BELLA Belen has found a fan in Farm Fresh’s Italian head coach Alessandro Lodi.
The Capital1 winger dropped 20 points and 19 digs in a four-set loss to Lodi’s side on Tuesday. A performance like that affirms the Italian mentor’s belief that Belen has emerged as a generational talent even in just the early goings of her PVL career.
READ: Farm Fresh goes 3-0 to start PVL Reinforced by beating Capital1
What stunned Lodi the most about the 23-year-old ace is the her unassuming built.
Being a 5-foot-7 spiker might not be ideal in the sport, but it’s how she atones for her lack of height that puts her a cut above the rest.
“I don’t know what I can add about Belen that hasn’t already been said yet but from my perspective, she’s kind of one of a kind. She doesn’t look overwhelming,” Lodi said.
“It seems like nothing because she’s not over the block and she’s not extremely physical but she definitely knows what she’s doing with the ball.”
Lodi also pointed out the three most notable attributes of top overall draft pick.
“She has ball control that is exceptional, she hits a thousand shots and she frustrates people,” he said.
In over two and a half decades coaching overseas, Belen’s persistence to scale new heights has been a rare sight to behold even if the odds tend to be stacked against her.
“When you have somebody hitting over the block, there’s usually little to be frustrated about [if an opponent is] 6’4, hits on me and there’s nothing I can do about it. But with Belen, [she believes that] I can do that too,” Lodi said.
“She’s not really superior in terms of physical skills but she plays better volleyball. Ultimately, to play volleyball, you have to be better in playing the game.”
With everything Belen’s achieved from the high school ranks, the college level, the national team scene and now in the pros, Lodi knows she’s well on her way to stardom.
And it’s only a matter of time.
“You can be taller but there are players both in the men’s and women’s games who are not the most physical, not the most overwhelming or won’t appear spectacular but has phenomenal consistency, lots of tools, lots of shots, lot of solutions and can do things on both ends on the floor,” Lodi said.
“She’s on her way to becoming that and it’s not by accident. She does it all the time. She’s really, really good.
“I hope she stays humble and keeps working because for sure, she has the tools to be really good for many, many years.”
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