Premium Content

For the second time this season Club V 17 Ren Reed earned gold at a qualifier. Back in March, Club V picked up its bid and first place at Salt Lake City. It closed the season the same way it opened it – taking first, this time at Far Western in Reno. Club V topped Hou Skyline 17 Royal in the final. Hou Skyline was also previously-qualified and it helped create trickle down to fifth place. While AZ Storm 17 Thunder and SynergyForce 17 Jeff earned their bids at the conclusion of gold pool play, it took Absolute Black 17-1 winning the fifth-place match to secure the last bid spot. Here’s how the weekends played out for all involved. CLUB V 17 REN REED (FIRST, 7-2) Day 1: d Encore 17 25-17, 25-15; d SIVBC Storm 25-15, 25-13; l SynergyForce 17 Jeff 16-25, 25-18, 15-12 Day 2: d NE Elite 17 Vici 25-18, 25-21; l Hou Skyline 17 Royal 25-19, 15-25, 15-10; d Co Jrs 17 Kevin 25-23, 25-20 Day 3: d SynergyForce 17 James 29-27, 22-25, 15-8; d Absolute Black 17-1 25-23, 25-16; d Hou Skyline 17 Royal 25-20, 27-25   Club V arrived at Far Western with one of the most impressive qualifying records of any team. The Intermountain Region club was 27-3 through the Salt Lake City, Red Rock Rave and Lone Star Classic qualifiers. It led to a first-place showing in SLC; a fifth in Vegas; and a third in Dallas. In Reno, Club V actually lost twice for the first time at a qualifier but still managed to walk away with another gold medal after topping Hou Skyline in the final. It pushed Club V’s qualifier record to 34-5. “It was a good weekend,” Club V coach Reed Carlson said. “I’m proud of the girls. Losing early is no fun. We haven’t lost very often so to learn from that and come back and finish strong is a big step for us.” SynergyForce upset Club V on Day 1, pulling that result out in three. It dropped Club V into the same pool as Hou Skyline on Day 2. The Lone Star club handed Club V yet another setback but Club V still advanced to the gold pools. It offered Club V a shot at redemption against SynergyForce. Club V returned the favor and took their second meeting in three sets. Getting past Absolute next gave Club V another chance at Hou Skyline in the final. Club V swept that one. “We were up 8-3 on Skyline on Day 2 and they went on a 12-3 run,” Carlson said. “We stopped being aggressive in all aspects. The next time our goal was to keep the energy high and keep our foot on the gas. They are such a disciplined team you can’t give them too many opportunities. We had to put the ball away sooner.” *** HOU SKYLINE 17 ROYAL (SECOND, 8-1) Day 1: d Absolute Black 17-1 25-19, 18-25, 20-18; d VVA 17-1 25-15, 25-18; d Miz Long Beach 17 Rockstar 25-21, 25-23 Day 2: d Co Jrs 17 Kevin 25-23, 25-13; d Club V 17 Ren Reed 25-19, 15-25, 15-10; d NE Elite 17 Vici 25-21, 25-16 Day 3: d AZ Storm 17 Thunder 25-19, 25-21; d NorCal 17-1 Black 25-22, 25-12; l Club V 17 Ren Reed 25-20, 27-25   Hou Skyline closed out a strong qualifying season by adding another silver medal to the mix. Despite its consistent showings it took Hou Skyline until its third try to qualify. The team just missed out on a bid at NEQ in March, coming in fourth and finishing one spot away from qualifying. A seventh-place showing at Sunshine once more kept Hou Skyline one spot removed from a bid. The bid finally came Hou Skyline’s way two weeks ago at the Lone Star Classic, where it placed second. In Reno, Hou Skyline had a tough opening match against Absolute, taking the third set 20-18. Hou Skyline defeated Club V in three as well on Day 2. On Day 3, Hou Skyline swept both AZ Storm and NorCal 17-1 Black to reach the final where it was swept by Club V. *** ARIZONA STORM 17 THUNDER (THIRD, 6-3) Day 1: d Hive 17 Gold 25-8, 25-23; l Club V 17 Ren Matthew 29-27, 25-18; d Rage 17 Greg 25-9, 25-17 Day 2: d Academy 17 Diamond 25-19, 20-25, 15-12; d OJVA 17-1 Gold 25-15, 25-20; l Absolute Black 17-1 25-22, 25-18 Day 3: l Hou Skyline 17 Royal 25-19, 25-21; d NorCal 17-1 Black 25-20, 23-25, 15-13; d SynergyForce 17 Jeff 25-20, 25-21   Injuries played a role in AZ Storm’s qualifier struggles and tested the resolve of the team as it headed to Reno in hopes of earning an Open bid. There were no crazy dramatics or out of the ordinary happenings at Far Western. Just a steady determination to pull through and go home qualified. Once AZ Storm defeated NorCal 17-1 Black in its final gold pool match on Day 3 its wish was granted. Storm finished out by topping SynergyForce in the third-place match. “We knew we had a bid but our mindset was let’s earn it,” Storm coach Aaron Payne said. “Let’s go win this match and say we qualified outright. We played tough against Synergy. That was a great win.” Storm had worked to get past its disappointment at the Red Rock Rave in early April. A 0-3 mark on Day 1 was not what the team expected as it was knocked from contention. Storm did earn a National bid through the regional tournament but came to Reno looking to end the qualifier season on a high note. Even without its full lineup available. Storm found a way. “The injuries have been tough,” Payne said. “We’ve been going back and forth with our setters. We had Gabby (LeBlanc) setting for a period of time. We got Tatum (Longnecker) back in the gym and she took it back over.

The surprise of the weekend was AZ Rev 15 Premier taking home the championship in 15 Open. It also gave AZ Rev the Open bid it coveted. Previously-qualified teams in Mizuno Long Beach 15 Rockstar, NorCal 15-1 Black and NE Elite 16 Matrix all finished in the top four. The two remaining bids went out to Coast 15-1 and ID Crush 15 Bower. Here’s how their weekends played out at Far Western in Reno. AZ REV 15 PREMIER (FIRST, 8-1) Seeded No. 16 to begin with, AZ Rev was not viewed as a bid favorite let alone a club that could come to Reno and win it all. There was the big upset on Day 1, as AZ Rev swept past top-seeded and previously-qualified Absolute Black 15-1. But then there was the loss to previously-qualified NE Elite 15 Matrix to open Day 2. At that moment it was difficult gauging where AZ Rev stood. Was the victory over Absolute the anomaly and the loss to NE Elite closer to the norm? Or was the loss to NE Elite the anomaly and the win against Absolute closer to the norm? It took five more matches before we fully had our answer. And once we did there was no denying where AZ Rev stood. On top of the 15 Open division after fending off Long Beach in three in the championship match. “Every single one of them wanted it so bad,” AZ Rev coach Nicole Peterson said. “They played with their hearts. That’s all we can ask. You don’t have to be perfect. They were wanting to play and wanting to win.” How close it was to being a different tale. AZ Rev went to three sets five times, including in its final four contests. The one to kick off that streak was the most important one of the weekend. It was AZ Rev’s final Day 2 pool contest against Vision 15 Gold. The teams were tied at 1-1 with a bid awaiting the winner. NE Elite, NorCal 15-1 Black and Long Beach had already positioned themselves to be in the six-team gold pools. That meant the other three joining them would clinch bids before even playing a match on Day 3. AZ Rev grinded to a victory in that one to complete its task. “We had a National bid from our region,” Peterson said. “While we did have that our goal has always been to get the Open bid.” The final day was one of those magical days that only a few teams get to experience during qualifying season. AZ Rev simply wasn’t going to be denied, fighting and clawing its way to the title. It beat NorCal, ID Crush and Long Beach all in three. The victories over NorCal and Long Beach were decided by two points in the third set. “We focus a lot on serve and pass,” Peterson said. “We executed our serving assignments as well as passing. It kept the offense in rhythm and kept the other teams on their toes. Those were the big things we executed well this weekend.” Setter/right side Tristen Raymond played well enough she could have easily been named the tournament MVP. Her setting was consistent throughout and she helped carry the offensive load across the front row. Bailey Reed shared in the setting duties. Lexi Mallonee and Marielle Ramos were reliable on the pins with right side Payton Whalen getting in on the action as well. Libby Monson, Rory Tower and Jordyn Quinn all spent time in the middle while libero Ava Lambert helped hold it down defensively. “Every point matters,” Peterson said. “Anyone can beat us. When we’re not giving it our all we’ll lose. We can’t take any plays off. That was the lesson learned in Vegas. Every point matters and that was the game changer for this tournament.” *** MIZUNO LONG BEACH 15 ROCKSTAR (SECOND, 7-2) After a second-place showing in Reno, Long Beach has now triple-qualified. The performance at Far Western followed a runner-up finish at Salt Lake City and a third-place effort at PNQ. That’s a lot of winning as Beach has positioned itself to compete for qualifier titles like few have this season. The next step come Junior Nationals is going to be learning to finish once in that position. “It’s a great group of girls,” Long Beach coach Carlos Briceno said. “We just need to get over that hump.” Reno was not without its challenges. Cruising through its first two matches, Beach was pushed to the brink by Rage Westside 15 Jen before prevailing in three to close out Day 1. Beach was then upset by ID Crush to end Day 2. Day 3 opened with a convincing victory over NE Elite before the match of the tournament broke out between Beach and Coast. Beach barely escaped the thriller, winning in three, 29-31, 33-31, 17-15, to reach the final. There, Beach fell in a close one to AZ Rev. Beach has rolled out a consistent lineup throughout the season and nothing changed in that regard in Reno. Setters Isabella Jones and Ayva Ostovar were running a 6-2 like normal. Their targets were the same in outsides Simone Roslon and Kiana Greer, middles Kalyssa Blackshear and Emma Rowell, and a trio of right sides Beach can utilize in Layli Ostovar, Preslie Saunders and Sunni Skipps. Sydney Raszewski and Kayla Ostovar formed the libero duo. “We are getting better,” Briceno said. “It’s just decision making. I think we practice really hard. I don’t have a single complaint about how hard we practice.” *** NORCAL 15-1 BLACK (THIRD, 8-1) The final qualifier of the season wasn’t about getting a bid or not for NorCal. That had already been accomplished in March at PNQ, where it finished runner up to Absolute Black 15-1. If Far Western was about maximizing its time in Reno, Nor Cal hit its goal. It played a lot of volleyball! Nor Cal – which finished third overall after beating NE Elite in the

One previously-qualified team was gone after Day 1. Another was done after Day 2. That left Vision 16 Gold as the only team with a bid still in contention come Day 3. That also set the stage for an exciting conclusion to the bid chase as seven teams were still in the hunt on the last day of Far Western in Reno. While Vision went on to capture the championship by beating Hou Skyline 16 Royal and SG Elite 16 Rosh knew its bid was secured, it was a wild ride for the last bid winner in OJVA 16-1 Gold. Below, we share the details of their weekends. VISION 16 GOLD (FIRST, 10-0)   Having already qualified in early April at the Red Rock Rave in Las Vegas, there wasn’t much on the line as Vision wrapped up its qualifying schedule this past weekend at Far Western in Reno. It didn’t keep the NCVA club from playing like the stakes were high however. Vision posted a perfect 10-0 mark and dropped just one set on its way to earning the 16 Open championship. The run ended with a sweep of Hou Skyline in the final. “The girls played well,” Vision coach Ron Whitmill said. “Winning a qualifier, some of it is luck and some of it is playing well at the right times. We got into a groove and played well. We switched the lineup a little bit after getting a bid. We thought we needed some work on it and that it would be better for us. That lineup came together.” In between Vegas and Reno, Vision ventured to Lone Star in Dallas. It was a learning lesson for Vision, which lost two of three on Day 1 and didn’t break pool. “I think it really helped us,” Whitmill said. “We didn’t play poorly. We just had one bad match and it happened to be the first match of the tournament. That cost us in terms of being able to move forward. That was definitely the message. We need to learn to show up and that we can’t take Day 1 for granted.” Vision showed up all three days in Reno. It swept its first eight outings before needing three sets to fend off SG Elite in its final gold pool match. That propelled Vision into the final where it was able to remain unbeaten for the weekend. Freshman setter Maya Baker was her usual standout self. Whitmill praised her ability to command the offense and get the most out of it. One of the changes was moving Cleo Hardin opposite of Baker and playing Katelyn Cook at outside instead of right side. Taylor Williams remained at outside and had a strong weekend too. Amiya Kucibhotia and Briley Lackey were part of the middle attack while Michael Torkaman was her usual steady self at libero. “We’re probably not the favorite but I think we can beat any of the teams out there,” Whitmill said. “I think we are the furthest away from our ceiling. We are just scratching the surface. We could be really dangerous. “I’m pleased with the team how much they have improved at a national level. We double-qualified this year. That hasn’t happened often out of our region recently. It’s been a long journey to get to this point. Things haven’t come easy for this group. It’s been hard.” *** HOU SKYLINE 16 ROYAL (SECOND, 7-4)   Needing to qualify in Reno, Hou Skyline was off to a rocky start. The Lone Star Region club ended in a three-way tie at 1-1 in its opening pool. It took third and was forced into a must-win crossover just to remain in contention. While Hou Skyline prevailed in that one, it lost its next two matches and was sitting at 2-3 overall before finding its stride. By finishing the rest of the weekend winning five of its next six contests, Hou Skyline not only secured its bid it ended runner up to Vision with a second-place showing. “I thought it went well,” Hou Skyline coach Ashley Williams said of the weekend. “We’ve been focusing a lot in practice on our serving and serve receive. I thought we did a good job staying consistent. We like to call them our three littles in Keely McNeill, Mykayla McMillian and Macy McPartland, they really held it down throughout the weekend and we were able to run our offense through our setter Cayley Hanson. Reese Animashaun and Morgan Warren were our big terminators and we stayed in system a lot.” After Day 1 ended with a loss to OJVA and Day 2 opened with a setback to SG Elite, Hou Skyline didn’t lose again until facing Vision in the final. The team turned in a strong Day 3 performance in gold pool to clinch its bid. It featured victories over Rocky 16 National, Absolute Black 16-1 and payback against OJVA. The last two triumphs came in three sets and the team definitely knew the stakes of playing OJVA once more. “Match three of Day 3, we were about to play OJVA and we knew if we won we would for sure have our bid,” Williams said. “If we lost, we could’ve ended up in a tie. We wanted to control our own destiny and not leave it up to chance.” It appeared Hou Skyline took a big step forward two weeks ago when it finished in the top 10 at Lone Star. It provided a boost of confidence that led to the team feeling good about its chances of getting it done this past weekend in Reno. “We talked about qualifying pretty extensively,” Williams said. “We’ve been on an uptick. We’ve been getting a lot stronger.” *** SAN GABRIEL ELITE 16 ROSH (THIRD, 9-1)   San Gabriel headed to Reno without an insurance policy. The choice was made to forgo the SCVA Regional bid tournament the same weekend in hopes of earning an Open bid at Far Western. In an all

The final qualifier of the season did not pass without players making a name for themselves. Some we had already seen before. Others we learned about over the course of the three days in Reno. Below, vballrecruiter.com presents the top outside hitters we watched at Far Western. 15 OPEN Lucy Chertock, NorCal 15-1 Black – A six-rotation outside for NorCal, Chertock has good upside that we’ll see come to fruition as she continues to develop. She’s 6-1 and possess a solid swing. There are times she really connects. Abigail Krause, NorCal 15-1 Black – At 5-9, Krause is undersized but definitely has her moments. She’s an aggressive attacker who can deliver some bigger-than-expected kills when she gets into one. Simone Roslon, Mizuno Long Beach 15 Rockstar – It’s hard to tell that Roslon is an eighth-grader playing up. She’s a big part of Beach’s identity. She’s a smooth passer and a heady attacker who knows how to beat bigger blocks.   Maija Howse, ID Crush 15 Bower – This a name to know! At 6-2, this outside has tremendous potential and is going to be a thorn in opponents’ sides for years to come. She’s already capable of hitting with pace and with her length is a difficult cover for smaller blockers. Elena Fisher, Absolute Black 15-1 – A bit undersized, you can see Fisher’s beach skills in her indoor play. This three-star recruit is a consistent passer out of serve receive and can track down balls on defense. She also has a good jump to her and has a variety of shots she can throw at defenders. Ava Poinsett, Coast 15-1 – Poinsett has made our top players list before and is likely to keep doing so. She’s a 5-11 outside who is a vital part of the offense. She’s a smart attacker who can score by blasting the ball or using her off-speed shots to catch defenses off guard. Lexi Mallonee, AZ Rev 15 Premier – At 5-10, Mallonee is a bit undersized but doesn’t ever back down. She’s an aggressive attacker knows how to challenge and tool blocks for points and carries a good portion of the attack on her shoulders. 16 OPEN Jenna Garner, City Volleyball 16 Gold – A three-star, six-rotation outside, Garner brings a lot to the fold for City. She’s a mainstay in the offense. She’s 6-0, has a quick arm swing and can blast balls to beat opponents with. Taylor Williams, Vision 16 Gold – At 6-2, Williams is a consistent and reliable option. She can get on top of the ball and hit hard cross court. She’s one who is on the rise! Haumea Marumoto, SAS VBC 16 – The offense would not look the same without Marumoto. She’s 6-1 with a fluid swing and is capable of outsmarting the defense with her various shots. Tia Kapihe, SAS VBC 16 – At 5-11, Kapihe is just a bit undersized but she carries a whippy arm. She uses it to challenge blockers but can also go off speed to keep them guessing. Reese Animashaun, Hou Skyline 16 Royal – Animashaun is a fun one to watch do her thing! She’s 5-10 but play much higher than that with her effortless jump that gets her well above the block. She’s a four-star recruit and is one to keep tabs on. Riley Murphy, A4 Volley 16 Purple – Murphy epitomizes what A4 is about. She’s an undersized outside but plays with a scrappiness and feistiness about her. She’s a fearless attacker who takes aggressive swings. Lauryn Lambert, Skyline 16 Royal – A 5-9 three-star recruit, Lambert is a featured part of the offense. She gets up well, almost touching 10-0 and plays with lots of fire and passion. Abby Jones, Temecula Viper 16 Mauro – Jones is a 6-0 six-rotation standout for Viper. She brings a lot to the lineup with her passing, defending and attacking abilities. Stella Norman, Temecula Viper 16 Mauro – It’s easy to notice the power this 5-9 outside attacks with. She hits a heavy, heavy ball and can overwhelm defenders when she connects. Elle Weaver, SynergyForce 16 James – A 6-0 three-star recruit, Weaver has a high ceiling. She plays with high energy. She can also rip it cross court. Abby Hoybjerg, SynergyForce 16 James – Speaking of potential, Hoybjerg has it in groves. She’s a 6-2 four-star recruit with a loose, fluid arm to go at opponents with. Katelyn Cook, Vision 16 Gold – Cook has an unassuming demeanor about her but she shouldn’t be underestimated. She’s 5-10 and can really lay into kills with her lively swing. Helena Foord, SG Elite 16 Rosh – Foord is a similar type of player as Cook. She’s also 5-10 and has a deception about her game. She can produce some loud kills when she connects well. Sydney Dreves, OJVA 16-1 Gold – A key contributor on a team that earned its Open bid, Dreves has a bright future ahead of her. She’s a 5-10 freshman playing up and carries a big load on offense. Isabel Clark, Momentous 16 Dan – Clark is someone we’ve noted before. She’s a 6-2 four-star recruit. She’s a strong attacker with a booming arm. She produced some of the most impressive kills we saw all weekend in the age group. 17 OPEN Brooke Bentke, Hou Skyline 17 Royal – Bentke is a three-star recruit who is committed toTexas State. At 6-2, she’s long with a very good arm and the ability to let loose when she gets a hold of one. Courtney O’Brien, Hou Skyline 17 Royal – O’Brien is part of a strong outside duo for Hou Skyline. She’s a smart hitter who has a variety of shots to beat defenses with, from scoring cross court to finding space down the line. Sydney Dunning, Co Jrs 17 Kevin – A three-star recruit committed to Cal State Bakersfield, this 6-0 outside is a key cog in the lineup. She’s a consistent passer out of

Far Western offered no shortage of talent to sort through as we spent three days in Reno roaming the courts catching as much as we could take in. After going through the notebook, here are top right sides who stood out to us the most. Kaydence Bispo, Rage 15 Greg – Bispo is a 6-1 sophomore playing down. She does have upside to her with her size. She’s strong and hits with good pace. Layli Ostovar, Mizuno Long Beach 15 Rockstar – Watching Ostovar play you wouldn’t believe she’s a member of the Class of 2026! She would likely excel playing in the 16s. She does a lot for Beach, from being a reliable option on the right side to passing in serve receive. She plays well above her age. Nicole Steiner, Vision 15 Gold – Steiner looks to be an up and comer. She’s 6-0 with a smooth swing. When she gets a hold of one, you can tell! She’ll continue to develop and is a good one to keep an eye on. Ashlyn Paymal, NE Elite 15 Matrix – Paymal definitely has next-level potential! She’s a 6-3 three-star recruit and is arguably NE Elite best offensive weapon. She can hit from all over the front row and knows how to score.   Ellie Hunt, NorCal 15-1 Black – Keep a watch out for Hunt. This 6-0 right side certainly had her moments. She’s a solid scoring option who helps balance out of the offense and will get better as she develops. Kate Hayhurst, ID Crush 15 Bower – It wouldn’t be surprising to see Hayhurst part of our player rankings in the near future. This 6-2 lefty has lots of potential. She’s long and can go over blocks as well as deliver them. Nora Wurtz, NE Elite 16 Lohaki – At 6-4 and touching 10-0, this sophomore brings a lot to the lineup. She has a big, heavy arm and hits with power. She also puts up a big block at the net. We can definitely see Wurtz making contributions at the next level! Cleo Hardin, Vision 16 Gold – This 6-2 pin hitter is undoubtedly a rising talent! She’s lengthy with a high contact point and a key part of the Vision offense. She lined up opposite the setter but can switch in the front row and hit from the left side. Cymarah Gordon, Momentous 16 Dan – We’ve written about this 6-0 three-star recruit before. For good reason too, as Gordon has untapped potential and tremendous upside. She is a physical attacker who can overpower blockers and defenders. And she can put up a huge block too! Haley Clark, SG Elite 16 Rosh – Another three-star recruit we’ve mentioned before, Clark is a 5-11 lefty with an electric arm. SG definitely looks to get her involved and going when she checks in and she adds a whole other dynamic to the offense with her power. Mary Healy, Absolute Black 17-1 – At 6-2, Healy is part of a tall roster. She brings the heat on the right side with a lively arm! Sarah Wadsworth, AZ Storm 17 Elite – Wadsworth is a 5-11 and committed to Marshall. She helps open the offense by being a scoring threat on the right side. She has a strong arm and can bury some balls. Carly Sciborski, Academy 17 Diamond – Sciborski should make an impact at the next level playing for American, where she is committed. She’s a 6-4 lefty who with her height can go straight over blocks and hit at high angles. Olivia Ruy, Club V 17 Ren Reed – This 6-2 pin hitter is a three-star recruit who is committed to Arkansas. She’s a physical hitter who possess a big arm and adds another power piece to the attack.

The closing weekend of qualifying season was filled with excitement at Far Western in Reno. vballrecruiter.com was on hand, viewing as much of it as we could get to in three days. We took note of the players who made us take notice. Below, we bring you the top middle blockers we witnessed. Charlotte Kelly, NorCal 15-1 Black – Kelly is one to get to know about! She’s 6-3 with tremendous potential. She has an easy swing and can crush it when she connects with one. She’s also effective on the slide and was getting her share of touches at the net. Kalyssa Blackshear, Mizuno Long Beach 15 Rockstar – Blackshear is a 6-4 four-star recruit. She’s lanky and is a tough cover for defenses with her ability to see over the block and attack accordingly. With her length, she also puts up a imposing block. Poema Ueligitone, Rage Westside 15 Jen – An eighth-grader playing up, Ueligitone is a bit undersized but can be relentless. She has some physicality to her and can hit with power. Brooklyn Hardy, ID Crush 15 Bower – Watching Hardy, it’s hard to believe she’s part of the Class of 2026! She’s wirey with a quick swing, moves well and is a great option on the slide. We’ll be hearing plenty about her in years to come! Bella Ehrlich, Absolute Black 15-1 – Ehrlich is a 6-2 three-star recruit. She has lots of upside to her. She sees the court well and can vary her attack to keep defenses off balanced. Ada Awagu, SA Juniors 15 Adidas – A 6-2 three-star recruit, Awagu is still raw and figuring things out but she has a very high ceiling. She’s athletic and long and is someone to keep an eye on as she continues to improve. Sophia Vella, NorCal 15-1 Black – Vella, at 6-0, is a hard worker and can also run the slide well. She gets her money worth on the attack, taking aggressive cuts and going at the defense. Rory Tower, AZ Rev 15 Premier – Tower is fiery at times, especially after delivering a timely block. She’s 5-11 and was providing Rev stability in the middle being both a scoring threat and solid blocker. Madeline Way, City Volleyball 16 Gold – A 6-1 three-star recruit, Way 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. Tatum Sharp, Rocky 16 National – Rocky National had a nice run, putting itself in bid position on Day 3. Sharp was an integral part of that. She’s a freshman playing up and brings aggressiveness to the front row. She can line up and hit from the left, middle or right side.   Havannah Vogel, Temecula Viper 16 Mauro – Temecula is so much better when it’s getting Vogel involved. She’s 6-1 with a smooth swing and ability to score consistently. Evie Hendrix, OMNI 16 John – Hendrix moves well for her height. With her length she puts up a solid block and gets plenty of touches. Caroline Foraker, SynergyForce 16 James – At 6-2, Foraker can make an impact across the front row. She has a quick arm and adds an offensive dimension to the attack. Briley Lackey, Vision 16 Gold – Lackey should be on the rise with her potential! She takes up plenty of space with her 6-4 frame. She has a fluid swing, runs the slide well and brings Vision up a notch when she’s getting involved. Morgan Warren, Hou Skyline 16 Royal – A 5-10 middle, Warren adds a different dynamic to the lineup. She jumps well and can beat defenses with well-placed tips or hitting around the block. Ingrid Zahn, SG Elite 16 Rosh – A three-star recruit, the 5-11 Zahn is a bit undersized but that doesn’t keep her from making herself known. She reads well and has great timing with her blocking. She shut down plenty of would-be attacks. Zoey Burgess, Club V 16 Ren Wayne – A five-star recruit, Burgess is 6-2 and can play outside hitter as well as middle blocker. We’ve written plenty about her this season and she never disappoints. She has a powerful swing and hits at a high contact point. It makes her one of the more difficult middles to defend. Preslie Yates, Absolute Black 16-1 – We like the upside this 6-1 middle has! Yates adds some physicality to the mix. She’s strong and has a powerful arm.   Mia Clayton, Absolute Black 16-1 – There were moments when Clayton provided a huge spark. She brings good energy, has a solid arm and was showing a knack for making timely blocks. Hailey Heytvelt, OJVA 16-1 Gold – When Heytvelt has it going, it really elevates the OJVA attack. She has nice size at 6-1 and knows how to use the block, as well as being a great option on the slide. Sophia Garza, OMNI 17 Rick – It’s a different game for OMNI when Garza is front row. She’s a 6-1 middle who moves well, runs a great slide attack and has a quick swing. Alexandra Chandler, SynergyForce 17 Jeff – Synergy will go to Chandler when she’s checked in. She has a strong arm that generates good pace and she gets up pretty well too. Mia Lee, Club V 17 Ren Reed – Lee should star at BYU, where she’s committed. She’s 6-0 but touches an incredible 10-7. Needless to say, she brings plenty of athleticism to the court. She can be a force offensively with her ability to sky and swing down. Rachel Grier, NorCal 17-1 Black – Grier is a 6-4 middle committed to New Hampshire. She adds great size to the position and gives NorCal a big target in the middle to throw at defenses. Taylor Harvey, Club V 17 Ren Reed – There’s no telling the heights this five-star recruit is going to reach! She’s a member

Far Western brought three days of intense action to the city of Reno. There were plenty of teams and players to sort through and vballrecruiter.com spent time searching and watching for those who impressed the most. Here are the top setters who caught our attention. Tristen Raymond, S/RS, AZ Rev 15 Premier – Raymond had an argument for being 15 Open MVP with the level she displayed over the weekend! She plays a huge role with her setting and hitting abilities. She’s game-changer on offense across the row, really opening the attack with her whippy arm and decent jump to go after opponents with. Claire Sun, S/RS, Rage Westside 15 Jen – Another two-way player who is a major contributor, Sun jumps extremely well and though she’s a bit undersized can go against bigger blocks because of it. She also has good hands and spots the ball well. Tenesyn Frye, ID Crush 15 Bower – At 6-0, Frye has good height for a setter and looks to have plenty of upside as she continues to develop. She has a good touch and knows how to move the ball around. Julia Waller, Absolute Black 15-1 – Waller is a fluid setter who plays with lots of energy and hustle. She has a knack for keeping defenses guessing with her ability to go against the flow or getting her middles involved. Peyton Meyer, NE Elite 15 Matrix – A 5-11 three-star recruit, Meyer has good hands with consistent location. She’s also adept at reversing it and catching defenses off guard. Jolyna Salas, Coast 15-1 – Injuries throughout the season led to Coast going to a 5-1 with Salas. She’s a bit undersized but does well getting her hitters good looks. Plus, she’s scrappy and gets after it on defense. Ashlyn Tafoya, Rocky 16 National – This freshman setter is a bit undersized but she is integral to the offense. She has nice hands and sets a clean ball. She’s also spot on with her location, including a good connection with her middles. Logan Tusher, Absolute Black 16-1 – A 5-11 setter, Tusher definitely displays her skillset! Her hands are soft and she hits her spots with great consistency. She’s able to reverse the flow while on the move and can also run tempo sets. Maya Baker, Vision 16 Gold – Another freshman who is playing up, Baker has a very bright future! She has a soft touch, rarely misses her window and has great command of the offense. She also carries herself with a calm and steady demeanor. Kate Duffey, S/RS, City Volleyball 16 Gold – At 6-0, Duffey both sets and hits. She’s solid at both, with nice accuracy when dishing and the ability to blow up blocks and be a reliable scoring option across the front row. Molly Romano, NE Elite 16 Lohaki – A three-star recruit, this 5-10 setter helped get NE Elite in bid contention. She has a good touch and puts the ball in a consistent window for her hitters. Adrianna Arquette, S/RS, SAS VBC 16 – Arquette also is a two-way contributor. She’s 5-10 with nice hands and a smooth delivery. She’s also a heady attack who can beat defenses with her variety of shots. Cayley Hanson, S/OH, Hou Skyline 16 Royal – A 6-2 three-star recruit, Hanson does a lot by both setting and hitting. At times she can run a 5-1 but was mostly part of a 6-2 and lining up on the left to hit. She carries a big arm and can hit with pace and power. Carter Fouche, Skyline 16 Royal – Though a bit undersized at 5-8, Fouche is very active and brings strong energy. She can also run tempo to her help beat the defense. Katie Salonga, NorCal 16-1 Black – Another setter who is a bit undersized at 5-7, we really loved the passion and spirit Salonga brings to the lineup. She’s upbeat, is undeterred and sets a nice ball. Elisabeth Levick, OJVA 16-1 Gold – There’s definite upside to this 6-1 setter. She’s going to keep improving and dialing in her craft. She already has good hands and solid location and does well trying to get her hitters involved. Julia Kakkis, S/RS, Momentous 16 Dan – We’ve mentioned Kakkis before. At 6-1, she is a key part of the lineup with her contributions setting and hitting. She’s another who defenses need to watch out for across the front row. She has a powerful arm and can pound some loud winners. Presley Powell, Hou Skyline 17 Royal – Powell should excel at the next level playing for Colorado School of Mines. She sets a smooth ball and is very consistent with her location. Annika Sokol, S/RS, Co Jrs 17 Kevin – This 5-10 setter/right side is a total gamer! She’s a feisty competitor who is a strong, accurate setter. She’s also a smart attacker who can hit from various spots across the front row and knows how to beat bigger blocks. Morgan Burke, NE Elite 17 Vici – A 6-0 Michigan recruit, Burke can also hit but was running a 5-1. She’s capable at moving the ball around and getting her attackers involved when in system.   Samantha Riter, Absolute Black 17-1 – Riter was making some great plays defensively as well as serving tough with a flat, driving ball that was eating up passers. She also has nice hands and delivers the ball with a soft touch. Brynn Covell, Academy 17 Diamond – A 6-0 Texas AM recruit, Covell has a strong hands and can run a nice tempo. She has the ability to push the ball to the outside from far off when out of system.

The final weekend of qualifier season brought vballrecruiter.com to Far Western in Reno. There was definitely a sense of urgency as teams fought for the last available bids remaining. We walked the courts for three days watching and observing as much action as we could. Here are the top liberos we saw. Elizabeth Bower, ID Crush 15 Bower – ID Crush has produced some strong liberos in recent years and Bower is next line to carry that flag. She’s an eighth-grader playing up. She’s smooth and has the ability to make tough saves look effortless and easy. She’s a name to know! Isabel Junior, NE Elite 15 Matrix – Junior is part of a scrappy group. She did well extending rallies and giving NE Elite extra chances to score. Brooklyn Bowman, Coast 15-1 – Coast is not the biggest team and needs to find ways to make up points where it can. Bowman gives them that chance with her defensive prowess. She can take away kills with her strong digging abilities and keep Coast in the rally. Sydney Raszewski, Mizuno Long Beach 15 Rockstar – Raszewski had a particularly strong Sunday as Beach contending for the 15 Open crown. She was flying around the court making plays and her passing out of serve receive was solid. Allison Cook, NorCal 15-1 Black – Cook is part of a NorCal squad that plays hard and isn’t afraid to compete. She was picking off some hard hit cross court shots and covering well. Ava Lambert, AZ Rev 15 Premier – As a unit, AZ Rev was playing some of the scrappiest defense in the division. Lambert was showcasing her skills by making some big-time digs and was passing fairly solid out of serve receive. Lauren Lynch, SG Elite 16 Rosh – A four-star recruit playing up an age group, we’ve written about Lynch before this season. She continues to impress with her unflappable play, sound passing and ability to erase would-be kills. Meghan Kagehiro, Rage 16 Garren – Kagehiro was a standout for Rage while we were observing! She was covering the court and making digs all over. She was also consistent in serve receive and keeping Rage in system. Elina Wheeler, SF Elite 16 Saga – This was a fun libero to watch. Wheeler definitely brings passion to the position. She’s fiery and really celebrates with her teammates. She’s also active and very talkative. Sarah Galligan, NE Elite 16 Lohaki – Galligan has a calm energy about her and doesn’t seem to get rattled. She wasn’t challenged much in serve receive but when she was she was passing accurately. Jacqueline Smith, OMNI 16 John – There were some big shots coming at Smith and she stood in there and took them! She’s a scrappy one and was running around making nice covers at the net. Michael Torkaman, Vision 16 Gold – Torkaman seems to read the court well and position herself to make play after play. She has a quiet intensity about her and she’s tough to breakdown in serve receive. Annah Legaspi, Momentous 16 Dan – We’ve written about this three-star recruit a couple times prior. She continues to be a defensive stalwart. She’s quick and can cover ground. She’s also very consistent when targeted in serve receive. Kambree Rodriguez, Club V 17 Ren Reed – We caught Rodriguez in action on Day 2 and Day 3. The Utah State commit was on fire Saturday against NE Elite. She could hardly do wrong, from passing dimes to making saves, she was on point! Kaieva Johnson, Club V 17 Ren Matthew – Johnson is another we really enjoyed watching! She is quick. She can track down balls in a hurry and brings lots of energy to the court. Laney Choboy, Academy 17 Diamond – A five-star recruit committed to Minnesota, many coaches consider Choboy the top libero in the Class of 2023. She’s extremely passionate and boisterous with her high-octane motor. She’s certainly not afraid of laying out to make plays and always seems to have one spectacular play she makes out of nowhere. Molly Tuozzo, Hou Skyline 17 Royal – Tuozzo is a three-star recruit committed to Kentucky. She has the capability of making wow saves. She stands in against hard struck balls flying at her cross court and has no issues picking them off. Tehani Ulufatu, Absolute Black 17-1 – A Baylor commit, Ulufatu was – pardon the pun – absolute nails in the back row as the NCVA club secured its Open bid. She was especially effective in serve receive, passing more than half the court in a two-person formation. Mckenzie Schoenhardt, Arizona Storm 17 Thunder – Schoenhardt, who is a three-star recruit, flies under the radar a bit but was a key piece to the puzzle as Storm wrapped up its Open bid. She can make plays where you think the point is over but she’ll keep it going where others wouldn’t be able to.