Three liberos stepping up their games
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A fair chunk of the 2021 high school volleyball season in the state of Washington is already behind us as teams and players have been battling it out all across the Evergreen State for more than a month now. Some…
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Continue ReadingA fair chunk of the 2021 high school volleyball season in the state of Washington is already behind us as teams and players have been battling it out all across the Evergreen State for more than a month now.
Some of the state’s most popular names in the high school volleyball scene have confirmed the high expectations about themselves, producing another season of elite-level performances while some freshmen have also started their careers in the best possible way.
There’s also a third category which is absolutely worth following, which is the one with players who are having career years. These prospects have been with their teams for a season or two but have never produced at the level they are this time around.
Today we’ll present you some liberos who have been playing better than ever this season:
Tatyana Tauese-Paulino Tatyana Tauese-Paulino 5'6" | DS/L Curtis | 2023 State WA – HS: Puyallup – Club: North Pacific Juniors – 2023
Tatyana Tauese-Paulino Tatyana Tauese-Paulino 5'6" | DS/L Curtis | 2023 State WA is a key part of a strong Puyallup team that lost just three of its 20 matches so far in the season. The 5’7” libero has had a prominent role with the Vikings in each of her three seasons of high school volleyball but has never been as efficient as she’s been in 2021. Sheppard has become an even better defender, upping her average of digs per set from 3.7 to 4.3 and having a total of 21 so far. She also continues to be a prolific server, have tallied 16 aces already.
Katie Nelson – HS: Northwest – 2022
A veteran of four season of high school volleyball, Katie Nelson apparently saved the best for last in her time with Northwest. The 5’2” libero has always been a reliable presence in the team’s backcourt but her importance to the team grew exponentially in her senior year. Her digs per set average is at a career-high five, with 165 actions in 33 sets, while her serving also improved 1.2 per set after she registered 39 aces.
Ariana Bickley – HS: Anacortes – 2022
Ariana Bickley is another senior who seems to have found her best game in the final year of her high school career. The 5’2” libero has been better than ever in digging balls, raising her average of digs per set from 3.5 to 4.3, with 152 registered in 35 sets. She also improved her averages in passes per set (3.6 to 4.8) and aces per set (0.3 to 0.6), showing the great overall development of her game.