Richards may stand at 5’1″, but she brings plenty of presence to the back row! Her controlled serve receive has helped her earn a spot in the Colorado Class of 2027 rankings. Richards works hard to get her body behind the ball. She also creates a steady passing platform when the serve comes her way. As a result, she can give her setter a more manageable first contact. More importantly, Richards understands what that pass means for the offense. She is not simply trying to keep the ball in play. Instead, she works to create options for her team. She also stays composed when the serve gets difficult. That poise can help keep a team in system during pressure moments. Her combination of control and awareness has caught our attention. Now, Richards is officially ranked among Colorado’s 2027 players! This Valley defender is another name to keep on your radar.

Richards brings a controlled approach to serve receive that allows her to stay composed when the serve gets difficult. She does a nice job getting her body behind the ball and creating a consistent passing platform. Furthermore, Richards understands how important her first contact is to the offense. Rather than simply getting the ball up, she works to create a pass that gives her setter options. That combination of control and awareness makes her an intriguing serve-receive player to watch.

Laurissa Richards brings advanced platform control and defensive anticipation to the back row. Richards reads hitter shoulders early, allowing her to shade cross-court angles before contact is even made. Her serve receive mechanics are compact and repeatable, keeping passes inside the setter’s window and allowing full tempo offense to operate.

At Triple Crown, expect Laurissa Richards to be tested by heavy pace and aggressive float serving — and expect her to handle it. She absorbs velocity without overcorrecting her platform angle and transitions quickly into coverage responsibilities. Richards will extend rallies and create second-chance opportunities in high-pressure matches. ~Theresa @prepdigdakotas