Leila enters this matchup as Harrison’s early offensive leader, and her most recent performance showed how many ways she can contribute: 13 kills, nine digs and two aces in a sweep of Wheeler. She currently leads Harrison in kills per set.

The complete nature of that role is what makes her worth watching. Cartersville can present size at the net, so Thursday may become less about whether Leila can overpower the block and more about whether she can solve it. Attacking hands, changing speeds and producing quality swings after serve receive will all matter. The intangible is willingness to carry responsibility after opponents adjust. Experienced outsides become especially valuable when they continue asking for the ball even after the easy scoring windows disappear. ~ S.Fitzgerald @BenchtoBeast_prepdigga

Leila plays with confidence and does a good job staying aggressive across rotations. She maintains good timing on her approach and delivers consistent contact. Her ability to stay available in transition makes her a reliable offensive option. Leila helps keep the offense balanced. ~ Samantha Fitzgerald @BenchtoBeast_prepdigga

Smith adds offensive depth on the outside and has shown she can terminate against quality competition. Her ability to score in transition makes Harrison less predictable, and as a junior, she brings both experience and steady improvement to a young lineup that’s peaking at the right time. ~ Samantha Fitzgerald @BenchtoBeast