Christine Phillips

Another day of action brought more heat across the gym. For the most part seeded teams held their own. But you have to love a good upset, right?!  For the most part I have seen most of the top Open level teams play this season already. Tribe 16 Elite Cardinal was one of the clubs I have not been able to personally see as of yet. Tribe features a ton of South Florida stars who I was able to watch this past high school season. One is 5-star recruit Charlotte Glass is “quarterbacking” the team. Add in 5-star recruit outside Kelly Kinney, 4-star recruit libero Zoey Matias, 3-star recruit outside Tekoa Barnes and right side Mija Bendziute and watch out. They will be a lot of fun to watch this season.  Sunday means Championship Day!  The 17 Open Gold Pools are set. See below.  GMPP1 Triangle 17 Black HPSTL 17 Royal Legacy 17-1 ADIDAS   GMPP2 A5 17-Jing Mintonette Sports – m.71 CUVC 17 Arete   GMPP3 TAV 17 Black OT 17 O Felix Top Select 17 Elite   GMPP4 OT 17 T Aaron Skyline 17 Royal MKE Sting 17 Gold   The 16 Open Gold Pools: GMPP1 H Skyline 16 Royal  Top Select 16 Elite  OT 16 O Roberto   GMPP2 A5 16-Gabe Rockwood Thunder 16 Elite HPSTL 16 Royal    GMPP3 OT 16 T JP GP 16 Rox DYNASTY 16 Black   GMPP4 Legacy 16-1 ADIDAS Austin Skyline 16 Royal Tribe 16 Elite Cardinal    DAY 2 SHOW STOPPERS Emily Bobbitt S Triangle 17 Black: Bobbitt, a 3-star Iowa State commit, is a gamer with pin-point accuracy who shows strong command of running the show. Taylor Pagan OH High Voltage 1517 College Pre: Pagan hits a heavy ball and is high on the energy scale on the court.  Becca Wight Opp Mintonette Sports – m.71: A 6-4 3-star Virginia commit, Wight is a physical presence on the court both offensively and defensively.  Samantha Bowron OH Top Select 17 Elite: A 4-star Coastal Carolina commit, Bowron is a fearless attacker who aggressively goes at bigger blockers on the reg.  Macaria Spears OH TAV 17 Black: Spears, a 5-star recruit, was literally cracking on balls. She was absolutely tormenting defenses with her scoring ability. Megan Morello L H Skyline 16 Royal: Morello was as holding it down defensively, coming up with saves all over the court.  Camryn Jeffery Opp A5 16 Gabe: Jeffery, a 4-star recruit, adds a physical presence to the attack. She had huge swings and big blocks. Chichi Nnaji Opp Skyline 16 Royal: Chichi is making her presence known these days. She hits a heavy ball consistently.  Campbell Flynn S Legacy 16-1 Adidas: Flynn, a 5-star recruit, runs a good offense. She has good connections with her middles and is consistent with her locations from anywhere on the court.  Amina N’diaye OH OT 16 O Roberto: A 5-star recruit, N’diaye takes a lot of swings. She’s one of the mainstays in the attack and consistently finds ways to score. Tekoa Barnes OH Tribe 16 Elite Cardinal: Barnes, a 3-star recruit, was ripping balls through and around the block all day. She is a very explosive hitter. Ella Florez S/Opp Dynasty 16 Black: Flores, a 5-star recruit, plays a vital role hitting and setting. She has good hands and can dish anywhere effectively.  Kayden Green S/Opp GP 16 Rox: A 4-star recruit, Green did a nice job dishing and running the attack. Elissa Baez OH GP 12 Rox: There’s no backing down with Baez. She kept digging and challenging defenses. She’s a crafty hitter too. Brooklyn Howard L A5 12-LA: Howard is a nice anchor in the backcourt. She made some strong plays and has good, consistent energy. Mikayla Matuszko OH Tribe 12 Elite Cardinal: Matuszko displayed her skills all around. She passed well out of the backrow. She also was swinging well and providing offense.

The start of the second weekend of the 2023 Sunshine Volleyball Classic definitely started off in an interesting way. One, kudos to all the coaches, parents and athletes who stepped up for missing members being stranded from weather issues while traveling. Secondly, there is nothing like a 20-min convention center blackout! After that passed it was back to non-stop high flying and hard-hitting action! Never a dull moment at the Sun! DAY 1 SHOW STOPPERS Favor Anyanwu MB TAV 17 Black: Anyanwu, a 5-star recruit committed to USC, is a beast at the net both defensively and offensively.  Victoria Harris L SC Midlands 17 National R: Harris is a scrapper who is wicked fast on the court.  Niyah Lester MB ROCKC 17-1: Lester is a strong presence in the middle who moves side to side well and gets up on the block to cause problems for attackers.  Izabela Molina MB Miami Hype 17N Emilio: Molina is a big presence at the net. Her physicality keeps defenses on their toes.  Nayelis Cabello S Top Select 17 Elite: A 5-star recruit and Louisville commit, Cabello has a great touch and a good arm to beat defense. Kassidy O’Brien S H Skyline 17 Royal: O’Brien, a 5-star recruit, was dishing with the best them. She’s super smooth and can keep defenses guessing with her ability to set from anywhere on the court. Addison Gaido Austin Skyline 16 Royal: The 6-5 Gaido, a 4-star recruit, was hitting with great extension and power.  Charlotte Glass S Tribe 16 Elite Cardinal: Glass, a 5-star recruit, has great hands and knows how to run an offense well.   Shylah Swope S VA Elite 16’s: Swope has a great touch and puts her hitters in favorable positions many more times than not. Ella Moore OH NYC Juniors 16 National: Moore is an undersized six-rotation outside scrapper who has no fear on the court.  Amirra Bailey MB SKEVA 16 Blue: Bailey is HUGE at the net with a gigantic upside both defensively and offensively.  Isabella Mogridge S OT 16 T JP: A 4-star recruit, Mogridge runs a smooth offense. She smart, athletic, and has a great touch.  Addison Walker OH BVA 17 Elite: Walker is a 6-2 six-rotation powerhouse who is one of BVA’’s  most consistent scorers with her ability to go over and around blocks on the regular. Emory Miskovsky L OP2 12-1: Miskovsky is an smooth libero who communicates and controls the back row well. Roxy Rigo S Mintonette Sports – m.21: Rigo is an athletic 5-1 setter with strong hands.  Peyton Robinson OH A5 12 LA: Robinson did a double duty role to. When I first saw her she was swinging well on the outside. By the end of the pool she had the libero jersey. She was fun to watch the switch up.

Day 2 competition at the Sunshine Volleyball Classic for the 13-15s definitely did not disappoint! Electric action with bids on the line made every match entertaining to say the least. The final day will be fun to see who comes to perform and ultimately to see who punches their tickets for Chicago this summer! But first lets get to Show Stoppers from Day 2.  Day 2 Show Stoppers Leah Stickney OH A5 13 Karen: Stickney has a fearless swing with the power and finesse to score against any block. Bethany Benjamin OH A5 13 Karen: Benjamin puts so much pressure on the block and defense with her ability to swing line or split the block.  Avery Brown S Mintonette Sports m31: Brown has strong hands and a high release point, which allows her to set from anywhere on the court regardless of the pass. Elianiz Rodriquez OH OT 13 O Felix: Rodriquez has a heavy hand and when she connects it is scary.  Jazzlyn Hepburn MB AP 14 Adidas: Hepburn is an undersized middle who jumps well. Combined with a nice swing, it led to some impressive kills when her number was called. Susan Hudgins OH AP 14 Adidas: Hudgins is a HUGE outside hitter who connects incredibly well consistently. Caitlin Crino S Tribe 14 Elite Cardinal: Crino is a calm, yet fierce leader on the court. She also shows consistency with her location when setting. Jordin Southall OH GP 15 Rox: Southall, a 3-star recruit, was hammering balls on the outside today, literally.  Katie Raymer L Triangle 15 Black: Raymer is a flyer in the backcourt. Her game will just keep getting better and better.  Eva Long S Legacy 15-1 Adidas: Long, a 3-star recruit, is a 5-1 setter who runs an aggressive offense.  Meredith Martin S Legacy 15-1 Adidas: A 4-star recruit, Martin was solid in the backcourt all day long. From serve receive, to defense, to setting, Martin was smooth and scrappy.  Isabella Johnson RS Top Select 15 Elite: Johnson was a great blocker with a whip off an arm.  Londyn Stone OH AVC CLE 15 Red: Stone caught my attention with her incredible jump serve. She is an undersized outside who isn’t afraid to swing against big blocks.  Layla Hoying OH Mintonette Sports – m.51: Hoying, a 4-star recruit, was hammering away on the outside.   Sara Snowbarger OH Mintonette Sports – m.51: While Hoying might be the OH1 on the court, Snowbarger, a 3-star recruit, did a great job defensively and swinging with aggression.