Diaz blocks out competition

A volleyball player has to be quick to react when blocking a ball. Sophie Diaz is not only good at blocking the ball, she is the best in the 1A Volleyball Class, and she placed third in the state of all classes.

Diaz had 91 blocks during the volleyball season that ended earlier this month at regionals for the Saratoga Panthers.

Diaz has been playing volleyball since the fifth grade, when they opened up camps for her age groups. Because of her height and the fact she is a pretty good blocker, she has played middle blocker.

Diaz doesn’t keep track of her statistics during the season, because she doesn’t want it to go to her head, but she does like to see where she is at when making goals for the season.

She found out she was number 1 in her class through wyopreps.com and maxpreps.com.

“Blocking is a fun way to shut someone down,” Diaz said. She really enjoys it and says it is all about timing.

If she plays volleyball in college, it will probably be an intramural team.

That is because basketball is her favorite sport. “It has always been my better sport because of how physical it can get,” Diaz said.

The hardest part about training as a blocker for volleyball is the only way to practice is to have a bunch of people hitting the ball at you, Diaz said. “You also have to have quick feet.”