Free Article of the Week

We’re proud to be a part of an ongoing partnership with Dick’s Sporting Goods, which is sponsoring our Player of the Week award. We’ll be releasing a featured Vballrecruiter.com Player of the Week, sponsored by Dick’s Sporting Goods, on Tuesdays. Below is this week’s Player of the Week: Halle Thompson. *** After 10 years in competitive cheer, Halle Thompson was ready for a change. As she said, “there are only so many levels and I needed something else to do. Volleyball just happened to be there.” Thompson – a 6-0, 5-star outside from the Class of 2026 – wasn’t totally unfamiliar with the sport. Her older sister, Fallon, was getting into her recruiting years when Thompson began playing around 11 years old. Fallon is currently at Gonzaga and Thompson has fond memories of watching her sister growing up. “I was at all of her tournaments doing flips on the sidelines,” Thompson said. “I was her biggest cheerleader. I loved watching her. I did developmental (volleyball) for a month or two then I made the top 11s team. One of my biggest reasons for playing was watching my sister all those years and watching her team and her progress. I didn’t think about playing in college for volleyball until these past two or three years.” One thing Thompson – who has a twin brother, Cullen, – didn’t anticipate is how much of an escape volleyball would offer and how much she would embrace it. Beyond the competitiveness the sport offers and the camaraderie it brings, she never thought it would provide her with so much joy. “I think what drew me into volleyball is the amount of serotonin it brings me,” Thompson said. “Whenever I’m down or in a sluggish mood, if I played volleyball, or practiced or was just in the backyard with my sister it was such a distraction from anything I was thinking about. Most of all, it’s so fun. It’s literally the only thing I do really. I really enjoy it and meeting new people and creating the relationships out of state. It’s super exciting.” Along with her pure athleticism, Thompson has been experiencing a recent run of success in both club and high school. Playing with Hou Skyline 15 Royal last summer, the team captured the 15 Open bronze medal at the USAV Girls Junior National Championships. “It was kind of a new team last year and I was proud of how we finished against teams that had been together since they were 12,” she said. “To finish third was a better outcome than I thought at the beginning of the season. That was amazing. I was stoked for that.” That led her into her sophomore season at Grand Oaks. The program had never been past the second round of the state playoffs, but with two additional 5-star recruits in the mix in senior middle Jaela Auguste (Florida) and junior outside Samara Coleman (Pitt) the expectations were high. Grand Oaks suffered what turned out to be its only loss of the season to Prestonwood Christian in the semifinals of Volleypalooza in August. From there, Thompson and company ran off 24 consecutive victories. It included winning 60 straight sets at one point until dropping the second frame against Sachse in the regional semifinals. “It was definitely an unspoken pressure,” Thompson said. “We wouldn’t bring up the rankings or how we haven’t lost a set. You could feel the pressure building and we hadn’t dropped a set until Sasche. Losing that set it was a humungous pressure lifted off our shoulders and it prepared us for our next matches.” The state championship season was in peril, however, after Grand Oaks fell behind two sets to none in the state semis against Prosper. It featured losing the second set 25-12. “We got kicked in the face and we needed to wake up,” Thompson said. “We had never gone to five sets and it was super nerve-wracking knowing we had to take it to five when it mattered the most. We had 11 graduating seniors and even though I was younger, as a six-rotation outside I knew I had a leadership role. The wheels were coming loose and so I brought out the screwdriver and started turning the screws back on. That we pulled that out I still can’t believe it happened to this day. At that point, no one was stopping us. I can’t believe it to this second. Winning state was surreal.” Thompson finished the season with a team-leading 525 kills, averaging 4.1 per set. She was also first in aces, third in digs and fourth in blocks. Since then, she’s turned her focus to club, where she’s suiting up for Hou Skyline 16 Royal. The group recently finished 11th at the Triple Crown NIT. “This season has been trial and error,” Thompson said. “We added a new libero and middle. Both Blaire (Thiebaud) and Lacy (Tinnell) got hurt and they were out. Triple Crown was our first competition with everyone back. We finished in the same place last year at Triple Crown. It’s not the outcome we wanted but it’s good to know we are not peaking too early. I would rather get 11th here than at nationals.” As our featured Player of the Week sponsored by Dick’s Sporting Goods, we recently spoke with Thompson about volleyball and more. Who is a role model or someone you look up to? Thompson: I love this question. My role model is definitely my sister. She’s a constant source of inspiration. She’s guided me through a lot of things. Her resilience and facing challenges. She had an injury right before her recruiting season. She moved clubs. Her resilience and unwavering support and encouragement taught me so many valuable lessons that I don’t think anyone else could have taught me. She’s far away right now going to Gonzaga so that’s hard but spring break is coming up. If you could choose to do anything for a day, what would you do

We’re proud to be a part of an ongoing partnership with Dick’s Sporting Goods, which is sponsoring our Player of the Week award. We’ll be releasing a featured Vballrecruiter.com Player of the Week, sponsored by Dick’s Sporting Goods, on Tuesdays. Below is this week’s Player of the Week: Brooke Harwood. *** Last year was a breakout season for our latest Player of the Week. Brooke Harwood – a 6-3, Class of 2026 middle blocker and 5-star recruit – made the switch to play club for Arizona Storm 15 Thunder. It was her first taste of the high-level volleyball that is played on the national stage. By season’s end, she was a stalwart in the middle and helped Arizona Storm to the USAV 15 Open bronze medal. “Last year we knew going in needing to play our hardest every game,” she said. “We saw just how good we can be believing in ourselves and not underestimating anyone. We want to see how far we can go this season and what we can do. We have so much skill and we are already so close. We can really push each other. We need to just not underestimate any teams and focus on playing our best.” When it comes to athletics, volleyball’s been the primary sport for Harwood. She started in a rec league when she was 9 and moved onto club volleyball, where she played for two clubs prior before moving to Storm last year. “I decided to take volleyball more serious and wanted to go even further,” she said. “I wanted to go to a club to help me more with recruiting and being at a higher competitive level, so I went to Storm. The players there are amazing and so are the coaches.” While Harwood plays middle for Storm, during her high school season at Eastmark she is a right side. Her school team didn’t really have anyone to play the position so she was eager to step up. Even though it does help with her development and growth, she still prefers to play in the middle. “I feel like that is a more dominate position and I can do more there,” she said. “I feel more confident in that position because I know more about that position. I’m still learning how to run more plays so I can do even more. Then there are those moments when you get a big block and get those hype moments with your team.” Harwood and her Storm teammates are coming off their first major test of the season having competed in the Triple Crown NIT this past weekend in Kansas City. The team finished tied for seventh in the 16s and was in contention on the final day before falling to eventual runner-up Mintonette Sports m.61 in the quarterfinals. “We know how to push each other,” Harwood said. “We are just getting started. We know how well we can play.” In her spare time, Harwood enjoys spending time with her friends and family and traveling to warm-weather locations like California, Florida and Mexico. She also loves to read as well as bake. “I like cooking but I prefer baking because I love making treats and new stuff for my family,” she said. As our featured Player of the Week sponsored by Dick’s Sporting Goods, we recently spoke with Harwood about volleyball and more. Who is a role model or someone you look up to? Harwood: My role model is my parents. I look up to them for the way they work hard for our family. Every day they inspire me to work hard. They set an amazing example in supporting each other. I think about how I can do that with my family and friends and teammates in my life. If you could choose to do anything for a day, what would you do and why? Hardwood: If I could choose anything to do I would probably spend the day with my friends on the lake because I love going out when it’s really warm and sunny. We can go out on a boat to the lake and just have fun. We can take rafts to pull on the boat and have food and drinks. I love going out having fun with friends and blasting music. Other than volleyball, what skill would you most like to learn and why? Harwood: The skill I would probably most like to learn is to know how to do sign language. I think it would be nice to be able to sign with people who can’t hear and learn to communicate with them. It would be a fun skill to have and a fun thing to do. Do you have any volleyball superstitions or rituals and if so what? Harwood: I have a superstition that I always have to have the same pepper partner before games. I have the same person every game for every tournament. Another thing I do is I always hit the ball three times before I serve. If I have more time, then I will do it three more times. Aside from basic necessities, what is one thing you could not go a day without? Harwood: I feel I can’t go a day without music. I always listen to music in the car or when I’m bored or just needing something to do. I love to listen to country or some fun hyped music. It’s fun to sing along with and listen to with friends. What is one thing that instantly makes your day better or makes you smile? Harwood: Something that instantly makes me smile is my dog Murphy. He always makes me smile. He’s always doing something really funny. He always has the energy to play and is always jumping on me. He makes me laugh. What’s one of your favorite ways to have fun? Harwood: I love spending time with friends and trying new things with them. We could be going anywhere as long as it’s with them.

We’re proud to be a part of an ongoing partnership with Dick’s Sporting Goods, which is sponsoring our Player of the Week award. We’ll be releasing a featured vballrecruiter.com Player of the Week, sponsored by Dick’s Sporting Goods, on Tuesdays. Below is this week’s Player of the Week: Taylor Fenton. *** Taylor Fenton is an under-the-radar, 3-star middle blocker from the Class of 2026 who plays club for SA Force in Texas. She has a much different story and background than most. For starters, with her dad in the Air Force she has lived overseas for most of her life, including eight years in Italy. “Yes, I speak Italian,” she said. She also spent eight years in gymnastics before outgrowing the sport. That’s when she was first introduced to volleyball by a classmate. But playing for an hour a week meant it wasn’t anything serious. “I was learning a little bit of volleyball but it was just for fun,” Fenton said. “Once I moved over here, people said that to really get into volleyball I needed to join a club and that’s how I joined Force.” That was less than 18 months ago, as she started in November of 2022. Given that, she’s relatively new to the sport with a tremendous amount of room for growth. She’s already touching 9-11 and has a drive to see how far she can go. “When I first started I was very timid because I didn’t really know anything about the sport,” Fenton said. “All the other girls from what I saw where amazing at my age. I didn’t know how I could compare to them so it was overwhelming. “I definitely feel more settled in now and understand the sport a lot more. I’m more comfortable and always learning and getting more volleyball IQ. With the coach I have right now I feel it’ll help me a lot more in developing my skills.” Fenton is part of SA Force 16 Darkside this season. The group competed at the Tour of Texas over the weekend, where they came in 18th in the top 16s Invitational division. “It’s been good so far,” Fenton said. “I love my team. We all get along very well. The coaches are amazing. Coach Evan, Coach Jordan, I just love them. I learn so much from them. I love the environment. We are very close and very familiar. It’s comfortable.” In addition to volleyball, Fenton recently began competing in track and field. She runs the 200m as well as doing high jump. “I did it because a lot of my friends are doing it,” she said. “It’s something to do to meet more people and one of my volleyball friends said it was fun. I did high jump because I jump really high and maybe I’d be good at that.” It’s a busy schedule but managing her time is something Fenton is used to. She said the Italian curriculum made for a heavy workload for school. Plus, she had gymnastics six times a week for a few hours each time. “I just got used to fitting everything in,” she said. “Sometimes it can get a little overwhelming but I’m used to it and I can handle it well.” Overall, she’s motivated to keep improving and is focused on pushing herself to succeed in the sport of volleyball. “I’m excited to see how far I can get in the sport,” she said. “Volleyball is very new and fresh to me and I’m just so eager and at the same time impatient to get better and learn more. I want to do the things the coaches are coaching me to do faster. That’s my ultimate goal.” As our featured Player of the Week sponsored by Dick’s Sporting Goods, we recently spoke with Fenton about volleyball and more. Who is a role model or someone you look up to? Fenton: For volleyball, I don’t have a specific person. Every time I go to a club tournament like this past weekend, I see an amazing team with incredible players and I enjoy watching them and seeing how good they are. I think what if I can do something to become that good. It’s amazing volleyball to watch. Outside of volleyball, it’s my parents. They are just hard working and great role models to have. One day I would be lucky to have half the work ethic as they do. If you could choose to do anything for a day, what would you do and why? Fenton: I would travel somewhere. I love traveling. It’s my favorite thing ever. We did it a lot overseas because it was convenient because places were so close. It’s just so fun to see other cultures. Other than volleyball, what skill would you most like to learn and why? Fenton: I’d honestly love to learn how to cook. Not just necessarily to just learn, I would want to learn to want to and like to cook. I love food. I would love to be able to make what I want on the spot. Do you have any volleyball superstitions or rituals and if so what? Fenton: If I have a really good game and I did my hair a different way, then I may do that again. Usually before a play I rub the bottom of my shoes. I do it for the grip but also it just became a habit too. Aside from basic necessities, what is one thing you could not go a day without? Fenton: I hate to say it but my phone. I would love to say I don’t need it but I do. I can’t imagine a day without it. What is one thing that instantly makes your day better or makes you smile? Fenton: I just like seeing my friends. I know a lot of people say it but it’s true. I like seeing people that I know. It just brings my mood up. What’s one of your favorite ways to have

We’re proud to be a part of an ongoing partnership with Dick’s Sporting Goods, which is sponsoring our Player of the Week award. We’ll be releasing a featured vballrecruiter.com Player of the Week, sponsored by Dick’s Sporting Goods, on Tuesdays. Below is this week’s Player of the Week: Campbell Flynn. *** The last six months for Campbell Flynn have been jammed-packed with success and accolades. The 6-3, 5-star setter from the Class of 2025 kicked it off by committing to the University of Nebraska in June, shortly before her Legacy 16-1 Adidas team competed in 16 Open at the USAV Girls Junior National Championships where they finished 21st. Growing up playing basketball, Flynn started to slowly develop a passion for volleyball. Her mom played in college and by eighth grade Flynn was done with basketball. It didn’t take long for her to realize she could have a future in the sport. “I always thought I could go somewhere for college,” she said. “I didn’t know how good at a young age because I didn’t know how I would develop, but I started having a ton of passion and when I saw my first questionnaire in the mail it made me think I could go very far.” Nebraska was one of many top programs recruiting Flynn. It was her dream to play there and it was an opportunity she couldn’t say no to. “I definitely want to win very bad,” she said. “I’m a very competitive person and it’s definitely a winning program. Another perk of Nebraska is it’s in the Big 10 and I have always watched the Big 10 since a little kid.” Next, Flynn made the 12-player cut for the USAV U19 roster and was part of the first gold medal for the age group as the team finished on top in Croatia in early August. She was barely back in the States when she turned around and traveled to Mexico to represent the USA in the U21 championships, finishing sixth. If there was one drawback the busy summer schedule impacted her high school season. All the volleyball in a short time caused her to miss half her junior year at Mercy before coming back for the state playoffs. “Going straight to school the week after I was fighting a sickness and trying to get back to high school after Worlds I was still struggling with sickness a week-and-a-half later,” Flynn said. “I tweaked my knee a little bit too and I ended up taking a month off before the playoffs.” Coming back for state Flynn was unsure what to expect. Mercy wasn’t viewed as one of the favorites but with Flynn back in the lineup the team kept winning. The playoff run culminated with a five-set victory over Forest Hills Northern in the Division 1 championship match as Flynn dished out 41 assists and recorded 15 digs. Though she missed nearly half the season, Flynn finished with 553 assists, 137 digs and 124 kills. It helped her earn the Gatorade Player of the Year for the state of Michigan. “It was crazy,” Flynn said of winning state. “It still feels like a dream. Everyone on my team, everyone was having fun while we were playing. To get the state championship it was surreal and amazing. I still keep watching videos of us winning.” Flynn and her Legacy 17-1 Adidas teammates started the year off taking second place in 17/18 Open at the Nike Classic in Columbus earlier this month. They continue on with the upcoming Central Zone Invitational this weekend in Indianapolis. “A lot of us have been playing together since 13s,” Flynn said. “It’s just crazy that this is my last club season, but it’s been great so far. We get along really well. It’s going to be a really fun season.” As our featured Player of the Week sponsored by Dick’s Sporting Goods, we recently spoke with Flynn about volleyball and more. Who is a role model or someone you look up to? Flynn: I’d say definitely my parents. They raised my brother, sister and myself to be happy and humble. They are really cool people and I aspire to be like them one day, especially as a parent, when I’m older. If you could choose to do anything for a day, what would you do and why? Flynn: I would do something very low key, like probably a movie marathon. That would be fun and relaxing just watching a bunch of movies. Other than volleyball, what skill would you most like to learn and why? Flynn: I did watch the national dance competition a few weeks ago and that was insane. Their moves were so cool, so maybe a dancer. I’ve also always wanted to learn chess but it’s really complicated. I think I could get the hang of it but I haven’t had the time to try playing chess. Aside from basic necessities, what is one thing you could not go a day without? Flynn: I just got these new HOKA shoes and I love them. I got them for Christmas and I’m obsessed with them. I wear them every day just walking around in them. They are super nice. What is one thing that instantly makes your day better or makes you smile? Flynn: Either walking at school and seeing my friends or just starting my day with a good breakfast. I get super excited about that. What’s one of your favorite ways to have fun? Flynn: I really like just either hanging out with friends and watching movies or baking with them. Something low key because I’m always on the go and don’t have a lot of time because of volleyball or working out, so I like relaxing. Outside of volleyball what are you most passionate about and why? Flynn: I’m very passionate about hanging out with my family, especially knowing I’m going to be leaving for college and won’t be here experiencing stuff with them. I’m making the most of

We’re proud to be a part of an ongoing partnership with Dick’s Sporting Goods, which is sponsoring our Player of the Week award. We’ll be releasing a featured vballrecruiter.com Player of the Week, sponsored by Dick’s Sporting Goods, on Tuesdays. Below is this week’s Player of the Week: Rayna Christianson. *** Even as Rayna Christianson was playing AAU basketball, she seemed destined for volleyball. After all, she comes from a family with deep ties to the sport. “I have a huge volleyball family,” she said. “My mom played in high school. My aunt played at the University of Minnesota and my cousin went to the Naval Academy and played there. It’s pretty much how I got into volleyball.” As Christianson headed to Northern Lights to play club volleyball for her 12s season, she began to take the sport more seriously and began to find her passion. She was playing basketball as well but found it difficult to balance the two sports so she decided to focus on volleyball only. “It was easy to pick the sport,” she said. “It’s just that I had so many relationships in basketball so it was hard telling everyone I wasn’t going to play anymore, but it was easy to pick between them.” Christianson, a 5-star recruit from the Class of 2026, has had a somewhat different journey to this point. While she’s been a setter/right side in club for Northern Lights, she’s played multiple positions during her high school career at Lakeville North. She made the junior varsity team as a seventh-grader and spent that fall as a setter/right side. She’s been on varsity the past three seasons, including spending her eighth and ninth-grade campaigns playing out of the middle before setting this year as a sophomore. “I really liked it,” Christianson said of playing in the middle. “We had a talented setter both years and that was very helpful too. There wasn’t many middles in our program so I just said put me where you need me. It was an opportunity to be on varsity.” It’s been a busy month or so for Christianson. Before the Christmas break she traveled to participate in The Red Hat Games in Dallas. “I thought it was really fun,” she said. “It was good competition. I loved the whole thing. It was super fun. It was well organized and I liked how there was a lot of playing and getting to meet new people. That was cool. I really liked it.” Shortly after, her Northern Lights 16s team – along with the 2s group – left on Christmas day and headed to Europe, where they spent 13 days before returning on Jan. 6. Since then, Christianson and company have been gearing up for the club season. “I’m super excited for this year,” Christianson said. “I love my team. We are all so supportive and all have good relationships. We’re all talented and are excited to see where this year takes us.” As our featured Player of the Week sponsored by Dick’s Sporting Goods, we recently spoke with Christianson about volleyball and more. Who is a role model or someone you look up to? Christianson: I’d say my cousin, Macy. She’s the one who got me into volleyball, along with my mom and my aunt. She’s one of the most determined people I know. She went to the Naval Academy and played there collegiately. Her going there was such an amazing experience. She’s going to be serving in Japan for three years now. If you could choose to do anything for a day, what would you do and why? Christianson: I think I would want to hang out with my friends and go shopping or go to the movies just to get quality time with them. Other than volleyball, what skill would you most like to learn and why? Christianson: I would say being well-rounded in every school subject, like English and math. I think it would be being super smart. Do you have any volleyball superstitions or rituals and if so what? Christianson: For high school season I wore braids in my hair on top of my head and in a pony tail for every high school game. There’s not really a reason other than I thought I played better with them and it felt better. Aside from basic necessities, what is one thing you could not go a day without? Christianson: I eat cereal every morning. It’s the same cereal – Chocolate Chex. I eat it before school and before volleyball. What is one thing that instantly makes your day better or makes you smile? Christianson: It’s probably my dog because she is never a sad dog. She’s always excited so it’s never hard to be around her. Her name is Harley. She’s a Cavalier King Charles and Poodle mix. She’s a Cavapoo. What’s one of your favorite ways to have fun? Christianson: I’d say volleyball is the way I like to have fun the most because it’s being with my teammates and I love the game so much. I love spending the time with other people like my coaches and teammates. It’s my favorite. Outside of volleyball what are you most passionate about and why? Christianson: I just like to pride myself on being a kind person to my friends and family and people in general. I like to keep a positive attitude because it lightens everyone’s mood. What is one thing that may surprise people about you? Christianson: I’m a super competitive player when it comes to volleyball or really anything. I can get very serious when it comes to competing toward anything. If you could live anywhere you wanted, where would it be and why? Christianson: I would probably say a beach place like the Bahamas because I like the warm weather and I like the ocean. It would probably be the Bahamas because we went there a couple years ago for spring break. What’s your favorite food or foods? Christianson: I

We’re proud to be a part of an ongoing partnership with Dick’s Sporting Goods, which is sponsoring our Player of the Week award. We’ll be releasing a featured vballrecruiter.com Player of the Week, sponsored by Dick’s Sporting Goods, on Tuesdays. Below is this week’s Player of the Week: Carson Caraway. *** Carson Caraway had no background in sports when her friend came to her nearly six years ago and asked if she wanted to play volleyball. Thinking it would be something fun to do, Caraway said yes. Fast forward to now, and the 6-2, 4-star outside is an up-and-comer in the Class of 2027. “I was never really a big sports person,” Caraway said. “I was not athletic. That I started volleyball was a shocker to my parents.” Caraway is coming off a varsity season at Jackson Academy in which she lifted the Raiders to their fifth consecutive MAIS Division 1 state championship. The freshman racked up a team-leading 481 kills, averaging 3.6 per set and ending up with the fourth-most winners in the state of Mississippi. She also led the way in aces with 115 and was third in digs with 291. “This year was insane, it was so crazy,” Caraway said. “Just being on varsity there is some sort of pressure. All my teammates, all the seniors, they are super supportive. Playing with older girls on that sort of level, I’ve never experienced that type of pressure and atmosphere. It was so fun. It was such a great experience.” It was a giant leap forward from her contributions and role last year as an eighth-grader on varsity when she finished fifth in kills with 92. She nearly had half that total in her two best matches this past fall, one of which featured a season-best 24 kills in a victory over Lamar in mid-September. “It was definitely my confidence in myself,” Caraway said about the biggest difference from last season to this one. “As an eighth-grader I was really timid and really shy. I tried to make an impact on the team but I was scared being with girls older than me. The experience of last year, having went through it already, the girls are all so nice it was a lot easier to be confident and help my team.” The club season started to pick up for Caraway this past weekend. Her and her Infinity VBA 15 Open teammates participated in their first tournament of the season when they traveled to the Blastoff in New Orleans. There, they went 7-2 and finished tied for third. “I’m so excited to play with my team,” Caraway said. “I can tell from our first couple of practices that they all want to play and all want to win. I think we are going to be a lot more competitive. I’m so excited.” In between high school and club, Caraway was among those who participated in the first-ever The Red Hat Games last month in Dallas. She said it was something she’s never experienced before. “The event was absolutely insane,” she said. “Being surrounded by all those girls who were so good. There was not one girl there who couldn’t play volleyball. They were all so nice and there was incredible talent. Being in the gym with them was such a great opportunity.” Among Caraway’s future goals are to one season earn the Gatorade State Player of the Year and continue on playing at the Division 1 level in college. Another aim for her is to help put Mississippi volleyball on the map. “I know compared to Texas and California, it isn’t out there like that yet,” she said. “I would love to find a way to help Mississippi’s level become higher. That would be amazing.” As our featured Player of the Week sponsored by Dick’s Sporting Goods, we recently spoke with Caraway about volleyball and more. Who is a role model or someone you look up to? Caraway: I would have to say my high school coach, Melissa Denson. She pushes me to become the best athlete and person I can be. She always tells us to be a good person. Don’t just settle. Be a good person and push to do your best. If you could choose to do anything for a day, what would you do and why? Caraway: If I had a choice, I would probably go sky diving. I would go sky diving because I’ve never done something like that and I always wonder what it would be like. Other than volleyball, what skill would you most like to learn and why? Caraway: I have always wanted to learn to play tennis. I have no idea how to play. I ask friends about teaching me how to play. I think it would be a great skill to learn. Do you have any volleyball superstitions or rituals and if so what? Caraway: For my high school team, we actually brush our teeth before games because we are convinced that it helps us do better. Aside from basic necessities, what is one thing you could not go a day without? Caraway: I would have to say my phone. I hate to say it, but I probably couldn’t live without it even if I wanted to. What is one thing that instantly makes your day better or makes you smile? Caraway: It’s my friends who I get to see every day. I love going to school because of them. It makes it a lot more enjoyable for me and it puts a smile on my face. What’s one of your favorite ways to have fun? Caraway: I love going out to eat with my friends. I love food and my friends. It’s the perfect combination. Outside of volleyball what are you most passionate about and why? Caraway: I would say my friends and family. They mean the most to me in my life. They have a really huge impact on me. What is one thing that may surprise people

We’re proud to be a part of an ongoing partnership with Dick’s Sporting Goods, which is sponsoring our Player of the Week award. We’ll be releasing a featured vballrecruiter.com Player of the Week, sponsored by Dick’s Sporting Goods, on Tuesdays. Below is this week’s Player of the Week: Zamari Christensen. *** Our latest Player of the Week is coming off a tremendous 2023 in which she starred in both club and high school. Zamari Christensen – a 4-star setter from the Class of 2027 – wrapped up last club season helping Club V 14 Silver to a fifth-place showing in 14 Open at the USAV Girls Junior National Championships and then capped her high school campaign at Woods Cross by finishing third in the Utah 5A state championships. Christensen spent time playing soccer and softball and participating in dance before she shifted gears to volleyball. While she can’t exactly remember what drove her to the sport, she does know she lived close to a nearby club and once she began playing at 8 she has been hooked since. “Volleyball was super fun,” she said. “I was always looking forward to it every week. I was dying to go and play.” She spent three years playing libero before turning into a setter. She said it was hard and stressful at first, but once she started to get the hang of it she’s really grown to love the position. “I love being able to control the court and the flow of the team,” Christensen said. “Just being able to have that leadership and control the pace and that aspect.” She was guiding the attack for Club V last spring but even she didn’t suspect what was ahead for her squad. Not only did Club V qualify for Open, Christensen and company found their groove and rode it to nearly a podium finish after falling to Madfrog 14 Green in the quarterfinals. “We did so much better,” she said. “We have always been in silver bracket. We weren’t expecting to be one of the top teams. We were super excited. It was fun to be able to compete with the top teams and even beat some and prove we belong in the top. During Nationals we really played together as a team.” It led Christensen into her high school season. However, she was unsure whether or not she would make varsity. Even when she learned she did make it, she didn’t know how much playing time she would see. “There were two setters ahead of me and I didn’t know what my role would be,” she said. “I didn’t know what to expect of the season. I was not expecting to get third. It was super fun. It was a lot different than club. I didn’t feel very stressed out, I just could go play freely.” Christensen finished the year leading the team in assists with 578, averaging 6.2 per set. She was also third in digs while twice posting 40 assists or more, including a season-high 47 in a late September victory over Box Elder. Christensen finished 2023 by participating in The Red Hat Games in Dallas a week before Christmas. “I thought it was super fun,” she said. “I’ve never been to something like that before. It was fun having the red carpet and everyone having a big, shining moment.” As we head into 2024, Christensen and her Club V 15s teammates are set to play this coming weekend at the Tour of Texas before embarking on their quest to make another push toward medaling. “We got some new girls, so we have some new talent,” Christensen said. “I think this year we are going to be competitive and I’m really excited to see what we are about to do through the year and especially at nationals.” As our featured Player of the Week sponsored by Dick’s Sporting Goods, we recently spoke with Christensen about volleyball and more. Who is a role model or someone you look up to? Christensen: It’s my club coaches so far. They have all had a huge impact on the player I am today. Some have worked on making me mentally tough. Others have each developed a different skill, so it’s my club coaches. If you could choose to do anything for a day, what would you do and why? Christensen: I would spend a day at the beach and go shark diving and play beach volleyball. Other than volleyball, what skill would you most like to learn and why? Christensen: I would definitely want to learn to be able to make sculptures and carvings and that type of stuff. I would like to expand my knowledge on art and those type of things. Do you have any volleyball superstitions or rituals and if so what? Christensen: Yes, I have to have goldfish at every single tournament but I can’t eat any of them until after the first game of the day. I don’t remember how it started but I always have goldfish but I can’t eat them before the first game or it messes with me. Aside from basic necessities, what is one thing you could not go a day without? Christensen: My Aquaphor stick or lip balm. I always need some sort of lip balm with me. What is one thing that instantly makes your day better or makes you smile? Christensen: Something that makes me smile is when I first walk into practice and see my teammates. They make the funniest jokes. One person on my team always has something funny to say and it puts a smile on my face. What’s one of your favorite ways to have fun? Christensen: I love going shopping with my family and friends and then going out to eat afterward. Outside of volleyball what are you most passionate about and why? Christensen: I’m very passionate about school, especially having all my assignments turned in on time so I’m not stressing on grades when the term is

We’re proud to be a part of an ongoing partnership with Dick’s Sporting Goods, which is sponsoring our Player of the Week award. We’ll be releasing a featured vballrecruiter.com Player of the Week, sponsored by Dick’s Sporting Goods, on Tuesdays. Below is this week’s Player of the Week: Carsyn Comer. *** Carsyn Comer is a 5-star recruit from the Class of 2027 and a rare middle blocker who plays six rotations. As a freshman this past season at Westfield, she left an impressive mark by finishing first in blocks with 68 and third in kills with 195, which was only six away from tying for tops. She wrapped up last club season by helping Munciana to a bronze medal in 14 Open at the AAU Girls Junior National Championships in Orlando and is poised to make another run at the podium in 2024 playing on Munciana 15 Open Blue. A former softball player, Comer was introduced to volleyball through a rec league where she started falling in love with her new sport. “Volleyball always felt different,” Comer said. “When I think about volleyball, I think about having a future in college. Softball was more the social part of it. I loved playing with my friends, but I dreaded going to practice every day and that ultimately led to my decision.” For most of her volleyball days Comer’s roamed the court as a middle, but she does have a little bit of experience playing on both the left and right. One thing she really enjoys about getting to play six rotations is the opportunity to be a factor in the back row. “I do really love playing defense and being in the back row,” Comer said. “I’ve played back row the past two years and I like being in the game at all times. I like the challenge of it. A lot of other teams see the middle in the back row and want to go right at her. I like the challenge of proving people wrong on that stereotype.” Most everyone from last year’s 14s squad returns this go around. The group came alive at AAUs last summer. They suffered their only loss in the semifinals to A5 14 Helen. It has Comer and company looking forward to getting back at it and gearing up for another shot at medaling. “I’m super excited,” Comer said. “We added a few new girls and they are really good additions. Our chemistry is really good already throughout the practices we have had.” Last month Comer participated in the first-ever The Red Hat Games in Dallas. Her high school team was coached by Jason Nicholson of TAV and reached the semifinals. “I didn’t really know what to expect, so I was a little nervous,” Comer said. “But I ended up being on a really good team with a good group of girls. It was a really fun experience all-around being with so many players and good competition.” As our featured Player of the Week sponsored by Dick’s Sporting Goods, we recently spoke with Comer about volleyball and more. Who is a role model or someone you look up to? Comer: I would definitely say my mom. She’s super hard working and an all-around kind person. I aspire mentally to have her mentality and just to do my best to be like her. If you could choose to do anything for a day, what would you do and why? Comer: I would want to go somewhere like Costa Rica or somewhere in Asia where I could take a long hike and see all of the views. Other than volleyball, what skill would you most like to learn and why? Comer: I would want to learn art skills. I love seeing artists work. It is so cool how they are able to manipulate works like that. I really like to paint. I’m not the best at it, but I always like it. Do you have any volleyball superstitions or rituals and if so what? Comer: With my hair I have a little superstition. I have to do some sort of braid on the championship day. I have a serving ritual where I take two slow bounces then three quick bounces then a deep breath then I serve. Aside from basic necessities, what is one thing you could not go a day without? Comer: This is a hard one. Honestly, it’s probably sweat pants. I live in sweat pants. I don’t have a favorite pair, it’s just whichever ones I grab for the day. What is one thing that instantly makes your day better or makes you smile? Comer: It’s definitely seeing one of my friends. No matter what mood I am in she’s so funny she makes my day better. Overall, she’s a bright person. What’s one of your favorite ways to have fun? Comer: It’s probably being around my friends. Even if we aren’t doing anything, just being with them makes me happy. Outside of volleyball what are you most passionate about and why? Comer: I would have to say my faith. I’m Christian and I’m really big on that. I’m always trying to grow in my faith and get closer with God. What is one thing that may surprise people about you? Comer: It’s definitely the fact that I was a pitcher for seven or eight years for softball. If you could live anywhere you wanted, where would it be and why? Comer: I would say somewhere on the East Coast. Then, you have the beach plus you still have all four seasons so it’s perfect. If you could have any super power what would it be and why? Comer: It’s another hard one. I would say maybe super-speed. It’s something I could use to get around really fast. What’s your favorite number and why? Comer: My favorite number is 2 for multiple reasons. It’s been my number in every sport I’ve played. I was also born on the 2nd. It’s always been

As we head into the new club season we first begin by rolling out our updated Player Rankings! We have looked at the 2024-2027 classes and below you can find what changes were made as well as which players were added. The rankings will continue to evolve throughout the club season as we begin to hit the road this month. CHANGES 4 to 5-Stars Carsyn Comer MB Munciana (2027)Lydia Chinchar S/RS No Name (2027) *** 3 to 4-Stars Emerson Butler S Austin Skyline (2027)Emma Kingston MB Tstreet (2027)Isabel Incinelli MB WPVC (2027)Peyton Heatherly S/RS 1st Alliance (2027) *** ADDITIONS Class of 2024 Avery Hamlin S/RS AJVGwen Adler S Sky HighHaumea Marumoto OH Spike and ServeJessica Horn S Sports PerformanceKacey Kazmierski S Austin JuniorsKaeley Walz S/RS UnionKinnari Atluru OH AbsoluteLulu Uluave L/DS Ku’IkahiMJ McCurdy OH MadfrogReilly Chausse L/DS 1st AllianceSameena Burns RS Hou SkylineSofia Williams OH WaveSophia Wendlick OH MKE StingTaylor Bahnub MB MintonetteTaylor Treahy RS CityTiana Owens RS CoastTionna Owens MB TAV *** Class of 2025 Annie Witt OH RootsAva Durgan MB RenovatorsCarley Wright RS MadfrogDyBorrah Johnson MB Arizona StormFaith Venable MB VCNebraskaJordan Czajkowski S FC EliteJulia Lewkowitz OH Miami HypeKaylie Baumgart MB Pitt EliteKennedy Jones OH/MB Texas TornadosKennedy Thompson S SpiralKinsley Timmons MBMadelyn Blakey RS Lex UnitedMalia Brinkman RS ElevationNia Jones MB Tri-State EliteOlivia Borgman OH Coast UnitedPayton Stroud S/RS Woodlands RevolutionRylee Yarborough OH OTVASummer Kohler OH/S Venetian BayTalia Francorm MB TriangleThalia Yancey OH SA JuniorsWhitney Mall OH Sky High *** Class of 2026 Abigail Knight OH Sports PerformanceAlyssa Todd OH TAVAmelia Mancino OH Winter ParkAuna Wiegand MB Drive NationAva Carrasquillo S/RS Austin JuniorsAva Wilkerson MB NC AcademyCali Reece L/DS TAV HoustonChloe Garcia S/RS 305 VBCElena Dibbs-Frantz MB/RS Tampa NorthEmily Helmers MB/RS NKYVCEmily Zgonc L/DS MKE StingGunny Brock OH K2Henlee Moszkowicz L/DS Hou SkylineIsabella Umpierre RS WPVCKansas Lamar MB TAV HoustonKiley Brooks L/DS SkylineKylie Meche OH NRGMaggie McCarroll S/RS Austin PerformanceMarianne Garcia L/DS AZ SkyMorgan Manwaring MB AlamoMorgan Sanders OH/RS M2 VBCRyan Jomo L/DS Top SelectRylinn Roberts RS Drive NationSimone Searles OH A5Talia Johnson OH Club Sav *** Class of 2027 Aanya Hotha MB VisionAlina Phillips RS A5Anabelle Schembra S Team IndianaGrace Pinegar OH SkylineKalea Lee S WaveKylee Evans MB A5Londyn Pope MB TAVReese Maslowski OH DynastyRiley Riggs OH MAVS KCSiena Ebert L/DS MadfrogTristyn Bailey OH Mizuno Long Beach

We’re proud to be a part of an ongoing partnership with Dick’s Sporting Goods, which is sponsoring our Player of the Week award. We’ll be releasing a featured vballrecruiter.com Player of the Week, sponsored by Dick’s Sporting Goods, on Tuesdays. Below is this week’s Player of the Week: Olivia Henry. *** There’s been a common thread with our recent Players of the Week and the trend continues this week with Olivia Henry. Like our past three Players of the Week, Henry is also a ninth-grader who had an amazing season and helped her high school team to a state championship. And just like Lydia Chinchar, Peyton Heatherly and Gentry Barker, it elevated Henry to a Freshman Player of the Year Finalist after she guided Fieldston – which is coached by her father, Collin – to the NYSAIS state title and a perfect 22-0 season. Henry – a 6-4, 5-star recruit – began making a name for herself this past club season playing for ASEVC. With both her dad and mom having volleyball backgrounds, Henry was raised in the sport and has been around her dad’s high school team her whole life. “My dad would always take me to the park and I would pepper against the wall,” Henry said. “I learned to do a top spin serve around 7 and serving like that really got me interested in volleyball. My dad was always teaching me how to do it. “He would usually bring me to all his games during the high school season. I remember sitting on the bench and analyzing and talking about what the girls were doing so I could catch on quicker. I learned the sport a lot faster growing up and watching volleyball on TV or in real life.” There was a whirlwind of anticipation and eagerness as her freshman season neared. She no longer had to sit on the sidelines as a spectator but instead could be an actual participant. Henry knew all the girls on the team well before she applied to get in to Fieldston and play under her dad. With Henry officially on the roster, her dad made it clear what the goal was this fall. That was getting back to the top of the mountain and regaining the state championship which Fieldston last captured in 2015. “In the preseason my dad was not messing around,” Henry said. “He said we are winning the championship and bringing another banner to hang on the wall. That’s exactly what we did. It was tears of joy. This one was special because we got to win it together.” As our featured Player of the Week sponsored by Dick’s Sporting Goods, we recently spoke with Henry about volleyball and more. Who is a role model or someone you look up to? Henry: My role model is I’m going to say my dad. He has been in this sport all his life. He’s in the process of teaching me what he knows. He teaches me how to work hard and how to be a good teammate. I talk to him every day. He’s wise and an inspiring person. If you could choose to do anything for a day, what would you do and why? Henry: I would bake. I have such a sweet tooth. I love baking cookies, especially with my mom. I would probably do that and learn some new recipes. I like brownies. They are really good. My mom made them all the time when I was a kid. I know they are not good to eat being an athlete but I love brownies. Other than volleyball, what skill would you most like to learn and why? Henry: I would learn how to play tennis because it’s really similar to volleyball. I’ve watched a few tennis games before during the US Open because it’s near my house. It’s a really interesting sport so I would want to learn how to play. Aside from basic necessities, what is one thing you could not go a day without? Henry: I cannot go a day without music. It gets me through my day. I listen walking between classes at school or while I’m doing homework or before games because it gets me hyped for whatever I’m about to do. What is one thing that instantly makes your day better or makes you smile? Henry: It’s definitely knowing that I’m going to practice that day. Walking into the gym and seeing my teammates before practice and talking about our days. It’s not just volleyball related. It’s a whole other relationship with your teammates and having that strong connection on and off the court. What’s one of your favorite ways to have fun? Henry: I think probably going out with my friends shopping and going to the mall. I like to spend quality time and having fun. Shopping is one of the best things anybody can ever do. Who doesn’t like to go shopping? Outside of volleyball what are you most passionate about and why? Henry: I’m most passionate about my academics. I really want to do well in school. Being a student-athlete and not just an athlete. I want to be a student and keep up with my grades. I want to get things done on time and then have extra time to do whatever, but school always comes first before volleyball. What is one thing that may surprise people about you? Henry: A lot of people tell me when they first meet me that I’m actually really funny and have a good sense of humor. It’s surprising because when people first see me they think I’m intimidating because of my height, but when they get to know me it’s a whole different side of myself. If you could live anywhere you wanted, where would it be and why? Henry: I would definitely live in Jamaica. My dad is Jamaican and everything there overall is better than New York, like warmer weather and the food is definitely better.