There was plenty of action around the country as the high school season kicked off last week and through the weekend. One such event was the Battle of the Rock in Rockwell, Texas. Walking away with the tournament title was national No. 3 Prestonwood Christian. However, the Lions didn’t make it through unscathed. Prestonwood battled back after dropping its opening contest of the three-day tourney to No. 27 Southlake Carroll.
In the final, Prestonwood took down No. 16 Cornerstone Christian TX, 25-19, 25-19. Prestonwood swept past No. 22 Lovejoy in one semifinal. In the other, Cornerstone downed Plano West in four sets. Below, we highlight those players who stood out the most to us with our tournament Show Stoppers.
Cari Spears SR OH Prestonwood Christian: A 5-star Texas commit, Spears powered the offense with her dynamic scoring ability. She was getting way up and pounding shots straight down over the block.
Gillian Pitts SR L Prestonwood Christian: Pitts – a 5-star Houston recruit – was the top defender. She was a lights-out passer who reads and reacts with next-level skill.
Taylor Clarke SR RS Prestonwood Christian: A 4-star Princeton pledge, Clarke is another arm the Lions have to utilize and beat defenses with. The lefty is a heady attacker who does well mixing in hard swings with roll shots.
Taylor Cook SR S/RS Prestonwood Christian: Cook – a 4-star Kansas commit – serves a vital role with her ability to set and hit. That versatility is important and helps give Prestonwood more offense.
Nyla Livings SO MB Prestonwood Christian: A 5-star middle, Livings brought a presence to the front row on both sides of the ball. She was able to impact play with both her scoring and blocking.
Anya Baklenko SO S/OH Prestonwood Christian: Baklenko is a new addition to the starting lineup and showed her value as she too played a two-way role. She was solid dishing the ball and showed she could score as well.
Megan Fitch SR OH Cornerstone Christian: A 5-star Texas AM commit, Fitch is the focal point of the offense. She’s a problem rather front or back row and shoulders a big load.
Kaia Thiele SR S Cornerstone Christian: A 3-star UNLV recruit, Thiele represented one-half of the setting duo. She was connecting well with her hitters and getting them good looks.
Aniya Hall SR OH Cornerstone Christian: Hall, a 3-star Louisiana-Monroe commit, Hall was a mainstay as a six-rotation outside. She helps to liven up the attack with her strong arm.
Macey Hughes SR RS Cornerstone Christian: A 3-star Grand Canyon recruit, Hughes helps open the attack with her scoring prowess on the right side. She did well exploiting the gap in the block or tooling off of it.
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Sophia Thornburg SR OH Ursuline Academy: A 4-star Notre Dame commit, Thornburg is a six-rotation outside with a lively arm and ability to light it up. She’s a cornerstone of the attack and the go-to scorer.
Chichi Nnaji SR RS Ursuline Academy: Another 4-star Notre Dame recruit, Nnaji brings a physical presence to the front row. She’s a big swinger and puts up a huge block.
Hannah Beauford SR S/RS Prosper: Beauford – a 4-star Cal pledge – is the glue piece. She does a ton for her team. From setting, to hitting and playing defense, she’s involved in plenty of the action.
Audrey Jackson SR OH Flower Mound: A Texas beach commit, Jackson’s all-around contributions go a long way in bringing stability and identity to the lineup. She’s a smart hitter who can beat defenses in a variety of ways.
Allison Treadwell JR S Flower Mound: Treadwell did well in her role setting across the back row. She has nice hands and was locating well.
Hayden Curtis SO S/RS Flower Mound: Curtis brought value as a setter and hitter. She was moving the ball around to her hitters and taking solid swings when called upon.
Gentry Barker SO OH Lovejoy: A 4-star outside, Barker is a key component. She plays all the way around and packs a punch when she connects.
Skylar Jackson JR OH Lovejoy: Jackson – a 3-star outside and Yale commit – is the other half of the outside duo. A six-rotation contributor, she’s another who brings it on the attack and can spark the offense.
Anna Barr SR RS Lovejoy: A 3-star Virginia recruit, Barr brings size and length on the right side. She helps balance the attack and can crush shots with authority.
Bella Lopez JR RS Lovejoy: Lopez – a 4-star Rice commit – keeps the offense churning as she’s another right side who can get after it. She can sky at times and hit right over the block.
Shelby Burriss SR MB Lovejoy: A 4-star Princeton commit, Burriss is a weapon in the middle. Lovejoy likes to go to her as much as possible and she rewards her side more times than not.
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Coco Natarajan JR S Lovejoy: Natarajan – a 3-star Ole Miss recruit – helps run a 6-2 and does a nice job distributing the ball and running a balanced offense.
Aubrey DeGrate SO MB Wylie: DeGrate brings a threat to the front row. When in system, Wylie will go to her as she can get up and find ways to put the ball down.
Hannah Lee JR RS Wakeland: Lee – a 3-star LSU commit – is a middle in club but was positioned on the right side. She has a big arm and can thunder shots to the floor.
Sarah Pfiffner SR S/RS Wakeland: A 4-star West Virginia commit, Pfiffner is a smart player who helped her side be it setting or swinging. A full-time setter in club, Pfiffner showed she can score if needed as she hit across the front.
Kennedy Crayton JR OH Allen: A 3-star outside, Crayton is a bit undersized by a high-flyer who stays aggressive and doesn’t back down. She’s a six-rotation contributor and is a threat front and back row.
Layla Austin JR OH Southlake Carroll: Austin – a 4-star San Diego State recruit – is one of the anchors. She can rip it when the opportunity presents itself and produce highlight kills.
Blue Anderson SR L Southlake Carroll: A 3-star Dallas Baptist commit, Anderson was strong in the back row. She’s quick and covers ground and did well keeping rallies alive.
Kinsley Young JR MB Southlake Carroll: A 5-star TCU commit, Young is a physical middle with a heavy arm. She proved very effective getting out on the slide and slamming shots past blockers.
Vanessa Glenn SO OH Southlake Carroll: Glenn – a 3-star recruit – is another six-rotation outside for SLC who helps hold it down. She’s a threat front and back row and gets up and connects well.
Ella Lewis SR OH The Woodlands: A 3-star Arizona State recruit, Lewis is an integral part of the lineup. She’s solid out of serve receive and gives her side an offensive threat front and back row.
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Olivia Foley SO OH Martin (Arlington): Foley fills a valuable role as six-rotation outside. She’s the go-to attacker and shoulders a lot offensively.
Halle Jameson SR OH Rockwall: Jameson – a 3-star Colorado State pledge – is a solid outside who brings a lot to the lineup. She’s a heady hitter who can find spaces in the defense and provides her share of points.
Zailey High SO OH Rockwall: High flashed her potential. There were moments when she got up and was able to unleash.
Janie Deapen SR RS Rockwall: A lefty right side, Deapen added power to the attack. She unloaded on a few shots that overwhelmed the defense.
Aleah Edmond FR OH Flower Mound: There were a few freshmen who played key roles. Edmond was among them. She played six-rotations and was steady on the attack.
Gracie White FR MB Plano West: White – a 4-star middle – brings length and size to the position. She does a nice job on both sides of the ball providing a lift with her hitting and blocking.
Maya Ogbogu FR OH Allen: A 5-star recruit, Ogbogu is an explosive attacker who gets way up and deliver tough-angled shots.
Olivia Kitur FR RS Allen: Kitur – a 4-star recruit – held it down on the right side. She was one of the focal points offensively and gave her team a boost.