Loudoun Youth Volleyball Undersized Prospects
The Loudoun Youth Volleyball League (LYV) is running one of the largest youth leagues in Virginia this Fall. The league has provided opportunities for tens of thousands of students over the last 23 years, ranging from elementary levels to high…
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Continue ReadingThe Loudoun Youth Volleyball League (LYV) is running one of the largest youth leagues in Virginia this Fall. The league has provided opportunities for tens of thousands of students over the last 23 years, ranging from elementary levels to high school varsity. The league generally conflicts with the traditional high school season so the players in the league are often players who failed to be selected for their high school programs. This season is far from traditional as we all know. The Virginia High School League postponed high school season to the Spring hybrid season, starting in February and running into late April and the Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association has canceled their state championship for this academic year, leaving teams to play either traditional Fall seasons or moving to the February to April to coincide with the public school schedules.
This season’s LYV league is primed with varsity programs and players from some of the top area high schools including Loudoun Valley, Dominion, Briar Woods, Riverside, Tuscarora, Broad Run, Heritage, John Champe, Loudoun County, Freedom, and several others. This has improved the quality of league play in the higher leagues. Many under the radar prospects are fine-tuning their game in a competitive environment to help them make a name for themselves on the wish list for many college recruiters. Here are some of the top undersized performers so far in the league.
Heather Kim is an undersized Outside Hitter for Potomac Falls High School and Northern Virginia Volleyball Association. The 5’5 senior, Heather has a great vertical leap and makes intelligent swings. She hits with great control and range and sees the block well. She’s an outstanding communicator on the court and an outstanding teammate. She provides great energy with her teammates and is relentless in her defensive efforts. She is a team-first style player who will do whatever helps her team be better. She has quick reactions and reads the hitters and opposing offenses well. She has excellent footwork and platform awareness making her great in serve receive and ball control. She’s a relentless perfectionist and is always striving to improve.
Her passion for the sport is infectious to her teammates and the kids who she coaches at a variety of programs at the Virginia Volleyball Center (Sterling, VA). She loves the lessons that volleyball teaches that transfer into real life, be it the way that everyone has a vital role to play or the sportsmanship and work ethic that the sport requires to be successful. Upon graduation, Heather is taking a unique route for college. With family in Germany, Heather is planning to enroll in the Technical Institute University in Munich. She will play in the club system in Germany and plans to coach as well and always have volleyball be a part of her life. Heather shared some thoughts on the game. “Volleyball has really taught me to be aggressive and passionate in my performance but to keep things calm in my mind at the same time. It has also taught me so much about hustle, determination, and commitment. Volleyball is not only about skill and athleticism, but it’s about communication skills and cooperation with your teammates. Everyone on the court has a job whether that may be to pass, set, or hit; everyone does their part and everyone is apart of the team’s success, which I love. Other than that, I love how there is always something I can improve on whether that may be working on hitting different sets such as shoots or reds.”
Becka Nguyen is a lightning-fast setter from Loudoun Valley High School and Western Loudoun Volleyball Club. In the LYV, she is playing for the Norsewomen who are currently undefeated in league play. Despite her small stature, the 5’1 setter runs a fast and efficient offense and is dynamic and explosive to block at the net. She has exceptional court vision and instincts and a very quick release that allows her to create isolation and open net opportunities for her hitters. The sophomore quarterback of the offense is an emotional firecracker and the team’s top cheerleader from the court or the bench. She’s a tremendous server with her jump float. She is incredibly competitive but in a positive way, which is a rare and valued commodity in the culture of successful programs. Her defense is exceptional as well giving coaches flexibility to use her as a libero or defensive specialist at the college level. She has Division 1 talent in a small package. She would be an asset to any level of collegiate volleyball as her character, talent, volleyball IQ and dynamic athleticism would make her a valuable part of whatever program lands her. She has an infectious love of volleyball which radiates in her play. She is even a very capable volleyball official. Her father, Hai, is her high school and LYV coach, and her sister, Faith is a standout Outside Hitter on the team. She’s a very good student and helps to make people around her better.
Ava Ray is one of the most talented players in Virginia. The 5’6 lefty is only a sophomore but provides steady leadership for Riverside High, Virginia Juniors, and the Jags of the Loudoun Youth Volleyball League. The team is currently undefeated in the LYV. The Riverside team fell in the Regional Semifinals to Stonebridge but is expecting great things in their 2020-21. Playing varsity as a freshman and being part of the setting tandem shows how great of a player Ava is. She will be on the radar of many Division 1 programs despite her modest size. She is an aggressive server with a devastating jump float serve that she attacks opponents with speed, variety, and range. She has great instincts and sees the defense and connects well with her hitters, exploiting matchups and putting her hitters in great scoring positions. She has a great and consistent release and can get to almost any ball on the court and stay in-system on passes that many setters would have to run slower tempo plays. She could currently play for many Division 2 programs as a high school sophomore and will only continue to improve with great athleticism and a tremendous work ethic. She will be a strong candidate for most Division 1 programs by the time she graduates.