Chris Tobolski

vballrecruiter.com’s Player of the Week: Keoni Williams (FREE)

November 14, 2023

We’re proud to be a part of an ongoing partnership with Dick’s Sporting Goods, which is sponsoring our Player of the Week award. We’ll be releasing a featured vballrecruiter.com Player of the Week, sponsored by Dick’s Sporting Goods, on Tuesdays. Below is this week’s Player of the Week: Keoni Williams. *** With a loss to Fossil Ridge in bi-district play at the end of October, the 2023 high school season came to a conclusion for Keoni Williams and her Boswell teammates. While the defeat came sooner then the Pioneers would have liked, it did shift Williams’ focus and attention fully to the upcoming club season. Williams – a 6-4, 5-star middle blocker from the Class of 2026 – has excelled during the club portion of the calendar in recent years. She’s coming off a gold medal performance in 15 Open at the USAV Girls Junior National Championships this past summer playing with Skyline 15 Royal. The year before she finished runner up in 14 Open playing with Frisco Flyers. That was after winning it all with Frisco Flyers in 13 Open in 2021. “It’s been really great these past few years being on top teams,” Williams said. This past summer presented a rare occurrence where Skyline squared off with Mintonette Sports m.51 in both the 15 Open championship matches at AAU and USAV. While Mintonette captured the gold in Orlando, Williams and Skyline extracted revenge by claiming the gold in Chicago. “It was tough after AAUs because we felt good and were playing well,” Williams said. “We knew it was going to be a tough game and we felt we could’ve taken that one. After we just had to make sure we didn’t get distracted and look at what we did wrong in case we did face them again. Mintonette is a really good team. When we came to USAV we knew we had to stay calm and do what we needed to do to get the win. When we got that last point it was a crazy feeling. It felt great coming back and getting that win.” Williams will aim for a fourth consecutive Open finals appearance this coming season as she suits up for Skyline 16 Royal. One of the challenges is overcoming the roster changes that took place. Williams is one of six returners combining with seven newcomers. “I’m really excited for this club season,” Williams said. “I’ve been looking forward to it even during the high school season. I’m going to keep working on myself and focus on my conditioning and blocking and really closing out. We are ready to have a great run this year.” The high school season for Boswell kicked off at the Ann Kang Invitational in Hawaii in August. The Pioneers faced a challenging slate, going against nationally-ranked teams in Sierra Canyon CA and Cornerstone Christian TX, as well as eventual California Open Division state quarterfinalist Huntington Beach, eventual Texas 5A semifinalist Lovejoy and host ‘Iolani. “I’ve never been to Hawaii before,” Williams said. “It was really fun. We went to the ocean everyday and took lots of pictures. The volleyball was something. There were crazy good teams who hit well and play great defense. The first day we played Sierra Canyon and they were pretty good. It was tough playing those teams but it was really good to see what we needed to work on for our season.” With her father, Mike, playing basketball oversees, Williams grew up around sports and “was always traveling with him.” Williams started settling down around 11 and was leaning more towards basketball at first than volleyball. “It was between basketball and volleyball, but I was talking with my aunties because they played volleyball in college,” Williams said. “When I started volleyball it was really hard at first. I just kept working and working at it and then I just played volleyball from there. I did some basketball in middle school a little bit but I stopped.” As our featured Player of the Week sponsored by Dick’s Sporting Goods, we recently spoke with Williams about volleyball and more. Who is a role model or someone you look up to? Williams: I don’t really have a volleyball role model. But I do watch volleyball to see what other middles are doing like Asjia O’Neal. I watch how she’s fast out to the block and the ways she’s able to score. I try to look at it as though it’s me versus me. Every time I step on the court I’m just focused on working on improving. After the game, I’ll look at what I did and didn’t do, like not getting off the net quick enough or I wasn’t very effective on offense. Then the next time I’m watching to make sure I do get off the net quickly and working hard on making myself available so I am able to produce. If you could choose to do anything for a day, what would you do and why? Williams: If I could do anything for a day, a while back I saw a massive go-kart place that opened in Massachusetts (Supercharged Entertainment). I would want to go there with my friends and ride go-karts with them. I really love going out and doing stuff. That would be fun. Other than volleyball, what skill would you most like to learn and why? Williams: I would definitely love to master the skill of basketball. To feel the energy and intensity and be a part of that I think it would be fun. I think it would be really fun to have the ball passed to me and I bully my defender a little bit then go up and get that point and score. Do you have any volleyball superstitions and if so what? Williams: The only superstition I have is I always wear two pair of socks, even with my ankle braces. I always have two pair of socks and my teammates make fun of me. They ask

vballrecruiter.com’s Top 50 National HS Rankings (Nov. 13)

November 13, 2023

The final week of the high school season is upon us. That’s the bad news. The good news is it has been a fun-filled and entertaining ride, one that is not over just yet. Major states like California and Texas wrap up this week. Not only is the national championship still up in the air, state tournaments also help shape and define who will be our Player of the Year for each class. Just like it’s impossible to be the national champion without winning a state tournament, it’s virtually impossible as well to be named a Freshman, Sophomore, Junior or Senior Player of the Year without hoisting the state trophy. As for the national championship puzzle, the pieces continue to fall into place. Top-ranked Mater Dei is still alive in the California Open Division state playoffs and is set to face Cathedral Catholic on Tuesday in the semifinals. The winner of that advances to face the winner of Archbishop Mitty–St. Francis/Mountain View in Saturday’s final. Mater Dei and Cathedral Catholic have split a pair of matches thus far, with Mater Dei beating Cathedral in the semifinals of Volleypalooza and Cathedral returning the favor by downing Mater Dei in the finals of the Dave Mohs tournament two weeks later. Cathedral Catholic knocked off Mira Costa over the weekend in the quarterfinals. That was a giant result because it ended any chance of Mira Costa finishing as the national champion. Mira Costa had a path to the title but would have needed to beat Cathedral Catholic, then Mater Dei then the Nor Cal representative in the final in order to make that claim. Cathedral Catholic went undefeated last year and claimed the national championship after winning the Open Division state championship. Despite losing a lot of talent, the Dons are interestingly in another position where they could possibly make an argument for once again being national champions. Should they win out, the Dons would have gone 2-1 against Mater Dei and 1-1 against Prestonwood Christian, which won the TAPPS 6A state championship. Cathedral Catholic did lose to Mira Costa at the Durango Fall Classic but avenged that loss in the state playoffs. The biggest obstacle is the loss to Grand Oaks in the third-place match at Volleypalooza. Grand Oaks is still alive in the semifinals of the Texas 6A state playoffs. Grand Oaks’ only loss remains to Prestonwood Christian in the semis of Volleypalooza. We’ll sort through all the results as the state finals conclude this coming weekend and will name a national champion next Monday. Until then, this week’s updated Top 50 can be viewed in its entirety below. vballrecruiter.com’S TOP 50 NATIONAL HS RANKINGS 1. Mater Dei CA (1 – previous ranking) 2. Hamilton Southeastern IN (3) 3. Prestonwood Christian TX (4) 4. Grand Oaks TX (5) 5. Cathedral Catholic CA (6) 6. Wayzata MN (7) 7. Mira Costa CA (2) 8. Assumption KY (8) 9. Mother McAuley IL (10) 10. Benet Academy IL (9) *** 11. Divine Savior Holy Angels WI (11) 12. O’Connor AZ (12) 13. Lincoln Southwest NE (13) 14. Middle Creek NC (14) 15. Archbishop Mitty CA (15) 16. Lake Catholic OH (16) 17. St. Francis/Mountain View CA (16) 18. Kings OH (18) 19. Papillion-La Vista NE (19) 20. Papillion-La Vista South NE (20) *** 21. Mill Valley KS (21) 22. Marist IL (22) 23. Notre Dame Academy KY (24) 24. Sierra Canyon CA (23) 25. Blue Valley North KS (25) 26. Harlan TX (n/r) 27. Dike-New Hartford IA (26) 28. Valor Christian CO (27) 29. Cinco Ranch TX (n/r) 30. Oconomowoc WI (29) *** 31. Seaman KS (31) 32. St. Thomas Aquinas KS (32) 33. Lafayette MO (34) 34. Dripping Springs TX (33) 35. Maize South KS (35) 36. St. James Academy KS (37) 37. Cornerstone Christian TX (38) 38. Carrollwood Day FL (40) 39. Northville MI (n/r) 40. Foothill CA (39) *** 41. Branson CA (41) 42. Lone Peak UT (43) 43. Plant FL (n/r) 44. Berkeley Prep FL (44) 45. Pace Academy GA (45) 46. North Branch MI (46) 47. Alpharetta GA (47) 48. Skyridge UT (48) 49. Glenbard West IL (49) 50. Pope GA (50) *** ON THE CUSP Lake Travis TXPerry AZXavier Prep AZSt. Ursula Academy OHSeton OHMercy McAuley OHHuntington Beach CAMarymount CALos Alamitos CAWinter Park FLSt. Thomas Aquinas FLKamehameha HIPunahou HIBishop Gorman NVHorizon AZMcGill-Toolen ALMountain Brook ALLas Cruces NMJenks OKWillowbrook IL

HS Team Spotlight: 7 State Champions

November 7, 2023

We are under two weeks away from the 2023 high school season coming to a close. It’s that time of year when dreams are coming true and schools are raising state championship plaques and trophies. Below, we spotlight seven schools from our Top 50 National HS Rankings which finished on top of their respective divisions. ASSUMPTION: The Rockets added their state-record 23rd state championship by topping Notre Dame Academy in the Kentucky state final Saturday. Assumption handed NDA’s its first loss of the season by beating them in the Louisville Invitational Volleyball Tournament in early September and ended the season 3-1 against the Pandas. Assumption hadn’t won the state title since 2019. It was the longest drought since Assumption took home its first state title back in 1992. Senor Charlotte Moriarty led the way with 18 kills and tied junior libero Kristen Simon with a team-high 16 digs. Moriarty ended the season with 386 kills, followed by junior middle Bailey Blair with 323. Senior outside Chloe Smith (287 kills) and Emma Barnett (275) rounded out a balanced attack directed by junior setter Emilee Fuller (1,212 assists). Meanwhile, Simon wrapped up the year with 473 digs as Assumption finished the year 36-5 overall. DIVINE SAVIOR HOLY ANGELS: Led by 5-star Wisconsin commit and junior outside Madison Quest’s season-high 24 kills, Divine Savior defeated Oconomowoc in the Wisconsin Division 1 state final. It was the fourth time this season DSHA downed Oconomowoc in defending its state title. Senior outside and Creighton commit Sophia Wendlick added 22 kills. Four-star junior libero and Michigan State commit Olivia Durst put up 23 digs. Wendlick (556 kills) and Quest (515) combined for over 1,000 kills on the season. Junior setter and Belmont commit Jordan Czajkowski dished out 1,100 assists while Durst finished with 466 digs. DSHA went 47-1 this fall, with its only loss coming to Mother McAuley in the Asics Challenge tournament. LINCOLN SOUTHWEST: The Silver Hawks (33-4) ended the season on top of the Nebraska Class A state championship. Lincoln Southwest swept Papillion-La Vista in Saturday’s state final as 4-star and junior setter Malayah Long’s 31 assists. Senior outside Emerson Lionberger led the offense with 11 kills. Long directed a balanced attack on the year. Senior outside Julia Trost finished with a team-leading 274 kills. Senior middle Madison Rink had 265, while junior outside Shelby Harding (227 kills) and Lionberger (216) were also frequent contributors. MILL VALLEY: The Jaguars (37-5) were another school which ended the season on top of its respective division. Mill Valley swept Blue Valley North in the Kansas Class 6A state final two weeks ago. Senior outside Kaitlyn Burke put away 13 kills and sophomore setter Ella Florez delivered 24 assists. Mill Valley lost its first meeting of the year against Blue Valley North, but wound up 3-1 against after taking the state showdown. Florez racked up 943 assists this fall. Burke powered the offense with a team-high 349 kills. Freshman outside Riley Riggs played a key role, ending her rookie campaign with 299 kills. Junior middles Saida Jacobs (222 kills) and Ashlyn Blazer (203) were also an important part of the attack while sophomore libero Corinne Schwindt anchored the defense with 297 digs. DIKE-NEW HARTFORD: The Wolverines were stopped in last year’s Iowa Class 2A state final but weren’t going to be denied in 2023. Dike-New Hartford swept Hinton in last Thursday’s state championship match to cap a perfect 50-0 season. Senior outside and 4-star Louisville commit Payton Petersen registered 20 kills and hit. 368. Petersen ended her senior year with 616 kills and hitting .463. Senior outside Jadyn Petersen was next in line with 426 kills, followed by senior middle Maryn Bixby with 351. LAFAYETTE: Junior outside and 4-star Vanderbilt commit Maya Witherspoon recorded 21 kills to lift the Lancers to their second consecutive Missouri Class 5A state championship in a sweep of Howell last weekend. Senior setter Alyssa Nelson dished out 34 assists as well as Lafayette completed the year 36-2. Nelson amassed 1,036 assists to close out her career, while Witherspoon shined offensively with a team-leading 435 kills. Senior outside Allison Risley (303 kills) and freshman right side Shaye Witherspoon (252) were also favorite targets of Nelson. LONE PEAK: Freshman outside and 4-star recruit Ava Burgess waited until Utah’s 6A state final to deliver her best performance of the season. She totaled a season-best 17 kills as the Knights (28-5) took down Skyridge in four sets. The two sides split a pair of matches before meeting for a third time in the state final. Senior right side Cami Christiansen added 14 kills while 5-star senior middle and Kansas commit Zoey Burgess had 11. Junior Sam Pope and sophomore Nevaeh Tien combined for 42 assists. The Knights were yet another squad who ran a very balanced offense. Zoey Burgess (279 kills), Christiansen (236), McKynzee Beddes (220) and Ava Burgess (207) all finished with similar output.

vballrecruiter.com’s Player of the Week: Ella Florez (FREE)

November 7, 2023

We’re proud to be a part of an ongoing partnership with Dick’s Sporting Goods, which is sponsoring our Player of the Week award. We’ll be releasing a featured vballrecruiter.com Player of the Week, sponsored by Dick’s Sporting Goods, on Tuesdays. Below is this week’s Player of the Week: Ella Florez. *** Ella Florez and her Mill Valley teammates did not start off the high school season looking like a state championship squad. The Jaguars dropped their first contest of the year to Blue Valley West. Two weeks later they lost to both Blue Valley North and Olathe South on the same day. From there though, Mill Valley began to step it up. At the end of September Florez and company split a pair of key matches, falling to St. James Academy but beating Blue Valley North in a rematch. There was one more setback from there, with an early-October loss to Olathe West. From there, Mill Valley closed the season on a 17-match winning streak, culminating with the Kansas 6A state championship after sweeping Blue Valley North in two games in the final. “I felt really confident going into the season,” said Florez, a 5-star setter from the Class of 2026. “We did lose a super good libero and a super good outside but we have girls who stepped up and a freshman who came in. That really gave me confidence in the team. I thought we could take it all the way.” Mill Valley defeated Blue Valley North once more before facing off in the state final, in a showdown on Oct. 11. Blue Valley North still wound up drawing the top seed for the 6A state playoffs, but Mill Valley finished the season 3-1 against the Mustangs. “Obviously, we were nervous a little bit,” Florez said of the state finals clash. “We all knew we could do it. We were able to shut them down from point one and went after it with everything we had. “It was very emotional. Parents, siblings, the whole team we were all crying. We all get along so well. Finishing off our season like that we could not have had a better way to finish it.” Florez grew up trying many different sports and activities. There was gymnastics, dance, softball and soccer, which she thought would be her sport of the future, before landing in volleyball. Her dad signed her up for club tryouts but “he played a little prank on me and told me it was just a camp,” Florez said. “I went in not knowing it was a tryout,” she said. “I came back and my dad said that I made the team. I was really excited. I ran around telling everyone I was playing club volleyball. I was only mad at him for like 10 minutes.” Florez was an outside for her 11s season. She started the 12s there too before transitioning to setting halfway through the season. She then ran a 5-1 during her 13s and 14s season before spending the past two club seasons setting and hitting. She played a dual role last year as a freshman for Mill Valley before taking over the reigns and running a 5-1 during this state championship season. Florez ended the year with 892 assists, averaging 9.2 per set. She finished the state championship match with 24 assists. She set her season-high mark with 51 in a four-set victory over De Soto in mid-October. “I feel more comfortable and confident running a 5-1 and taking more control running the offense,” Florez said. “I like to consider myself just a setter instead of a setter/hitter. Setting is what I want to primarily do.” After playing club for Dynasty, Florez is making the switch to Pohaku this year and playing her age group after playing up a year the past couple of seasons. She’s hoping to get to run a 5-1 this season. “From what I’m hearing I should be setting a 5-1,” she said. As our featured Player of the Week sponsored by Dick’s Sporting Goods, we recently spoke with Florez about volleyball and more. Who is a role model or someone you look up to? Florez: I would say my sister (Lauren). She’s six years older. She played softball and she was a pitcher. She showed really good leadership and she was super competitive. I always looked up to her. I always want to exceed what she was doing on the field on the volleyball court. She gave me the competitiveness that I have now. If you could choose to do anything for a day, what would you do and why? Florez: I’d probably go on a shopping spree and go to the lake with my friends, tan and have fun with them. I love shopping for new makeup or anything like that. Like Sephora, I like to go to the mall and browse usually. Other than volleyball, what skill would you most like to learn and why? Florez: I wish I knew how to dance. It sounds funny but I watch dancers dance and I always with I could do that. They look so cool. Do you have any volleyball superstitions and if so what? Florez: If I play well on the first day, I’ll usually wear the same hair style the next day. On a bad day, I’ll change my hair style the next day. Also, my serving routine is the same every single time. Aside from necessities, what is one thing you could not go a day without? Florez: It’s talking to my family and friends. They are always there for me and it makes me happy. What is one thing that instantly makes your day better or makes you smile? Florez: My dog, Ace. He’s so cute. He has so much energy. He never runs out. When I got him they said he was a Chihuahua and Beagle mix but I don’t know that I believe them. What’s your favorite way to have fun? Florez: My

vballrecruiter.com’s Top 50 National HS Rankings (Nov. 6)

November 6, 2023

We are two weeks away from the final Top 50 National HS Rankings being released. With it the national champion will be named. The national title picture is rapidly taking shape. There was a huge result this past Saturday as top-ranked Mater Dei CA swept No. 2 Mira Costa CA in the CIF Southern Section Division 1 final. That pushed Mater Dei’s mark to 2-1 against Mira Costa this season. Cathedral Catholic CA – which captured the CIF San Diego Section title with a five-set victory over Torrey Pines CA – is the only other school to beat Mater Dei, which also owns a victory over Cathedral Catholic. While there was no question of keeping Mater Dei at No. 1 following the Monarchs’ big victory, there was a question of where to place Mira Costa. We kept Mira Costa at No. 2 despite the loss based on strength of schedule. A big reason was because Mira Costa still has an opportunity to prove itself. The Mustangs open the California Open Division state playoffs this week against nationally-ranked Sierra Canyon. Up next could be a rematch with Cathedral Catholic, with the winner likely taking on Mater Dei in the semifinals. The California state playoffs are ultimately going to decide the final rankings and where Mater Dei, Mira Costa and Cathedral Catholic wind up in the final rankings. Also up in the air is the possibility that Hamilton Southeastern IN finishes at either No. 1 or No. 2 in the final rankings, ahead of its No. 3 ranking this week. Hamilton Southeastern wrapped up a 33-0 — and stretching its overall winning streak to 67 matches — season by claiming Indiana’s Class 4A state championship this past weekend. The question is whether or not that is enough to propel HSE to the top or not? While the roster is stacked with future Division 1 athletes, HSE’s strength of schedule is the biggest argument working against the program. The team didn’t face any out-of-state competition. A few schools HSE did beat did play teams from out-of-state, but none notched any victories of note. It leaves the hypothetical question of what would HSE’s record look like had it played in tournaments like Volleypalooza, Nike TOCs and the Durango Fall Classic? The bottom line is we won’t ever know the answer to that question and we are going to have to wait and see the final results of the season before making a final determination. Meanwhile, more states joined Indiana in bringing a close to their high school seasons. One of the biggest results was from Nebraska, where No. 9 Papillion-La Vista South fell in the state quarterfinals to Papillion-La Vista. Papillion-La Vista lost in the Class A state final to Lincoln Southwest, which vaulted into the national rankings as a result. Both finished ahead of Papillion-La Vista South, which was undefeated two weeks ago before falling to Papillion-La Vista in the last match of the regular season and then once more in state. Assumption regained its throne on top of the Kentucky state playoffs after knocking off Notre Dame Academy in the final. Notre Dame defeated Assumption in last year’s semifinals. Divine Savior Holy Angels repeated as Wisconsin’s Division 1 state champs after beating Oconomowoc for the fourth time this fall. Middle Creek earned its first-ever state title by beating Green Hope in the semifinals before topping Cox Mill for the North Carolina 4A state championship. Middle Creek’s only loss of the season came against Green Hope in August. Middle Creek avenged that loss in September and wound up taking the season series with the state semi victory. Dike-New Hartford capped a perfect 50-0 season after taking home the Iowa Class 2A state crown. Lafayette went back-to-back in Missouri’s Class 5A after sweeping Howell in the state final. Lone Peak finished off its season by downing Skyridge for the Utah 6A state championship. The schools entered the match 1-1 against each other. The Georgia state playoffs also came to an end over the weekend. Pace Academy left with the Class 4A state trophy while Alpharetta swept Pope for the 6A title. You can view the full Top 50 rankings below. vballrecruiter.com’S TOP 50 NATIONAL HS RANKINGS 1. Mater Dei CA (1 – previous ranking) 2. Mira Costa CA (2) 3. Hamilton Southeastern IN (3) 4. Prestonwood Christian TX (4) 5. Grand Oaks TX (5) 6. Cathedral Catholic CA (6) 7. Wayzata MN (7) 8. Assumption KY (10) 9. Benet Academy IL (12) 10. Mother McAuley IL (13) *** 11. Divine Savior Holy Angels WI (14) 12. O’Connor AZ (15) 13. Lincoln Southwest NE (n/r) 14. Middle Creek NC (21) 15. Archbishop Mitty CA (17) 16. Lake Catholic OH (20) 17. St. Francis/Mountain View CA (16) 18. Kings OH (22) 19. Papillion-La Vista NE (n/r) 20. Papillion-La Vista South NE (9) *** 21. Mill Valley KS (23) 22. Marist IL (11) 23. Sierra Canyon CA (24) 24. Notre Dame Academy KY (19) 25. Blue Valley North KS (25) 26. Dike-New Hartford IA (26) 27. Valor Christian CO (27) 28. Lake Travis TX (28) 29. Oconomowoc WI (18) 30. Hudsonville MI (29) *** 31. Seaman KS (31) 32. St. Thomas Aquinas KS (32) 33. Dripping Springs TX (33) 34. Lafayette MO (34) 35. Maize South KS (35) 36. Xavier Prep AZ (36) 37. St. James Academy KS (37) 38. Cornerstone Christian TX (38) 39. Foothill CA (n/r) 40. Carrollwood Day FL (39) *** 41. Branson CA (40) 42. Winter Park FL (41) 43. Lone Peak UT (44) 44. Berkeley Prep FL (n/r) 45. Pace Academy GA (45) 46. North Branch MI (47) 47. Alpharetta GA (48) 48. Skyridge UT (42) 49. Glenbard West IL (n/r) 50. Pope GA (49) ON THE CUSP Lake Highlands TXMcKinney Boyd TXSt. Ursula Academy OHSeton OHMercy McAuley OHLewis-Palmer COHuntington Beach CAMarymount CALos Alamitos CANorthville MIViera FLPlant FLVenice FLJupiter FLKamehameha HIPunahou HIBishop Gorman NVClear Creek-Amana IACorona del Sol AZLiberty AZSunrise Mountain AZMillennium AZBob Jones ALMountain Brook ALNorth Myrtle Beach SCDorman SCJenks

More Top Classes From 2024 As Signing Day Approaches

November 2, 2023

With national signing day approaching on Nov. 8, we already checked in on what we believe are the Top 10 recruiting classes from 2024. Below, we take a look at other noteworthy programs which also made splashes. TEXAS Notes: The Longhorns’ class grew in size with the recent announcement coming from Ames that she was decommitting from Nebraska and staying in-state instead. It gives Texas its only 5-star recruit from the class. A 6-3 middle who runs the slide exceptionally well, Ames is among the top players at her position from 2024. The Longhorns are bringing in a pair of setters. It’ll add depth but with Ella Swindle setting as a freshman this season, Texas is in good hands for years to come. KANSAS Notes: It’s a diverse class for the Jayhawks, topped by Burgess. She’s an athletic middle who moves really well and gives Kansas the option to possibly use her on the right side. She’ll have work to do to see the court out of the gate, as Kansas has five of its middles set to return next season. Behind Burgess is three 4-star recruits, including Nelson. She’s a powerful outside who hits a heavy ball. She might not get a bunch of playing time right away, but she’ll make her mark soon enough. Ptacek is a 6-2 middle. She’ll also be part of a packed position, but she can possibly play on the pin as well. Devers will add to the defense with her ability to patrol the back row. PURDUE Notes: Count Purdue among the schools who landed a 5-star recruit. Shondell is a high IQ setter with lots of experience and the ability to run an offense effectively. McAleer is a strong defender who will give the Boilermakers another presence on that side of the ball. NOTRE DAME Notes: The Fighting Irish did well with the 2024 class. They were able to land a 5-star recruit in Gaerte. The 6-4 outside is long with a strong arm. She’s going to provide an immediate boost upon her arrival and is very likely to be starting out of the gate. Notre Dame currently has four middles on its roster, with two being seniors. Bringing in a pair of 4-star recruits in Bjork and Bohl will fill that void and they both could vie for playing time as rookies. Radeff will add depth to the outside. She’s 6-1 and has continually progressed through her club seasons. BYU Notes: The Cougars are bringing in a large class, with the highlight being 5-star setter Alex Bower, the younger sister of BYU’s current setter Whitney Bower. With the older Bower a senior, the younger one could fight for playing time right away. While BYU is adding nice pins in Hoybjerg, Bobik and Mortensen, it’ll be interesting to see how it plays out in a crowded position. The Cougars have six outsides on the roster and are set to return five of them. CINCINNATI Notes: The Bearcats have one of their stronger classes overall. Frame is a high-caliber libero who should help fortify the defensive side. Green is a high-energy setter with great leadership and setting skills. Stewart has nice size and length and a solid arm to help bolster the attack. All three should contend for playing time next season. KENTUCKY Notes: It’s not a big class for the Wildcats but Benjamin makes it a legit one. The 5-star outside will help strengthen a position Kentucky needs help in. It’s possible to see her playing right away and contributing in a big way similar to what we see with freshman Brooklyn DeLeye this season. Thigpen will add another option on the outside as well, though it’ll be harder for her to crack the lineup right away. TENNESSEE Notes: The Volunteers have a balanced class coming in. Stucky figures to have the best shot at competing for playing time right away. Tennessee has three setters on the roster and two are graduate players. The other is redshirt freshman Caroline Kerr. Chapman would have some work to do to break into the rotation on the left. Meanwhile, Tennessee is set to bring back three of its four middles from this season so Sutton would bring that total back to the same number next season. It’s the same case for the defenders. The Volunteers currently have five L/DSs on the roster, but two are graduate players.

Top Classes of 2024 As Signing Day Nears

November 1, 2023

Signing day for National Letters of Intent is Nov. 8. While very little will change in the next week in terms of commitments, there was a massive shake up recently when 5-star middle blocker Ayden Ames decommitted from Nebraska and re-announced her new commitment to Texas. That had a big impact on Nebraska’s class, as the Huskers went from bringing in three 5-star recruits to two. Nebraska was one of two schools with three or more 5-star recruits prior. With Ames’ announcement, it leaves only Florida with more than two 5-star recruits. As signing day rapidly approaches, we take a look below at what we expect to be the Top 10 recruiting classes for 2024. FLORIDA Notes: The Gators have a massive incoming class with four 5-star recruits and two 3-star defenders in the mix as well. Auguste is one of the most athletic and dynamic middles in the class and at 6-2 is part of tall haul for the Gators. Harden – at 6-3 – has tremendous upside with her length and athleticism as well and could eventually explode at the next level. Rothe – another middle who is 6-3 – is a high IQ player who has also spent time on the pin at the club level. While Alexis Stucky figures to be running the show when she returns from injury next year, we saw how lack of setting depth can impact a roster. Parks will change that. Her hands are butter and with her Florida is getting another high-level disher. USC Notes: While Florida’s class is at the very top, separating the rest of the pack near the top is very difficult. There are many classes at a similar level. The Trojans are certainly in the mix with what they are adding. Anyanwu, at 6-2, might be the hardest hitter in the class and she’s going to bring tons of physicality to the lineup. Anyanwu’s club teammate in the 6-1 Livings adds versatility to the lineup. She’s played mostly on the right side in club but does have the ability to play six rotations as well as line up at outside. Tealer is listed at 6-0 but she’s a high-flying outside who brings athleticism to the pin. Douglas, meanwhile, is a strong defender who reads well and will add defensive depth. WISCONSIN Notes: Among the incoming class for the Badgers are two international players. We don’t know much about them but we do know Wisconsin is among the schools which landed a pair of 5-star recruits. Fuerbringer is one of the top setters in the class and the timing is perfect with MJ Hammil being a senior and Izzy Ashburn a graduate player. Fuerbringer’s IQ is off the charts and is likely she makes an immediate impact. Schumacher is a lights-out passer and defender. With freshman Saige Damrow already on the roster, the Badgers’ back row future is a bright one. STANFORD Notes: The Cardinal are yet one more program bringing aboard two 5-star recruits. What stands out the most landing Yu, who is arguably the best setter in the class. She lines up to take over once Kami Miner is gone. Andrew is a 6-5 middle with the potential to become a force at the next level. Duncan, at 6-4, adds more size to the roster as well as depth. LOUISVILLE Notes: The Cardinals are in the thick of teams with top level recruiting classes. Cabello, at 6-1, is a versatile player who can set and hit. She could play that same role at the next level or just be part of the setting options. Utterback is just a bit undersized but more than makes up for it with her leaping ability. She can get up in a hurry and is an explosive hitter. Petersen has a strong arm. All three could be in the mix for playing time as rookies. NEBRASKA Notes: No doubt losing Ames knocked Nebraska down a notch. The Huskers were looking at having one of the best classes in 2024. Now, they join a big list of schools bringing on two 5-star recruits. At 6-2, Pierce is a high-flying, free-swinging outside. However, barring a bunch of roster changeover she’s unlikely to crack the lineup as a rookie and instead could be in line to contribute as a sophomore or even junior. With Lexi Rodriguez and Laney Choboy, the Huskers are strong in the back row and Mauch will add yet another top-level talent into the mix. PENN STATE Notes: The Nittany Lions have a small but mighty incoming class. Starck is one of the top recruits in 2024. She’s a high-level setter and hitter who is going to bring lineup options when she arrives. It wouldn’t be surprising to see her on the court a lot as a freshman. Falduto has risen quickly and has elevated her status as one of the best defenders in the class. She too could get on the court in a defensive specialist role as a rookie. MICHIGAN Notes: Not only are the Wolverines bringing in a big class, it’s a talented one on top of it. Edwards has excellent hands and location as well as knowing how to run an offense. White is an interesting prospect because she’s spent her high school career and this past club season as a six-rotation outside. With it, she brings roster flexibility. Hanes, at 6-3, is a scoring machine in the middle. At 6-2, Demetrician brings length to the pin. Meanwhile Gordon is a 6-3 wall of a blocker on the right side who arrives with lots of upside and potential to star at the next level. OHIO STATE Notes: Like Michigan, the Buckeyes are adding one of the larger classes. The highlight is Sellman, a 6-4 outside who hits with great extension and pace. It’s very likely she takes on a starting role out of the gate as a freshman next season. After that, Ohio State is bolstering

vballrecruiter.com’s Player of the Week: Malorie Boesiger (FREE)

October 31, 2023

We’re proud to be a part of an ongoing partnership with Dick’s Sporting Goods, which is sponsoring our Player of the Week award. We’ll be releasing a featured vballrecruiter.com Player of the Week, sponsored by Dick’s Sporting Goods, on Tuesdays. Below is this week’s Player of the Week: Malorie Boesiger. *** There’s plenty to get to with our latest Player of the Week in Malorie Boesiger, who is a 4-star recruit from the Class of 2027 and currently in her freshman season at Norris. It’s an important week for the Titans, who are coached by Boesiger’s mom, Christina. She was the coach the last time Norris finished on top of Nebraska’s Class B state championship in 2014. Since then, Skutt Catholic has ran off eight consecutive state titles, including beating Norris in the finals in 2020 and 2021. Boesiger and company are aiming to stop that streak. The Titans enter Wednesday’s state quarterfinals as the top seed. Norris and Skutt Catholic – the No. 3 overall seed – haven’t played this year. The state finals are set for this coming Saturday at the Devaney Center. Boesiger – who’s taken over the setting role during her rookie campaign – is no stranger to volleyball. With her mom coaching and her older sister, Maisie, being a sophomore on Nebraska’s squad, she grew up around the sport. “I would say I watch volleyball all the time,” Boesiger said. “I’m always watching games, whether it’s high school, college or professional. I’m always trying to get better and learn from other people. “I grew up in the gym. My mom is a coach and my sister and I would always be playing with each other passing and setting. Volleyball has always been in my life.” Boesiger and her older sister have a close relationship. They are both very competitive, which growing up “most of the time ended up in a fight because someone would win and someone would lose. She’s my biggest supporter. I go to her home games and she comes to watch my high school and club games whenever she can.” Boesiger started club volleyball in first grade and has been setting since. She’s also always played up two age groups, including this past season for Nebraska One 16 Synergy as she helped guide the team to a bronze medal in 16 Open at the USAV Girls Junior Nationals Championships. She’ll be playing up two age groups once more this coming club season. But first she needs to wrap up her first high school season, one she has long anticipated. “I was so excited to finally be in high school,” she said. “I have played with a few girls on the team because we play together in club. I was super excited. I’ve always been at practices growing up. I used to be the water girl. I was off to the side playing with my dad or other student managers so now I’m super excited to be a part of it.” She’s having a stellar debut to date, as Norris entered the state playoffs 31-3. Boesiger is averaging 11.5 assists per set and leads the team in aces by a wide margin. She’s recorded at least 19 assists in every match so far. It includes a season-high 49 in a four-set victory over Waverly back in September. It was one of four times she’s surpassed 40 or more assists. With three more victories, she could help Norris earn back the state championship. “I think we are one of the best passing teams in the state,” she said. “It’s super easy for me to run a fast offense. The hitters are always talking and calling for the ball. I can set whoever. I trust all my hitters. Also, we are very close and always supporting each other. We are working hard to win a state championship.” When Boesiger isn’t immersed in volleyball she enjoys traveling with her family and learning about different cultures and surroundings. She also enjoys baking and once had a business with her sister before both became too busy to continue on with it. “My mom’s friend lives in Colorado and she’s a pastry chef,” Boesiger said. “We went there one time and she makes these super detailed cookies and decorations. My sister and I wanted to try it so we did it for almost two years. We made cakes and cupcakes for birthdays and grad parties. We made all the desserts for my sister’s grad party.” As our featured Player of the Week sponsored by Dick’s Sporting Goods, we recently spoke with Boesiger about volleyball and more. Who is a role model or someone you look up to? Boesiger: Inside volleyball I really look up to Lauren Carlini and Sydney Hilley. I grew up watching them all the time. They are balanced and really good leaders. Outside of volleyball I look up to my parents and my sister. They are always supporting me and care so much for me. If you could choose to do anything for a day, what would you do and why? Boesiger: I would probably take all my friends and family and go to the beach or the Amalfi coast. I always wanted to go there. It’s super pretty. I love the ocean. It’s so beautiful. I’d probably do that and play some games and get some coffee. I love coffee. Other than volleyball, what skill would you most like to learn and why? Boesiger: I would say gymnastics. I love watching it on TV. It’s crazy how they can do all those tricks. It’s something I would want to learn. Do you have any volleyball superstitions and if so what? Boesiger: At club tournaments that are three or four days, if we do well on the first day the next day if I had a certain type of food I need to pack the same type of food the next day or use the same hair tie. Aside from necessities, what is one thing you

vballrecruiter.com’s Top 50 National HS Rankings (Oct. 30)

October 30, 2023

The final national rankings of the season are not far off. There are two more Top 50 updates scheduled after this one with the final rankings set to drop three weeks from now. There was no movement this week among the top 20 teams, as they all continued winning. However, a huge showdown is on tap this coming Saturday as top-ranked Mater Dei CA faces No. 2 Mira Costa CA in the CIF Southern Section finals. The teams are 1-1 against each other this season, with a potential state showdown looming in the coming weeks as well. The biggest news comes out of Kansas, which concluded its high school season this past weekend. There was a couple of major developments there which impacted the rankings. Remember, we place a heavy emphasis on state results and that’s what happened this past weekend to shake up the Top 50. Unranked Mill Valley beat Blue Valley North in the 6A state championship match. Mill Valley finished the year 3-1 against Blue Valley North, which was ranked No. 21 in last week’s Top 50. With the victory, Mill Valley not only broke into the Top 50 but will finish the season ranked ahead of Blue Valley North. There was a similar scenario in 5A, where unranked Seaman topped St. Thomas Aquinas to claim the title in that division. St. Thomas Aquinas and Maize South both beat St. James Academy, which was ranked ahead of all three teams, in pool play. As a result, it’s Seaman that will close the year ahead of the rest of them. It’s that time of year too when the mythical national championship picture starts to really take shape. With Mater Dei sitting at No. 1, the Monarchs have the inside track. But it’s hardly a sure thing given the schedule they are still facing. But should Mater Dei win out, the case will be hard to beat. In that scenario, Mater Dei will have finished the season winning Volleypalooza, the Durango Fall Classic, the CIF-SS title and the California state championship. Mira Costa also has a path to the national championship. The Mustangs – who won the Ann Kang Invitational – could also finish No. 1 by winning out. That could feature two more victories over Mater Dei as well as the California state championship. At this point, it appears the only other schools which could make arguments are Hamilton Southeastern IN and Wayzata MN. Both remain undefeated and are on track to capture their respective state championships. The question is will that be enough for either? Neither travel to any out of state tournaments or play in major tournaments like Durango or the Nike TOCs. But, both teams do feature their share of Division 1 commits. Either way, before long we’ll have our answer. You can view the full Top 50 below. vballrecruiter.com’S TOP 50 NATIONAL HS RANKINGS 1. Mater Dei CA (1 – previous ranking) 2. Mira Costa CA (2) 3. Hamilton Southeastern IN (3) 4.Prestonwood Christian TX (4) 5. Grand Oaks TX (5) 6. Cathedral Catholic CA (6) 7. Wayzata MN (7) 8. McKinney Boyd TX (8) 9. Papillion-La Vista South NE (9) 10. Assumption KY (10) *** 11. Marist IL (11) 12. Benet Academy IL (12) 13. Mother McAuley IL (13) 14. Divine Savior Holy Angels WI (14) 15. O’Connor AZ (15) 16. St. Francis/Mountain View CA (16) 17. Archbishop Mitty CA (17) 18. Oconomowoc WI (18) 19. Notre Dame Academy KY (19) 20. Lake Catholic OH (20) *** 21. Middle Creek NC (22) 22. Kings OH (25) 23. Mill Valley KS (n/r) 24. Sierra Canyon CA (23) 25. Blue Valley North KS (21) 26. Dike-New Hartford IA (33) 27. Valor Christian CO (34) 28. Lake Travis TX (26) 29. Hudsonville MI (35) 30. Seton OH (38) *** 31. Seaman KS (n/r) 32. St. Thomas Aquinas KS (27) 33. Dripping Springs TX (28) 34. Lafayette MO (31) 35. Maize South KS (50) 36. Xavier Prep AZ (39) 37. St. James Academy KS (25) 38. Cornerstone Christian TX (29) 39. Carrollwood Day FL (30) 40. Branson CA (32) *** 41. Winter Park FL (36) 42. Skyridge UT (40 43. Bellmont IN (41) 44. Lone Peak UT (42) 45. Pace Academy GA (43) 46. Mercy McAuley OH (44) 47. North Branch MI (45) 48. Alpharetta GA (46) 49. Pope GA (47) 50. Bingham UT (48) *** ON THE CUSP Lewis-Palmer COGlenbard West ILHuntington Beach CABishop Alemany CATorrey Pines CAMarymount CAPalos Verdes CARedondo Union CALos Alamitos CAFoothill CANorthville MIViera FLPlant FLBerkeley Prep FLVenice FLCalvary Christian FLJupiter FLKamehameha HIPunahou HIBishop Gorman NVClear Creek-Amana IACorona del Sol AZLiberty AZSunrise Mountain AZMillennium AZBob Jones ALMountain Brook ALSacred Heart KYNorth Myrtle Beach SCDorman SCSt. Ursula Academy OHMount Notre Dame OHCorner Canyon UTPleasant Grove UTJenks OKMount St. Mary OKLa Cueva NMRoncalli INAngola IN

HS Player Spotlight: 17 Standout Juniors

October 25, 2023

Our next focus for HS Player Spotlight series is on the Class of 2025. We highlight 17 juniors who are having amazing seasons and contributing in big ways towards the success of their respective teams. Emma Parks OH Meadville PA: A 4-star Marquette commit, Parks has carried the majority of the offensive load for the Bulldogs. The 6-2 outside has put down 546 kills to date. She’s averaging 5.5 per set and is hitting .363. She has five matches of 21 kills or more, including a season-high 26 in a five-set thriller over Warren last week. Izzy Busignani OH Marian MI: Busignani – a 4-star Cincinnati commit – has showed off her offensive prowess in leading the attack for the Mustangs. She started the week with a team-best 569 kills, averaging 4.8 per set. She’s also the dig leader, averaging 2.7 per set, and is second in aces. She powered down a season-high 31 kills in last week’s setback against St. Mary’s Catholic Central. It was the first time she had 30 or more kills, as she’s surpassed 20 or more six times. Kirra Musgrove S/RS Lutheran South Academy TX: A 6-2, 5-star Texas AM commit, Musgrove has played an integral part of the Pioneers’ lineup. She is tops in kills with 535. She’s averaging 4.5 per set and is hitting .340. She’s also second in assists with 476. She’s averaging 4.0 per set, as well as being second in digs with an average of 2.1 per set. She’s twice recorded a season-high 28 kills, both times in September. In one of those matches, she also dished out a season-best 23 assists. Teraya Sigler OH Horizon AZ: Sigler – a 5-star Nebraska commit – has over 40 percent of her squad’s total kills. To date, she’s blasted 456 kills, averaging 5.0 per set and hitting .330. She’s also second in digs and blocks. She recorded 11 matches of 19 kills or more. Her season high was 26 in a sweep over Desert Mountain earlier this month. Kennedy Vaughn OH Bob Jones AL: The Patriots, at 49-2, are having a remarkable season to date. Vaughn, a 5-11 outside, has been the go-to hitter on the left. She’s amassed a team-high 454 kills, averaging 3.7 per set. She sent down a season-high 21 kills in a five-set victory against Mountain Brook in early September. Paris McQuirter OH McGill-Toolen AL: The defending 7A state champs are back in the mix with McQuirter on the prowl. The 5-10 outside entered the week with 447 kills. She’s averaging 3.7 per set and is hitting .348. Earlier this month she recorded a season-best 18 kills in a five-set loss to St. Paul’s Episcopal. It exceeded her previous best of 17 kills in mid-September. Jordan Czajkowski S Divine Savior Holy Angels WI: Czajkowski and company are chasing another Division 1 state title after finishing on top in 2022. DHSA is having a sensational year to date with Czajkowski directing the attack. The Belmont commit began the week with 1,009 assists, averaging 9.7 per set. She set a season-high mark of 47 assists in a four-set victory over Brookfield East earlier this month. She finished with 36 assists in a sweep of Whitefish Bay to close out regionals and move onto sectionals this past Saturday. Madison Evans S Bingham UT: Evans is in the midst of a huge year as the Miners attempt to capture the Division 6A state championship. Bingham entered the week 24-3 with Evans dolling out 869 assists. She’s averaging 9.4 per set and has surpassed 40 or more assists seven times. It includes going over 50 twice, once when she totaled a season-best 58 assists in a five-set loss to nationally-ranked Lone Peak earlier this month. The match before she had 52 dimes in a four-set victory over Maple Mountain. Ella Craggs S Northville MI: The Mustangs have been rolling as they began the week 36-2. Craggs – a 3-star Illinois State commit – has been in the middle of it all. She’s put up 818 assists to date, averaging 8.9 per set. In her best outing she finished with 44 assists in a four-set victory against Clarkston in late August. She also made a season-high 14 digs in that contest. Four other times she’s reached 30 or more assists. Sarah Mendoza L Colleyville Heritage TX: The Panthers are the defending 5A state champs and a top contender to finish ahead of the pack once more. Mendoza – a 4-star recruit – has been a wall defensively. She leads the way with 574 digs, averaging 4.9 per set. She’s had eight matches of 20 or more digs. It includes her season-best 35 saves in a five-set victory over Argyle this month. Callie Krueger L Cedar Park TX: Krueger has shown why she is one of the best defenders in her class. The 4-star Texas commit has been lights out in the back row. She started the week with 543 digs, averaging 4.6 per set. Six times she’s reached 20 or more saves. She had a season-best 23 digs in a four-set victory against Hays in late September. Taylor Deckert L Mira Costa CA: Deckert – a 5-star USC commit – is a crucial part of the Mustangs’ success so far. Ranked No. 2 in vballrecruiter.com’s Top 50 National HS Rankings, Deckert has excelled on the defensive end. She entered the week with 425 digs, averaging 4.8 per set. She registered a season-best 33 digs in a five-set victory over Torrey Pines in September. She’s also had four other outings of 20 or more digs, including posting 25 in last weeks’ CIF Southern Section opening victory over Los Alamitos. Sakura Codling L Seton OH: Codling is our featured Player of the Week. The 3-star UCLA commit has been another defender tearing it up for her high school squad. Nationally-ranked Seton, which is 21-2, is currently in the postseason as it aims for the Division 1 state title. Codling has anchored the defense to the

vballrecruiter.com’s Player of the Week: Keoni Williams (FREE)

November 14, 2023