Five 16U Unified Defensive Specialists to know
Located in Rochester Hills, Unified Volleyball runs practice sessions for its National Teams twice a week on Tuesday and Thursdays. While its National Select and State squads also have the same number of training sessions, those take place on…
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Located in Rochester Hills, Unified Volleyball runs practice sessions for its National Teams twice a week on Tuesday and Thursdays.
While its National Select and State squads also have the same number of training sessions, those take place on the other days of the week so that weekends are left open for competition. The National and National Select teams reported for duty in the first week of December while the others began this season the first week of January according to Unifiedvolleyball.com.
That’s the level of dedication required to put on quality performances all across the state and beyond and this organization doesn’t shy away from hard work. They can’t, and one reason for that in 16U action is all the Liberos at their disposal who can carry their own weight. These athletes have the potential to be the heart and soul of any defensive effort and includes…
SOPHIE LANZON
What her game film on Maxpreps.com shows is that this Libero moves fluidly across the back row. Where she truly stands out is when using her dig to receive shots, which, in turn, allowed her team at Cranbrook Kingswood in Bloomfield Hills numerous favorable offensive setups in prep competition in 2019-20. Presently she wears number 15 for Unified Volleyball 16-3.
ELYSSA WALLACE
One thing that stands out for this five-foot-six member of the class of 2022 is that she was able to post 133 digs and a dozen aces in 80 sets played for Notre Dame Prep in Pontiac in 2019-20. Right now wears number three for Unified 16-1, but during the high school season those statistics were her contributions to a Fighting Irish squad that ended up 48-11-2 overall to finish ranked 17th in the state and 670th nationally.
RAEGEN BELL
This five-foot-3 sophomore splits her time between Oxford High School and Unified Volleyball 16-2. She definitely has defensive range moving forward and backwards. Not only does she claim her space, but Bell also does a good job guarding the lines with her dig and setting abilities. During the high school season she did her part by charting 137 digs, 15 aces and one kill in 91 sets played, all of which was at least somewhat related to her talents when it comes to getting low and always making sure to pass the ball forward as opposed to side-to-side.
OLIVIA COLLETTI
While she didn’t play for Oakland Christian High School in Auburn Hills in 2019-20, as a freshman Colletti was able to capture some attention with a showing that included 246 digs, 82 aces and five kills in 117 sets played. With the ability to also plays Setter this Defensive Specialists currently is on the roster for Unified 16-2.
NATIONAL SELECT
Handling the Libero duties for Unified 16 Blue is a group that includes Angela Barkeley, Hailey Boger and Vidhyalaksmi Velayudham, who also plays Setter. As for Unified 16 White, those Defensive Specialists feature individuals such as Olivia Gill, Emily Lan and Daria Nikitina, who lines up at Outside Hitter, as well.
Some of the other Defensive Specialists on this club include Leah Grief, Kaylee Weltyk and Ryann Holden of Unified Volleyball 16-3, Ella Pease with Unified 16-2 and Calissa Bordine of Unified 16-1.