Relatively short for an outsider hitter, Rachel Giustino excelled at collegiate volleyball through a combination of power, finesse and athleticism. In volleyball, being taller does give a player an advantage — something Rachel Giustino readily admits.

Height is almost a prerequisite if a female high school player hopes to catch the eye of a major university.“Normally, big schools won’t recruit anyone under 6 foot,” says Giustino, who’s listed at 5-10.