Chris

Let’s get to freshmen who are making impacts for their respective high school teams. Below, we feature 30 ninth-graders who have made valuable contributions to date this fall. Kayla Nwabueze MB Bloomfield Hills MI – The Blackhawks are 17-11 on the season as the 6-0, 5-star recruit in Nwabueze has shined as the team’s kill leader. She’s totaled 296 to date and is averaging 3.9 per set. On top of that, she’s recorded 117 blocks and counting. Riley Malloy OH Austin TX – Malloy is another 5-star recruit doing big things as a freshman. The 6-4 outside leads the Maroons in kills, putting away 287 while averaging 3.8 per set and hitting .289. She’s also second in blocks. Kinsley Young MB Southlake Carroll TX – The 6-3, 5-star recruit has made her biggest impact on defense. The freshman is leading the way with 67 blocks, averaging 0.6 per set. On the other side of the ball, Young is fifth in kills with 173, averaging 16 per set. Layla Austin OH Southlake Carroll TX – The schedule has been rough on the Dragons this fall as they sit at 16-19. However, Austin has been a bright spot with her play. She leads the team in kills with 227. She’s averaging 2.8 per set. Finley Krystkowiak OH Torrey Pines CA – Another 5-star recruit, Krystkowiak was leading the Falcons in kills until missing time recently. While her 189 kills no longer is tops on the roster, her 3.6 kills per set is. Ella Florez S/RS Mill Valley KS – This 5-star recruit is setting and hitting for the Jaguars. To date, she’s the assists leader with 355, averaging 5.1 per set. When it comes to hitting, Florez is currently third in kills at 149, averaging 2.1 per set. Bennett Raterman MB St. Pius X MO – At 19-3, the Lancers are having a strong year. So is Raterman, a 5-star recruit. She’s second in kills with 213, averaging 3.2 per set while hitting .374. She’s also second in blocks with 31, averaging 0.5 per frame. Elena Ruble S St. Pius X MO – The Lancers have also benefitted from the play of Ruble. The freshman setter has played a vital role in running a 5-1. She’s dished out 600 assists and is averaging 9.1 per set. Ellie Hepler L Warsaw IN – Hepler has helped the Tigers to a 20-8 mark while holding down back row responsibilities. Her 376 digs are almost 200 more than the next closest teammate. She’s averaging 4.4 per set. She’s also made an impact from the service line, leading the team in aces with 45. Willow Weninger OH/RS Blue Valley Southwest KS – A 6-0, 4-star recruit, Weninger has brought her skill set to the Timberwolves’ lineup. The freshman is leading the way, putting up 212 kills and averaging 3.0 per set. *** Henley Anderson OH Dripping Springs TX – Anderson – a 6-4 rising prospect – has played a valuable role for the Tigers. She’s second in kills with 366. She’s averaging 3.2 per set and hitting .311. She’s also third in blocks with 61. Sydney Lund S Dripping Springs TX – Lund is part of a setting duo that also includes junior Presley Alford. Lund is second in assists at 555 and is averaging 5.1 per set. She’s also third in aces. Emma Cugino L Olentangy Orange OH – Coming off her 14 Open gold medal with Mintonette Sports m.41, Cugino has stepped right in and taken over defensive duties for the Pioneers. She’s currently registered a team-high 324 digs. She’s averaging 6.2 per set. Mia Gold OH Pine Crest FL – The 5-11 freshman outside is leading the Panthers in putaways. She’s tallied 294 kills so far, averaging 4.6 per set. Ava McBride OH Notre Dame Academy CA – McBride – a 6-0 pin – has been part of a 1-2 punch with senior outside Maura McAusland. Both are averaging 3.8 kills per set. McBride is doing it while hitting .252. Paisley Pavliska OH Floresville TX – Pavliska is turning in a monster year for the Jaguars. She has nearly 200 more kills than second with 431. She’s averaging 4.6 pet set. She’s also second in digs with 364, an average of 3.9 per set. Catherine Palmi OH Osceola FL – The Cowboys are currently 20-4 with Palmi playing an integral role. She leads the Cowboys with 427 kills and is hitting .347. She’s producing 5.5 kills per set and she’s also second in both digs and aces. Halle Dolliver OH Malcolm NE – The Clippers are a Class C1 contender with Dolliver powering the attack. She has a team-best 419 kills, averaging 5.8 per set. Dolliver is also contributing with 3.1 digs per set. Halle Thompson OH Grand Oaks TX – Thompson has been a 1-2 dynamic with sophomore outside Samara Coleman. Thompson is second in kills with 367. She’s averaging 3.6 per set and is third in digs. Sara Snowbarger OH Wooster OH – The Generals are sitting at 17-4 behind the play of Snowbarger. The rookie is pacing the offense with 356 kills. That’s an average of 5.4 per set while hitting .318. Snowbarger also has a team-leading 313 digs, averaging 4.7 per set. *** Kylie Kleckner OH Bryon Nelson TX – Kleckner has helped make up a trio of hitters the Bobcats have heavily relied on this fall. Kleckner – a 5-10 outside – has delivered 353 kills, third most on the roster. She’s averaging 3.3 per set. Ayanna Watson OH Bishop Gorman NV – Another rising star, the 6-2 Watson brings the heat to the attack. She’s among the kill leaders with 295, averaging 3.4 per set while hitting at a high rate of .382. Watson is also second in both blocks and digs. Amirra Bailey MB Bowling Green KY – Bailey has played a key role as the Purples have built a 31-2 record. The freshman is second in kills with 285. She leads the team in

If you’ve been wondering how the Class of 2025 5-star recruits have been performing this fall then wonder no longer. After checking in on the Classes of 2023 and 2024 5-star recruits we turn our attention to the sophomores. Below, we highlight how each of them are doing for their respective teams. Suli Davis OH Colleyville Heritage TX – The big-hitting outside leads the Panthers in kills. She’s put up 386 kills in 92 sets, averaging 4.2 per. She’s taken more swings combined than the second and third kill leaders on the team in seniors Ella Busey and Reagan Bleiler. As a team, the Panthers figure to be in the mix for the 5A state title. Liliana Brisco S Clark TX – The Cougars remain undefeated in district action. It included surviving a five-game slugfest with Johnson earlier this week. Brisco has missed time, playing in 78 of the 116 sets to date. She’s dished out 304 assists, second on the roster behind senior Trinity Gomez. Ryan Hunter RS Mallard Creek NC – This high-flying lefty dazzled during the club season when she flashed major Division 1 potential and not surprisingly has carried a big offensive load this fall for the Mavericks. She’s taken more swings than the next two kill leaders on the team as Hunter has ripped down 238 kills on 566 swings. She’s averaging 4.0 kill per set. Hunter is also the team’s ace leader (47) and second in digs (110). Logan Parks S/RS Blue Valley North KS – The Mustangs have faced a challenging schedule so far as they look to get into the 6A state playoffs and make noise. Parks has run a 6-2 with junior standout Janelle Green, a 4-star recruit committed to Cincinnati. She’s averaging 4.0 sets per frame. Parks also leads the Mustangs in kills, averaging 4.0 of those per set. Natalie Wardlow MB Lincoln Southeast NE – It’s been a challenging year so far for the Knights. As expected though, Wardlow has fared well. She’s leading the team in kills, averaging 2.4 per set, and blocks with .6 per set. Kelly Kinney OH King’s Academy FL – Kinney has missed more than half her team’s sets this year. Still, when she’s been in the lineup she’s produced at a high clip. She’s hitting .303 and averaging 5.3 kills per set. Mak Miller MB Liberty North MO – The Eagles are having a strong season, led by 5-star junior outside and Arizona commit Carlie Cisneros. Miller has factored in as well, as she is third in kills despite missing time this season. She’s averaging 1.8 per set. Amina N’diaye OH Lake Brantley FL – The Patriots have their share of pin hitters to take advantage of, including senior Sarah Gooch and junior Samantha Bowron. Then there’s the sophomore N’diaye as well. She’s third on the roster in kills, averaging 2.7 per set and hitting .273. Kassidy O’Brien SR Cinco Ranch TX – The 6-0 disher has been as good as expected. The Cougars are currently 22-12 overall as O’Brien has recorded 790 assists. That’s good for an average of 9.3 per set. Bayleigh Minor OH Fort Bend Christian TX – A 6-0, high-flying outside, Minor is having a spectacular season to date. She leads the Eagles in kills with 253. She’s averaging 3.1 per set but is hitting a remarkable .463! On top of that, she’s been the team’s most effective blocker, leading the Eagles as well with 58. *** Kirra Musgrove S/RS Lutheran South TX – The 6-2 two-way player is leaving her marks all over the court. Musgrove has been the team’s most impactful and consistent attacker. She’s leading the way with 349 kills, averaging 3.9 per set. She’s hitting .326. She’s also second in assists behind freshman Aniston Collins and second in digs behind junior libero Taylor Crain. Jordan Taylor MB Langham Creek TX – The 6-5 middle has been efficient so far though the Lobos have been very pin heavy in their attack. Taylor is third on the roster with 298 kills, averaging 2.8 per set while hitting .378. She’s also been a force at the net defensively, handing out 156 blocks so far, good for an average of 1.5 per set. Campbell Flynn S/OH Mercy MI – The 6-2 Flynn has played an instrumental role for the Marlins with her hitting and setting. She runs a 6-2 with senior setter Erin Kline, with Flynn dishing out 474 assists to date. As for hitting, Flynn leads the Marlins with 228 kills, averaging 3.0 per set while hitting .383. Charlotte Glass S Saint Andrew’s FL – The smooth setting Glass has been doing her thing for the Scots. She’s averaging 6.3 assists per set. She’s also second in kills, averaging 2.2 per set and leading the team with a .349 hitting percentage. Addison Tindall OH Homestead IN – No doubt the Spartans have been riding the arm of Tindall. The 6-2 outside has registered 329 kills thus far. She’s averaging 3.9 per set and is hitting .289. Tindall is also second in blocks. Navea Gauthier OH Shelby MI – Gauthier – a 6-2 high-flying outside – has taken more than half of her team’s total swings. She’s sent down 645 of them for winners and is hitting .330 while averaging 8.5 per set. Gauthier is also first in blocks and second in digs. Annabelle Groomes S/OH St. Joseph OH – The Jaguars have relied heavily on Groomes. The 6-0 sophomore leads the offense averaging 2.3 kills per set. She’s also part of a setting duo that includes junior Olivia Castelluccio and is averaging 3.7 assists per set.   Taylor Harvey MB Bountiful UT – Harvey and her Red Hawks teammates were undefeated until suffering their first loss of the season when they fell to Mountain View over the weekend. The 6-4 Harvey has been a key part of the attack, along with older sister and 5-star Stanford commit Jordyn Harvey. The younger Harvey has put down 196 kills,

The top teams continued their stranglehold in the Top 10, with Cathedral Catholic CA leading the way after beating both Skyview ID and Papillion-LaVista South NE over the weekend at the Geico Invitational. The one exception was with St. James Academy KS as the Thunder were taken down for the second time this season by Aquinas KS plus lost to Lafayette MO to tumble down the rankings. It allowed Highland Park TX to climb inside the Top 10 for the first time. Also continue to move up is St. Francis/Mountain View CA. The undefeated Lancers check in at a season-best 24 this week. In all, three new schools joined the Top 50 this week in Eureka MO, Horizon AZ and Jesuit OR. vballrecruiter.com TOP 50 1. Cathedral Catholic CA (1 – last week’s ranking) 2. Westminster Christian FL (2) 3. McCutcheon IN (3) 4. Cornerstone Christian TX (5) 5. Marian MI (7) 6. Prestonwood Christian TX (7) 7. Mira Costa CA (4) 8. Santa Fe FL (9) 9. Oconomowoc WI (10) 10. Highland Park TX (11) *** 11. Hamilton Southeastern IN (12) 12. Washburn Rural KS (14) 13. Cypress Ranch TX (15) 14. Marymount CA (16) 15. Aquinas KS (17) 16. Lincoln Southwest NE (18) 17. Mother McAuley IL (19) 18. Sierra Canyon CA (13) 19. Liberty MO (20) 20. Brebeuf Jesuit IN (21) *** 21. Fayetteville AR (22) 22. ‘Iolani HI (23) 23. Yorktown IN (24) 24. St. Francis/Mountain View CA (27) 25. St. James Academy KS (8) 26. North Gwinnett GA (28) 27. Papillion-LaVista South NE (26) 28. Assumption KY (30) 29. Corona del Sol AZ (31) 30. Dike-New Hartford IO (33) *** 31. Plano West TX (34) 32. Ursuline Academy OH (35) 33. Valor Christian CO (40) 34. Millennium AZ (43) 35. Reagan NC (46) 36. Palos Verdes CA (38) 37. Punahou HI (47) 38. Magnificat OH (39) 39. Redondo Union CA (41) 40. Eureka MO (n/r) *** 41. Mater Dei CA (42) 42. Torrey Pines CA (32) 43. Benet Academy IL (25) 44. Liberty North MO (29) 45. Mountain View UT (45) 46. Flint Hill VA (49) 47. Horizon AZ (n/r) 48. Jesuit OR (n/r) 49. St. Ursula Academy OH (44) 50. Archbishop Mitty CA (48) *** Out: Mercy MI; Skyline MI; Skutt Catholic NE In: Eureka MO; Horizon AZ; Jesuit OR HONORABLE MENTION Huntley IL Mercy McAuley OH Barrington IL Rock Bridge MO Hamilton AZ Mount Notre Dame OH Mercy MI Skyline MI Xavier IO Ankeny IO Lyons IL Notre Dame Academy KY Mercy KY Wayzata MN Lakeville North MN Northfield MN Marshall MN Skutt Catholic NE Pickens SC Dorman SC Cardinal Newman SC Nolensville TN Knoxville Catholic TN Cleveland TN Pope GA Buford GA Alpharetta GA Sequoyah GA Lake Catholic OH Rock Canyon CO Heritage CO Legend CO Chaparral CO Trinity Catholic FL Olathe Northwest KS Lincoln-Way East IL Vista Murrieta CA Harvard-Westlake CA Alemany CA Calvary Christian FL Tampa Prep FL Tompkins TX Bryon Nelson TX Bishop Watterson OH Ardrey Kell NC Millbrook NC Kamehameha HI Moanalua HI Jackson Academy MS Ponte Vedra FL Venice FL O’Connor AZ Divine Savior Holy Angels WI Appleton North WI Burlington WI Hamilton WI Timpview UT

Last month Kamehameha/Hawaii HI made its way to the mainland for the Durango Fall Classic in Las Vegas, where the Warriors finished a respectable 19th overall. The Warriors made another trip east and spent the past week in San Diego facing off against local schools before participating in the So Cal Invitational on Friday and Saturday at Alliant University. Capping off a great week, Kamehameha didn’t drop a set on its way to capturing the tournament title, which featured defeating Lake Stevens WA, 25-17, 25-13, in the final. Leading up to the two-day event, Kamehameha picked up victories over Eastlake, San Marcos and Sage Creek before sweeping its way to victory over the weekend. The semifinals featured three out-of-state teams. Joining Kamehameha and Lake Stevens was Coronado NV, which came in as the top seed after finishing 22nd overall at Durango. Del Norte was the fourth team in the semis, losing to the eventual champs. The tournament provided a stage for athletes to set it off. Below, we feature the players who drew our attention the most with our Show Stoppers. SHOW STOPPERS Sarah Schubert SR OH Kamehameha HI – Part of the reason the Warriors overcome their limited size is the play of Schubert. She’s a strong attacker who hits hard and puts pressure on defenses to make plays. Maela Honma JR OH Kamehameha HI – Honma is a solid six-rotation outside whose steadiness and consistency the Warriors rely on. She’s used both front and back row and does well with her placement. Leisey Kelii SR L Kamehameha HI – The Warriors defense can frustrate opponents with Kelii leading the charge in the back row. Her passing is on target and she does well extending rallies too. Mackenzie Parsons JR MB Poway CA – Parsons is a weapon in the middle. She has a big arm and is tough attacker to stop with her scoring prowess. Laura Eichert FR OH Lake Stevens WA – Eichert is one of the key components of the attack. She’s an aggressive hitter who challenges blocks and keeps coming at defenses. Hayli Tri SR MB Lake Stevens WA – The Vikings will get Tri involved when they can so defenses need to stay with her. She has a good arm and is a reliable option when in system. Isabella Christensen SR OH Lake Stevens WA – A lanky outside, Christensen is a handful for opponents. She has nice range and did well finding the open spaces on the court. Abigail Paulson JR RS Coronado NV – Paulson packs a punch. She’s a physical attacker with a strong arm. She’s one of the featured hitters and is someone the Cougars can go to in a tight spot.   Mia Arambula SR L Coronado NV – An energetic libero, Arambula is a scrapper. She showed consistent passing out of serve receive and defended with a fury. Jillian Neal SR OH Del Norte CA – A strong, hard-hitting outside Neal is the centerpiece of the Nighthawks’ offense. She hits a heavy ball and can overpower opponents at times. Nia Thompson SO OH Westview CA – Thompson is a six-rotation player who contributes on both sides of the ball. She’s a smart hitter who uses off speed shots well in addition to being a strong passer. Avery Banaag SR L Eastlake CA – Banaag brings a defensive spirit to the lineup. Her passing out of serve receive is on point and she makes her share of hustle plays as well. Ava Poinsett SO OH Francis Parker CA – The Lancers have a big-time scorer in Poinsett. She can make life rough on defenses with the multiple ways she can punish them with. Madison Triplett JR OH El Capitan CA – Triplett is an explosive hitter who though a bit undersized can crush it. Her ability to tool blocks or bang it down makes it difficult on defenses to slow her down. Madelyn Wutzke SO OH El Capitan CA – The 6-0 sophomore is the other half of a dangerous outside tandem. Her swing is smooth and she delivers with lots of pace. Savannah Simpson SO MB El Capitan CA – A 6-0 middle, Simpson is definitely an option and someone the Vaqueros will utilize when in system. She has a nice arm and can finish plays off. Kenna Cogill SO MB Perry AZ – At 6-4, Cogill is a disrupter in the middle for the Pumas. She hits for a high percentage and can really hurt teams with smaller middle blockers. Lily Cammack SR L Oviedo FL – Cammack held down the back row with her hustle and energy. She tracked down balls and gave her team another shot. Anna Cathcart SO OH Oviedo FL – Cathcart comes with plenty of upside. She’s a 6-2 outside who is capable of going over blocks and putting balls away. Paige Wisneski JR S Oviedo FL – Wisneski has nice hands and delivers a hittable ball. She was also moving the ball around well. Charlotte Nowak FR RS JSerra CA – Nowak may be an underclassman but she helps liven up the attack with what she brings to it. She’s a reliable target who is one of the team’s more consistent scorers. Reese Brown JR OH JSerra CA – The Lions have options and Brown is one of them. She does well adding to the attack with a variety of shots. Tatum Johnson JR MB JSerra CA – Johnson provides plenty of offense for the Lions. She has a good arm and can get after it so defenses must be ready when the Lions are in system. Maylynn Mitchell SO OH Santiago CA – Mitchell is a physical hitter who can makes defenders feel it when she catches one. She’s capable of carrying the offense at times and is a key piece of the attack for the Sharks. Marlee Arrington JR RS Ontario Christian CA – Arrington was one of the most explosive attackers in the field. She’s an athletic

Mira Costa CA closed out its tournament schedule by beating Bay League foe Redondo Union CA, 25-10, 25-19, in the championship match of the Redondo Molten Varsity Power Classic on Saturday. The Mustangs – who captured the title at the Ann Kang Invitational in August – added their second tournament title of the season. It comes on the heels of Mira Costa taking second place the previous weekend when it finished runner up to Cornerstone Christian TX at the Nike TOC Southwest tournament in Phoenix. Mira Costa didn’t drop a set either day in their latest endeavor, including sweeping Lakewood CA in Saturday’s semifinals. Redondo swept Torrey Pines CA in the other semis, avenging an earlier loss this season at the hands of the Falcons. Mira Costa and Redondo Union are set to face off again in league play this coming Thursday, the final match of the regular season before sectional play begins. Mira Costa prevailed in five games in the first league clash and can clinch the outright league title by beating Culver City on Monday. In addition to Mira Costa earning the title, the weekend also delivered its share of players starring for their teams. We highlight those who caught our attention the most with our Show Stoppers below. SHOW STOPPERS Charlie Fuerbringer JR S Mira Costa – The Mustangs’ leader was once more doing her thing. The 5-star Wisconsin recruit is among the top setters in the country for a reason. She directs the offense flawlessly. She also is a high-level defender and a heady scorer. Tanon Rosenthal SR RS Mira Costa – Rosenthal has a big showing in the final. When she’s on and scoring consistently she really opens up the attack and gives Mira Costa another reliable arm to count on. Taylor Deckert SO L Mira Costa – Deckert continued her strong season with another round of strong defensive play. She’s so steady and consistent and rarely misses a play in front of her. Drew Wright SR OH Mira Costa – After missing last Saturday’s action in Phoenix taking the SATs, Wright was back and doing what she’s done all season. She paces the attack and gives the Mustangs a go-to arm along with her steady passing and ball control. Fatimah Hall SR S Lakewood – Hall – a 3-star San Diego State commit – always turns heads of those watching her and causing comments to be made by fans surrounding the court. She does a phenomenal job of reversing flow and keeping defenders guessing as to who she’s going to dish it to, even if she’s not perfectly in system. Mele Corral-Blagojevich SR OH Redondo Union – A 4-star Oklahoma commit, Corral-Blagojevich comes at opponents with a big, strong arm and a heavy ball that’s hard to dig when she gets a hold of it. Ella Zimmerman JR MB Redondo Union – This 6-4 middle makes her presence known across the front row. She’s a scoring threat when in system and with her height can tip to the open court. She’s also an impactful blocker who does well getting in the way of attackers. Nikki Quinn SR S Torrey Pines – Quinn’s job was made more difficult with Torrey Pines missing kill leader Finley Krystkowiak but she did well trying to help keep her team in system and giving her hitters favorable match ups. Grace Flanagan SR MB Torrey Pines – Flanagan is someone defenses must take note of. When in system, Torrey Pines is going to get her the ball because she’s close to automatic when she gets up and has a good look.   Kiara Edwards JR RS Torrey Pines – Edwards showed off her potential. The springy right side gets up well and has a solid arm to boot. It lead to impressive kills at times as she did well contributing when called upon. Katerina Lutz SR L Torrey Pines – Lutz – a 3-star UCLA commit – was tough to score on. Hitters took turns ripping balls cross court only to watch Lutz scoop their shots up and keep the rallies alive as she held down the left back position with authority. Jordin Taulua SR OH Bishop Montgomery – An undersized outside hitter, Taulua was fun to watch. She’s an aggressive attacker who isn’t afraid of bigger blocks. She challenges them and lets it fly on the regular as the offensive leader. Zoe Morales SR L Bishop Montgomery – Bishop Montgomery knows how to scrap and claw and Morales brings that mindset to the libero position. She’s a hustler and did well extending rallies chasing down errant balls. Jada Stone SR S Oxnard – Stone brings a lot to the lineup at the setting position. At 6-1, she’s tall and can make an impact in the front row at the net. She’s also consistent with her location. Anika Huelskamp SR OH Oxnard – A huge part of the attack, Huelskamp carries a big load on offense. Even with opponents loading up and trying to stop her, she can still score for her team. Emma Fredrick SR OH Liberty – Fredrick is another outside who does heavy lifting on offense. She’s the focal point of the attack and the go-to hitter Liberty rides. Nikki Tawil SO S/OH Village Christian – Listed as a setter on the roster, Tawil spent time this past weekend hitting on the outside. She did set too, showing her versatility she brings to the lineup. Kennedy Osunsanmi JR OH West Ranch – At 6-4, Osunsanmi is an imposing figure at the net. She has huge upside with her length and ability to extend when attacking. Malia Thorne SR MB Newport Harbor – Thorne is undersized in the middle but she brings it! She can hammer balls when the opportunity present itself and she gives Newport Harbor a reliable scorer out of the middle. Anabel Kotzakov SR OH Newport Harbor – Kotzakov is a 6-2 uncommitted senior with a big arm. She’s a smart attacker who also

The So Cal Invitational takes place Friday and Saturday at Alliant University in San Diego. It features 23 teams in Division 1 and another 24 schools in Division 2. The first and second-place teams in each pool advance to Saturday qualifying with hopes of making the eight-team gold bracket. The event features mostly California schools but does have teams like Coronado NV, Perry AZ, Lake Stevens WA and Oviedo FL making the trip. Below, we highlight the top seven seeds plus more players to watch for this weekend. TEAM SPOTLIGHTS Coronado NV – The Cougars’ only loss to an in-state foe this season came at the hands of Bishop Gorman NV. They’ll see if they can hold down the top seed behind kill leader and junior outside Abigail Paulson. Also playing keys roles are outside Angelina Sayles, senior setter Camdyn Carpenter, junior setter Hannah Pemberton and senior libero Mia Arambula. Del Norte – The Nighthawks have beaten teams like Torrey Pines and La Costa Canyon this season and certainly have what it takes to finish on top here. Defenses need to be aware of senior outside Jillian Neal at all times. Kamehameha/Hawaii HI – The Warriors make the trip back to the mainland after competing at the Durango Fall Classic weeks ago. Among those making key contributions are senior libero Leisey Kelii, junior outside Maela Honma and senior outside Sarah Schubert. Eastlake – The Titans will look to make noise this weekend and turn a few heads. They did lose a non-league contest against Kamehameha earlier in the week. Senior right side Bianca Merloti, senior libero Avery Banaag and junior outside Lily Stewart all do their parts in helping the team find ways to win. Perry AZ – The Pumas have played a tough schedule, seeing a lot of the best schools in Arizona. Can they find success out-of-state? Senior outside Avery Burks, senior outside Amy Whalin and sophomore middle Kenna Cogill are the main threats on offense. Westview – The tournament hosts will look to write a winning script and pull off surprises along the way. Senior outside Ella Alibegovic and junior libero Makenna Roberts are integral parts of the lineup. JSerra – The Lions play a tough enough schedule and won’t back down from anyone. There’s lots to like on this roster, including junior setter Delaney Hughes, freshman setter Sara Moynihan, junior middle Tatum Johnson, freshman outside Charlotte Nowack and sophomore right side Ruby Hill. *** MORE PLAYERS TO WATCH Madison Triplett JR OH El Capitan Madelyn Wutske SO OH El Capitan Isabella Christensen SR OH Lake Stevens WA Laura Eichert FR OH Lake Stevens WA Katelyn Eichert JR S Lake Stevens WA Fallyn Blotzer SO OH Santiago Maylynn Mitchell SO OH Santiago Hannah Guzzetti SR MB Santiago Jannah Jonick SO MB Rancho Bernardo Natalie Ratkiewicz SO OH Rancho Bernardo Kiki Remensperger JR S Poway

The Molten Varsity Power Classic hosted by Redondo Union is on the schedule Friday and Saturday. The Nike TOC Southwest last weekend marked the last major national tournament this season as teams around the country wrap up their tournament schedule with local events. Outside of Casteel AZ making the trip, the remaining 26 teams in the field are from California, including host Redondo and No. 7 ranked Mira Costa. They are part of a small group of favorites which we highlight below, along with some more players to watch for. TEAM SPOTLIGHTS Let’s take a look at the four tournament favorites: Mira Costa – The Mustangs are coming off a runner-up showing at the Nike TOC Southwest tournament last weekend when they finished second to Cornerstone Christian TX. They picked up a key Bay League victory over ranked Palos Verdes on Tuesday and will look to finish its week with its second tournament title of the year after claiming the Ann Kang Invitational title back in August. Junior setter and Wisconsin commit Charlie Fuerbringer has a trio of hitters who have carried the offense in senior outside Drew Wright, senior right side Tanon Rosenthal and junior outside Chloe Hynes. Meanwhile, sophomore Taylor Deckert continues to shine at libero. Redondo Union – The Sea Hawks are among the handful of teams capable of winning the title. They’ve faced a difficult schedule all season and will look to gear up for the end of league and the start of the playoffs with a strong showing. The team has been paced by senior outside and Oklahoma commit Mele Corral-Blagojevich as Redondo has utilized a variety of lineups throughout the year.  Lakewood – The Lancers are a feisty group who can give anyone fits with their athletic lineup. San Diego State commit and senior setter Fatimah Hall does an excellent job guiding the offense and setting her hitters up for success. It includes senior outside Samarah DaCoud and junior outside Jade Epps, as well as junior middle Zaria Thornton. Torrey Pines – There are a couple of key matches remaining for the Falcons against Cathedral Catholic and a league rematch with La Costa Canyon. But first up is this weekend where they could face a pair of familiar opponents in Mira Costa and Redondo. Torrey Pines defeated Redondo earlier this year and more recently lost to Mira Costa. Freshman outside hitter Finley Krystkowiak continues to be the main target of senior setter Nikki Quinn. Senior middle Grace Flanagan scores at a high percentage and is another weapon while senior Katerina Lutz leads the defensive effort at libero. *** MORE PLAYERS TO WATCH Anabel Kotzakov SR OH Newport Harbor Madyson Smith SR MB Aliso Niguel Nicole Feliciano SR S/RS Aliso Niguel Danet Whiting SR L Aliso Niguel Grace Witcher SR OH Liberty Bakersfield Emma Fredrick SR OH Liberty Bakersfield Jordan Taulua SR OH Bishop Montgomery Zoe Morales SR L Bishop Montgomery Jada Stone SR S Oxnard Anika Huelskamp SR OH Oxnard Kalyssa Blackshear SO MB Torrance M’kera Drake SR MB Summit Aidan Goodrich SR MB Clovis West Kayleigh May SR S Thousand Oaks Nina Hemsley FR MB Rancho Cucamonga Joyce Shih JR OH Rancho Cucamonga Tori Davis SR MB West Ranch Kennedy Osunsanmi JR RS West Ranch Sophia Lynch SR OH West Ranch Hailie McGinest JR OH LB Poly

We released our updated Top 50 HS National Rankings this week. We’ll continue doing so until the end of the state playoffs next month, when we award a national champion. For now, we check in and spotlight 15 teams from the Top 50 to see how their seasons are coming along. McCutcheon IN (3 – national ranking) – The Mavericks have ascended the rankings riding a 24-1 mark entering the week. Yorktown is the only team to notch a win over McCutcheon this season, with it coming in tournament play in late August. McCutcheon opened the season with a victory over Hamilton Southeastern. The duo of Purdue commits in senior outside Chloe Chicoine and junior setter Allie Shondell have been instrumental. Also contributing have been junior outside Isabella Humphrey and sophomore middle Reanna Lee, who leads the team in blocks. Marian MI (5) – The Mustangs have dropped just four sets as they began the week 27-0. Senior setter and Kentucky commit Ava Sarafa has directed a potent attack. It features sophomore outside Isabelle Busignani as the kill leader. Also involved in the offense consistently is senior pin hitters Ella Schomer and Molly Banta, as well as senior middle Reagan Sass. St. James Academy KS (8) – The Thunder came into the week sporting a 21-1 record. The only setback occurred against Aquinas, with a rematch looming Oct. 6. Sophomore setter Reese Messer has done well running a balanced attack. Juniors Julia Headley, Ava Spachek and Ella Goodwin, as well as senior Kate McKnight, are all threats. Junior Mya Bolton has been a defensive spark at libero.   Hamilton Southeastern (12) – The Royals are another school putting together a terrific season. They started the week 25-1 with the only loss coming to McCutcheon. The trio of senior Avery Hobson, junior Lauren Harden and sophomore Lindsey Mangelson have been lethal on the pins and frequent targets of junior setter Macy Hinshaw and sophomore setter Ava Hunter. Highland Park TX (11) – The Scots entered the week riding an 11-match winning streak to stretch their record to 32-2. Both losses came to Prestonwood Christian TX during tournament play. Highland Park has established itself as the 6A favorite for the state playoffs and have been propelled by UCLA commit and senior outside Sydney Breon and senior libero and Georgia Tech commit Zoe Winford. Senior middle and Michigan commit Ceci Gooch has also played a key role, as has sophomore right side Alex Richter and sophomore outside Isabella Ocampo. Washburn Rural KS (14) – The Blues are powering along, posting a 19-1 mark at the week’s start. The team started the year with a big victory over Aquinas then suffered its only loss to date in the second outing going down to St. James Academy. Kentucky commit and senior outside Brooklyn DeLeye is the featured attacker. Cypress Ranch TX (15) – The Mustangs have played like 6A contenders, running their mark to 34-2 entering this week which includes an 18-match winning streak. Cypress Ranch suffered an upset loss to Tompkins and another one to Cornerstone Christian at Volleypalooza. Senior outside and Texas AM commit Bianna Muoneke has been supercharging the attack, Sophomore outside Taylor Porter has turned in a solid season, as has senior middle Janyah Henderson. Aquinas KS (17) – The Saints have done well with a challenging schedule. They came into the week 24-3. Victories have come against St. James Academy, Liberty MO, Skutt Catholic NE and St. Teresa’s Academy MO, as well as splitting a pair of matches with Liberty North MO. The Saints have also lost a pair of contests to Washburn Rural. Yale commit and senior pin hitter Betsy Goodenow is leading the charge, along with sophomore outside Alea Goolsby and senior libero Reagan Anderson. Lincoln Southwest NE (18) – The Silver Hawks started the week sitting at 17-2. The two defeats have come against Marian and Omaha Westside. The Silver Hawks also own a victory over both schools, as well as Papillion-LaVista South. Senior outside Alexa Gobel leads the team in kills. Junior setter Malayah Long and junior libero Teagan Little have also turned in solid seasons. Liberty MO (20) – The Blue Jays started the week 25-1, with the lone loss to Aquinas. Key wins have come against Olathe Northwest KS, St. Teresa’s and Liberty North. Sophomore outside Abigail Mullen is leading the team in kills, while sister and senior setter Ashley Mullen – a UCLA commit – is directing the attack. Junior Macy Bartlett is the libero and leading the way in digs. St. Francis/Mountain View CA (27) – The Lancers – 18-0 at week’s beginning – have proven themselves as the best team in Nor Cal and a state title contender. Junior outside Taylor Williams and junior outside Erin Curtis have been key components in the attack and frequent targets of senior setter Havannah Hoeft. Defensively, it’s been junior Whitney Wallace holding down the back court at libero. Liberty North MO (29) – The Eagles are having a fantastic season, entering this week with a 20-3 record. Blue Valley West KS was able to upset Liberty North a few weeks ago, with the other two losses coming against higher-ranked schools in Aquinas KS and Liberty. The Eagles were able to avenge the loss to Aquinas this past weekend, also picking up a strong victory over Fayetteville AR. Junior outside and Arizona commit Carlie Cisneros is having a big season and leading the Eagles in kills. Senior Abby Christian has turned in a strong performance at libero. Plano West TX (34) – The Wolves, who started the week at 23-2, suffered two losses in mid-August and none since. They came to Lovejoy and Reedy. The Wolves have since defeated Lovejoy to avenge one of the setbacks. Pitt commit and senior outside Blaire Bayless is having a monster year as she has twice as many kills as the next closest player. Ursuline Academy OH (35) – The Lions are in the thick of the Division

There was very little movement within the Top 25 this week and very minor movement inside the Top 10. With Cornerstone Christian TX defeating Mira Costa CA in the finals of the Nike TOC Southwest tournament over the weekend, the Warriors jumped the Mustangs in this week’s rankings, moving up to No. 4 while Mira Costa slid to No. 7. We are nearing district, sectional and regional finals, which along with the state playoffs, are going to give shape to our final rankings out in November. For now, five new schools joined the Top 50 this week. vballrecruiter.com TOP 50 1. Cathedral Catholic CA (1 – last week’s ranking) 2. Westminster Christian FL (2) 3. McCutcheon IN (3) 4. Cornerstone Christian TX (5) 5. Marian MI (7) 6. Prestonwood Christian TX (7) 7. Mira Costa CA (4) 8. St. James Academy KS (8) 9. Santa Fe FL (9) 10. Oconomowoc WI (10) *** 11. Highland Park TX (11) 12. Hamilton Southeastern IN (12) 13. Sierra Canyon CA (13) 14. Washburn Rural KS (14) 15. Cypress Ranch TX (16) 16. Marymount CA (17) 17. Aquinas KS (19) 18. Lincoln Southwest NE (23) 19. Mother McAuley IL (15) 20. Liberty MO (24) *** 21. Brebeuf Jesuit IN (25) 22. Fayetteville AR (18) 23. ‘Iolani HI (22) 24. Yorktown IN (28) 25. Benet Academy IL (30) 26. Papillion-LaVista South NE (32) 27. St. Francis/Mountain View CA (39) 28. North Gwinnett GA (40) 29. Liberty North (n/r) 30. Assumption KY (20) *** 31. Corona del Sol AZ (29) 32. Torrey Pines CA (34) 33. Dike-New Hartford IA (35) 34. Plano West TX (46) 35. Ursuline Academy OH (27) 36. Mercy MI (36) 37. Skyline MI (38) 38. Palos Verdes CA (41) 39. Magnificat OH (31) 40. Valor Christian CO (n/r) *** 41. Redondo Union CA (43) 42. Mater Dei CA (44) 43. Millennium AZ (47) 44. St. Ursula Academy OH (37) 45. Mountain View UT (45) 46. Reagan NC (n/r) 47. Punahou HI (33) 48. Archbishop Mitty CA (49) 49. Flint Hill VA (n/r) 50. Skutt Catholic NE (n/r) *** Out: Huntley; Mercy McAuley; Barrington; Rock Bridge; Hamilton In: Liberty North; Reagan; Flint Hill; Valor Christian; Skutt Catholic *** HONORABLE MENTION Huntley IL Mercy McAuley OH Barrington IL Rock Bridge MO Eureka MO Hamilton AZ Horizon AZ Mount Notre Dame OH Xavier IO Ankeny IO Lyons IL Notre Dame Academy KY Mercy KY Wayzata MN Lakeville North MN Northfield MN Marshall MN Pickens SC Dorman SC Cardinal Newman SC Nolensville TN Knoxville Catholic TN Cleveland TN Pope GA Buford GA Alpharetta GA Sequoyah GA Lake Catholic OH Rock Canyon CO Heritage CO Legend CO Chaparral CO Trinity Catholic FL Olathe Northwest KS Lincoln-Way East IL Vista Murrieta CA Harvard-Westlake CA Alemany CA Calvary Christian FL Tampa Prep FL Tompkins TX Bryon Nelson TX Bishop Watterson OH Ardrey Kell NC Millbrook NC Kamehameha HI Moanalua HI Jackson Academy MS Ponte Vedra FL Venice FL O’Connor AZ Divine Savior Holy Angels WI Appleton North WI Burlington WI Hamilton WI Timpview UT

Attending the Nike TOC Southwest tournament this past weekend in the greater Phoenix area was a blast. For the first time, the event was staged in one location at the Bell Bank Park. As expected, the volleyball was high level, with Cornerstone Christian TX bringing the heat and heading home with the championship. We already highlighted under the radar players we witnessed and now it’s time to get to the Show Stoppers. These are the players who caught our attention the most. Nayeli Gonzalez SR MB Cornerstone Christian TX – Gonzalez – an Iowa State commit – is the heartbeat of the Warriors and she performed as such. Her willingness to play out of position in the middle and not be on the court for all six rotations is the definition of selfless. She has a big, booming arm and simply can overpower opponents at times. Taylor Anderson SR S Cornerstone Christian TX – Anderson – a Purdue commit – is used to running a 5-1 in club but is also making a sacrifice running a 6-2 so the Warriors can implement all their weapons. She’s smooth and consistent with her sets and had an amazing stretch with four consecutive blocks to turn the tide of the third set of the final in a major way. Macey Hughes SO RS Cornerstone Christian TX – A 6-2 lefty, Hughes could be considered the unsung hero. She has a knack for coming up with timely kills or blocks and is a reason why it comes from everywhere when it comes to the Warriors’ attack. Kaia Thiele SO S Cornerstone Christian TX – Thiele did well when it was her turn to set across the back row. She connected well with all her hitters and was strong going behind her and keeping defenses off guard. Grace Carroll JR RS Cornerstone Christian TX – A 6-3 Baylor commit, this 4-star recruit had a great weekend. Carroll was tough to slow and came through with plenty of impressive kills. Alyssa Manitzas SR L Cornerstone Christian TX – We love the fiery nature and energy Manitzas – a Notre Dame commit – brings to the lineup. She’s an absolute stud who gets after it every point with maximum effort. Megan Fitch SO OH Cornerstone Christian TX – A 5-star recruit, the thought of Fitch only getting better is a scary one. She’s a composed sophomore who doesn’t back down from the moment. She’s not afraid of taking big swings and is someone the Warriors will go to when clutch points are needed. Charlie Fuerbringer JR S Mira Costa CA – There’s a lot that can be said of this 5-star Wisconsin commit. Mira Costa doesn’t have the big arms and bangers like others they have encountered but Fuerbringer helps make up for a lot of it with her setting skills and ability to direct an offense. Taylor Deckert SO L Mira Costa CA – Deckert is smooth and steady and doesn’t seem to get rattled. She’s not someone who gets served very often because opponents know to keep the ball away from her. Erin Inskeep SR OH Mira Costa CA – With teammate Drew Wright out for Saturday’s action, Inskeep brought her beach skills to the floor and was instrumental in the Mustangs reaching the final. She’s a solid passer and heady attacker and Mira Costa definitely need her play to make it that far. *** Tanon Rosenthal SR RS Mira Costa CA – Rosenthal continues to bring value to the lineup. She can set in the back row at times, though she’s used more for her attacking. She helps spread out of the offense and stays aggressive. Babi Gubbins JR OH Mater Dei CA – Gubbins certainly had her moments. She’s asked to carry a good-sized load offensively and her various shots can keep defenses guessing. Isabel Clark JR OH Mater Dei CA – There’s times when Clark – a San Diego commit – destroys balls. It that’s type of attacking that can make Mater Dei dangerous no matter the opponent. Malyssa Cawa JR L Mater Dei CA – Cawa was steady out of serve receive and did well keeping Mater Dei in system. She moves well and can make up ground in keeping plays alive. Torrey Stafford SR OH Marymount CA – Plenty has already been said about this 5-star recruit and Pitt commit. Stafford is an integral component as to why the Sailors continue to put together a successful season despite losing so much from last year’s national championship team. She’s a highlight reel who delivers some of the biggest kills in the gym. Lauren Brooker SR S Marymount CA – Brooker has turned in a steady season and kept it up in Phoenix. At 6-2, she’s a taller setter who knows how to get her hitters involved by mixing it up. She can also be called upon to hit in the front row if the Sailors want some more offense. Kendal Murphy SR OH Horizon AZ – The 4-star Baylor commit is well-known to those who follow the sport. She’s a great competitor with high IQ. She’s the go-to hitter and when the Huskies need something to happen they turn to her. Teraya Sigler SO OH Horizon AZ – Sigler – a 5-star recruit who was finally eligible to play this week – shows what she brings to the lineup. She’s an all-around contributor with her passing and hitting. And watch out when she gets a hold of one! Grace Greenlee SR MB Horizon AZ – At 6-3, Greenlee brings height to the middle. Defenses need to be aware because when in system the Huskies love to go to Greenlee. She’s a big arm and sent booming kills down. Kierstyn Barton SR OH Corona del Sol AZ – Barton – a Washington commit – was sharp and a big part of the Aztecs’ success. At 6-2, she has height and is a physical attacker who is aggressive and keeps the pressure