matter more than arm swing mechanics, and applying that lesson improved her approach timing out of serve receive on fast tempo sets. Her goals for this first season are to earn a starting role and help build a strong team dynamic, and her sights are set on a Division I program down the road, where her six-rotation skill set could contribute as either a hitter or a defensive specialist. She stays calm under pressure and works to keep her teammates loose in stressful moments, and she’s looking forward to competing against girls her age from across California while building friendships with other players and coaches.

~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247