It was easy to see why Lafferty has earned the opportunity to continue her career at Harding University. A powerful outside hitter, she brings a heavy arm and the ability to score from multiple areas of the court. She has the full arsenal of shots expected from an effective pin attacker, including a heavy cross-court swing, a deep line shot, and the awareness to use off-speed shots when the situation calls for it. At the net, Lafferty is a strong left-side blocker, particularly against the opponent’s first- and second-tempo attacks. Developing her slide-blocking technique will be an important next step as she transitions to the next level. She also brings pressure from the service line with an aggressive serve that can disrupt an opponent’s offense. As a senior, Lafferty pairs her physical presence with confident court leadership, making her a valuable presence on both sides of the ball.

Avery was very impressive at the Rankings Tournament. I have also gotten to see multiple highlight clips which only confirms what we already thought. She will be a huge pickup for any local college, if she doesn’t go to a larger school out of state. She has the skill set and the intangibles to be phenomenal. Such as her tenacity, leadership, drive and calmness. This is why we have her top 5 in the state.

If you have not gotten to see Avery play, you need to find a way ASAP. She is an extremely well rounded player. She is tough mentally and has a passion to compete for every point. She has the capabilities to run a 5-1 or 6-2 with her size, athleticism and feel for the game. She plays well up front both as a hitter and a setter. She can joust or attack well as a setter or bring the hammer as a true hitter on the pin. Her versatility and ability to play at a high level puts her 12th overall in our rankings.