Electric! Outside Hitters of the PD National 2024s Pt. 1
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The Class of 2024 National Rankings have been released by Prep Dig. There are plenty of athletes on this list who have plenty of firepower, especially from the pins. Who are these athletes, what makes them elite? Here are a…
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Continue ReadingThe Class of 2024 National Rankings have been released by Prep Dig. There are plenty of athletes on this list who have plenty of firepower, especially from the pins. Who are these athletes, what makes them elite? Here are a few who you need to know who are at the top of their class and blasting away with major hops and lot of power to keep them soaring above the competition.
@circlecityvbc vs @MintonetteSport 16s. Mintonette one of the biggest front lines here along with A5. Circle City just doesn’t let the ball drop and with an outlet on the outside in @AvaUtterback they always have a chance to score #centralzone
— Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) January 29, 2022
#5 Ava Utterback Ava Utterback 5'10" | OH Plainfield | 2024 State #24 Nation IN – Plainfield (IN) – Circle City
I’ve seen Utterback since her 15s year and every time I see her play live, she’s adding inches to her vertical leap. What she has also added is a polished all around game where she can serve receive, pass, and is really strong in pass to attack situations. A pure six rotation outside who can take what the defense gives her and has a great mix of shots. She can hammer down the line, or disguise the roll right over the block into the middle of the court. If she gets set on a two ball out of the middle – forget about it, game over. This is a really fun and talent Circle City team that has plenty of athletes who are among the best in their state and region. They will have big goals heading into nationals where they will defend their home turf.
@dynastyvbc 16 Black wins it!
Carlie Cisneros Carlie Cisneros 6'0" | OH Liberty North | 2024 State #7 Nation MO hammers home match point to secure the 16s championship! #TCVolleyballNIT pic.twitter.com/6w4WlL1k7k
— Austin Kingsley (@KingsleyATK) February 21, 2022
#6 Carlie Cisneros Carlie Cisneros 6'0" | OH Liberty North | 2024 State #7 Nation MO – Liberty North (MO) – Dynasty
One of the most quietly effective players in the country. She’s the type of outside hitter who could put up a double-double with kills and digs and it would just be another match for Cisneros, she goes about her business as usual finding a way to get it done. With a combo of Cisneros and Pierce on the pin along with Abigail Mullen, it is a three headed dragon for Dynasty. Cisneros is so fundamentally sound, there is very little weakness to her game. She can find a way to score points and is highly effective out of the backrow. There is always an outlet for this team and when teams key in on the pins with Pierce and Mullen, Cisneros is coming down the pipe for a wide open look.
#20 Babi Gubbins Babi Gubbins 6'3" | OH Mater Dei | 2024 State #18 Nation CA – Mater Dei (CA) – Mizuno Long Beach
This Mizuno Long Beach team is full of athleticism and seeing Gubbins on the pin was real exciting at Triple Crown earlier this year. The 6’3 outside hitter has a major presence on the court where she is solid in every rotation. She has a major range defensively and is extremely physical at the net, she could step on a college court this fall and compete against older athletes with her strength. In going back and watching more video on Gubbins, she is really strong out of system which will translate well to the next level. She knows how to stay behind the ball and her last two steps are extremely fast where she manages to get really solid hand contact where every ball she takes a swing at is going to have a lot of pace. This will be a fun team to watch compete in 16 Open in indy.
#23 Lauren Harden Lauren Harden 6'3" | OH Hamilton Southeastern | 2024 State #36 Nation IN – Hamilton Southeastern (IN) – REV
Harden is another Indianapolis Metro athlete where after watching the Class of 2024 from Indiana the past two seasons, there are a lot of high powered recruits coming from the Hoosier State. The ceiling for Harden is extremely high and watching her each time she steps on the court, she is improving with the fine details in regards to fundamentals. She has a great connection with setter, Kamryn Utley, where Utley can find her on the outside as well as middle back. Harden’s jump touch is way up there and her length will pose a problem for the opposite side of the net. She will have an exciting recruiting process being in the heart of Big Ten country as well as plenty of other top twenty five programs within hours of Indianapolis.
#27 Lauryn “Lolo” Lambert Lauryn “Lolo” Lambert 5'9" | OH Plano East Senior | 2024 State #20 Nation TX – Bishop Lynch (TX) – Dallas Skyline
Lambert is another one of those gritty Texas athletes who is fearless. She has an aggressive approach where she is looking to score on every swing. She will go cross court, zone four to four, and once the defense and the block adjusts, she gets on top of the ball and hammers down the line. What makes her tough is how she is able to adjust which will always keep the defense guessing. She is going to be one of those steals at the next level where she could be used in a variety of ways. I believe she has the athleticism and physicality to play on the outside, but she could also be lethal as a defensive specialist always providing a swing out of the backrow. She’s the type of kid coaches are going to want in their gym.
2024 outside hitter Grace Nelson Grace Nelson 6'1" | OH Oak Park River Forest | 2024 State #37 Nation IL is hitting at a new level. She’s looking to break fingers. The @1stAllianceVBC athlete will be on a list of top priority prospects for 2024s to college coaches come June 15. #PDGauntlet
— Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) May 29, 2022
#30 Grace Nelson Grace Nelson 6'1" | OH Oak Park River Forest | 2024 State #37 Nation IL – Oak Park River Forest (IL) – 1st Alliance 16 Gold
Nelson is another outside hitter who is looking to break the finger of a blocker each time she approaches. She has an aggressive approach and a violent arm swing. In breaking it into basketball terms, a shooter is going to shoot, meaning they won’t let a few shots missed keep them from shooting the ball. What is enjoyable about Nelson’s game is even if she misses by getting blocked or hitting a ball out, her body language doesn’t change and she comes right back the next play and goes hard. This is what coaches are looking for. Everyone is going to make errors, but how are athletes going to bounce back from those errors? For Nelson, she is going to get her kills and she is going to constantly put pressure on the other side of the net, a relentless attacker.