August 29, 2022

The Arlington Invitational Showcase was run differently than your normal preseason high school tournament. There were three locations with two different pools running over a day and a half. Matches were best-of-five and each location had its own championship. There ended up being three champions and three MVPs. I had seen a few of these teams back at the Mansfield tournament two weeks ago so it was great to see how much those teams had grown since the first weekend and I loved being able to catch some new teams! Congrats to McKinney, Arlington Martin and Richland for winning the tournament titles. Below, you can find our tournament Show Stoppers, Under The Radar Players, Freshmen Standouts and the All-Tournament Team. SHOW STOPPERS Olivia Cohee, SO OH, McKinney – A 4-star recruit, Cohee led her team to one of the three titles for the weekend. A heavy hitter and a ball control oriented passer, she is one to continue to watch over the years. Kensie Mundell, SR L, Arlington Martin – Mundell is an anchor for her team in the backcourt who led her team to one of the three tournament titles. She’s a ball control oriented libero who was scrappy defensively all weekend. Emily Keoen, SR S, Richland – Keoen is a 5-1 setter who led her team to one of the three titles this weekend. She showed great hands with a smooth demeanor. Miller Mcdonald, SR S, Lake Highlands – Miller, a 3-star recruit, is a crafty 5-1 setter. She’s consistent with great placement. Lainee Pyles, JR OH, Fossil Ridge – Pyles, the 16 Open MVP at Junior Nationals, completely dominated on the outside. This 4-star recruit hit a heavy ball from wherever she was. Brynn Dowd, SR OH, Mansfield Legacy – Crafty is the first word that comes to mind for Dowd. She can swing with authority or place the ball, but either way it usually ended the play with a point. Kenna Buchanan, SR OH, Midlothian – The 17 USA MVP at Junior Nationals is a 3-star recruit who can do it all. Buchanan might be undersized but don’t let that fool you. She can swing from anywhere on the court with the best of them. Alayna Guerrero, SR S/MB, Red Oak – Guerrero was a ‘Jack of all trades’ on the court for Red Oak. She proved to be a court leader all around. Kennedy Jean-Louis, SR MB, South Grand Prairie – Jean-Louis is both a scoring threat and a defensive threat in the middle. Meredith Sanning, JR S, Tascosa – A undersized setter who is athletic, fast, and crafty. She leads her team on the court. Faiana Halatoa, SR OH, Euless Trinity – Halatoa hits a heavy ball on both pins. Defensively at the net she is huge. Rachel Resta, JR S, Mansfield – Resta is the quarterback of her team. She has a beautiful touch and a great setter IQ. Morgan Collier, SO MB, Joshua – Collier is definitely someone to watch moving forward. An undersized middle with a huge presence. She is quick and fiery. Rachael Spicer, SR MB, Arlington – An all around threat, from blocking to swinging to playing in the back, Spicer can do it all. Lily Hamilton, JR OH, Timber Creek – Hamilton, a 3-star recruit, played the pins well. She’s an aggressive hitter with a huge block. *** Under the Radar Players Alexis Dolton, SR S, Abilene Ahlyss McDaniel, SR OH, Burleson Tatum McBloom, SR MB, Burleson Peyton Cole, SR L, Joshua Autumn Wilburn, SR MB, Hereford Camryn Blair, SR OH, Hereford Natalia Newsome, JR MB, Arlington Martin Rhian Carter, SR Opp, Arlington Martin Payton Tompkins, JR S, Lake Highlands Hannah Russ, JR MB, Arlington Fabiola Betancourt, SR OH, Euless Trinity Kamiera Watkins, SR MB, Euless Trinity Jenna McMichael, SR L, Midlothian Lauren Safrit, SR OH, Midlothian Alyssa Castillo, SR L, Fossil Ridge Morgynne McQueen, JR MB, Chisholm Trail Juju Ogueri, SO MB, Lakeview Centennial Trinity Nunley, JR MB, Richland Brooke Bohannon, SR OH, Richland Maddie McKee, JR L, Arlington Lamar Isa Reneau, JR S, Arlington Lamar Lauren Demuth, JR MB, Mansfield Nicole Ngo, SR L, Mansfield Anaiah Turner, JR MB, Mansfield Summit Sarahi Paez, JR L, Mansfield Summit Brooklyn Ramey Halkyard, JR MB, Mansfield Legacy Laynie Kovacs, SR L, McKinney Kyanna Creecy, SR MB, McKinney Alanna Deering, SR OH, North Crowley Madelyn Ross, SO S, South Grand Prairie Kassidy Langeland, SO L, Tascosa Addi McCrary, SR L, Timber Creek *** Freshmen Standouts Elle Holley, FR OH, Lake Highlands Malaya Balina-Ayers, FR MB, Burleson Malia Miller, FR OH, Euless Trinity Caitlyn Cavitt, FR OH, Arlington Martin Brynley Buck, FR L, Mansfield Legacy Jayden Fitzgerald, FR OH, Red Oak Jaedyn Sheffield, FR OH, Red Oak Katrina Garcia, FR DS, South Grand Prairie Nylah Lewis, FR OH, Timber Creek Addison Litke, FR OH, Joshua Keara Savory Calbo, FR MB, Mansfield Summit *** MVPs and All-Tournament Team Showcase MVP: Olivia Cohee, SO OH, McKinney Showcase MVP : Richland – Emily Keohen Showcase MVP: Martin – Kensie Mundell All-Tournament Team: Alexis Dolton, SR S, Abilene Hannah Russ, JR MB, Arlington Ahlyss McDaniel, SR OH, Burleson Morgynne McQueen, JR MB, Chisholm Trail Lainee Pyles, JR OH, Fossil Ridge Nickilah Whatley, SR MB, Hereford Peyton Cole, SR L, Joshua Payton Tompkins, JR OH, Lake Highlands Juju Ogueri, SO MB, Lakeview Centennial Maddie McKee, JR L, Arlington Lamar Brynn Dowd, SR OH, Mansfield Legacy Lauren Demuth, JR MB, Mansfield Anaiah Turner, SR MB, Mansfield Summit Natalia Newsome, JR MB, Arlington Lamar Laynie Kovacs, SR L, Mckinney Kenna Buchanan, SR OH, Midlothian Alanna Deering, SR OH, North Crowley Alayna Guerrero, SR S/MB, Red Oak Brooke Bohannon, SR OH, Richland Kennedy Jean-Louis, SR MB, South Grand Prairie Meredith Sanning, JR S, Tascosa Addi McCrary, SR L, Timber Creek Faiana Halatoa, SR OH, Euless Trinity

Volleypalooza was where the best that Texas had to offer gathered Thursday-Saturday in what has become the state’s premier tournament. Cornerstone Christian entered as the No. 1 seed and held it throughout, topping Prestonwood Christian for bragging rights in the championship match. We were on hand and tried to get to as many sites to see as many teams as possible. With 68 schools competing, it was impossible to see them all. Still, wherever we were we noted the players we were watching and below we present our Show Stoppers from our three days in the Lone Star State. Peyton Fadal, JR S, Barbers Hill – A 5-10, 3-star recruit, Fadal is in firm command of the Eagles’ offense. She did well connecting with both middles and spreading the ball around in general. Alice Volpe, JR L, Bridgeland – A 3-star recruit, Volpe helps set the defensive tone for the Bears. This team relies a lot on defense and hustle and it helps to have a libero of Volpe’s caliber to make plays and keep her team in points. Kennedy Kays, SR OH, Bridgeland – Kays is tasked with carrying the offensive load at times and she doesn’t back down from the challenge. She loads up and goes for it when the opportunity is there while knowing when to let up just a bit and not try to do too much. Rebekah Pfefferkorn, Soph MB, Bridgeland – Pfefferkorn – a 6-1, 4-star recruit – makes her presence felt in the middle. She’s a solid attacker who the Bears can rely on to score points. She’s also does well getting her hands on balls when blocking. Amelia Creacy, JR RS, Bridgeland – A 6-1 lefty, Creacy is a difference maker when she’s checked in across the front row. She has a strong arm and can deliver big kills. She’s someone the defense can’t lose track of or else her opponents will pay for it. Taylor Anderson, SR S, Cornerstone Christian – Anderson – a 6-1, 4-star recruit – brings plenty to the lineup. She’s more than capable of running a 5-1 smoothly and efficiently. She can also be part of 6-2 and set in the back row. Or if needed she can hit across the front row. That’s a valuable piece for the Warriors to take advantage of. Alyssa Manitzas, SR L, Cornerstone Christian – A 4-star recruit, the more we watched Manitzas the more she impressed. She’s a flat-out stud who brings endless energy and passion to the lineup. She was lights out on the final day, making unbelievable digs on hard-hit balls and forcing attackers to up their games. Nayeli Gonzalez, SR MB, Cornerstone Christian – A 6-2, 4-star recruit, Gonzalez is one of the main offensive weapons. She plays outside in club but fills a void and shifted to middle for high school. She’ll still lineup on the left and hit from that spot. Also, if you’re best player is making that sacrifice, that’s tremendous leadership skills in action. Grace Carroll, JR RS, Cornerstone Christian – Carroll is a 6-4, 4-star recruit who adds size across the front row. She has a big arm and can hammer down kills over or through blocks. She can also help slow down opposing outsides with her ability to disrupt shots. Megan Fitch, Soph OH, Cornerstone Christian – We last saw Fitch – a 6-1, 5-star recruit – leading Alamo to the 15 Open gold medal. She’s a huge part of Cornerstone’s make up and takes plenty of big-time, clutch swings from the outside to help power the offense along. Taylor Porter, Soph OH, Cypress Ranch – Porter played with the poise of an upperclassmen and didn’t back down from being set in crucial moments. The 5-11 outside hitter also made plays defensively hustling after balls to keep her team in points. Bianna Muoneke, SR OH, Cypress Ranch – There wasn’t a more impressive outside hitter in the field. The 6-0, 4-star recruit showed her explosiveness over and over, including ripping balls from the back row. Janyah Henderson, SR MB, Cypress Ranch – At 6-0, Henderson has nice hang time as well. It makes her a threat anytime Cy Ranch is in system and her scoring ability definitely helps open up the attack. Tya Lynch, JR MB, Cypress Ranch – Lynch – also listed at 6-0 – can score as well but she does her best work blocking. She has strong hands and proved to be a problem for attackers directly challenging her. Gabby Eads, JR L, Cypress Ranch – Eads was solid in the back row and helped keep the Mustangs in system when challenged in serve receive. Kirby Kliafas, SR S, Cypress Ranch – Kliafas is a bit undersized at 5-9 but does well running a 5-1. She sets a consistently hittable ball and gave her attackers good looks to do something with. Cierra Pesak, SR L, Friendswood – Pesak was very consistency in passing and defending. She picked off hard hit balls more than once in standing in there and brought a sound defensive energy to the floor. Alex Richter, Soph RS, Highland Park – A 6-2, 4-star recruit, Richter takes up a lot of space on the right side. She’s long and attacks over blocks or in between the gap. Defensively, her length makes for a solid block to help contain opposing attackers. Nicole Mauser, SR RS, Highland Park – Mauser is the other half of the right side front row duo. She’s a smart hitter who uses the block well or can find space with off speed. Zoe Winford, SR L, Highland Park – Winford is the clear defensive quarterback for the Scots. She owns the backrow and stands in well against big hitters to make digs. Ceci Gooch, SR MB, Highland Park – A 4-star recruit, the 6-2 Gooch played right side this past club season but is doing her part by moving to the middle for high school. She’s one of the top scoring