2027 Liberos Working Towards the Next Level

The recruiting process for the libero and defensive specialist position is a notoriously slow-moving process. As far as we know, four of the top ten 2027 Washington libero recruits are verbally committed- there may be more, and there are some committed outside of the top ten. It just takes one coach and one connection for a college program to come calling. If you follow recruiting, you will see college programs adding athletes throughout their senior seasons. Once the fall college season ends and winter transfers occur, programs with defensive needs can come calling unexpectedly. Here is the top ten, another group of prospects who have excellent club seasons, and one Oregon libero who just made her college commitment.     <figure class="wp-block-table"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><tbody><tr><td>1. [player_tooltip player_id='484723' first='Kela' last='Williams']</td><td>208 VBC- Mt. Spokane</td><td>Witchita State</td></tr><tr><td>2. [player_tooltip player_id='459090' first='Analiah' last='Lauifi']</td><td>Dakine- Central Kitsap</td><td>Cal State Northridge</td></tr><tr><td>3. [player_tooltip player_id='446664' first='Sophia' last='Gao']</td><td>SIVBC- Lakeside (Seattle)</td><td>Columbia (NY)</td></tr><tr><td>4. [player_tooltip player_id='541317' first='Emery' last='Stevenson']</td><td>Dakine- White River</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>5. [player_tooltip player_id='501176' first='Casey' last='Kot']</td><td>SIVBC- Issaquah</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>6. [player_tooltip player_id='499403' first='Samantha' last='Pirillis']</td><td>PSVBA- Puyallup</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>7. [player_tooltip player_id='499495' first='Katie' last='Strong']</td><td>CRU- West Valley Yakima</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>8. [player_tooltip player_id='499400' first='Jordyn' last='Kaelin']</td><td>PJVBC- White River</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>9. [player_tooltip player_id='763389' first='Leigha' last='Hardesty']</td><td>Dakine- Bethel</td><td>Cal State Humboldt</td></tr><tr><td>10. [player_tooltip player_id='499386' first='Avery' last='Beck']</td><td>CPA- Kamiakin</td><td></td></tr></tbody></table></figure>    Pierpoint and her Mode 17 National team have a terrific result at the JVA West Coast Cup, placing 3rd overall in the 17 Premier Division. The Gonzaga Prep libero brings her own brand of calm intensity and competitiveness to the court, and she will be part of an excellent group of defenders for the Bullpups this fall. Pierpoint developed her second ball setting this club season, and looks improved when scooping up off-speed shots and tips from the libero position.     Jones has been an ideal DS for WVBA 17 Adidas this season. She is daring and hard to handle as a server, brings outstanding energy and hustle every play, and passes the ball with a calm platform to help set up the offense for her setter and attackers. When she is patrolling the middle back, and libero Mira Akimese is in left back, it's a true defensive duo holding down the backcourt defense for WVBA.     Lee is dynamic in the libero spot- she does an excellent job getting her feet set, then making plays outside her body on hard swings. She can stab up a ball with either hand, and when we watched her play at PNQ, we were impressed with her anticipation and ability to smoothly go to the floor and get under the ball. Lee and her NPJ 17 National Seattle team will compete in the American Division at USAV Nationals.     Playing this club season for NPJ Portland 17 National, Walker has shown off her versatility, stepping up as an outside hitter when the team has needed her. Her obvious athleticism shines most on defense. Walker has a smooth finish when she passes, cushioning and directing the ball accurately. It's not easy to push a ball over her or throw a shot to the corner for an easy kill. The Ridgefield prospect has an excellent reach for a libero and plays the ball with her hands cleanly.     [player_tooltip player_id='534587' first='Natalie' last='Naness'] is a high-energy, all-out hustle defender for FEVA 17-1 and University Prep. The 2027 prospect has nice length at 5'7" and the strength to hang in against heavy arm swings. She played both libero and DS for FEVA during the club season, roaming the backline along with Sumner Janney. Naness did an excellent job setting up the offense for FEVA. She passes accurately with tempo, and the team was able to run fast attacks to the middle and pins.    <h1 class="wp-block-heading">Recent Oregon Commitment:</h1>    The Athena 17 Gold libero just made a verbal commitment to play at Boise State, which will be competing in the reformed Pac-12 starting this fall. The Westview standout is one of the top players in the Prep Dig Oregon rankings; Lebeck is a defensive playmaker with excellent range, a deadly serve, high-quality setting, and positive energy. Check out her PNQ HUDL highlights below!

The recruiting process for the libero and defensive specialist position is a notoriously slow-moving process. As far as we know, four of the top ten 2027 Washington libero recruits are verbally committed- there may be more, and there are some committed outside of the top ten. It just takes one coach and one connection for a college program to come calling. If you follow recruiting, you will see college programs adding athletes throughout their senior seasons. Once the fall college season ends and winter transfers occur, programs with defensive needs can come calling unexpectedly. Here is the top ten, another group of prospects who have excellent club seasons, and one Oregon libero who just made her college commitment.