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vballrecruiter.com’s Player of the Week: Ayanna Watson (FREE)

October 17, 2023

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: Ayanna Watson. *** Being 5-10 in fifth grade and her father being a former NBA player, it makes sense Ayanna Watson would grow up having played basketball. Though she tried just about everything from dance, to gymnastics, to soccer, “the sport I played the most was basketball,” she said. However, her mom wanted her to try a new sport and that’s what led her to volleyball. Watson continued playing both sports until age 13. Now a 6-4, 5-star recruit and a sophomore at Bishop Gorman in Nevada, volleyball is her main focus. “I really like the fact that I get to do everything,” Watson said. “In basketball, I really only did one thing. I was a center because I’m tall and I stood by the basket and didn’t do much else. In volleyball, I get to hit, pass, block and set out of system. I pretty much get to do everything.” Watson began garnering attention as an eighth-grader playing up an age group on Vegas Aces 15 UA two years ago. She’s becoming more and more recognizable on the national stage with both the success enjoyed by Vegas Aces this past season as well as Bishop Gorman’s travel during the high school season. Watson – again playing up an age group – helped Vegas Aces 16 UA earn an Open bid to the USAV GJNC in Chicago this past summer, as the team qualified at the Salt Lake City Showdown qualifier in April. This coming club season, she’ll stay with her own age group and be part of the 16s once more for Vegas Aces. “I’m looking forward to building with my team and getting to know all of them and being able to play at a high level like we did last year,” Watson said. As for high school, Bishop Gorman has shown it’s not afraid to participate in the most competitive tournaments the country has to offer. As a freshman, Watson was part of a squad that traveled to both Nike TOC events in Tampa and Phoenix, as well as playing in the local Durango Fall Classic, long considered the gold standard of high school volleyball tournaments. She ended her rookie campaign second on the team in kills with 317, averaging 3.4 per set, as the Gaels reached the semifinals of the 5A state playoffs. Once more this season, Bishop Gorman has stacked its schedule in hopes of finishing the season on top when the state playoffs roll around. The team again traveled to Tampa for the Nike TOC and participated in the Durango Fall Classic – taking 17th place – and visited Southern California recently for the Redondo Power Classic, where the Gaels finished third after falling to national No. 2 Mira Costa CA in the semis. Watson entered the week leading the team in kills with 427, averaging 5.2 per set. She’s also second in both blocks and aces, and third in digs. “We are doing pretty well,” she said. “We are staying on track and really want to win state. We have the talent. We have the right people. We are always there for each other. I love playing with this team. “It’s a really big privilege to get to travel with the people you are closest with. It’s really a big family. The coaches and players talk on a personal level. No one gets offended when you give any feedback. There’s nothing negative about it.” Watson shared she would eventually want to coach when she’s done playing. She’s aiming to sign at a top Division 1 program and possibly play professionally after that. In her free time Watson likes to go shopping with her mom and friends, as well as spend time hanging out with her friends and sisters. “I just want to give all of the glory to God for blessing me with my athletic abilities and for allowing me to be able to display them,” Watson said. “Without Him, none of this would be possible and I thank Him for keeping me safe and protected. I am excited to see where His plan will take me in the future.” As our featured Player of the Week sponsored by Dick’s Sporting Goods, we recently spoke with Watson about volleyball and more. Who is a role model or someone you look up to? Watson: For volleyball, I would say it’s a lot of successful pin hitters. Players who not only hit hard, but they are smart and really good at defense. Just all-around good players. Logan Eggleston is one. Outside of volleyball it is Kobe (Bryant) because of his work ethic, mentality and just his all-around competitiveness. Would you rather explore space or the ocean and why? Watson: This is kind of hard. I would say probably the ocean. I like being by the water. I would like learning about different animals, especially the ones people don’t already know about. If you could choose to do anything for a day, what would it be and why? Watson: I would go to dinner with my friends. I would go hang out with them and have a sleepover. Other than volleyball, what skill would you most like to learn and why? Watson: I want to learn how to play an instrument. I used to play violin in third grade because the school required it, so I picked that. I don’t know how to play it anymore, but instruments are fun and they help with other things. It would be a good experience. Aside from necessities, what is one thing you could not go a day without? Watson: I definitely can’t go a day without my phone or my headphones. What is one thing that instantly makes your

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vballrecruiter.com’s Top 50 National HS Rankings (Oct. 16)

October 16, 2023

It’s officially playoff time! At least for many of the teams in our Top 50 the postseason has arrived. A few states wrap up their regular seasons this week while one school has already completed its season in Cornerstone Christian TX. The top three schools in our rankings – Mater Dei CA, Mira Costa CA and Papillion-LaVista South NE – are set to kick off their respective playoffs this week. Hamilton Southeastern IN – ranked No. 4 – started its postseason over the weekend. It’s a significant moment when it comes to the rankings, because postseason results change everything. Teams have spent all year building up in hopes of capturing a state title and the way we treat those results heavily impact the Top 50. Should Team A lose to Team B and have its season ended during the chase for a state title, Team B is going to be ranked ahead of Team A no matter any other circumstance. Any major upset is going to lead to a big rankings shake up. There wasn’t a ton of movement this week, but we did see one of the unbeatens fall when Skyridge UT went down to Lone Peak UT. It leaves Papillion-LaVista South, Hamilton Southeastern, Wayzata MN, Lake Catholic OH, Dike-New Hartford IA, Valor Christian CO and Lewis-Palmer CO as the remaining undefeated schools left. You can view the full Top 50 rankings below. vballrecruiter.com’S TOP 50 NATIONAL HS RANKINGS 1. Mater Dei CA (1 – previous ranking) 2. Mira Costa CA (2) 3. Papillion-La Vista South NE (3) 4. Hamilton Southeastern IN (4) 5. Prestonwood Catholic TX (5) 6. Grand Oaks TX (6) 7. Cathedral Catholic CA (7) 8. Wayzata MN (8) 9. McKinney Boyd TX (9) 10. Assumption KY (13) *** 11. Marist IL (14) 12. Benet Academy IL (16) 13. Mother McAuley IL (11) 14. Divine Savior Holy Angels WI (12) 15. O’Connor AZ (19) 16. St. Francis/Mountain View CA (21) 17. Sierra Canyon CA (22) 18. Archbishop Mitty CA (24) 19. Oconomowoc WI (25) 20. Dripping Springs TX (17) *** 21. Notre Dame Academy KY (15) 22. Lake Catholic OH (27) 23. Blue Valley North KS (20) 24. Kings OH (28) 25. St. James Academy KS (23) 26. Cornerstone Christian TX (26) 27. Middle Creek NC (n/r) 28. St. Thomas Aquinas KS (34) 29. Carrollwood Day FL (18) 30. Lafayette MO (35) *** 31. Branson CA (29) 32. Dike-New Hartford IA (30) 33. Valor Christian CO (31) 34. Hudsonville MI (33) 35. Winter Park FL (37) 36. Lewis-Palmer CO (40) 37. Seton OH (49) 38. Xavier Prep AZ (32) 39. Lone Peak UT (38) 40. Angola IN (42) *** 41. Lake Travis TX (n/r) 42. Bingham UT (n/r) 43. Mercy McAuley OH (36) 44. Skyridge UT (10) 45. Bishop Alemany CA (45) 46. Torrey Pines CA (48) 47. North Branch MI (39) 48. Alpharetta GA (41) 49. Glenbard West IL (n/r) 50. Maize South KS (46) ON THE CUSPNorthville MIViera FLPunahou HIHuntington Beach CAClear Creek Amana IALos Alamitos CAFoothill CAMarymount CARedondo Union CAPlant FLCalvary Christian FLBerkeley Prep FLPope GAPace Academy GABob Jones ALMountain Brook ALCorona del Sol AZMillennium AZSunrise Mountain AZLiberty AZBellmont INSacred Heart Academy KYBishop Gorman NVKamehameha HIDorman SCNorth Myrtle Beach SCNixa MOByron Nelson TXSt. Ursula Academy OHMount Notre Dame OHLiberty North MOCorner Canyon UTPleasant Grove UTRoncalli INYorktown INWashburn Rural KSJenks OKMount St. Mary OKLa Cueva NM

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HS Team Spotlight: 7 To Watch Out For

October 12, 2023

Since the beginning of September we’ve been releasing our weekly Top 50 National HS Rankings. It’s tough to crack the Top 50 without playing in at least one major tournament. However, that doesn’t mean there are not schools having spectacular seasons nonetheless. Below, we check in on seven programs making big splashes so far this fall. Mount St. Mary OK: The Rockets have been a team under consideration for the Top 50. To date, they are 37-3 with a few solid victories under their belts. It includes beating a trio of Texas schools in Harlan (twice), Barbers Hill and Reagan. Mount St. Mary also owns a victory over Oklahoma 6A power Jenks, which has also handed the Rockets two of their three losses. The other is to nationally-ranked Dripping Springs TX. Mount St. Mary is the two-time defending 5A state champ and is coming of a season in which they went 41-1 in 2022. The Rockets have since moved up to 6A. They are led by 3-star Iowa commit and junior outside Gia McGrew. Senior outside Ally Fees, junior middle Georgia Ahlert and sophomore outside Ella Hale are also big contributors on offense as well. The attack is directed by junior setter Livia Ward while the defense is anchored by junior libero Mackenzi Bass. Bingham UT: After going 18-13 a year ago, the Miners are showing they are one of the best 6A teams in the state of Utah this fall and is another program on the cusp on the Top 50. They have pushed their mark to 21-2 to date. Their two setbacks have come to Lone Peak and Pleasant Grove, a school the Miners also own a victory over. Helping lead the charge is 4-star Utah commit and senior outside Levani Key-Powell. Senior middle Hazel Marchant and junior outside Paige Ballif are the next two highest kill leaders. Junior setter Maddie Evans guides the offense and is averaging 9.3 assists per set. Defensively, the Miners are led by senior libero Jessica Troung. North Myrtle Beach SC: The Chiefs finished runner up in last year’s Class 4A state final and are once again looking like a squad capable of winning it all. They are currently 31-1, with their only loss coming to Musselman WV, and are riding a 26-match winning streak. Junior outside Olivia Borgamn (3.9 kills per set) and sophomore outside Clara Coninger (3.6 k/s) have been instrumental to the success. Also making key contributions is junior setter Bella Loeswick and senior libero Kendal Scanlin. Bob Jones AL: It’s been a tremendous season so far for the Patriots, who sit at 43-1. Mountain Brook – a team Bob Jones has defeated twice – is the only opponent to breakthrough. The schools won’t see each other in the playoffs however, as Bob Jones competes in 7A and Mountain Brook in 6A. Bob Jones wraps up the regular season this week. Leading the way has been junior outside Kennedy Vaughn, junior setter Riley Lovell and senior libero Meg Jarrett. Middle Creek NC: The Mustangs – who are 19-1 – were one victory away from reaching last season’s 4A state final four and are eager for another opportunity. Middle Creek and Green Hope split a pair of contests and could run into each other in the state playoffs. Sally Perez, a 6-3 senior outside, has been clutch for the Mustangs. She’s averaging 5.4 kills per set. She’s been helped by senior setter Avery Scoggins, who is committed to Arizona. Middle Creek has received a boost defensively from freshman libero Graceyn Shepard. Jesuit OR: The Crusaders could be poised to regain the 6A throne, a spot they last held in 2019 and have finished runner up the past two seasons. At 25-1 to date, they lost early on and are now riding a 21-match winning streak. Seniors Lilly Lansing and Emma Williams and sophomore Sadie Ross bring a balanced attack. Each is averaging 3.0 kills per set. Junior libero Addy Azavedo is averaging 3.2 digs per set. Punahou HI: Punahou is the only team featured that is currently in the Top 50, but a pair of recent losses could change that in next week’s update. After beginning the year 26-1, the Buff N Blue have lost consecutive matches to Kamehameha. Punahou defeated Kamehameha in their first meeting but lost the matchup last week and then again this week. The two schools are the favorite for the Division 1 state title. Seniors Haumea Marumoto and Lulu Uluave have been huge on the outside. Rella Binney – a 3-star Texas commit – has excelled at setter.

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HS Player Spotlight: 11 Standout Freshmen

October 11, 2023

There’s just over a month left before the high school season comes to a close. With the state playoffs still ahead, there’s plenty of time left for players to leave a lasting impression. Last month we checked in on freshmen making huge impacts for their respective teams. Once more we take a look at ninth-graders who are making big-time contributions so far with 11 standout freshmen featured in our HS Player Spotlight below. Gentry Barker OH Lovejoy TX: Barker has burst on the scene for the Leopards. The 4-star recruit was part of TAV 14 Black’s 14 Open gold medal performance at USAV GJNC in Chicago and is currently leading the team in kills. She has 289 kills, averaging 3.2 per set. She’s also second in digs with 263, averaging 2.9 per set. She also has a team-high 36 aces. She sent down a season-best 19 kills in a four-set victory over Plano West in early September. Kate Kalczynski OH Mercy MI: Kalczynski – a 3-star recruit who played for Legacy last spring – is another freshman leading the way. She’s put up a team-best 280 kills. She’s averaging 3.8 per set. It’s more than the next two kill leaders combined. She too is second on the roster in digs with 152 and leads with 39 aces. She swung for a season-high 20 kills in a four-set victory against Marian in last week. She also had a season-best 11 digs in that match. Reagan Wallraff MB Elkhorn North NE: A 4-star recruit who was part of Arizona Storm 14 Thunder’s silver-medal effort in Chicago this past summer, Wallraff has moved to Nebraska since and is starring for Elkhorn North. She has a team-high 297 kills, averaging 4.3 per set and is hitting .428. She also leads the team in blocks with 55. Among her best outings was a season-best 18 kills and hitting .500 in a sweep of Hastings in late August. She also had 18 kills in a sweep against Millard North in September. Malorie Boesiger S Norris NE: Boesiger is another freshman in the state of Nebraska having a tremendous season. The 4-star recruit played up two age groups for Nebraska One 16 Synergy’s bronze medal group this past club season and is making waves for the Titans this fall. She’s dished out 782 assists, averaging 11.5 per set. She also leads the roster with 58 aces. She’s had at least 19 assists in every outing so far, including a season-high 49 in a four-set victory against Waverly in September. It was one of two times she’s surpassed 40 assists, as she had 46 in a sweep over Elkhorn North this week. Morgan Meiring OH Bishop Fenwick OH: It’s been a strong rookie season for Meiring, a 4-star recruit who suited up for Elevation this past club season. She’s been the featured piece in the attack. She leads with 303 kills and is averaging 4.4 per set. Five times she’s recorded 20 or more kills. She had a season-best 25 winners and hit .327 in a five-set loss to Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy in early September. Lucy Ripley MB Oconto Falls WI: A 6-1 middle blocker, Ripley has made a sizeable impact for the Panthers. A 3-star recruit who played at FC Elite, she’s second in kills with 277 and is averaging 2.8 per set while hitting .304. She has a team-leading 60 blocks, which is more than the next two leaders combined. She put away a season-high 15 kills and hit .545 in a five-set loss against Luxemburg-Casco in mid-September. Ryah Brock OH Roosevelt CA: Brock – a 4-star recruit who was a big part of Forza1 North’s success this past club season – is a key part of what the Mustangs are doing offensively this fall. Her 263 kills leads the way. She’s averaging 3.7 per set. She powered down a season-best 20 kills in a five-set defeat to Santiago last week. She also had 16 kills and hit .565 in a three-set victory over Orange Lutheran in September. Peyton Kubik OH Blue Valley West KS: A 5-star recruit who swung and set for MAVS KC this past club year, Kubik has been an offensive force for the Jaguars. She’s making the switch to Dynasty this coming club year. In the meantime, she’s tops on the team with 308 kills, averaging 4.4 per set. Her best match came in a four-set victory over Blue Valley when she sent down a season-high 21 kills. Emerson Butler S Westlake TX: An injury cost Butler significant playing time this season but the 6-0, 3-star recruit has been nails when healthy. Despite playing in less than half of her team’s total sets, Butler has showed her value when in the lineup with 494 assists, averaging 9.7 per set. She started the season on fire before missing nearly a month. She delivered a season-high 56 assists in a five-set triumph over Stony Point in mid-August. She also had matches of 44 and 43 dimes in mid-August. Emma Kingston MB Mater Dei CA: A 6-4, 3-star recruit who was a starting middle for Tstreet 14 Carson in the spring, Kingston has contributed to the top-ranked Monarchs’ success to date. Though she hasn’t been a vital part of the attack, she does have 91 kills and is averaging 1.1 per set. However, she’s brought plenty of value on the defensive side with her blocking. She has a team-leading 77 and is averaging 0.9 per set. It includes a season-high 8 stuffs in a four-set victory against Orange Lutheran in September. Shaye Witherspoon RS Lafayette MO: Witherspoon has contributed nicely for the 26-2 Lancers. The 6-2, 5-star recruit played for Rockwood Thunder during club and is having a solid freshman campaign. She’s third in kills with 144, averaging 2.2 per set and hitting .303. She’s also second in blocks with 61. She had a season-best 11 kills and hit .647 in a victory over Kickapoo in early September.

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vballrecruiter.com’s Player of the Week: Layli Ostovar (FREE)

October 10, 2023

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: Layli Ostovar. *** What does the Texas heat have to do with our featured Player of the Week? It’s a big reason why Layli Ostovar – a 5-star recruit from the Class of 2026 and a sophomore at Mater Dei CA – started playing volleyball. She was 4 and living in Southlake when she first started playing tennis, along with her older sisters Ayva and Kayla, who were 5. “Playing tennis outdoors in the Texas heat we decided we would rather play an indoor sport and that’s how we fell in love with volleyball,” Ostovar said. “My dad coached and used to play in college.” A few years later the family moved to San Diego and then to Orange County when Ostovar was 10. That’s the year she started playing club at Tstreet before switching to Mizuno Long Beach at the start of her 13s season. She’s remained there since. “I just love competing everyday and trying to be the best I can be,” she said. “I like setting goals for myself. Every single day I wake up and I want to play volleyball. It’s something I love.” Being the youngest child helped develop Ostovar’s competitive drive. She strives to better than her older sisters in anything she does no matter what it is. It’s helped fuel her desire for reaching the next level. “My big goal is to get on the court at a top Division 1 school,” Ostovar said. “I liked to be challenged a lot and I want to be around girls who like to compete like me and who have made sacrifices in order to make themselves successful.” As for success, Mater Dei has enjoyed its share so far this fall. As one of the starting outside hitters, Ostovar has had a hand in Mater Dei capturing both the Volleypalooza and Durango Fall Classic tournament titles. The Monarchs entered the week No. 1 in vballrecruiter.com’s Top 50 National HS Rankings. “It was the best feeling,” Ostovar said of winning Volleypalooza. “We all really wanted to win that. It was one of our goals. It was such a competitive tournament. Just winning gave us such more confidence moving on. “Durango was such a hard tournament. We knew we hadn’t won it all in a long time and we wanted to bring that back. Winning it and bringing (the title) back was so great.” It was at Volleypalooza when a rare moment occurred. There was a trio of sisters playing on both teams at the same time as Mater Dei faced Prestonwood Christian TX in the final. Ostovar was on the court with her older sisters, while the Livings sisters – Jadyn, Nyla and Naomi – were on the other side of the net for Prestonwood. “I had no idea until after the game when someone told me that,” Ostovar said. “It was actually cool and funny too. Playing with my sisters is a really special experience and we are making so many memories we’ll be able to look back on. But I didn’t know we were playing against three other sisters. That was a really cool experience.” In addition to playing high school and club, Ostovar also plays beach volleyball. She feels playing on the sand helps grow her indoor skills. Playing indoor in college is her priority but she’s open to playing both. She also can envision herself continuing to play on the beach after she’s finished with college and her studies. “I want to study sports physical therapy,” said Ostovar, who also likes to bake cakes in her spare time. “I enjoy being around athletes and want to be around them for as long as possible and helping them to do their best.” As our featured Player of the Week sponsored by Dick’s Sporting Goods, we recently spoke with Ostovar about volleyball and more. Who is a role model or someone you look up to? Ostovar: I look up to undersized pins who have been really successful. Yossiana Pressley is one. London Wijay is another. I look up to them because I like how they are really well-rounded players. Would you rather explore space or the ocean and why? Ostovar: I would probably rather explore space. The ocean is kind of scary to me. I’m a little scared of the ocean. In space, you would be looking at different planets and stars and it would be such a cool image and memory to have. If you could choose to do anything for a day, what would it be and why? Ostovar: I’m thinking it would be to go on a shopping spree to Sephora, then dress up and go out to dinner with my friends. Then after, go to a Bruno Mars concert. Other than volleyball, what skill would you most like to learn and why? Ostovar: I really want to learn how to sing well. I love listening to music and singing along makes me happy and puts me in a really good mood, so I would love to learn that. Would you rather have the power to instantly master any new sport you try or have the ability to instantly recover from any sports-related injury and why? Ostovar: I would want to recover from any sports injury that happens. As an athlete it’s hard to come back from injuries and just getting back to jumping or being smart where to place the ball it takes a while to get back to the level you were at, so I’d rather be able to do that. Aside from necessities, what is one thing you could not go a day without? Ostovar: One thing I can’t go a day without is probably touching a volleyball. Sometimes I

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vballrecruiter.com’s Top 50 National HS Rankings (Oct. 9)

October 9, 2023

It was a mild week for the Top 50 National HS Rankings. A close call with Mira Costa CA beating Palos Verdes CA in five sets could have shaken up the rankings at the top but instead there was very little movement. The biggest news among the top-ranked teams was Marist IL beating Benet Academy IL and avenging an earlier loss. More payback happened when Prestonwood Christian TX swept Cathedral Catholic CA in the ESPN Showcase after the Dons beat Prestonwood at the Durango Fall Classic. Other than that, the top teams continued rolling along. You can check the full rankings below. vballrecruiter.com’S TOP 50 NATIONAL HS RANKINGS 1. Mater Dei CA (1 – previous ranking) 2. Mira Costa CA (2) 3. Papillion-La Vista South NE (3) 4. Hamilton Southeastern IN (7) 5. Prestonwood Christian TX (5) 6. Grand Oaks TX (6) 7. Cathedral Catholic CA (4) 8. Wayzata MN (8) 9. McKinney Boyd TX (9) 10. Skyridge UT (11) *** 11. Mother McAuley IL (12) 12. Divine Savior Holy Angels WI (13) 13. Assumption KY (14) 14. Marist IL (16) 15. Notre Dame Academy KY (17) 16. Benet Academy IL (10) 17. Dripping Springs TX (19) 18. Carrollwood Day FL (21) 19. O’Connor AZ (22) 20. Blue Valley North KS (23) *** 21. St. Francis/Mountain View CA (15) 22. Sierra Canyon CA (20) 23. St. James Academy KS (32) 24. Archbishop Mitty CA (24) 25. Oconomowoc WI (26) 26. Cornerstone Christian TX (18) 27. Lake Catholic OH (28) 28. Kings OH (29) 29. Branson CA (25) 30. Dike-New Hartford IA (n/r) *** 31. Valor Christian CO (30) 32. Xavier Prep AZ (31) 33. Hudsonville MI (n/r) 34. St. Thomas Aquinas KS (33) 35. Lafayette MO (34) 36. Mercy McAuley OH (50) 37. Winter Park FL (37) 38. Lone Peak UT (38) 39. North Branch MI (40) 40. Lewis Palmer CO (43) *** 41. Alpharetta GA (n/r) 42. Angola IN (45) 43. Punahou HI (36) 44. Huntington Beach CA (41) 45. Bishop Alemany CA (42) 46. Maize South KS (46) 47. Viera FL (35) 48. Torrey Pines CA (47) 49. Seton OH (39) 50. Northville MI (49) *** ON THE CUSPClear Creek Amana IALos Alamitos CAFoothill CAMarymount CARedondo Union CAPlant FLCalvary Christian FLBerkeley Prep FLPope GAPace Academy GABob Jones ALMountain Brook ALCorona del Sol AZMillennium AZSunrise Mountain AZLiberty AZBellmont INSacred Heart Academy KYBingham UTBishop Gorman NVKamehameha HIDorman SCNorth Myrtle Beach SCNixa MOByron Nelson TXSt. Ursula Academy OHMount Notre Dame OHLiberty North MOCorner Canyon UTPleasant Grove UTRoncalli INYorktown INWashburn Rural KSGlenbard West ILJenks OKMount St. Mary OKMiddle Creek NCLa Cueva NM

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ESPN Showcase: Prestonwood, St. James Shine

October 7, 2023

The ESPN Volleyball Showcase brought together four of the top volleyball high school squads in the nation. First up was St. James Academy from Kansas who took on Cornerstone Christian out of San Antonio. And that’s not all—following that match was Cathedral Catholic, hailing out of San Diego, California, who went head-to-head with the host school, Prestonwood Christian in Plano, Texas. Friday’s showdowns in the Lone Star state had an unforgettable display of skill, athleticism and pure excitement. AND we hope you witnessed it on ESPN+ and ESPNU! *** Match one: St. James Academy d Cornerstone Christian (25-22, 20-25, 25-23, 25-13) ​​In Game 1 of the match between St. James Academy and Cornerstone Christian it was clear from the get-go that St. James meant business. Junior Reese Messer took charge with her impeccable finesse, cleverly orchestrating offensive plays to open up her teammates for some explosive kills. However, Cornerstone refused to back down, responding with big swings from Megan Fitch, Grace Carroll and Aniya Hall. St. James, undeterred, unleashed its own firepower, with Leah Robinson launching continuously powerful hits that left the opposition scrambling to defend. Meanwhile, Mya Bolton showcased exceptional defensive prowess, defying gravity with breathtaking digs. In Game 2, Fitch came out swinging. For Cornerstone the senior trio of libero Maria Avendano and defensive specialists Giselle Ojeda and Grace Alvarez came in clutch in serve receive and defensively. Middle blocker Olivia Parker and right side Amaya Tolentino also provided great defense at the net. In Game 4, it literally became the Messer show. She did it all. From attacking to defense to dishing she was on fire in all areas which helped her squad really dominate. Show Stoppers Reese Messer JR S St. James Academy KS: Messer, a 5-star recruit committed to USC, was a game changer. She can literally do it all. From dishing butter sets to shutting down the opposition defensively to splitting the opposition with ease Messer owned the court. Leah Robinson SO OH/RS St. James Academy KS: Robinson, a 3-star recruit, was a key component to her squad. She is a six rotation right side who stays on both pins in the front row. Messer also dished a ton of balls to her in the back row in which she cracked on the ball consistently. Julia Headley SR MB St. James Academy: Headley, a Colgate commit, was a wall at the net. She also had some great swings in the middle throughout the match. Mya Bolton SR L St. James Academy KS: Bolton, a 3-star recruit committed to Michigan State, was a defensive gem in the backcourt. She reads the offensive attack well. Heidi Devers SR DS St. James Academy: Dever, a 4-star recruit committed to Kansas, was part of a two part DS tandem that provided great serve reception. Devers also is a scrappy defensive athlete who gets a ton of touches. Katelynn Blaesing SR DS St. James Academy KS: Blaesing, a Creighton commit, was the other part of a great defensive specialist squad that bolstered the back row both in serve receive and defensively. And like Devers, she was able to get some amazing touches defensively. Ava Spachek SR OH St. James Academy KS: Spachek, a 3-star recruit, was another huge contributor offensively for SJA. She packed a punch on the pins consistently. Megan Fitch JR OH Cornerstone Christian: Fitch, a 5-star recruit committed to Texas A&M, is a high-flying scoring machine anywhere on the court. She has a high volleyball IQ which also helps her score at will. PS she is always a ton of fun to watch in all aspects of the game. Grace Carroll SR RS Cornerstone Christian: Carroll, a 4-star recruit committed to Baylor, is a wall on the pin. And when she connects with the ball she literally hits over the block on the reg. Maria Avendano SR L Cornerstone Christian: Avendano, a Texas A&M-Corpus Christi commit, was a silent leader on the court who passed nails and provided her squad great defensive tenacity. *** Match two: Prestonwood Christian d Cathedral Catholic (25-23, 25-21, 25-16) Cathedral Catholic came out on fire. The Dons were led by senior 4-star Michigan commit Jenna Hanes in the middle who was hitting over the block and through the block at will. Also senior right side Tiana Owens was firing through the block at will for Cathedral Catholic. Prestonwood fired back with its arsenal of power led by recent Texas commit and 5-star junior Macaria Spears. And let’s not forget to mention senior 5-star USC commit Jadyn Livings and senior 4-star TCU commit Mikala Young provided big-time kills too. Game 2, like the opening set, had Cathedral neck-and-neck with Prestonwood thanks to amazing defense from junior libero and 4-star Maryland commit Maya Evens and the freshman on the squad setter Kale’a Lee and outside hitter Jojo Wilson owning the court. And outside hitter 3-star Hawaii beach commit Ayva Moi also provided big-time swings on the pins. But Prestonwood would not be silenced. Middle blockers senior 4-star San Diego commit Kennedy Washington and freshman 5-star recruit Nyla Livings came through with huge blocks. Also junior libero and 5-star Houston commit Gillian Pitts provided so much stability in the back court. She was nails in passing and was great defensively consistently. And side note, can we just say it was fun to see a few sister sister blocks by Jadyn and Nyla Livings in this game. In the final set Prestonwood took no prisoners and came out swinging. Junior right side 4-star recruit Taylor Clarke has impressive kills, while both setters senior 5-star Michigan commit Camille Edwards and junior 4-star Kansas commit Taylor Cook dished with authority. Cathedral did a lineup change with Mae Kordas, who started the match in the middle and ended up finishing the match on the outside with some good swings. Show Stoppers Macaria Spears JR OH Prestonwood Christian: Spears, a 5-star recruit recently committed to Texas, is next-level talent everywhere. She hits at such a high contact with

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HS Player Spotlight: 19 Standout Juniors

October 4, 2023

With the Asics Challenge in Chicago and the Nike TOC Southwest in Phoenix, it was a busy end to the month of September. With the tournament season near its conclusion and certain states gearing up for sectionals and regionals on their way to the state playoffs, we were on the lookout for juniors having standout seasons. Below, we highlight 19 players from the Class of 2025 who are excelling for their respective schools. Charlotte Vinson OH Yorktown IN: Vinson – a 4-star Indiana commit – has been a wrecking ball on the outside. She entered the week with 596 kills, more than half her team’s total kills. She’s averaging 6.7 per set. She’s reached double-digit kills in all 26 matches so far. She has 15 outings of at least 20 kills or more, including five matches of at least 30 kills more. It included a season-best 39 winners in a five-set triumph over Noblesville in last September. Lauren Hurst OH Cleveland TN: Hurst is having a huge junior campaign for the Blue Raiders. She’s collected 602 kills to date, averaging 5.2 per set. She’s also third in blocks and aces. The 4-star recruit has put up 20 or more kills five times. She had a season-high 29 kills in a five-set loss to East Hamilton in mid-September. Suli Davis S/OH Colleyville Heritage TX: A 5-star recruit, Davis has been on fire this fall. Even with splitting time setting, Davis leads the teams in kills by a wide margin. Her 512 winners are nearly 300 more than the next closest player. Not only is she averaging 5.2 per set, she’s hitting a whopping .458 to boot. She’s also dished out 329 assists, averaging 5.8 per set. She’s third in blocks and second in aces as well. She posted a season-best 32 kills and hit .500 in a five-set victory against Byron Nelson in late August. Navea Gauthier OH Shelby MI: To say Gauthier is the go-to hitter for the Tigers in an understatement. The 5-star Ohio State commit has shouldered a very large percentage of the offense. She’s racked up 501 kills, averaging an impressive 8.5 per set. She’s also the ace leader and second in digs. She’s reached double-digit kills in all but one match. She dropped a season-high 33 kills and hit .500 in a sweep over Holton in late September. It was the second time she surpassed the 30-kill mark. Those are among the 13 times she has eclipsed 20 kills or more. Lily Dee Davis OH Westlake TX: A 4-star Texas beach commit, Davis has appeared in all but four sets to date. She’s leading the charge with 498 kills, averaging 4.9 per set. She’s also second in digs with 403 and leads in aces. She hammered down a season-best 35 kills in a five-set defeat to Dripping Springs in mid-September. Madison Quest OH Divine Savior Holy Angels: It’s been a tremendous year so far for nationally-ranked DSHA, which is 34-1. The only loss came to Mother McAuley in the semifinals of the Asics Challenge this past weekend. Quest – a 5-star Wisconsin commit – has put up 384 kills and is averaging 4.7 per set. She’s also second in both digs and blocks and third in aces. She recorded a season-high 20 kills in a four-set victory over Brookfield East earlier this week. She also had a match in which she had 15 kills and hit .882 last month. Asia Harvey OH Sandy Creek GA: Harvey – a 5-star recruit – is having a strong year for the Patriots. To date she leads the way with 360 kills and is hitting .348. She’s had her share of impressive performances. Among them is a season-high 19 kills and hitting .571 in a victory over Morgan County in mid-September. She also registered 17 kills and hit .800 in beating Westlake. Another included 9 kills and hitting 1.000 in sweeping Wesleyan. Kassidy O’Brien S Cinco Ranch TX: A 5-star Kentucky commit, O’Brien has starred as expected. She started the week with 919 assists, averaging 10.7 per set. She’s had a handful of monster performances. Among them are a pair of matches when she posted a season-high 51 assists. She’s also had contests of 49 and 41 assists. All four efforts led to victories. She’s also third in digs, averaging 3.1 per set. Abigail Li S Alpharetta GA: With Li guiding the attack, the Raiders are having a great year so far with a 32-2 mark. The 4-star SMU commit has dished out 843 assists, averaging 10.2 per set. She’s reached double-digit assists in every match so. Twice she’s put up a season-high 51 assists and another time 42. All were victories. Isabela Haggard S Dunbar KY: A 3-star Indiana commit, Haggard has been a vital part of Dunbar’s success. She’s totaled 745 assists and is averaging 8.8 per set so far. She’s also second in kills with 192, averaging 2.3 per set. She’s surpassed 30 or more assists 11 times, including twice reaching 40 or more. She had a season-high 43 assists in a four-set victory over Oldham in August. Maya Baker S Archbishop Mitty CA: Baker – a 4-star Notre Dame commit – has helped the nationally-ranked Monarchs to an 18-4 record at week’s start. She’s recorded 645 assists, averaging 10.8 per set. She’s reached double-digit assists in all but one contest, when she appeared in just one set that outing. She’s had at least 20 or more assists in all but for matches. She registered a season-high 54 assists in a five-set victory over St. Ignatius in August. Reese Messer S St. James Academy KS: Messer and the nationally-ranked Thunder are 29-3. The 5-star USC commit Is having a stellar season. She’s delivered 616 assists, averaging 9.9 per set, and has played in every set to date. She’s reached double-digit assists in every match. It included a season-best 40 assists in a three-set victory over Washburn Rural last week. Jordan Taylor MB Langham Creek TX: A

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vballrecruiter.com’s Player of the Week: Ayanna Watson (FREE)

October 17, 2023

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: Ayanna Watson. *** Being 5-10 in fifth grade and her father being a former NBA player, it makes sense Ayanna Watson would grow up having played basketball. Though she tried just about everything from dance, to gymnastics, to soccer, “the sport I played the most was basketball,” she said. However, her mom wanted her to try a new sport and that’s what led her to volleyball. Watson continued playing both sports until age 13. Now a 6-4, 5-star recruit and a sophomore at Bishop Gorman in Nevada, volleyball is her main focus. “I really like the fact that I get to do everything,” Watson said. “In basketball, I really only did one thing. I was a center because I’m tall and I stood by the basket and didn’t do much else. In volleyball, I get to hit, pass, block and set out of system. I pretty much get to do everything.” Watson began garnering attention as an eighth-grader playing up an age group on Vegas Aces 15 UA two years ago. She’s becoming more and more recognizable on the national stage with both the success enjoyed by Vegas Aces this past season as well as Bishop Gorman’s travel during the high school season. Watson – again playing up an age group – helped Vegas Aces 16 UA earn an Open bid to the USAV GJNC in Chicago this past summer, as the team qualified at the Salt Lake City Showdown qualifier in April. This coming club season, she’ll stay with her own age group and be part of the 16s once more for Vegas Aces. “I’m looking forward to building with my team and getting to know all of them and being able to play at a high level like we did last year,” Watson said. As for high school, Bishop Gorman has shown it’s not afraid to participate in the most competitive tournaments the country has to offer. As a freshman, Watson was part of a squad that traveled to both Nike TOC events in Tampa and Phoenix, as well as playing in the local Durango Fall Classic, long considered the gold standard of high school volleyball tournaments. She ended her rookie campaign second on the team in kills with 317, averaging 3.4 per set, as the Gaels reached the semifinals of the 5A state playoffs. Once more this season, Bishop Gorman has stacked its schedule in hopes of finishing the season on top when the state playoffs roll around. The team again traveled to Tampa for the Nike TOC and participated in the Durango Fall Classic – taking 17th place – and visited Southern California recently for the Redondo Power Classic, where the Gaels finished third after falling to national No. 2 Mira Costa CA in the semis. Watson entered the week leading the team in kills with 427, averaging 5.2 per set. She’s also second in both blocks and aces, and third in digs. “We are doing pretty well,” she said. “We are staying on track and really want to win state. We have the talent. We have the right people. We are always there for each other. I love playing with this team. “It’s a really big privilege to get to travel with the people you are closest with. It’s really a big family. The coaches and players talk on a personal level. No one gets offended when you give any feedback. There’s nothing negative about it.” Watson shared she would eventually want to coach when she’s done playing. She’s aiming to sign at a top Division 1 program and possibly play professionally after that. In her free time Watson likes to go shopping with her mom and friends, as well as spend time hanging out with her friends and sisters. “I just want to give all of the glory to God for blessing me with my athletic abilities and for allowing me to be able to display them,” Watson said. “Without Him, none of this would be possible and I thank Him for keeping me safe and protected. I am excited to see where His plan will take me in the future.” As our featured Player of the Week sponsored by Dick’s Sporting Goods, we recently spoke with Watson about volleyball and more. Who is a role model or someone you look up to? Watson: For volleyball, I would say it’s a lot of successful pin hitters. Players who not only hit hard, but they are smart and really good at defense. Just all-around good players. Logan Eggleston is one. Outside of volleyball it is Kobe (Bryant) because of his work ethic, mentality and just his all-around competitiveness. Would you rather explore space or the ocean and why? Watson: This is kind of hard. I would say probably the ocean. I like being by the water. I would like learning about different animals, especially the ones people don’t already know about. If you could choose to do anything for a day, what would it be and why? Watson: I would go to dinner with my friends. I would go hang out with them and have a sleepover. Other than volleyball, what skill would you most like to learn and why? Watson: I want to learn how to play an instrument. I used to play violin in third grade because the school required it, so I picked that. I don’t know how to play it anymore, but instruments are fun and they help with other things. It would be a good experience. Aside from necessities, what is one thing you could not go a day without? Watson: I definitely can’t go a day without my phone or my headphones. What is one thing that instantly makes your

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vballrecruiter.com’s Top 50 National HS Rankings (Oct. 16)

October 16, 2023

It’s officially playoff time! At least for many of the teams in our Top 50 the postseason has arrived. A few states wrap up their regular seasons this week while one school has already completed its season in Cornerstone Christian TX. The top three schools in our rankings – Mater Dei CA, Mira Costa CA and Papillion-LaVista South NE – are set to kick off their respective playoffs this week. Hamilton Southeastern IN – ranked No. 4 – started its postseason over the weekend. It’s a significant moment when it comes to the rankings, because postseason results change everything. Teams have spent all year building up in hopes of capturing a state title and the way we treat those results heavily impact the Top 50. Should Team A lose to Team B and have its season ended during the chase for a state title, Team B is going to be ranked ahead of Team A no matter any other circumstance. Any major upset is going to lead to a big rankings shake up. There wasn’t a ton of movement this week, but we did see one of the unbeatens fall when Skyridge UT went down to Lone Peak UT. It leaves Papillion-LaVista South, Hamilton Southeastern, Wayzata MN, Lake Catholic OH, Dike-New Hartford IA, Valor Christian CO and Lewis-Palmer CO as the remaining undefeated schools left. You can view the full Top 50 rankings below. vballrecruiter.com’S TOP 50 NATIONAL HS RANKINGS 1. Mater Dei CA (1 – previous ranking) 2. Mira Costa CA (2) 3. Papillion-La Vista South NE (3) 4. Hamilton Southeastern IN (4) 5. Prestonwood Catholic TX (5) 6. Grand Oaks TX (6) 7. Cathedral Catholic CA (7) 8. Wayzata MN (8) 9. McKinney Boyd TX (9) 10. Assumption KY (13) *** 11. Marist IL (14) 12. Benet Academy IL (16) 13. Mother McAuley IL (11) 14. Divine Savior Holy Angels WI (12) 15. O’Connor AZ (19) 16. St. Francis/Mountain View CA (21) 17. Sierra Canyon CA (22) 18. Archbishop Mitty CA (24) 19. Oconomowoc WI (25) 20. Dripping Springs TX (17) *** 21. Notre Dame Academy KY (15) 22. Lake Catholic OH (27) 23. Blue Valley North KS (20) 24. Kings OH (28) 25. St. James Academy KS (23) 26. Cornerstone Christian TX (26) 27. Middle Creek NC (n/r) 28. St. Thomas Aquinas KS (34) 29. Carrollwood Day FL (18) 30. Lafayette MO (35) *** 31. Branson CA (29) 32. Dike-New Hartford IA (30) 33. Valor Christian CO (31) 34. Hudsonville MI (33) 35. Winter Park FL (37) 36. Lewis-Palmer CO (40) 37. Seton OH (49) 38. Xavier Prep AZ (32) 39. Lone Peak UT (38) 40. Angola IN (42) *** 41. Lake Travis TX (n/r) 42. Bingham UT (n/r) 43. Mercy McAuley OH (36) 44. Skyridge UT (10) 45. Bishop Alemany CA (45) 46. Torrey Pines CA (48) 47. North Branch MI (39) 48. Alpharetta GA (41) 49. Glenbard West IL (n/r) 50. Maize South KS (46) ON THE CUSPNorthville MIViera FLPunahou HIHuntington Beach CAClear Creek Amana IALos Alamitos CAFoothill CAMarymount CARedondo Union CAPlant FLCalvary Christian FLBerkeley Prep FLPope GAPace Academy GABob Jones ALMountain Brook ALCorona del Sol AZMillennium AZSunrise Mountain AZLiberty AZBellmont INSacred Heart Academy KYBishop Gorman NVKamehameha HIDorman SCNorth Myrtle Beach SCNixa MOByron Nelson TXSt. Ursula Academy OHMount Notre Dame OHLiberty North MOCorner Canyon UTPleasant Grove UTRoncalli INYorktown INWashburn Rural KSJenks OKMount St. Mary OKLa Cueva NM

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HS Team Spotlight: 7 To Watch Out For

October 12, 2023

Since the beginning of September we’ve been releasing our weekly Top 50 National HS Rankings. It’s tough to crack the Top 50 without playing in at least one major tournament. However, that doesn’t mean there are not schools having spectacular seasons nonetheless. Below, we check in on seven programs making big splashes so far this fall. Mount St. Mary OK: The Rockets have been a team under consideration for the Top 50. To date, they are 37-3 with a few solid victories under their belts. It includes beating a trio of Texas schools in Harlan (twice), Barbers Hill and Reagan. Mount St. Mary also owns a victory over Oklahoma 6A power Jenks, which has also handed the Rockets two of their three losses. The other is to nationally-ranked Dripping Springs TX. Mount St. Mary is the two-time defending 5A state champ and is coming of a season in which they went 41-1 in 2022. The Rockets have since moved up to 6A. They are led by 3-star Iowa commit and junior outside Gia McGrew. Senior outside Ally Fees, junior middle Georgia Ahlert and sophomore outside Ella Hale are also big contributors on offense as well. The attack is directed by junior setter Livia Ward while the defense is anchored by junior libero Mackenzi Bass. Bingham UT: After going 18-13 a year ago, the Miners are showing they are one of the best 6A teams in the state of Utah this fall and is another program on the cusp on the Top 50. They have pushed their mark to 21-2 to date. Their two setbacks have come to Lone Peak and Pleasant Grove, a school the Miners also own a victory over. Helping lead the charge is 4-star Utah commit and senior outside Levani Key-Powell. Senior middle Hazel Marchant and junior outside Paige Ballif are the next two highest kill leaders. Junior setter Maddie Evans guides the offense and is averaging 9.3 assists per set. Defensively, the Miners are led by senior libero Jessica Troung. North Myrtle Beach SC: The Chiefs finished runner up in last year’s Class 4A state final and are once again looking like a squad capable of winning it all. They are currently 31-1, with their only loss coming to Musselman WV, and are riding a 26-match winning streak. Junior outside Olivia Borgamn (3.9 kills per set) and sophomore outside Clara Coninger (3.6 k/s) have been instrumental to the success. Also making key contributions is junior setter Bella Loeswick and senior libero Kendal Scanlin. Bob Jones AL: It’s been a tremendous season so far for the Patriots, who sit at 43-1. Mountain Brook – a team Bob Jones has defeated twice – is the only opponent to breakthrough. The schools won’t see each other in the playoffs however, as Bob Jones competes in 7A and Mountain Brook in 6A. Bob Jones wraps up the regular season this week. Leading the way has been junior outside Kennedy Vaughn, junior setter Riley Lovell and senior libero Meg Jarrett. Middle Creek NC: The Mustangs – who are 19-1 – were one victory away from reaching last season’s 4A state final four and are eager for another opportunity. Middle Creek and Green Hope split a pair of contests and could run into each other in the state playoffs. Sally Perez, a 6-3 senior outside, has been clutch for the Mustangs. She’s averaging 5.4 kills per set. She’s been helped by senior setter Avery Scoggins, who is committed to Arizona. Middle Creek has received a boost defensively from freshman libero Graceyn Shepard. Jesuit OR: The Crusaders could be poised to regain the 6A throne, a spot they last held in 2019 and have finished runner up the past two seasons. At 25-1 to date, they lost early on and are now riding a 21-match winning streak. Seniors Lilly Lansing and Emma Williams and sophomore Sadie Ross bring a balanced attack. Each is averaging 3.0 kills per set. Junior libero Addy Azavedo is averaging 3.2 digs per set. Punahou HI: Punahou is the only team featured that is currently in the Top 50, but a pair of recent losses could change that in next week’s update. After beginning the year 26-1, the Buff N Blue have lost consecutive matches to Kamehameha. Punahou defeated Kamehameha in their first meeting but lost the matchup last week and then again this week. The two schools are the favorite for the Division 1 state title. Seniors Haumea Marumoto and Lulu Uluave have been huge on the outside. Rella Binney – a 3-star Texas commit – has excelled at setter.

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HS Player Spotlight: 11 Standout Freshmen

October 11, 2023

There’s just over a month left before the high school season comes to a close. With the state playoffs still ahead, there’s plenty of time left for players to leave a lasting impression. Last month we checked in on freshmen making huge impacts for their respective teams. Once more we take a look at ninth-graders who are making big-time contributions so far with 11 standout freshmen featured in our HS Player Spotlight below. Gentry Barker OH Lovejoy TX: Barker has burst on the scene for the Leopards. The 4-star recruit was part of TAV 14 Black’s 14 Open gold medal performance at USAV GJNC in Chicago and is currently leading the team in kills. She has 289 kills, averaging 3.2 per set. She’s also second in digs with 263, averaging 2.9 per set. She also has a team-high 36 aces. She sent down a season-best 19 kills in a four-set victory over Plano West in early September. Kate Kalczynski OH Mercy MI: Kalczynski – a 3-star recruit who played for Legacy last spring – is another freshman leading the way. She’s put up a team-best 280 kills. She’s averaging 3.8 per set. It’s more than the next two kill leaders combined. She too is second on the roster in digs with 152 and leads with 39 aces. She swung for a season-high 20 kills in a four-set victory against Marian in last week. She also had a season-best 11 digs in that match. Reagan Wallraff MB Elkhorn North NE: A 4-star recruit who was part of Arizona Storm 14 Thunder’s silver-medal effort in Chicago this past summer, Wallraff has moved to Nebraska since and is starring for Elkhorn North. She has a team-high 297 kills, averaging 4.3 per set and is hitting .428. She also leads the team in blocks with 55. Among her best outings was a season-best 18 kills and hitting .500 in a sweep of Hastings in late August. She also had 18 kills in a sweep against Millard North in September. Malorie Boesiger S Norris NE: Boesiger is another freshman in the state of Nebraska having a tremendous season. The 4-star recruit played up two age groups for Nebraska One 16 Synergy’s bronze medal group this past club season and is making waves for the Titans this fall. She’s dished out 782 assists, averaging 11.5 per set. She also leads the roster with 58 aces. She’s had at least 19 assists in every outing so far, including a season-high 49 in a four-set victory against Waverly in September. It was one of two times she’s surpassed 40 assists, as she had 46 in a sweep over Elkhorn North this week. Morgan Meiring OH Bishop Fenwick OH: It’s been a strong rookie season for Meiring, a 4-star recruit who suited up for Elevation this past club season. She’s been the featured piece in the attack. She leads with 303 kills and is averaging 4.4 per set. Five times she’s recorded 20 or more kills. She had a season-best 25 winners and hit .327 in a five-set loss to Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy in early September. Lucy Ripley MB Oconto Falls WI: A 6-1 middle blocker, Ripley has made a sizeable impact for the Panthers. A 3-star recruit who played at FC Elite, she’s second in kills with 277 and is averaging 2.8 per set while hitting .304. She has a team-leading 60 blocks, which is more than the next two leaders combined. She put away a season-high 15 kills and hit .545 in a five-set loss against Luxemburg-Casco in mid-September. Ryah Brock OH Roosevelt CA: Brock – a 4-star recruit who was a big part of Forza1 North’s success this past club season – is a key part of what the Mustangs are doing offensively this fall. Her 263 kills leads the way. She’s averaging 3.7 per set. She powered down a season-best 20 kills in a five-set defeat to Santiago last week. She also had 16 kills and hit .565 in a three-set victory over Orange Lutheran in September. Peyton Kubik OH Blue Valley West KS: A 5-star recruit who swung and set for MAVS KC this past club year, Kubik has been an offensive force for the Jaguars. She’s making the switch to Dynasty this coming club year. In the meantime, she’s tops on the team with 308 kills, averaging 4.4 per set. Her best match came in a four-set victory over Blue Valley when she sent down a season-high 21 kills. Emerson Butler S Westlake TX: An injury cost Butler significant playing time this season but the 6-0, 3-star recruit has been nails when healthy. Despite playing in less than half of her team’s total sets, Butler has showed her value when in the lineup with 494 assists, averaging 9.7 per set. She started the season on fire before missing nearly a month. She delivered a season-high 56 assists in a five-set triumph over Stony Point in mid-August. She also had matches of 44 and 43 dimes in mid-August. Emma Kingston MB Mater Dei CA: A 6-4, 3-star recruit who was a starting middle for Tstreet 14 Carson in the spring, Kingston has contributed to the top-ranked Monarchs’ success to date. Though she hasn’t been a vital part of the attack, she does have 91 kills and is averaging 1.1 per set. However, she’s brought plenty of value on the defensive side with her blocking. She has a team-leading 77 and is averaging 0.9 per set. It includes a season-high 8 stuffs in a four-set victory against Orange Lutheran in September. Shaye Witherspoon RS Lafayette MO: Witherspoon has contributed nicely for the 26-2 Lancers. The 6-2, 5-star recruit played for Rockwood Thunder during club and is having a solid freshman campaign. She’s third in kills with 144, averaging 2.2 per set and hitting .303. She’s also second in blocks with 61. She had a season-best 11 kills and hit .647 in a victory over Kickapoo in early September.

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vballrecruiter.com’s Player of the Week: Layli Ostovar (FREE)

October 10, 2023

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: Layli Ostovar. *** What does the Texas heat have to do with our featured Player of the Week? It’s a big reason why Layli Ostovar – a 5-star recruit from the Class of 2026 and a sophomore at Mater Dei CA – started playing volleyball. She was 4 and living in Southlake when she first started playing tennis, along with her older sisters Ayva and Kayla, who were 5. “Playing tennis outdoors in the Texas heat we decided we would rather play an indoor sport and that’s how we fell in love with volleyball,” Ostovar said. “My dad coached and used to play in college.” A few years later the family moved to San Diego and then to Orange County when Ostovar was 10. That’s the year she started playing club at Tstreet before switching to Mizuno Long Beach at the start of her 13s season. She’s remained there since. “I just love competing everyday and trying to be the best I can be,” she said. “I like setting goals for myself. Every single day I wake up and I want to play volleyball. It’s something I love.” Being the youngest child helped develop Ostovar’s competitive drive. She strives to better than her older sisters in anything she does no matter what it is. It’s helped fuel her desire for reaching the next level. “My big goal is to get on the court at a top Division 1 school,” Ostovar said. “I liked to be challenged a lot and I want to be around girls who like to compete like me and who have made sacrifices in order to make themselves successful.” As for success, Mater Dei has enjoyed its share so far this fall. As one of the starting outside hitters, Ostovar has had a hand in Mater Dei capturing both the Volleypalooza and Durango Fall Classic tournament titles. The Monarchs entered the week No. 1 in vballrecruiter.com’s Top 50 National HS Rankings. “It was the best feeling,” Ostovar said of winning Volleypalooza. “We all really wanted to win that. It was one of our goals. It was such a competitive tournament. Just winning gave us such more confidence moving on. “Durango was such a hard tournament. We knew we hadn’t won it all in a long time and we wanted to bring that back. Winning it and bringing (the title) back was so great.” It was at Volleypalooza when a rare moment occurred. There was a trio of sisters playing on both teams at the same time as Mater Dei faced Prestonwood Christian TX in the final. Ostovar was on the court with her older sisters, while the Livings sisters – Jadyn, Nyla and Naomi – were on the other side of the net for Prestonwood. “I had no idea until after the game when someone told me that,” Ostovar said. “It was actually cool and funny too. Playing with my sisters is a really special experience and we are making so many memories we’ll be able to look back on. But I didn’t know we were playing against three other sisters. That was a really cool experience.” In addition to playing high school and club, Ostovar also plays beach volleyball. She feels playing on the sand helps grow her indoor skills. Playing indoor in college is her priority but she’s open to playing both. She also can envision herself continuing to play on the beach after she’s finished with college and her studies. “I want to study sports physical therapy,” said Ostovar, who also likes to bake cakes in her spare time. “I enjoy being around athletes and want to be around them for as long as possible and helping them to do their best.” As our featured Player of the Week sponsored by Dick’s Sporting Goods, we recently spoke with Ostovar about volleyball and more. Who is a role model or someone you look up to? Ostovar: I look up to undersized pins who have been really successful. Yossiana Pressley is one. London Wijay is another. I look up to them because I like how they are really well-rounded players. Would you rather explore space or the ocean and why? Ostovar: I would probably rather explore space. The ocean is kind of scary to me. I’m a little scared of the ocean. In space, you would be looking at different planets and stars and it would be such a cool image and memory to have. If you could choose to do anything for a day, what would it be and why? Ostovar: I’m thinking it would be to go on a shopping spree to Sephora, then dress up and go out to dinner with my friends. Then after, go to a Bruno Mars concert. Other than volleyball, what skill would you most like to learn and why? Ostovar: I really want to learn how to sing well. I love listening to music and singing along makes me happy and puts me in a really good mood, so I would love to learn that. Would you rather have the power to instantly master any new sport you try or have the ability to instantly recover from any sports-related injury and why? Ostovar: I would want to recover from any sports injury that happens. As an athlete it’s hard to come back from injuries and just getting back to jumping or being smart where to place the ball it takes a while to get back to the level you were at, so I’d rather be able to do that. Aside from necessities, what is one thing you could not go a day without? Ostovar: One thing I can’t go a day without is probably touching a volleyball. Sometimes I

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vballrecruiter.com’s Top 50 National HS Rankings (Oct. 9)

October 9, 2023

It was a mild week for the Top 50 National HS Rankings. A close call with Mira Costa CA beating Palos Verdes CA in five sets could have shaken up the rankings at the top but instead there was very little movement. The biggest news among the top-ranked teams was Marist IL beating Benet Academy IL and avenging an earlier loss. More payback happened when Prestonwood Christian TX swept Cathedral Catholic CA in the ESPN Showcase after the Dons beat Prestonwood at the Durango Fall Classic. Other than that, the top teams continued rolling along. You can check the full rankings below. vballrecruiter.com’S TOP 50 NATIONAL HS RANKINGS 1. Mater Dei CA (1 – previous ranking) 2. Mira Costa CA (2) 3. Papillion-La Vista South NE (3) 4. Hamilton Southeastern IN (7) 5. Prestonwood Christian TX (5) 6. Grand Oaks TX (6) 7. Cathedral Catholic CA (4) 8. Wayzata MN (8) 9. McKinney Boyd TX (9) 10. Skyridge UT (11) *** 11. Mother McAuley IL (12) 12. Divine Savior Holy Angels WI (13) 13. Assumption KY (14) 14. Marist IL (16) 15. Notre Dame Academy KY (17) 16. Benet Academy IL (10) 17. Dripping Springs TX (19) 18. Carrollwood Day FL (21) 19. O’Connor AZ (22) 20. Blue Valley North KS (23) *** 21. St. Francis/Mountain View CA (15) 22. Sierra Canyon CA (20) 23. St. James Academy KS (32) 24. Archbishop Mitty CA (24) 25. Oconomowoc WI (26) 26. Cornerstone Christian TX (18) 27. Lake Catholic OH (28) 28. Kings OH (29) 29. Branson CA (25) 30. Dike-New Hartford IA (n/r) *** 31. Valor Christian CO (30) 32. Xavier Prep AZ (31) 33. Hudsonville MI (n/r) 34. St. Thomas Aquinas KS (33) 35. Lafayette MO (34) 36. Mercy McAuley OH (50) 37. Winter Park FL (37) 38. Lone Peak UT (38) 39. North Branch MI (40) 40. Lewis Palmer CO (43) *** 41. Alpharetta GA (n/r) 42. Angola IN (45) 43. Punahou HI (36) 44. Huntington Beach CA (41) 45. Bishop Alemany CA (42) 46. Maize South KS (46) 47. Viera FL (35) 48. Torrey Pines CA (47) 49. Seton OH (39) 50. Northville MI (49) *** ON THE CUSPClear Creek Amana IALos Alamitos CAFoothill CAMarymount CARedondo Union CAPlant FLCalvary Christian FLBerkeley Prep FLPope GAPace Academy GABob Jones ALMountain Brook ALCorona del Sol AZMillennium AZSunrise Mountain AZLiberty AZBellmont INSacred Heart Academy KYBingham UTBishop Gorman NVKamehameha HIDorman SCNorth Myrtle Beach SCNixa MOByron Nelson TXSt. Ursula Academy OHMount Notre Dame OHLiberty North MOCorner Canyon UTPleasant Grove UTRoncalli INYorktown INWashburn Rural KSGlenbard West ILJenks OKMount St. Mary OKMiddle Creek NCLa Cueva NM

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ESPN Showcase: Prestonwood, St. James Shine

October 7, 2023

The ESPN Volleyball Showcase brought together four of the top volleyball high school squads in the nation. First up was St. James Academy from Kansas who took on Cornerstone Christian out of San Antonio. And that’s not all—following that match was Cathedral Catholic, hailing out of San Diego, California, who went head-to-head with the host school, Prestonwood Christian in Plano, Texas. Friday’s showdowns in the Lone Star state had an unforgettable display of skill, athleticism and pure excitement. AND we hope you witnessed it on ESPN+ and ESPNU! *** Match one: St. James Academy d Cornerstone Christian (25-22, 20-25, 25-23, 25-13) ​​In Game 1 of the match between St. James Academy and Cornerstone Christian it was clear from the get-go that St. James meant business. Junior Reese Messer took charge with her impeccable finesse, cleverly orchestrating offensive plays to open up her teammates for some explosive kills. However, Cornerstone refused to back down, responding with big swings from Megan Fitch, Grace Carroll and Aniya Hall. St. James, undeterred, unleashed its own firepower, with Leah Robinson launching continuously powerful hits that left the opposition scrambling to defend. Meanwhile, Mya Bolton showcased exceptional defensive prowess, defying gravity with breathtaking digs. In Game 2, Fitch came out swinging. For Cornerstone the senior trio of libero Maria Avendano and defensive specialists Giselle Ojeda and Grace Alvarez came in clutch in serve receive and defensively. Middle blocker Olivia Parker and right side Amaya Tolentino also provided great defense at the net. In Game 4, it literally became the Messer show. She did it all. From attacking to defense to dishing she was on fire in all areas which helped her squad really dominate. Show Stoppers Reese Messer JR S St. James Academy KS: Messer, a 5-star recruit committed to USC, was a game changer. She can literally do it all. From dishing butter sets to shutting down the opposition defensively to splitting the opposition with ease Messer owned the court. Leah Robinson SO OH/RS St. James Academy KS: Robinson, a 3-star recruit, was a key component to her squad. She is a six rotation right side who stays on both pins in the front row. Messer also dished a ton of balls to her in the back row in which she cracked on the ball consistently. Julia Headley SR MB St. James Academy: Headley, a Colgate commit, was a wall at the net. She also had some great swings in the middle throughout the match. Mya Bolton SR L St. James Academy KS: Bolton, a 3-star recruit committed to Michigan State, was a defensive gem in the backcourt. She reads the offensive attack well. Heidi Devers SR DS St. James Academy: Dever, a 4-star recruit committed to Kansas, was part of a two part DS tandem that provided great serve reception. Devers also is a scrappy defensive athlete who gets a ton of touches. Katelynn Blaesing SR DS St. James Academy KS: Blaesing, a Creighton commit, was the other part of a great defensive specialist squad that bolstered the back row both in serve receive and defensively. And like Devers, she was able to get some amazing touches defensively. Ava Spachek SR OH St. James Academy KS: Spachek, a 3-star recruit, was another huge contributor offensively for SJA. She packed a punch on the pins consistently. Megan Fitch JR OH Cornerstone Christian: Fitch, a 5-star recruit committed to Texas A&M, is a high-flying scoring machine anywhere on the court. She has a high volleyball IQ which also helps her score at will. PS she is always a ton of fun to watch in all aspects of the game. Grace Carroll SR RS Cornerstone Christian: Carroll, a 4-star recruit committed to Baylor, is a wall on the pin. And when she connects with the ball she literally hits over the block on the reg. Maria Avendano SR L Cornerstone Christian: Avendano, a Texas A&M-Corpus Christi commit, was a silent leader on the court who passed nails and provided her squad great defensive tenacity. *** Match two: Prestonwood Christian d Cathedral Catholic (25-23, 25-21, 25-16) Cathedral Catholic came out on fire. The Dons were led by senior 4-star Michigan commit Jenna Hanes in the middle who was hitting over the block and through the block at will. Also senior right side Tiana Owens was firing through the block at will for Cathedral Catholic. Prestonwood fired back with its arsenal of power led by recent Texas commit and 5-star junior Macaria Spears. And let’s not forget to mention senior 5-star USC commit Jadyn Livings and senior 4-star TCU commit Mikala Young provided big-time kills too. Game 2, like the opening set, had Cathedral neck-and-neck with Prestonwood thanks to amazing defense from junior libero and 4-star Maryland commit Maya Evens and the freshman on the squad setter Kale’a Lee and outside hitter Jojo Wilson owning the court. And outside hitter 3-star Hawaii beach commit Ayva Moi also provided big-time swings on the pins. But Prestonwood would not be silenced. Middle blockers senior 4-star San Diego commit Kennedy Washington and freshman 5-star recruit Nyla Livings came through with huge blocks. Also junior libero and 5-star Houston commit Gillian Pitts provided so much stability in the back court. She was nails in passing and was great defensively consistently. And side note, can we just say it was fun to see a few sister sister blocks by Jadyn and Nyla Livings in this game. In the final set Prestonwood took no prisoners and came out swinging. Junior right side 4-star recruit Taylor Clarke has impressive kills, while both setters senior 5-star Michigan commit Camille Edwards and junior 4-star Kansas commit Taylor Cook dished with authority. Cathedral did a lineup change with Mae Kordas, who started the match in the middle and ended up finishing the match on the outside with some good swings. Show Stoppers Macaria Spears JR OH Prestonwood Christian: Spears, a 5-star recruit recently committed to Texas, is next-level talent everywhere. She hits at such a high contact with

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HS Player Spotlight: 19 Standout Juniors

October 4, 2023

With the Asics Challenge in Chicago and the Nike TOC Southwest in Phoenix, it was a busy end to the month of September. With the tournament season near its conclusion and certain states gearing up for sectionals and regionals on their way to the state playoffs, we were on the lookout for juniors having standout seasons. Below, we highlight 19 players from the Class of 2025 who are excelling for their respective schools. Charlotte Vinson OH Yorktown IN: Vinson – a 4-star Indiana commit – has been a wrecking ball on the outside. She entered the week with 596 kills, more than half her team’s total kills. She’s averaging 6.7 per set. She’s reached double-digit kills in all 26 matches so far. She has 15 outings of at least 20 kills or more, including five matches of at least 30 kills more. It included a season-best 39 winners in a five-set triumph over Noblesville in last September. Lauren Hurst OH Cleveland TN: Hurst is having a huge junior campaign for the Blue Raiders. She’s collected 602 kills to date, averaging 5.2 per set. She’s also third in blocks and aces. The 4-star recruit has put up 20 or more kills five times. She had a season-high 29 kills in a five-set loss to East Hamilton in mid-September. Suli Davis S/OH Colleyville Heritage TX: A 5-star recruit, Davis has been on fire this fall. Even with splitting time setting, Davis leads the teams in kills by a wide margin. Her 512 winners are nearly 300 more than the next closest player. Not only is she averaging 5.2 per set, she’s hitting a whopping .458 to boot. She’s also dished out 329 assists, averaging 5.8 per set. She’s third in blocks and second in aces as well. She posted a season-best 32 kills and hit .500 in a five-set victory against Byron Nelson in late August. Navea Gauthier OH Shelby MI: To say Gauthier is the go-to hitter for the Tigers in an understatement. The 5-star Ohio State commit has shouldered a very large percentage of the offense. She’s racked up 501 kills, averaging an impressive 8.5 per set. She’s also the ace leader and second in digs. She’s reached double-digit kills in all but one match. She dropped a season-high 33 kills and hit .500 in a sweep over Holton in late September. It was the second time she surpassed the 30-kill mark. Those are among the 13 times she has eclipsed 20 kills or more. Lily Dee Davis OH Westlake TX: A 4-star Texas beach commit, Davis has appeared in all but four sets to date. She’s leading the charge with 498 kills, averaging 4.9 per set. She’s also second in digs with 403 and leads in aces. She hammered down a season-best 35 kills in a five-set defeat to Dripping Springs in mid-September. Madison Quest OH Divine Savior Holy Angels: It’s been a tremendous year so far for nationally-ranked DSHA, which is 34-1. The only loss came to Mother McAuley in the semifinals of the Asics Challenge this past weekend. Quest – a 5-star Wisconsin commit – has put up 384 kills and is averaging 4.7 per set. She’s also second in both digs and blocks and third in aces. She recorded a season-high 20 kills in a four-set victory over Brookfield East earlier this week. She also had a match in which she had 15 kills and hit .882 last month. Asia Harvey OH Sandy Creek GA: Harvey – a 5-star recruit – is having a strong year for the Patriots. To date she leads the way with 360 kills and is hitting .348. She’s had her share of impressive performances. Among them is a season-high 19 kills and hitting .571 in a victory over Morgan County in mid-September. She also registered 17 kills and hit .800 in beating Westlake. Another included 9 kills and hitting 1.000 in sweeping Wesleyan. Kassidy O’Brien S Cinco Ranch TX: A 5-star Kentucky commit, O’Brien has starred as expected. She started the week with 919 assists, averaging 10.7 per set. She’s had a handful of monster performances. Among them are a pair of matches when she posted a season-high 51 assists. She’s also had contests of 49 and 41 assists. All four efforts led to victories. She’s also third in digs, averaging 3.1 per set. Abigail Li S Alpharetta GA: With Li guiding the attack, the Raiders are having a great year so far with a 32-2 mark. The 4-star SMU commit has dished out 843 assists, averaging 10.2 per set. She’s reached double-digit assists in every match so. Twice she’s put up a season-high 51 assists and another time 42. All were victories. Isabela Haggard S Dunbar KY: A 3-star Indiana commit, Haggard has been a vital part of Dunbar’s success. She’s totaled 745 assists and is averaging 8.8 per set so far. She’s also second in kills with 192, averaging 2.3 per set. She’s surpassed 30 or more assists 11 times, including twice reaching 40 or more. She had a season-high 43 assists in a four-set victory over Oldham in August. Maya Baker S Archbishop Mitty CA: Baker – a 4-star Notre Dame commit – has helped the nationally-ranked Monarchs to an 18-4 record at week’s start. She’s recorded 645 assists, averaging 10.8 per set. She’s reached double-digit assists in all but one contest, when she appeared in just one set that outing. She’s had at least 20 or more assists in all but for matches. She registered a season-high 54 assists in a five-set victory over St. Ignatius in August. Reese Messer S St. James Academy KS: Messer and the nationally-ranked Thunder are 29-3. The 5-star USC commit Is having a stellar season. She’s delivered 616 assists, averaging 9.9 per set, and has played in every set to date. She’s reached double-digit assists in every match. It included a season-best 40 assists in a three-set victory over Washburn Rural last week. Jordan Taylor MB Langham Creek TX: A

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