Anika Watts wants a college coach to notice her leadership and her communication, specifically how she directs her teammates through both offensive and defensive plays at Palos Verdes. A piece of coaching feedback changed how she processes mistakes. She used to get stuck in her head after an error, replaying what she could have done differently, but she has since built what she calls a “next ball” mentality, one that lets her stay confident and move on quickly rather than letting one play bleed into the next.

Watts is excited to start her freshman season playing with and against elite competition, and what keeps her motivated is the chance to be coached by people who can help her grow. She’s looking for a highly competitive program that is also team and family oriented, somewhere she can continue developing as a player. She shows up for her teammates by encouraging them, keeping the energy high, and leading by example, and she wanted to be part of this showcase because she loves competing and wanted to keep growing as a volleyball player while gaining real exposure.

~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247