Wynnie Abney Wynnie Abney DS/L Pope | 2028 State GA has developed into a major part of Pope’s identity in the back row. She currently leads the Greyhounds at 4.8 digs per set, and earlier detailed statistics showed her handling the largest share of the team’s receptions as well. That’s the combination I want to see from a true libero.

Dig numbers can sometimes come from simply being positioned behind a high-volume block. Serve-receive volume tells us something different: opponents know where she is, and she is still being asked to handle first contact. What catches my attention about Abney’s profile is how much responsibility she has already accumulated as a junior.

Recruiters should watch whether she can create range without becoming reckless. There is a difference between pursuing everything and understanding which balls actually belong to you.

A libero who communicates clearly, takes the appropriate amount of court and makes the players beside her more confident becomes incredibly difficult to replace. Abney still has time to refine those details, which makes her development through the rest of this season especially interesting.~ S.Fitzgerald @BenchtoBeast_prepdigga

Wynnie has already spent multiple seasons developing into Pope’s defensive anchor.

The junior libero currently leads the Greyhounds at 4.6 digs per set after recording 513 digs as a sophomore.

What makes Wynnie important in this matchup is the variety she will have to defend. Destinee can attack quickly through the middle. Stella can create from the pin. BT’s setters can also use serving pressure to prevent Pope from ever reaching clean offense.

Wynnie’s skill is not simply reaching difficult balls. It is turning defense into something usable. A spectacular dig that flies into the stands may extend the rally; a controlled dig to target gives Pope a chance to score.

The intangible to watch is command. Great liberos become the backcourt’s traffic controller—calling seams, identifying tips and helping teammates reset after mistakes. In a match where runs could develop quickly, that presence can be enormous. ~ S.Fitzgerald @BenchtoBeast_prepdigga

Wynnie handled enormous defensive volume as a sophomore, finishing with 513 digs, 548 receptions, 47 aces and 128 assists. Her 4.8 digs per set led Pope by a significant margin and helped provide the first-contact foundation for a team that finished 31-9 and reached the Class 5A state semifinals.

Pope will enter the new season replacing several experienced seniors, making Wynnie’s stability even more valuable. She can become the athlete who connects old and new pieces by controlling seams, taking ownership of difficult serves and keeping transition opportunities alive. If Pope’s next lineup develops quickly, Wynnie’s ability to make the backcourt feel organized may be one of the biggest reasons why. ~ S.Fitzgerald @BenchtoBeast_prepdigga