Alaina Burns
Alaina Burns
About Alaina
Expert Analysis
Breit Nelson | Prep Dig Scout
Burns, who has played for the Watertown-Mayer Royals’ squad since at least 2020, has been a key contributor. Primarily playing as a Libero, Burns is known for her consistency, relentless pursuit and clean mechanics in serve receive. She make serve receive look easy with Burns communication, and calm presence under pressure. She has also demonstrated offensive capability for the Royals which led to her selection to the 2025 Class AA Showcase All-Tournament Team as an Outside for Watertown-Mayer. She has also recorded a high of 17 kills in a single match against Dassel-Cokato.
SECTION 5
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Read EvaluationTheresa Hickman | Prep Dig Scout
Alaina Burns
Alaina
Burns
5'8" | DS/L
Watertown-Mayer | 2026
State
MN
– 5’8″ DS/Libero
Alaina Burns
Alaina
Burns
5'8" | DS/L
Watertown-Mayer | 2026
State
MN
is the steady hand every team craves in the back row. At 5’8”, she plays with relentless energy and clean mechanics, making serve-receive look effortless. Her reads on defense allow her to be in the right place at the right time, frustrating hitters who think they’ve found the floor. What sets Alaina apart is her calm presence under pressure—she doesn’t just dig balls, she sets the tone for her team with her consistency and communication. College coaches will find in Alaina a dependable libero/DS who can lock down serve-receive and be the backbone of any defense.
~Theresa @prepdigdakotas
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Read EvaluationMorgan Eggert | Prep Dig Scout
Burns has a fast approach and swing putting a strong pace behind the ball. Her blocking footwork gives her the ability to get in front of her hitter quickly and time the block well. She has high and strong blocking hands and gets many touches. In the back row, Burns has strong platform control and court awareness. She is able to read the opposing hitter to place herself in the best spot to receive the hit. In serve receive, Burns is able to move quickly to the ball with plenty of time to angle her platform to pass the ball to her setter.
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Read EvaluationTheresa Hickman | Prep Dig Scout
Alaina brings exceptional speed, agility, and length to her defensive game, allowing her to cover wide ground and chase down tough digs. Her quick first step and lateral explosiveness enable her to extend rallies and frustrate opponents’ attacks. She demonstrates advanced court awareness, reading hitters early to position herself perfectly in serve receive and back-row defense.
What sets Alaina apart is her elite block coverage—after diving for digs, she quickly recovers to cover tips, roll shots, and seams behind the block. This ability to transition seamlessly keeps her team protected at the net and limits scoring opportunities for opponents.
Alaina’s relentless energy and vocal leadership elevate her team’s intensity and focus. College coaches seeking a versatile, high-IQ back-row defender should have Alaina firmly on their radar.
— Theresa @prepdigdakotas
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Read EvaluationCharlie Shields | Prep Dig Scout
Alaina is a player who leaves it all on the court for her team. Her speed and agility, combined with her height, allow her to chase down balls that seem nearly impossible to reach. I really admire her energy—she brings so much fire to every point and keeps her teammates hyped up. What stood out to me the most was her exceptional block coverage. I was amazed by how she could fully lay out for a dig and then, almost instantly, be across the court covering for her teammates. She’s definitely a player to keep an eye on for the rest of this club season!
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Read EvaluationBreit Nelson | Prep Dig Scout
Burns moves smoothly across the floor and she knows how to command the floor like a general. Her training has helped her consistently improve and take control of matches with her first contact. Burns will not hesitate to take half the floor on serve receive and be a master communicator for her team.
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Read EvaluationBreit Nelson | Prep Dig Scout
I like to see how Burns’ serve receive is looking calm and more confident this season. She is showing her versatility playing middle back and left back. Burns does a nice job tracking the ball and gets her hips under a hard-driven swing. She stays alert and ready to make a play on whatever is coming over the net next.
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Read EvaluationBreit Nelson | Prep Dig Scout
Burns has a sound platform and good angles in serve receive. She moves quickly on defense and reads the opposing attackers. Burns has good timing and makes a fast first step to the ball.
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Read EvaluationBreit Nelson | Prep Dig Scout
Burns may not have made it to the X but she will turn heads with the MN Select 16-1 crew. She’s a consistent 1st contact and has experience playing with older players at a high level. This could be a breakout club season for her.
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Read EvaluationBreit Nelson | Prep Dig Scout
Burns plays up an age level with MN Select 16-1 and she is a rock solid 1st contact. She doesn’t give up on a ball that skims off the net or changes direction off of the blockers hands. I like her energy and how she gets her hips under the hard driven attack to keep the ball on er side of the net.
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