A couple of years ago, Ali was a long, lean and learning outside hitter for uber-small Oldenburg Academy. After her first year of club at Circle, she learned the pass-to-attack skill that is required of all six-rotation outsides. All of that work, all of that unseen gym time and all of that discipline turned into a commitment from Northern Illinois. Ali’s meteoric rise has been one of the feel-good stories of this class, and I’m glad to have been a small part of it.

For super small Oldenburg Academy, it’s not hard to find Miss Nobbe, a six-rotation outside with power for days and skills that have rapidly increased over the couple of years I’ve covered her. Yes, they struggled a bit against 4A Plainfield last night, but again, this is what the summer league is for. Ali’s abilities are numerous—she’s tough from behind the service line, can put balls away in the front and back rows regularly, defends her position well and can step in on serve receive whenever she’s needed. Although there’s a little athleticism and size around her at OA, Ali is the primary attacker, and will be a nice pickup for someone looking for anything from a six-ro outside to a three-ro hammer, depending on your needs at the next level.

From relative obscurity just 18 months ago, Ali has become a solid six-rotation outside hitting option for the 16-2 squad at Circle. Long, lean and athletic, Ali finds ways to terminate—whether it’s with her jumping ability, a smart tool shot or just being bigger than the blocker across from her. Her floor defense and serve receive are coming along, too. No longer a liability while in serve receive, Ali can do almost anything needed on the court. I’d like to see a little more upper body strength from her, now that she’s got the whole volleyball package together.

At this time just a year ago, this young lady was figuring out what this sport was and where her place was in it. Now, she’s earning a bronze medal in 16 Premier Red, which was populated by more than enough open-level teams that should have played open. Ali is a long and lean attacker that can play all six-rotations and is perfecting her floor defense and serve receive after transferring to Circle this past off-season. Quicker now moreso than a season ago, Miss Nobbe has the sky as her limit, as her size profile fits with high-level college volleyball.