Estelle Plache earned Top Performer at the SoCal UpNext Showcase, August 29, 2026.

Estelle Plache brings real versatility to her offense, mixing in dump attempts to keep the opposing block honest rather than setting predictably every time. She plays with strong overall athleticism, which gives her more ways to attack out of a broken play.

~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247

Watching Estelle set at the Prep Dig Up Next SoCal Showcase was watching a player who already trusts what she has built. Her technique when contacting the ball looked polished even though she is only in eighth grade.  Her mechanics did not shift under pressure and they did not shift when the pass was imperfect either. She got to difficult balls quickly and delivered them cleanly, keeping the location of her sets consistent across the entire day in a way that gave her hitters confidence on every approach.  What stood out to me was how she truly sprinted to the net rather than just moving at a jogging pace and that kept her early and ready to release off of the net if she had to in order to beat the ball to its spot. She also led with a quiet authority that made the offense feel stable and the players around her settled into a rhythm with her fast because of it. I will definitely be watching her progress over the next few years and you should as well.