VSP Spotlight: Pepperdine Commit Anabel Zihenni

This week’s VSP Athlete Spotlight shines on Division I soccer commit Anabel Zihenni. After recently committing to continue her academic and athletic career at Pepperdine University, Anabel continues to prove why she’s one of the top players in the area. She is a midfielder for Harrison High School, where she earned Varsity All-League honors, while also competing for the Girls 2009 ECNL World Class FC squad.

When Anabel came to us in November of 2025, her goals were simple: get stronger, become more explosive, and improve her speed so she could dominate every aspect of her game. Over the past several months, Anabel has attacked every training session with incredible consistency, effort, and determination. Let’s just say… the hard work has CLEARLY paid off!

Let’s dive into it!

Strength

When testing lower body strength & force output we use the following tests:

• ISO Belt Squat
• ISO Mid Thigh Pull

So let’s see how she improved:

• ISO Mid Thigh Pull: 238 to 270 (+13.4% increase)
• ISO Belt Squat: 206 to 326 (+58.3% increase)

The biggest improvement came in Anabel’s lower body strength. She added over 120 pounds to her belt squat while also significantly increasing her force production on the mid-thigh pull. Building this level of strength creates the foundation for becoming a faster, more explosive, and more resilient athlete.

So clearly, strength & force output improved… but what about her power output?

Power

When testing power output we use the following tests:

• Vertical Jump
• FT/JH (Flight Time / Jump Height)
• Broad Jump
• Triple Jump

So let’s see how she improved:

• Vertical Jump: 16.8 to 19.3 (+14.9% increase)
• FT/JH: 0.39 / 16.7 to 0.52 / 16.6 (+33.3% increase in flight time)
• Broad Jump: 70 to 77 (+10.0% increase)
• Triple Jump: 226 to 235 (+4.0% increase)

Short answer… yes. Anabel’s power output improved across the board. Her increased jump height, greater flight time, and longer horizontal jumps demonstrate her ability to generate force more efficiently and translate her new strength into explosive movement on the field.

But what about her acceleration, speed, & change of direction?

Acceleration, Speed, & COD

When testing acceleration & COD we use the following tests:

• 10 YD Dash
• 5-10-5 Shuttle

So let’s see how she improved:

• 10 YD Dash: 1.99 to 1.68 (15.6% improvement)
• 5-10-5 Shuttle: 5.21 to 4.87 (Right) | 5.10 to 4.89 (Left) (6.5% improvement & 4.1% improvement)

Anabel didn’t just become stronger and more powerful—she became significantly faster. Her improved acceleration allows her to win races to the ball, create separation from defenders, and close space defensively, while her improved change of direction makes her even more effective in the quick movements that midfielders rely on throughout a match.

On-Field Success

All of the hard work Anabel has put in over the past several months has translated directly to her success on the field. Her recent commitment to Pepperdine University is a testament to the dedication, consistency, and competitive mindset she brings to every training session. As she prepares for her senior season at Harrison High School, she’s positioned herself to make an even bigger impact before beginning her Division I career.

We’re incredibly proud of everything Anabel has accomplished in such a short period of time. Watching her develop into a stronger, faster, and more explosive athlete has been awesome, and we can’t wait to see everything she accomplishes over the next year and beyond.

Written By:

Jake Lebovitch – Assistant Director of Performance & Content Manager