May 4, 2022

The final qualifier of the season did not pass without players making a name for themselves. Some we had already seen before. Others we learned about over the course of the three days in Reno. Below, vballrecruiter.com presents the top outside hitters we watched at Far Western. 15 OPEN Lucy Chertock, NorCal 15-1 Black – A six-rotation outside for NorCal, Chertock has good upside that we’ll see come to fruition as she continues to develop. She’s 6-1 and possess a solid swing. There are times she really connects. Abigail Krause, NorCal 15-1 Black – At 5-9, Krause is undersized but definitely has her moments. She’s an aggressive attacker who can deliver some bigger-than-expected kills when she gets into one. Simone Roslon, Mizuno Long Beach 15 Rockstar – It’s hard to tell that Roslon is an eighth-grader playing up. She’s a big part of Beach’s identity. She’s a smooth passer and a heady attacker who knows how to beat bigger blocks.   Maija Howse, ID Crush 15 Bower – This a name to know! At 6-2, this outside has tremendous potential and is going to be a thorn in opponents’ sides for years to come. She’s already capable of hitting with pace and with her length is a difficult cover for smaller blockers. Elena Fisher, Absolute Black 15-1 – A bit undersized, you can see Fisher’s beach skills in her indoor play. This three-star recruit is a consistent passer out of serve receive and can track down balls on defense. She also has a good jump to her and has a variety of shots she can throw at defenders. Ava Poinsett, Coast 15-1 – Poinsett has made our top players list before and is likely to keep doing so. She’s a 5-11 outside who is a vital part of the offense. She’s a smart attacker who can score by blasting the ball or using her off-speed shots to catch defenses off guard. Lexi Mallonee, AZ Rev 15 Premier – At 5-10, Mallonee is a bit undersized but doesn’t ever back down. She’s an aggressive attacker knows how to challenge and tool blocks for points and carries a good portion of the attack on her shoulders. 16 OPEN Jenna Garner, City Volleyball 16 Gold – A three-star, six-rotation outside, Garner brings a lot to the fold for City. She’s a mainstay in the offense. She’s 6-0, has a quick arm swing and can blast balls to beat opponents with. Taylor Williams, Vision 16 Gold – At 6-2, Williams is a consistent and reliable option. She can get on top of the ball and hit hard cross court. She’s one who is on the rise! Haumea Marumoto, SAS VBC 16 – The offense would not look the same without Marumoto. She’s 6-1 with a fluid swing and is capable of outsmarting the defense with her various shots. Tia Kapihe, SAS VBC 16 – At 5-11, Kapihe is just a bit undersized but she carries a whippy arm. She uses it to challenge blockers but can also go off speed to keep them guessing. Reese Animashaun, Hou Skyline 16 Royal – Animashaun is a fun one to watch do her thing! She’s 5-10 but play much higher than that with her effortless jump that gets her well above the block. She’s a four-star recruit and is one to keep tabs on. Riley Murphy, A4 Volley 16 Purple – Murphy epitomizes what A4 is about. She’s an undersized outside but plays with a scrappiness and feistiness about her. She’s a fearless attacker who takes aggressive swings. Lauryn Lambert, Skyline 16 Royal – A 5-9 three-star recruit, Lambert is a featured part of the offense. She gets up well, almost touching 10-0 and plays with lots of fire and passion. Abby Jones, Temecula Viper 16 Mauro – Jones is a 6-0 six-rotation standout for Viper. She brings a lot to the lineup with her passing, defending and attacking abilities. Stella Norman, Temecula Viper 16 Mauro – It’s easy to notice the power this 5-9 outside attacks with. She hits a heavy, heavy ball and can overwhelm defenders when she connects. Elle Weaver, SynergyForce 16 James – A 6-0 three-star recruit, Weaver has a high ceiling. She plays with high energy. She can also rip it cross court. Abby Hoybjerg, SynergyForce 16 James – Speaking of potential, Hoybjerg has it in groves. She’s a 6-2 four-star recruit with a loose, fluid arm to go at opponents with. Katelyn Cook, Vision 16 Gold – Cook has an unassuming demeanor about her but she shouldn’t be underestimated. She’s 5-10 and can really lay into kills with her lively swing. Helena Foord, SG Elite 16 Rosh – Foord is a similar type of player as Cook. She’s also 5-10 and has a deception about her game. She can produce some loud kills when she connects well. Sydney Dreves, OJVA 16-1 Gold – A key contributor on a team that earned its Open bid, Dreves has a bright future ahead of her. She’s a 5-10 freshman playing up and carries a big load on offense. Isabel Clark, Momentous 16 Dan – Clark is someone we’ve noted before. She’s a 6-2 four-star recruit. She’s a strong attacker with a booming arm. She produced some of the most impressive kills we saw all weekend in the age group. 17 OPEN Brooke Bentke, Hou Skyline 17 Royal – Bentke is a three-star recruit who is committed toTexas State. At 6-2, she’s long with a very good arm and the ability to let loose when she gets a hold of one. Courtney O’Brien, Hou Skyline 17 Royal – O’Brien is part of a strong outside duo for Hou Skyline. She’s a smart hitter who has a variety of shots to beat defenses with, from scoring cross court to finding space down the line. Sydney Dunning, Co Jrs 17 Kevin – A three-star recruit committed to Cal State Bakersfield, this 6-0 outside is a key cog in the lineup. She’s a consistent passer out of