Study Exceptional Players - Attack Fundamentals from Three Melrose All-State Outside Hitters

Melrose has a number of accomplished players through the years. Studying their video can help young players in the system. 

Gia Vlajkovic helped Melrose to a pair of Final Fours, remarkably as a setter in one and as an outside hitter the next season.

A few clips illustrate key principles:

1) She doesn't have elite size but is a terrific athlete. In this clip against King Philip she hits "down the line." It's not a "powerful" attack but well-placed. Note the long "runway" she takes on attack footwork. She might even get more lift if she threw her arms back higher on the approach. 

2) Another attack from the pin with a resulting "tool" of the block. Again, potential "classic" improvement available on the armswing back. 

You can study the whole game here and adjust the play speed. 

3) Note that Sadie Jaggers (against Billerica) has a more "classic" negative armswing that helps her launch. Start the video and click onto YouTube to enlarge it. Use the Playback speed control in settings to see slow motion. 

4) Elena Soukos is the third All-State outside hitter who also played "all-around." She had a diverse skill set including delivering "pipe attacks" (from the back row). Not as much negative arm swing for Elena (8).

Studying your personal "attack mechanics" from game or practice video has value. 

Here's the 2021 Melrose-Winchester video.