Natalia Agustin runs an offense with an eye for making the hitter’s job easier, not harder. She likes making quick decisions, reading the court, and putting hitters in position to succeed rather than forcing them to adjust to a bad set. Off the court, she trains in Krav Maga and is working toward a Junior Black Belt, a pursuit that demands the same discipline and focus she brings to her decision-making on the court. She wants to become a setter who can slide into multiple positions whenever her team needs it, which speaks to a player thinking about her long-term value, not just her current role.

~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247

Beat the ball to the spot. That is the job for a setter standing 5’2,” and Natalia Agustin Natalia Agustin 5'3" | S/DS/L Marina | 2031 CA does it better than most players her age regardless of height. Her first step at the Prep Dig Up Next SoCal Showcase was already committed before other setters in the gym had finished processing where the pass was going and she arrived ready to deliver rather than scrambling to recover. I always look for those setters who have the fastest first step off of the net when tracking the pass down and they almost always have a leg up on the competition.  This is what I saw when I watched the individual positional drills. The accuracy she produced under that kind of self-imposed urgency was the quality I kept pointing to in my evaluation throughout the day. A poor pass did not rattle her. An unfamiliar hitter did not slow her down. She competed through every moment of the event with a toughness and attitude that made the class of 2031 label look like an understatement.

Natalia Agustin Natalia Agustin 5'3" | S/DS/L Marina | 2031 CA is returning to UpNext after attending last year, and she’s specific about why it mattered enough to come back. She said the event “gave me the opportunity to meet and compete with other athletes my age, which helped me grow both as a player and as a teammate.” Natalia is a setter/opposite who cares about relationships on the court as much as skill development. This time around she is looking for continued improvement, tougher competition, more confidence, and more to learn from the coaches and athletes in the gym with her.

~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247

Natalia Agustin Natalia Agustin 5'3" | S/DS/L Marina | 2031 CA , a setter and opposite from St. Columban Catholic School, showed early promise at her first showcase. She kept plays alive with her hustle and ability to extend rallies, proving she could make difficult saves and give her hitters opportunities to score. Natalia shared that she had been focused on both setting and hitting, and the showcase gave her the chance to learn how to advocate for herself with teammates and coaches.

She expressed a clear goal of becoming more communicative on the court, saying she wanted “to be more loud in court to help encourage my team more.” Natalia also highlighted her character, describing herself as “100% coachable and respectful,” traits that stood out in her play. A left-hander who recently discovered she is ambidextrous through volleyball, she brought a unique versatility to her position and showed the kind of adaptability that will continue to serve her well. ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247