Alia Dement is truly the full package when it comes to being an impactful pin, and she showed off a very complete offensive game throughout the Sophomore ID Showcase. From her footwork to her decision-making, there was an intentionality behind the way she played that immediately stood out.

Alia was incredibly quick in transition and consistently put herself in position to be an offensive option. Her approach was picture-perfect, and more importantly, it was repeatable. She attacked with great rhythm and explosiveness, allowing her to get into a strong position at contact and take confident swings. Her cross-court attack was especially dominant throughout the showcase—she found that shot consistently and seemed to score nearly every time she went after it.

What made Alia even more impressive was that she wasn’t simply swinging hard and hoping for the best. She saw the opposing court extremely well and attacked with purpose on every attempt. She showed an understanding of when she had the opportunity to unleash her full power and when the smarter decision was to change speeds, find open court, or use a more controlled shot. That ability to adjust within a rally makes her much more difficult to defend.

Her volleyball IQ was evident once gameplay began. Alia processed what was happening across the net, made smart decisions, and showed that she already understands how to use more than just her physical tools to score. The combination of clean mechanics, quick transition work, offensive range, and intelligent shot selection makes her an exciting pin to continue watching. As she continues to develop and add even more tools to her game, we expect Alia to be a name that continues to stand out.

A pin hitter who can do a lot in terms of her game play, Alia is someone we are excited to see compete against the other pin hitters in her class that are attending and watch her standout against them. Alia is able to play both pins which adds a layer to her overall ability and shows her versatility. She can terminate from all places along the front row and seems to score regardless of where she is hitting from. Most impressively she reads hitters well, and plays disciplined floor defense while being able to transition quickly from defense to attack. Alia is what I would call a well rounded six rotation pin hitter with the versatility to contribute offensively on both pins, stabilize serve receive, and impact the match at the net and in the backcourt. At this showcase I really think all the scouts will get a chance to see that out of Alia and it could lead to her being a standout and top player that weekend.