Olivia Bastien Olivia Bastien 5'9" | DS/L Center Grove | 2029 State IN plays a position where height is not supposed to be a primary trait, but at 5’9″ she brings a physical dimension to the libero role that most defenders her age simply do not have. The Center Grove product, ranked 52nd overall in the state by Prep Dig in the 2029 class, used that frame combined with genuinely advanced floor coverage to put together one of the standout defensive performances of the night at the Indiana Convention Center.

Every part of the game was influenced by the way she played back row. She read hitters early. She tracked balls deep off the court that shorter liberos often have to give up on. And she did all of it while talking constantly, organizing her back row, and keeping her teammates settled through long rallies. Coaches who watched her throughout the event praised her composure and her willingness to take control of a defense made up of players she had just met that day. She competes with Circle City Volleyball Club, one of the more respected programs in central Indiana, and the structure of that environment showed in how clean her platform mechanics looked under pressure. Bastien’s combination of size, instinct, and leadership is a rare one at the libero position, and the Avoli Award she earned on at the showcase reflects all three. Please help us congratulate this awesome young lady for earning this prestigious prize. 

As the full-time libero for this roster, Olivia is the kid you send out with the special jersey on that can pass half the court on each and every serve receive pattern. In floor defense, she’ll go through a row of chairs to get errant passes, cover hitters like her life depended on it, and is a relentless workhorse in the gym and in the weight room. You can do a lot worse in this class for the libero position, and with Olivia, the extras that you get that don’t require encouraging will save time for her future coaches.