June 28, 2023

With the start of the USAV Girls Junior National Championships in Chicago, it also means it is time for another edition of our daily All Red Hat Team! With the 15 Open division getting underway on Wednesday we spent our time on the lookout for our favorite players of the day. The goal is to highlight a daily team consisting of two players from each position – outside, middle, right side, setter and libero who – were our absolute favorite players of the day. Favorite doesn’t mean only a 5-star recruit or a familiar name. These are players who stood out to us for a variety of reasons, from amazing play to great energy or attitude or making key hustle plays. These are daily all-stars who really stood out the most to us for one reason or another. DAY 1 ALL RED HAT TEAM Westley Matavao OH Forza1 North 15 One: The way Matavao gets after it is impressive! She’s an all-out competitor who brings tons of fire to the court. She’s a featured part of the Forza attack and she was hammering balls down with her powerful arm. Grace Martin OH Pohaku 15-1: Martin’s growth and development was on display from earlier this year. She’s added speed and pace to her shots and was ripping balls from the outside. She has a lively arm and when she connected she launched balls past the defense. Anna Williams MB Aspire 15 Premier: The middle duo for Aspire was eye-catching. Williams made up one half of the attack. She’s a physical middle who hits with power and puts up a strong block. When in system, Aspire looks to get her going and for good reason. She has a hammer for an arm and was bashing balls down with authority. Hayden Conner MB Aspire 15 Premier: Conner makes up the half of the middle duo as well and we loved what we saw from her too. She’s an effective attacker who can score on quick sets or running the slide. She also hits with plenty of pace and gets the ball when Aspire is in system. Savanah Weathers RS Michio 15 National: Weathers is a bit undersized but she is a high-flying right side who looks like she’s jumping off a trampoline. She’s also an aggressive attacker who doesn’t back down and we love that type of fearlessness! Nadiya Johnson RS Metro 15 Travel: Johnson has next-level written all over her. She’s one of the most athletic players in the division and that’s saying a lot! She can launch in the air and hang there for a moment before letting loose. She has a nice arm and is definitely a rising star everyone should know. Genevieve Harris S Academy 15 Diamond: Harris is among the top setters in her class. She’s a smooth disher and runs a nice offense. She has soft hands, locates well and doesn’t give her sets away. She also plays sound defense and plays totally under control and exhibits a calm demeanor. Sophia Gisslen S Team Pineapple 15 Black: Gisslen is an under-rated setter but we absolutely love the way she gets after it and directs the attack. She does well getting to the ball and locating for her hitters. She too plays with a steady demeanor and doesn’t get too high or low in setting the tone. Cala Haffner L Team Pineapple 15 Black: With Haffner, it always seems like she’s making a play and never making a mistake. She’s a sound passer who is steps ahead with her defending and reading. She’s also has a no-nonsense attitude and is flat-out competitor. Emma Frietch L NKYVC 15-1 Tsunami: Frietch was on-point out of serve receive. She also covers well and is a calming influence on the defensive side. She also did well picking off cross-court shots and keeping rallies going.

After a two-week stretch in Orlando for AAUs, it’s time to shift our attention to the USAV Girls Junior Nationals Championships in Chicago. Wednesday represented the beginning of the older age groups – the 11-13s took place in Minneapolis two weeks ago – with the 14s and 15s competing ahead of the 16s and 17s next week. The vballrecruiter.com team was on hand for Day 1. Below, we present our 14 Open All Red Hat Team featuring our 10 favorite players of the day. The goal is to highlight a daily team consisting of two players from each position – outside, middle, right side, setter and libero who – were our absolute favorite players of the day. Favorite doesn’t mean only a 5-star recruit or a familiar name. These are players who stood out to us for a variety of reasons, from amazing play to great energy or attitude or making key hustle plays. These are daily all-stars who really stood out the most to us for one reason or another. DAY 1 ALL RED HAT TEAM Reese Eilenstine OH Premier Nebraska 14 Gold: Eilenstine is a bit undersized on the outside yet she brings it on the attack. We loved her aggressiveness and the way she goes for it. She’s a fearless attacker with a lively arm. She doesn’t necessarily look like she can rip it like she does, but she lets it fly. Hanna McGinest OH Mizuno Long Beach 14 Rockstar: McGinest was showcasing her high-flying antics. She’s a smooth-swinging outside with a loose arm. Combined with her effortless jump, she produces highlight kill after highlight kill. She was lighting it up from corner to corner. Isabella Howard MB Madfrog 14 Green: Howard is a lanky middle who made quite the impression with her play. She’s athletic, moves very well and can unload in a blink of the eye. She’s a tough cover because she gets up quick and hits with lots of pace. Marlee Steiner MB HPSTL 14 Royal: Steiner is a fun middle to watch hold it down. She’s long with a fluid swing and she contacts at a high point. She’s a competitor who plays with lots of energy and passion. She also does well getting in front of balls and getting touches. Kaylie Davis RS Skyline 14 Royal: Davis was blasting away on the right side. She’s a taller pin with a good arm. She was extending high and taking aggressive cuts. It made her a tough cover as she was tooling blocks high hands or putting the ball straight down. Janiah Burrage RS Forza1 14 One: Burrage is part of the Class of 2028 and is going to be a name most everyone knows before too long. She’s a springy, athletic attacker. She also has a great arm. She takes big, aggressive swings and can go right over the block and hammer balls down. Peyton Kubik S/RS MAVS KC 14-1: Kubik is yet another up-and-comer who is going to be a household name, if she isn’t already to insiders. She’s a next-level talent who sets and hits well above average. She’s long, moves well, has smooth hands and swings like the wind. She’s in total control of everything she’s doing on the court. Brynn Stephens S/RS TAV 14 Black: Stephens is another all-world talent who does it all at above-average levels. She’s long and extends way up on the attack, with a loose arm and ability to rocket balls anywhere. She’s also a high-level setter who can fling balls left and right with ease and accuracy. Dakota Huynh L Skyline 14 Royal: Huynh is a lockdown libero who patrols the backcourt with grit and determination. She’s quick, covers well and passes on point. She brings lots of energy and flat-out hustle to the defensive side as well. Nafanua Alofipo L/DS Club V 14 Ren Silver: Alofipo is just a volleyball player who can do so many things on the court. She’s a setter/right side normally, but after moving to Texas at the start of the year and playing for Austin Skyline, she moved back to Utah and has reconnected with Club V, where she’s suiting up in the back court. She’s a sharp passer and lights-out defender with an extremely bright future.