Hello Bluegrass! Not only is it my first time to this tournament, BUT it’s also the debut of the three-day tournament for 15-18 Open. That being said, since we started in the PM I took the opportunity to walk from court to court to watch as many matches as possible. Tons of top notch talent were on the courts and it will make the next two days fun to watch.
This afternoon I saw two pairs of defensive gems who both stood out to me on their respective squads. Liberos Yana Tuioti and Sidney Ginter on NPJ Salem 16 National both were balling out respectively on their court. TPV 18-Maverick libero Julianna Santiago, a Tennessee signee, and defensive specialist Layla Haritatos, a North Dakota State signee, were fun to watch work in tandem on the court. Their energy was contagious also.
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DAY 1 SHOW STOPPERS
Addison Tindall OH Munciana 18 Samurai: Tindall, a 5-star Purdue commit, was literally ripping on the outside.
Bella Bullington OH SPVB 18 Elite: Bullington, a 4-star Northwestern commit, always brings the heat anywhere she is on the court.
Julianna Santiago L TPV 18-Maverick: Santiago, a Tennessee signee, is a gamer. She’s quick and covers ground in a hurry. She can be seen flying all over the court in pursuit of the ball.
Natalie Carr OH Pgh Elite 17 Elite: Carr, a 4-star recruit, is a steadying six-rotation player who does just about everything for her squad. She’s very strong and powerful when she goes on the attack.
Abbey Emch OH/MB Infinity 17 Green: Emch, a 4-star Pitt commit, is a six-rotation outside/middle blocker who can terminate everywhere on the court.
Malia Romes MB Athlete HQ 17-Burger: Romes, a 2026 athlete playing up, can make an impact across the front row. She has a quick arm and adds an offensive dimension to the attack.
Maya Harris OH Munciana 17 Pandas: Harris, another 2026 playing up, has an unassuming demeanor about her but she shouldn’t be underestimated. She can really lay into kills with her lively swing.
Reese Lowe OH FaR Out 17 Black: Lowe is an outside with a knack for scoring. She’s a physical, hard swinger and plays with lots of fight.
Daisy Oatsvall OH Alliance 17 REN: While Oatsvall is technically an undersized outside, she can literally fly. So much fun to watch!
Victoria Otter MB Ozark Juniors 17 Elite: Otter ran one of the prettiest slide attacks I have seen in a while. She always provides a great first layer of defense.
Madison Hooper OH Ozark Juniors 17 Elite: Hooper, 3-star recruit, has a great swing and really gets after it attacking the block and hitting with pace.
Clara Hoegh S Kairos 17 Alpha: Hoegh, a Augustana commit, was running the show for her squad. She’s a competitor with a strong ability to dish the ball around to her hitters.
Delaney Steers OH Academy 17E Tsunami: Steers, a 3-star recruit, is an effective scorer on the court. She also brings great energy to the floor.
Abigail Knight OH/RS SPVB 16 Elite: Knight, a 3-star recruit, does well on both pins offensively and defensively.
Brooklynne Brass OH SPVB 16 Elite: Brass, a 3-star recruit, is a firecracker on the outside. She has an incredibly fast swing to boot.
Kendall Bosse MB Tri-State Elite 16 Blue: Bosse, 3-star recruit, might not be the tallest middle in the gym but she can attack incredibly fast and beats the block on the regular.
Finley Arp OH FaR Out 16 Black: Arp is a six-rotation player who is a smart attacker with a fluid swing who can score in multiple ways.
Lily Bosworth Illini Elite 16 Cardinal: Bosworth, 4-star recruit, is a literal wall at the net defensively. She moves well laterally quickly and efficiently.
Cassidy Monahan MB Illini Elite 16 Cardinal: Monahan brings good energy, has a solid arm and was showing a knack for making timely blocks.
Jada Johnson OH/RS NPJ Salem 16 National: Johnson is an undersized pin who not only jumps well but brings a lot of athleticism and fire to the court.
Lily Mae Buerkle S NPJ Salem 16 National: Buerkle does a great job quarterbacking her squad. She dishes the ball with ease.
Audrey Dyas MB NKYVC 16-1 Tsunami: Dyas, a 4-star recruit, has the ability to make impacts on both side of the ball. She has a quick jump, which helps her be both a reliable scorer and effective blocker.
Macie Smith OH Academy 16E Yeti: Smith, 3-star recruit, might not be the flashiest outside but she knows how to both terminate and play smoothly.
Piper Batie S Ozark Juniors 16 Elite: Batie moves the ball around well to get her various hitters involved. She shows consistent accuracy with a consistent release.
Mia Gold OH Tribe 16 Elite Cardinal: Gold, a 4-star recruit, is a combination of a calm and smooth outside who has no fear swinging and likes to bring the heat.
Kendall Hubbard S Elevation 15 Tony: Hubbard, a 3-star recruit, dishes the ball from pin to pin with ease. She is also a force at the net.
Kinley Sandager RS TPV 15-Maverick: Sandager is a lefty with a whip of an armswing who when she connects she can crush.
