I watched defensive specialist VanderArk at a tournament in early March and came away impressed. She has a highly effective serve, does well in serve receive, and provides solid middle back defense. She reads the game well and continues to be a reliable presence on the court. Not only was she consistent, but she’s also steady and brings a lot of value to her team. Defensive specialists don’t always get a ton of recognition, but she absolutely deserves it.

Natalie VanderArk Natalie VanderArk DS/L Central Minnesota Christian | 2029 State MN is a player I kept coming back to throughout the season. What stood out to me was how comfortable Natalie looked in the back row. She wasn’t guessing. She was reading hitters, anticipating where the ball would go, and getting into good defensive positions. There is a difference between reacting and reading the game, and Natalie showed a lot of that this season. ~Theresa@prepdigdakotas