Chris Tobolski

Faith Frame, shown above playing for Premier Nebraska, has verbally committed to Cincinnati. It’s been a little over two months since college coaches were officially allowed to contact players in the 2024 class. We currently have 29 5-star recruits from the age group, with 18 of them committing already. Below, we give a rundown of which schools are currently leading the recruiting race. Of course, the classes are bound to change as a few switch programs and others continue to announce their commitments so periodically we’ll be checking in to see how schools are matching up. NEBRASKA      Skyler Pierce OH Dynasty (5-star) Olivia Mauch L/DS Premier Neb (5-star) Ayden Ames MB Drive Nation (5-star) Note: It shouldn’t be surprising to anyone to see Nebraska at the top of the chart. The Cornhuskers came out of the gate hot, landing three 5-star recruits. Skyler Pierce is arguably the top-rated outside from the class. Nebraska also did well getting Ayden Ames from the state of Texas. She’s one of the top-rated middles who could play on the right side or even eventually move to the outside. Rounding it out is 5-star defender Olivia Mauch, an in-state get. There’s still another year to go but it’s already going to be hard-pressed for any program to move ahead of Nebraska. MICHIGAN      Camille Edwards S TAV (5-star) Ella Demetrician OH FC Elite (4-star) Ellie White S 1st Alliance (4-star) Jenna Hanes MB Wave (4-star) Lauren Evans OH Munciana (3-star) Note: How about the Wolverines? Michigan landed 5-star recruit and setter Camille Edwards most recently to add to what was already a strong class. The balance and depth is to be liked as well, with Michigan adding two setters, two outsides and a middle. MINNESOTA   Stella Swenson S MN Select (5-star) Olivia Swenson OH MN Select (4-star) Note: To nobody’s surprise the Gophers scooped up homegrown talent in the Swenson sisters, whose older sister Samantha starred at Minnesota as well. Both played up on MN Select this past club season helping the team earn a silver medal in 17 Open at Junior Nationals. Stella Swenson is arguably the top-rated setter in the class, so that’s a major score for Minnesota. Olivia Swenson is a big, physical outside who at the very least can provide good depth. KENTUCKY      Hannah Benjamin OH A5 (5-star) Asia Thigpen OH Triangle (4-star) Note: Given how important the position is, there’s nothing wrong loading up on outsides. That’s the case for Kentucky as they landed two earlier studs on the left. Hannah Benjamin showed this past club season she’s one of the best all-around outsides in the division and was highly sought after. That’s a feather in the Wildcats’ cap. Asia Thigpen could be a 5-star recruit by the time she’s headed to the school. She showed tremendous strides in upping the level of her play this past club season and will give Kentucky another big arm to utilize. FLORIDA         Jaela Auguste MB Hou Skyline (5-star) Taylor Parks S OTVA (4-star) Bella Lee L/DS OTVA Note: The Gators are one of 14 schools who have already received a commitment from at least one 5-star recruit. Theirs came from the 6-1 Jaela Auguste. The Texas stud highlights the class so far and will continue the athleticism for the Gators in the middle. Florida also gets a couple of local players, including 4-star recruit and setter Taylor Parks. Parks was solid for OTVA this past club season and seems destined to fit in well with the Gators. PENN STATE Izzy Starck S/RS Co Jrs (5-star) Ava Falduto L/DS New Wave (4-star) Note: Izzy Starck was one of the more sought after players in the class. She’s a versatile player who excels setting and hitting. She committed to Penn State, where her older sister Anjelina is currently playing. Given that, it seemed like Penn State was the favorite to get the younger Starck, much to the chagrin of other programs. Toss in 4-star defender Ava Falduto and the Nittany Lions have a Top 10 class so far. Can they keep it up? NOTRE DAME Morgan Gaerte OH Team Pineapple (5-star) Anna Bjork MB MKE Sting (4-star) Note: Notre Dame is one of five schools which has secured commitments from one 5-star and one 4-star recruit. That puts the Fighting Irish in the thick of the recruiting race as it currently stands. Morgan Gaerte is a 6-4 big time outside who would fit in well at any top level program. She’s a great commit to get for Notre Dame. Anna Bjork is a 6-3 middle with the size and ability to contribute mightily on the next level. CINCINNATI Faith Frame L/DS Premier Neb (5-star) Janelle Green S KC Power (4-star) Note: The Bearcats are a non-Power 5 program making a big splash in the recruiting process so far. Faith Frame is one of the top-rated defenders and will assuredly bring a defensive presence to the lineup. Janelle Green is a solid setter with great leadership skills. Seeing them commit together may lead to some more surprises down the road. WISCONSIN    Charlie Fuerbringer S/RS Long Beach (5-star) Note: We must say, given Charlie Fuerbringer’s ability on the sand, it was surprising to see her go out of state and commit to a school like Wisconsin. However, given her indoor ability, she was a sure thing to land at a top program like the Badgers offer. She’s one of the highest IQ players in the class and a dynamic setter. More players are surely to be added to the recruiting haul, but what a centerpiece to begin with. ARIZONA         Carlie Cisneros OH Dynasty (5-star) Note: No doubt the Wildcats made waves with this commit. Carlie Cisneros was a stud for Dynasty this past club season and one of the best performing outsides in her age group. She gives Arizona a big jolt by committing to the PAC 12 school. TENNESSEE     Camdyn Stucky S Shockwave (4-star) Paityn Chapman OH Co Jrs (4-star) Chelsea Sutton MB OTVA (4-star) Note:

The Ann Kang Invitational was one of the first major tournaments of the high school season. vballrecruiter.com was on hand providing coverage of the three-day event. If you missed anything you can catch up on Day 1, Day 2, Mira Costa winning the championship and the All-Tournament team. Below, we present our Ann Kang Show Stoppers featuring the players who caught our attention the most over the three days in Hawaii. Brooke Naniseni, Sr OH, ‘Iolani – A 6-1 outside, Naniseni is a big part of the offense with her strong arm and ability to find the open spots on the floor. She’s an aggressive hitter who does well challenging the block and keeping pressure on the defense. Senna Roberts-Navarro, Sr OH, ‘Iolani – Roberts-Navarro is very similar to Naniseni in what she brings to the attack and how much ‘Iolani relies on her to provide a scoring punch. She’s also a physical hitter who hits a heavy ball and does well going down the line and forcing defenses to make a play on her. Mari Lawton, Sr MB, ‘Iolani – Lawton is 5-11 but she makes her presence known with her contributions on both sides of the ball. Her quickness serves her well when attacking and she has a nice arm. When in system, defenses have to be aware of her as ‘Iolani will look to get her involved. Maya Imoto-Eakin, Sr S, ‘Iolani – A 5-9 quarterback, Imoto-Eakin has a really nice touch and soft hands. She sets a clean ball and puts her hitters in positions to score on a regular basis with her consistent location. Mele Corral-Blagojevich, Sr OH, Redondo Union – Corral-Blagojevich has been one of the centerpieces in the lineup since her freshman season and now a senior she’s the do-it-all six-rotation outside hitter every team would love to have. Her experience makes her a steadying experience. Toss in her scoring touch and serving skills and she’s a dynamic player. Nicole Lankton, Sr MB, Redondo Union – Lankton brings height to the front row and she can help open up the offense. Like any middle, the team needs to pass well to utilize her and when Redondo does Lankton is an option on the slide. Malu Garcia, Jr OH, Moanalua – This lefty is a six-rotation outside who is charged with carrying the offensive load. Wherever Garcia lines up she’s a scoring threat as Moanalua is constantly giving her the ball and asking her to make plays. Leilani Giusta, Sr OH, Moanalua – Giusta is another member of the Moanalua who is looked upon to provide a scoring punch. She’s a smart, capable attacker with a good arm and calm demeanor. Natalie Fukumoto, L/DS, Moanalua – Fukumoto was one of the better defenders in the field. She’s strong and effective out of serve receive and she hustles as well chasing down balls and keeping rallies alive. Kaci DeMaria, Soph OH, Palos Verdes – A 6-1 outside, we know DeMaria well from the past club season when she starred for Surfside. She’s a huge offensive weapon for the Sea Kings, who rely on her to provide plenty of offense. Her height allows her to go over blocks easily and blast balls to the open space. Tatum Lane, Sr S, Palos Verdes – A 5-10 setter, the way Palos Verdes is built Lane doesn’t need to be flashy to direct the offense and do her part. She’s steady and knows who she needs to get the ball to at the right times. Kendall Beshear, Jr OH, Palos Verdes – Beshear is a bit undersized at 5-9 but she’s a six-rotation contributor who hits a heavy ball and jump serves as well. She’s a heady attacker, who can take stuff off her shots to keep defenses off balanced. Melie Vaioleti, Sr L/DS, Punahou – Vaioleti was a standout libero over the three-day tournament. Punahou doesn’t have the size to match up with other teams in the field, so passing and ball control are fundamental to its success. That’s where Vaioleti fits in perfectly, as she’s a strong passer and makes tons of plays digging and extending points. Marumoto Haumea, Jr OH, Punahou – Haumea showed she knows how to score and doesn’t back down from the blockers in front of her. She’s a smart hitter who can tool blocks or go off speed to find gaps in the defense. Charlie Fuerbringer, Jr S/RS, Mira Costa – Fuerbringer was voted the Most Outstanding Player as Mira Costa captured the title. At times she ran a 5-1 and other moments a 6-2. She’s versatile in that way and is also a great defender. She routinely gets her hitters one-on-one looks and when she’s asked to provide offense her beach skills are on full display. Tanon Rosenthal, Sr S/RS, Mira Costa – Rosenthal is an out-of-state transfer from Texas and she’s a key addition to the lineup. She also brings versatility, as she can hit in the front row and set in the back. Or she can be a six-rotation right side who can provide offense in the back row. Drew Wright, Sr OH, Mira Costa – Wright had a strong showing for the Mustangs. She’s a key component as she’s played in plenty of high-level matches and doesn’t rattle easily. She’s an exceptional passer and someone who can provide reliable offense as well. Taylor Deckert, Soph L/DS, Mira Costa – Mira Costa has a good one in Deckert. She has a cool demeanor as a defender and brings lots of ball control to the lineup. She’s strong out of serve receive and reads the court well. Molly McCluskey, Jr S/RS, Edison – McCluskey is a highlight for Edison with her two-way contributions. She’s lanky and defenses can struggle containing her on the right side. She’s Edison’s best offensive option but the Chargers need to pass well to get her involved enough to make a difference. Olivia Babcock, Sr RS, Sierra Canyon – A force for Sunshine this past

The two best schools faced off twice on the final day of the Ann Kang Invitational in Honolulu and finished 1-1 against one another. Though the matches were split, it was Mira Costa of Manhattan Beach walking away from the prestigious tournament with bragging rights after sweeping Sierra Canyon of Chatsworth, 25-20, 25-22, in the championship clash. It was Sierra Canyon’s only loss after the Trailblazers defeated the Mustangs earlier in the day as they finished out pool play. “It’s incredible. This is a really, really tough tournament and there are so many good teams here, including two from our league,” Mira Costa coach Cam Green said. “We knew it was going to be tough going in so it’s gigantic to win it. It means a ton for us moving forward with the confidence and belief in ourselves it gives us.” There was no way the rematch in the final could top the pair’s first meeting, which produced by far the best match of the tournament and one of the most memorable high school matches these eyes have ever witnessed. Though Sierra Canyon and Mira Costa were guaranteed spots in the semifinals as they met for first place in Pool A with both being 6-0, the two So Cal schools performed as if they had everything riding on the outcome. It was only the first week of the high school season but it’s going to be hard for any match to top Sierra Canyon’s thrilling victory over Mira Costa that delivered an epic overscore in the third set as the Trailblazers prevailed, 21-25, 25-20, 25-23. Mira Costa was up 14-12 in the final set, holding two match points with no sign of what was about to come. Sierra Canyon clawed back to 14-14 all and then saved three more match points before gaining their first chance at victory leading 18-17. The tide changed from there, as Sierra Canyon held another five match points before finally finishing off the Mustangs in a high-level conclusion in which teams were trading blows and earning points without the benefit of errors. “I was a little upset we lost of course, but I was impressed at the level of volleyball,” Green said. “We saw a high level of play and we gave ourselves a chance to win it. We had chances and for me I was proud and happy for the girls to play in a match like that. It was a big-time level of volleyball.” “That’s one of the best matches I’ve ever been a part of,” Sierra Canyon coach Darrin Phillips said. “It ranks up there when we played La Salle to in the semifinals to get to the state final and we were down 0-2 and came back to win in five in 2016. That set was top two for me for sure.” With the semifinalists out of Pool A known and the energy still buzzing in the air from the incredible match, Pool B was not yet decided as the final round started. It featured Bay League foes Palos Verdes and Redondo Union squaring off in one of the gyms while host school ‘Iolani took on Harvard-Westlake in the other. Palos Verdes, Redondo and ‘Iolani each had a chance to advance to the semifinals but there were only spots for two. Redondo and Palos Verdes went three in what normally would be an exciting conclusion but felt a bit ordinary compared to what happened between Sierra Canyon and Mira Costa. Redondo pulled out the tight victory, 25-14, 22-25, 16-14, to hand Palos Verdes its only loss in Pool B. ‘Iolani swept past Harvard-Westlake as ‘Iolani, Palos Verdes and Redondo ended in a three-way tie at 6-1. ‘Iolani took first in the pool based on set percentage, while Palos Verdes was second. It left Redondo in third and missing the semifinals. ‘Iolani sweeping Redondo to start Day 2 was the key result of Pool B. Had Redondo managed to win a set against ‘Iolani all three teams would have tied in set percentage at 13-3. The semifinals began in the afternoon, with Sierra Canyon first sweeping Palos Verdes, 25-22, 25-23, before Mira Costa downed ‘Iolani in straight sets, 25-20, 25-17, to set up the rematch between the two So Cal schools in the final. Sierra Canyon has never captured the Ann Kang title before, while Mira Costa had finished first six previous times since the tourney started in 1989, the most of any school. The last title for the Mustangs came in 2016 and after turning it around against the Trailblazers, Mira Costa extended its record number to seven titles. “It’s always an incredible tournament,” Green said. “Thank you to (‘Iolani coach) Kainoa (Obrey) and ‘Iolani. We love coming here and want to keep coming here. It was a great stepping stone to where we want to get to. Learning to win is a big deal. I’m proud to be here with this team and love coaching this group.” *** The final finishing order ended like this: 1. Mira Costa 2. Sierra Canyon T3. ‘Iolani T3. Palos Verdes 5. Punahou 6. Redondo Union 7. Moanalua 8. Harvard-Westlake 9. Santa Margarita 10. Corona del Mar 11. Le Jardin 12. Hawaii Baptist 13. Baldwin 14. Maryknoll 15. Edison 16. La Jolla Country Day

Pool A took definitive shape while Pool B built toward an intriguing conclusion on Day 2 of the Ann Kang Invitational on Friday Aug. 13 in Honolulu. Saturday is the final day of play as the two pools wrap up and head to crossover play to determine final finishes. The top two teams from each pool make the semifinals. In Pool A, there’s no guess work needed as Mira Costa and Sierra Canyon are both 6-0 with one match left. It’s against one another, so one will advance at 7-0 while the other will make the semis at 6-1. Pool B is a different story. Palos Verdes is 6-0 but could wind up in a three-way tie. Both ‘Iolani and Redondo Union are 5-1. Harvard-Westlake is 4-2. Redondo and Palos Verdes face off Saturday morning, while Harvard-Westlake and ‘Iolani are paired together as two of the four will reach the semis. Sierra Canyon secured an important victory over Punahou, 23-25, 25-23, 15-12, to start Day 2. Punahou is 4-2 but can’t make the semifinals. Sierra Canyon went on to sweep Maryknoll and Moanalua. Meanwhile, Mira Costa continued its charge toward the final four with sweeps over Le Jardin, Moanalua and Santa Margarita. After Day 1 play wrapped up on Thursday vballrecruiter.com brought you a closer look at the eight teams in Pool A. Below, we provide a better look at the eight teams in Pool B. Harvard-Westlake – The Wolverines captured the California Division 1 state championship a season ago and return key pieces from that roster in senior outsides Ava-Marie Lange (4-stars) and Grace Thrower (3-stars) as well as senior right side Avery Jones (3-stars) and senior setter Neha Tummala. Harvard-Westlake is 4-2 with victories over Baldwin and Corona del Mar and loss to Palos Verdes on Day 2. Harvard-Westlake is the tallest team in the field and has nice size for a high school team. Lange, Thrower and Jones are all 6-0 or taller, as is middle Maya Stillwell. A front row of either Lange or Thrower on the outside, Stillwell in the middle and Jones on the right looks like a college team lining up. Harvard-Westlake is easily one of the 10 best teams in the CIF Southern Section out of So Cal and could be Top 5 if playing well. ‘Iolani – The host school scored a key victory against Redondo Union to open play Friday. The Raiders then swept Hawaii Baptist and Corona del Mar to close out Day 2. That kept ‘Iolani in the thick of the race to the semifinals. The Raiders are built around a pair of strong outsides in senior outside Brooke Naniseni and senior Senna Roberts-Navarro. Both have big arms and are tough to slow down as ‘Iolani always has someone front row on the left that can carry the offense. Directing it all is senior setter Maya Imoto-Eakin. She’s very steady with a smooth delivery. Libero is also a position of strength for the Raiders with senior Tessa Onaga providing a defensive edge in the back row. Redondo Union – The Sea Hawks close out against Bay League foe Palos Verdes in hopes of making the semifinals. Redondo Union picked up a huge win over Harvard-Westlake to close out Day 1 but were uprooted by ‘Iolani to start Day 2. Redondo Union rebounded to down La Jolla Country Day of San Diego and Baldwin. The big weapon for the Sea Hawks is senior outside Mele Corral-Blagojevich. The 4-star recruit recently committed to Oklahoma and is headed to the Under Armour All-American game in December in Orlando. She hits a heavy ball and her jump serve causes opponents fits as well as the Sea Hawks rely on her plenty. The other outside spot features Victoria Henkel. Another player to watch for is 6-2 senior middle Nicole Lankton. She brings size in the middle and can be a handful for defenses when running the slide. Redondo Union was running a 6-2 with setters Bella Jones and Madi Collins while Summer Suppik was donning the libero jersey. Palos Verdes – The Sea Kings took a step forward last fall and are poised to continue their progression this season. Palos Verdes wasn’t really challenged on Day 2 in producing sweeps against La Jolla Country Day, Baldwin and Harvard-Westlake. Palos Verdes was impressive in sweeping Harvard-Westlake, 25-18, 25-21, in the final outing Friday to remain undefeated. Sophomore outside Kaci Demaria is a key component. She’s a 6-1, 4-star recruit who we recently featured as a potential future 5-star recruit. She’s long and can rip balls. At the high school level she’s very difficult to contain. She’s joined on the left by junior Kendall Beshear (3-star). Beshear has all-around game and hits a heavy ball as well as a jump serve. Together, they provide plenty of offense for Palos Verdes, which featured Tatum Lane at setter on Day 2. Middle Dani Rusich is a bit undersized but was running an effective slide. Libero Meg Walsh combined with defensive specialists Mallory and Molly LaBreche give Palos Verdes a strong back row. Corona del Mar – Another Southern Section school making the trip, CdM always manages to put together a competitive roster. CdM squeaked by Hawaii Baptist to open play Friday, winning in three, 25-20, 21-25, 17-15, before going down to Harvard-Westlake and ‘Iolani in straight sets. A player to watch is Reese Olson. She’s a lefty playing setter and right side. She changes the offensive dynamic when playing across the front row with her strong arm and scoring ability. Kaela Hiramoto sets in the back row when Olson is up front. Outsides Reiley Murphy and Emma Geng are steady contributors while Kirsten Dauderman lines up at libero. La Jolla Country Day – The lone team from San Diego in the field, LJCD is playing without its top player in middle Bianka Lulic, who is a 4-star recruit. The Torreys had a tough time on Day 2 against both Palos Verdes and Redondo Union before closing

The CIF Southern Section out of So Cal always features at least a handful of nationally-recognized schools and 2022 is no different. A year ago it was Marymount of Los Angeles running the gauntlet and winding up undefeated as national champions in several publications. While Marymount graduated most of its starting lineup, two more So Cal schools which figure to be in the hunt for a possible national title this season include Cathedral Catholic of San Diego and Mater Dei of Santa Ana. However, none of those three schools made the trip to Hawaii for this year’s version of the Ann Kang Invitational. Hosted by ‘Iolani School, the prestigious event features 16 teams – with nine from So Cal and seven from the island. The two toughest and deepest leagues in So Cal this fall are the Bay and Mission leagues and representatives from both showcased their talents on the opening day of the tournament. Mira Costa, Redondo Union and Palos Verdes – all three from the Bay League – combined to go 9-0 Thursday while Sierra Canyon and Harvard-Westlake – in the Mission League along with Marymount – went a combined 5-1. Harvard-Westlake was the only team to drop a match of the five schools, with its setback coming at the hands of Redondo Union, 25-19, 25-21. As for the local schools, Punahou, ‘Iolani and Moanalua all finished 2-1 after Day 1 action was complete. Pool play continues Friday and wraps up Saturday morning. The conclusion of pool play on Day 3 will see Mira Costa and Sierra Canyon face off, as well as Palos Verdes and Redondo Union before breaking into bracket pool to determine the champions. vballrecruiter.com was on hand for the start of the tournament and will continue to provide coverage from all three days. Below, we give you a closer look at the teams in Pool A. We’ll provide a closer look at teams in Pool B after Day 2 is done. As for Pool B, one of the best matches on Thursday was between Palos Verdes and ‘Iolani. PV prevailed in three, 25-23, 23-25, 15-11, on its way to going 3-0. PV also defeated Corona del Mar and Hawaii Baptist. Redondo Union went 3-0 with sweeps over Corona del Mar, Hawaii Baptist and Harvard-Westlake. POOL A BREAKDOWN Mira Costa – Regardless of how the Mustangs finish in Hawaii, credit goes out to the parents of this school who showed up in big numbers and represented with loud cheering and support of their girls. There’s a lot to be excited about when it comes to Mira Costa this season. At the center of it is junior setter Charlie Fuerbringer, a 5-star recruit who recently committed to Wisconsin. She has pieces to work with, some of which include beach star senior Erin Inskeep and senior Drew Wright (3-stars) on the outside with Tanon Rosenthal on the right side. Bryn Shankle brings height to the middle. Toss in sophomore Taylor Deckert (3-stars) at libero and Costa should be a solid passing team who can spread the ball around with Fuerbringer running the offense. Costa picked up Day 1 victories over Maryknoll, Edison and Punahou. The toughest outing was against Punahou, as Mira Costa snuck by, 19-25, 25-14, 15-13.  Sierra Canyon – The Trailblazers are an impressive bunch and can play with the best the country has to offer. Sierra Canyon was strong in sweeping Santa Margarita, Le Jardin and Edison, allowing 20 points or more in just one set. The featured player is Olivia Babcock, a 6-3 right side who is a 5-star recruit committed to Pitt and chosen for the Under Armour All-American game in December in Orlando. At the high school level, she’s virtually unstoppable. The team is also strong on the outside with 3-star recruit and junior Danica Rach. The Trailblazers also showcased freshman Mia Stewart on the outside to show the young talent in the pipeline. Another strong point comes at libero, with sophomore Lauren Lynch, a 4-star recruit. Punahou – Punahou flashed its capabilities in playing Mira Costa tough. While Punahou doesn’t have a big arm like Sierra Canyon does with Babcock, the scrappiness, ball control and IQ can give any opponent fits. The defense is anchored by 3-star recruit and senior libero Melie Vaioleti. She routinely kept the team in system out of serve receive and extended rallies with her digging. Haumea Marumoto provided key offense on the left and showed a nice scoring sense with her ability to hit off speed. Rella Moon Binney plays a vital role as a setter/right side while Jodi Saelua brings physicality in the middle. Punahou defeated Moanalua and Maryknoll before losing a tight one to Mira Costa. Santa Margarita – The Eagles sit at 1-2 in Pool A after the opening day. After getting swept by Sierra Canyon in the first match, Santa Margarita dropped a three-setter to Moanalua before closing the day with a sweep of Maryknoll. Two key pieces of the offense are both underclassmen in sophomore outside Brooklyn Drumwright and freshman pin hitter Memphis Burnett – both 3-star recruits. At 6-2, senior middle Sophia Stalcup is the tallest member on the roster. She did a solid job getting touches and providing a blocking presence. Senior Grace Moss was suited up at libero and tasked with the defensive duties. Moanalua – Going 2-1 on the day, the lone setback came against Punahou as Moanalua recorded victories over Santa Margarita and Le Jardin. The key weapon is lefty junior Malu Garcia, a 3-star recruit who hits all across the front and back rows. She provides pop to the attack and is someone defenses must key in on or pay the price. Outside Leilani Giusta is another attacker defenses need to be concerned about. She’s a strong hit who adds physicality. At libero was Natalie Fukumoto and she was steady in consistent with her passing. Edison – The Chargers went 0-3 on Thursday, with losses to Le Jardin, Mira Costa and Sierra Canyon.

It’s a busy weekend ahead as the high school girls volleyball season begins to ramp up. There are three, three-day tournaments on tap for Aug. 11-13, including two big events in Texas along with one in Hawaii. ‘Iolani is hosting the prestigious Ann Kang Invitational, a 16-team field featuring teams from the island as well as California. The John Turner Classic is one of two in Texas and is made up of 44 teams, while the Mansfield tourney is comprised of 40 teams. vballrecruiter.com is making the trip to Hawaii to provide coverage of the Ann Kang tourney. Below, we give you a rundown of what to watch for. The first two days feature two pools of eight teams, while Day 3 wraps up pool play and then heads to bracket play to determine the champion. Top-seeded Mira Costa along with Sierra Canyon and Harvard-Westlake are very likely to be schools appearing in our initial Top 50 high school rankings coming out in a couple of weeks. Palos Verdes could also make the cut. Additionally, Sierra Canyon, Harvard-Westlake, Iolani, Punahou and Redondo Union are back together next month for the Durango Fall Classic taking place Sept. 16-17 in Las Vegas. Pool A Mira Costa Sierra Canyon Punahou Santa Margarita Moanahua Edison Le Jardin Maryknoll *** Pool B Harvard-Westlake ‘Iolani Redondo Union Palos Verdes Corona del Mar La Jolla Country Day Baldwin Hawaii Baptist *** The Ann Kang field features 17 players who appear in vballrecruiter.com’s player rankings. Here’s the breakdown: Edison Molly McCluskey Jr RS (3-star) *** Harvard-Westlake Ava-Marie Lange Sr OH (4-star) Grace Thrower Sr OH, (3-star) *** La Jolla Country Day Bianka Lulic Sr MB (4-star) *** Mira Costa Ameena Campbell Sr OH (3-star) Carly Greskovics Sr L (3-star) Drew Wright Sr OH (3-star) Charlie Fuerbringer Jr S/RS (5-star) *** Palos Verdes Kaci Demaria Soph OH (4-star) Kendall Beshear Jr OH (3-star) *** Redondo Union Mele Corral-Blagojevich Sr OH (4-star) *** Santa Margarita Brooklyn Drumwright Soph OH (3-star) *** Sierra Canyon Olivia Babcock Sr OH/RS (5-star) Lauren Lynch Soph L/DS (4-star) Danica Rach Jr OH (3-star) Madeline Way Jr MB (3-star) *** Punahou Melie Vaioleti Sr L/DS (3-star)

We’ve released a series of articles since updating our player rankings at the end of July. Among them have been introducing the newest 4-star recruits from the Class of 2025, tracking potential 5-star recruits as well as highlighting the newest 5-star recruits. Below, we bring you 29 players from the Class of 2024 whose ranking improved from 3 to 4-stars. Sarah Brodner, OH/RS, Jupiter HS, High Tide – We featured Brodner in our recent article tracking potential 5-star recruits. She was also part of the Class of 2024 group who moved up from 3 to 4-stars. She’s a 6-5 pin hitter with tons of upside. She’s one to track and could be special at the next level as she continues to gain strength and power. Kiarrah Horne, OH, Millbrook HS, Triangle – Horne is an athletic outside with next-level tangibles, such as being 6-1 and already touching 10-5. The sky’s the limit as she works her way toward the collegiate level. Taylor Williams, OH, St. Francis HS (Mountain View), Vision – After watching what Williams did and seeing her skills this past club season, Williams joins the 4-star rank. She’s a lanky 6-2 with a smooth arm and ability to tee off with big kills. Mia Tvrdy, MB, Papillion-LaVista HS, Premier Nebraska – Tvrdy is an impactful middle on both sides of the ball with her attacking and blocking capabilities. At 6-0, she has a strong arm and should be able to provide plenty of physicality at the next level. Madison Maxwell, S/RS, West Ranch HS, Legacy (CA) – An unheralded two-way player, Maxwell was a key component for Legacy – the 17 Premier gold medalist at AAU – this past club season. She’s a 6-2 setter/right side. While she’s a capable hitter, she seems destined to set at the collegiate level. With her length and nice touch, she should be a good get for a Top 50 program. Taylor Parks, S, Calvary Christian HS, OTVA – Parks is a fun setter to watch do her thing. She’s smooth and effortless and puts up a clean, hittable ball consistently. She’s 5-11, so not a super tall setter but not short either. She recently committed to Florida. Samantha Bowron, OH, Lake Brantley HS, Top Select – Bowron isn’t necessarily a flashy outside. She’s a type of player the more you watch, the more you appreciate what she brings to a lineup. She’s a six-rotation mainstay with a strong arm. At 6-0 and touching 10-2, she has plenty of potential to shine at the collegiate level. Bailey Higgins, RS, Berkley Prep HS, OTVA – Higgins is another player we recently featured in our tracking potential 5-star recruits. She’s a 6-1 lefty who touches 10-1 and has a hammer of an arm. Brooklyn Tealer, OH, Gainesville HS, Gainesville Jrs – We should have included Tealer in our potential 5-star recruits. For now, she moved up from 3 to 4-stars. She recently committed to USC and it’s easy to see why. She’s a 6-1, high-flying outside with a whippy arm who’s an effective scorer from the front and back row. Riley Whitlock, RS, Harrison HS, Boiler Jrs – The feeling here is Whitlock has lots of upside who could be a late-bloomer of sorts. She’s 6-0 with a good feel for the game and strong arm. Paityn Chapman, OH, Castle View HS, Co Jrs – A recent Tennessee commit, Chapman impressed during the past club season on the outside for Co Jrs. She’s capable of unloading on balls and is an offensive force at times. Mallory Bohl, MB, Saline HS, Legacy – Bohl certainly could make a mark at the next level and that’s part of the reason she moved up to 4-stars. She’s 6-3 and brings a presence to the middle. She’s already showing good strength and can be a disrupter at the net with her blocking. Molly Kate Patten, RS, Lambert HS, A5 – Patten was also part of the players we wrote about recently tracking potential 5-star recruits. A 6-5 lefty, she has a big ceiling when it comes to what she could become at the next level. She presents a big block on the right side and with her height has no issues going over blocks. Janelle Green, S, Blue Valley North HS, KC Power – Green is a high-energy setter and a great teammate. She has the perfect demeanor for a setter and that’s before getting to her skills. She has great hands and is accurate. She’s a recent Cincinnati commit.    London Wijay, OH, Alemany HS, Supernova – A 5-11 wirey outside, Wijay is springy with a loose arm. She was the go-to for Supernova this past club season and showed a nice knack for scoring with a variety of shots. Lolo Lambert, OH, Bishop Lynch HS, Drive Nation – Lambert is an athlete who besides playing volleyball indoor and on the beach is a sprinter as while as high and long jumper. She played last season for Skyline but will be part of Drive Nation this upcoming club season. She jumps well with a live arm and can be tough to slow down. Kennedy Washington, MB, Red Oak HS, TAV – Washington brings physicality to the lineup when she checks in front row. She’s 6-0 with a big arm and strong block and is built for the next level.   Jenna Hanes, MB, Cathedral Catholic HS, Wave – A recent Michigan commit, Hanes was a key in the middle for Wave this past club season. She’s a 6-3, two-way contributor who touches 10-0. She has a keen scoring sense who can put it down or find the open spots to tip to. She also showed good timing with her blocking. Isabel Clark, OH, Mater Dei HS, Momentous – Clark was the go-to left side for Momentous. She’s 6-0 with a big arm that generates plenty of pop. She has tons of upside and showed nice improvement in terms of consistency. Erin Debiec, S, Bishop O’Connell HS,

Below, we introduce the newest 4-star recruits from the Class of 2025. It features 17 girls who moved up from 3 to 4-stars in our latest rankings update at the end of July. To give an idea of what a 4-star recruit is, they would be among the Top 100 players in the nation if we did a numbered ranking. Lauren Hurst, OH, Cleveland HS, K2 – If you spent most of the time last season watching the 15s age group you aren’t likely to know about Hurst. She played up on the 17s for K2. She’s a 6-1 outside who displayed lots of potential. She has a good arm and is going to be one to watch as she adds strength and power to her game. Taylor Cook, S, Melissa HS, Skyline – Cook – a 5-11 setter who can also hit on the right – was steady and consistent this past season and directed the offense well for Skyline. She has nice hands and locates well. Reagan Ennist, S, Shenendehowa HS, NYC Juniors – A 5-11 setter, Ennist is another one we felt was worthy of an improved ranking. Like the others on her, she’s shown upside with her game and setting skills. She delivers a clean ball with consistent location.   Kaci Demaria, OH, Palos Verdes HS, Surfside – Demaria should have been included in our 5-star watchlist we released earlier this week. She’s right on the cusp and should end up there before too long. She’s a 6-2 outside with a huge ceiling. Her ability to score consistently was on display this past season and she was the No. 1 option on Surfside. Logan Bell, OH, Roncalli HS, Circle City – Bell is a spring 5-11 outside who possesses a quick arm. She gets off the ground quick and can generate plenty of pace on her attacks. She has a bright future ahead of her. Kenna Cogill, MB, Perry HS, Arizona Storm – A 6-4 middle, Cogill is worth keeping an eye on as she improves. She showed lots of potential this past club season and she became more and more impactful as the season wore on. Her height is obviously a key advantage as she can impact both sides of the ball. Julia Grace, L/DS, Notre Dame Academy, NKYVC – Grace is one of three back row players who were moved up from 3 to 4-stars from the Class of 2025. She’s shown strong command of the back row and was a defensive anchor who was on-point out of serve receive. Naya Salfiti, S/RS, Liberty Christian HS, Madfrog – Salfiti was a valuable piece in the lineup. She showed versatility by being able to step in and set when necessary. She’s a 6-2 lefty who is projected as a right side at the next level. She’s lanky with a good arm and showed ability to score on well-placed angle shots. Bella Ocampo, OH, Highland Park HS, Skyline – Ocampo demonstrated her ability to play all the way around. She’s a sound passer and defender in the back row. She also has a good IQ and showed she was able to score in a wide variety of ways. Francesca Popescu, L/DS, Lambert HS, A5 – Popescu is one of three defenders who moved up one tier in our latest rankings update. She’s a steady back row defender who showed a strong knack for passing out of serve receive and solid court coverage. Asia Harvey, OH, Sandy Creek HS, A5 – A high-flying, 6-1 outside, Harvey oozes potential and could be a stud at the collegiate level. She showed flashes of what she can become delivering a few wow moments during our times watching her this past season. Ashlyn Paymal, RS, Burke HS, NE Elite – Paymal was impressive the times we caught her in action. She’s a 6-3, six-rotation right side. She was the team’s best offensive option with her ability to score all the way around the court. Charlotte Vinson, RS, Yorktown HS, Munciana – Vinson was a key part of the attack. She’s a 6-1 right side who is an option both front and back row. She has a good arm and proved to be a reliable and consistent scorer. Addison Gaido, RS, Georgetown HS, Austin Skyline – We wrote about Gaido earlier this week in our article tracking potential 5-star recruits. Gaido is part of the Class of 2025 players who moved up from 3 to 4-stars. She’s a 6-4 right side with lots of upside. Alex Richter, OH, Highland Park HS, Drive Nation – Richter has the prototypical frame that is screaming with potential. She’s a lanky 6-3 with a strong swing. She’s certainly displayed next-level abilities at times and is a name to know. Addison Makun, MB, Silver Creek HS, KiVA – A 6-3 middle, Makun has lots of raw talent and is one to keep tabs on as she continues developing. She’s long with the ability to go over blocks and she’s shown good strength as well. Maya Evens, L/DS, Cathedral Catholic HS, Wave – Evens shined playing up for Wave 16 Brennan this past club season. She’s absolute nails in the back row. She’s consistently on point in serve receive and she has great range defending and picking off attacks.

During our recent player rankings update, we reviewed every player we had listed to determine whether to keep their ranking the same or move them to the next tier. Earlier this week we wrote about the newest recruits to join the 5-star rank featuring those who moved up. You can view that article here. Below, we highlight athletes from the Classes of 2023-2026 who could be next in line to become 5-star recruits when our next update is released. All the players listed below are currently ranked as 4-star recruits. They are also listed with the club they played for last season. Please email chris@vballrecruiter.com with any changes. 2023 Mia Lee, MB, Mountain View HS, Club V – There are some who already view Lee – a BYU commit – as a 5-star recruit. She’s close and like a lot of the players listed in this article she would be at a 4.5 rating if we awarded half-stars. She’s 5-11 but touches a ridiculous 10-7, putting her in rare company. Noemie Glover, RS, Cathedral Catholic HS, Coast – A 6-1 high-flying lefty who is committed to Oregon, Glover is among those we are keeping a close eye on in seeing if she’ll move up in our next update. She’s capable of hitting crazy sharp angles and is still relatively raw compared to other studs in the Class of 2023. Kennedy Martin, RS, Appleton North HS, FC Elite – A Florida commit, there’s plenty to love about Martin. One aspect is her height of 6-6. She’s clearly a presence on the right side with her ability to hit high combined with her block. Brielle Kemavor, MB, Colgan HS, Metro – Kemavor has something in common with many of our recruits who are already rated at 5-stars. That’s her height. She’s tall at 6-5, which is obviously a valuable tool when it comes to the middle position. She’s commited to BYU. Claire Little, OH, Vista Murrieta HS, Coast – One thing we know for sure is BYU is getting a haul when it comes to the Class of 2023. Little is the third recruit we are writing about here with potential to get to 5-stars. She’s an all-around contributor who can take over matches at times. Kendal Murphy, OH, Horizon HS, AZ Rev – Murphy – a Baylor commit – was one of the MVPs at the recent Under Armour Next Selection Camp stop in So Cal. She’s a high-IQ outside with next-level height at 6-3. She’s a viable scorer whether front or back row. *** 2024 Sarah Brodner, OH/RS, Jupiter HS, High Tide – Brodner’s rating improved this last go around from 3 to 4-stars. There’s a chance she could be in 5-star territory the next time the rankings are updated. She’s definitely one to keep tabs on. Brodner is a 6-5 pin hitter with lots of length and ability to hit over blocks. She has the potential to shine at the collegiate level. Kiylah Presley, MB, Bishop McNamara HS, Paramount (Virginia) – There’s was strong consideration given to moving Presley up to 5-stars in our recent update. She’s very close. She has tremendous upside with her athletic gifts. She’s 6-0 and already touching 10-5. She recently committed to Virginia. Mia Hood, MB, Blessed Trinity HS, A5 – Feedback from certain coaches would already place Hood in the 5-star territory. Nothing is for certain, but odds are she’ll be a 5-star recruit before too long. She has too much going for her not to be. She’s 6-7 and takes up a lot of space at the net. Molly Kate Patten, RS, Lambert HS, A5 – Patten has endless potential and is surely on our radar as someone we are watching closely. She’s a 6-5 lefty who has proven to be a reliable scorer and strong blocker. Logan Wiley, MB, Alpharetta HS, A5 – One of the reasons A5 had such a strong team in the 16s age group this past season is Wiley is the third member from the squad who is in consideration for being a 5-star recruit. She recently committed to Georgia Tech. Wiley is 6-2 and quick. She’s shown strong scoring skills and can impact matches on both sides of the ball. Bailey Higgins, RS, Berkley Prep HS, OTVA – Higgins is an explosive attacker on the right side. She’s a 6-1 lefty with a strong arm. She’s touching 10-1 and could be a menace if she’s able to add a few more inches to her jump. Alec Rothe, OH/MB, Dublin Scioto HS, Elite VBTC – During club Rothe played at both outside and middle. With continued work and development she could be a pin at the next level. She’s 6-2 and moves well for her height. *** 2025 Lauren Coyne, RS, Wheaton-Warrenville South, SPVB – There’s plenty of time before Coyne gets to the next level and we’ll be watching as she progresses. She’s a 6-2 lefty who touches 10-0. As she moves up age divisions and adds to her game, she may be able to make the next tier as a 5-star recruit. Kalyssa Blackshear, MB, Torrance HS, Surfside – Blackshear was also a MVP at the recent Under Armour Next Selection Camp stop in So Cal. She was given strong consideration as a 5-star recruit in our latest update. A 6-4 middle with great court sense, it’s hard not seeing reach the top tier before too long. Addison Gaido, RS, Georgetown HS, Austin Skyline – Gaido certainly has the frame to star at the next level. She’s 6-4 with long arms and has no trouble going over the block. She had a strong club season for Austin Skyline this past spring and is definitely on the 5-star watchlist. Jordan Smith, OH/RS, Howell Central HS, Rockwood Thunder – Smith played up an age group, suiting up for Rockwood Thunder 16 Elite this past club season. She flashed plenty of upside and there’s tons to like about her game. She has certain tangibles too that has