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We are entering the last month of the season for some states. Meanwhile, others are barely past their halfway points. As states conclude their seasons, that will start to finalize certain school’s spots in the national rankings. However, nothing is solidified yet. As for this week’s updated rankings, there was very little movement at the top a week after we saw Mater Dei CA take over the top spot in the country. While the Monarchs retained their place atop the Top 50, we did see a few of last week’s undefeated teams fall. We entered last week with 11 teams in the Top 50 still unbeaten, but Divine Savior Holy Angels WI, Blue Valley North KS, Seton OH and Angola IN all suffered their first loss of the year. That leaves the undefeated list at seven in Papillion-La Vista South NE, Hamilton Southeastern IN, Wayzata MN, Skyridge UT, Lake Catholic OH, Valor Christian CO and Lewis-Palmer CO. You can view 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. Cathedral Catholic CA (4) 5. Prestonwood Christian TX (5) 6. Grand Oaks TX (7) 7. Hamilton Southeastern IN (10) 8. Wayzata MN (14) 9. Boyd TX (17) 10. Benet Academy IL (18) *** 11. Skyridge UT (23) 12. Mother McAuley IL (26) 13. Divine Savior Holy Angels WI (11) 14. Assumption KY (8) 15. St. Francis/Mountain View CA (21) 16. Marist IL (22) 17. Notre Dame Academy KY (12) 18. Cornerstone Christian TX (6) 19. Dripping Springs TX (24) 20. Sierra Canyon CA (9) *** 21. Carrollwood Day FL (25) 22. O’Connor AZ (36) 23. Blue Valley North KS (12) 24. Archbishop Mitty CA (20) 25. Branson CA (27) 26. Oconomowoc WI (29) 27. Calvary Christian FL (33) 28. Lake Catholic OH (34) 29. Kings OH (n/r) 30. Valor Christian CO (43) *** 31. Xavier Prep AZ (19) 32. St. James Academy KS (45) 33. St. Thomas Aquinas KS (46) 34. Lafayette MO (47) 35. Viera FL (30) 36. Punahou HI (32) 37. Winter Park FL (35) 38. Lone Peak UT (38) 39. Seton OH (15) 40. North Branch MI (n/r) *** 41. Huntington Beach CA (37) 42. Bishop Alemany CA (40) 43. Lewis-Palmer CO (50) 44. Los Alamitos CA (48) 45. Angola IN (16) 46. Maize South KS (28) 47. Torrey Pines CA (42) 48. Berkeley Prep FL (39) 49. Northville MI (49) 50. Mercy McAuley OH (41) *** ON THE CUSPBellmont INSacred Heart Academy KYBingham UTRedondo Union CACorona del Sol AZMillennium AZPace Academy GA (50)Marymount CABishop Gorman NVKamehameha HINotre Dame Prep AZDorman SCNorth Myrtle Beach SCNixa MOPope GAAlpharetta GABob Jones ALHudsonville MIByron Nelson TXSt. Ursula Academy OHMount Notre Dame OHLiberty North MOCorner Canyon UTPleasant Grove UTFlint Hill VAPlant FLHagerty FLVenice FLWestminster Christian FLColleyville Heritage TXCypress Ranch TXHarlan TXRoncalli INYorktown INWashburn Rural KSProsper TXGlenbard West ILBrighton ILQueen Creek AZJenks OKMount St. Mary OKMiddle Creek NCLake Highland Prep FL

It was a fun two days in Chicago this past weekend watching so many of the top Midwest teams square off against each other at the Asics Challenge hosted by Mother McAuley! We wrote about the Day 1 Show Stoppers and Day 2 Show Stoppers already and now present the Asics Challenge Red Hat Team. Congrats to Mother McAuley for winning the 2023 title and congrats to all the athletes who balled out this weekend! OUTSIDES Ellie White SR Mother McAuley IL Sydney Buchanan JR Mother McAuley IL Bella Bullington JR Marist IL Madison Quest JR DSHA WI Sophia Wendlick SR DSHA WI Lauren Salata SR Nazareth Academy IL Addison West SO Skutt Catholic NE Abbie Hagehorn SO Skutt Catholic NE Morgan Jones SR Huntley IL Charlotte Moriarty SR Assumption KY Chloe Smith SR Assumption KY Ana Vetter SR New Trier IL Ava Tilden JR Notre Dame Academy KY Aubree Deshetsky SO North Branch MI Whitney Mall JR Barrington IL Kelley Crowley SO Downers Grove North IL Brooklynne Brass SO Minooka IL Eva Finnessy JR Hamilton WI *** MIDDLE BLOCKERS Ellery Rees SR Mother McAuley IL Keira Ohse SR Mother McAuley IL Maddie Brown SO DSHA WI Bailey Blair JR Assumption KY Audrey Dyas SO Notre Dame Academy KY Elise Sterling SR Sandburg IL Berkeley Ploder SR Barrington IL Cassidy Cage SO Marist IL *** RIGHT SIDES Georgia Watson JR Huntley IL Riley McCloseky JR Notre Dame Academy KY Jessica Kurpeikis SR Marist IL Emma Barnett JR Assumption KY Eleanor Dorritie SR Penfield NY Mary Claire Deacy JR Mother McAuley IL *** SETTERS Jenna Meitzler SR Barrington IL Gwen Adler SR Barrington IL Peyton Heatherly S Mother McAuley IL Addy Horner JR St. Francis/Wheaton IL Brooke Baldwin SO Hamilton WI Jordan Czajkowski JR DSHA WI Maddie Berry JR Marist IL Sarah Musial SR St. Charles East IL Emilee Fuller JR Assumption KY Adrienne Greschaw SR North Branch MI Jessica Horn SR Joliet Catholic IL *** LIBEROS Julia Grace JR Notre Dame Academy KY Samantha Falk SR Mother McAuley IL Paisley Douglas SR Skutt Catholic NE Olivia Durst JR DSHA WI Kristen Simon JR Assumption KY Reilly Chausse SR Sandburg IL Elayna Davidson SO Marist IL Emily Zgonc SO Hamilton WI

The Nike TOC Southwest tournament over the weekend in the greater Phoenix area produced a wild ride throughout the two days of competition. It all ended with St. Francis/Mountain View CA topping Cornerstone Christian TX in the final. You can read more about the championship here. We also released our Day 2 Show Stoppers. We wrap up our coverage with our All Red Hat Team. It’s different from the All-Tournament announced by the tournament directors and features our favorite players from two days of play in the National division. ALL RED HAT TEAM OUTSIDESVictoria Marthaler SR La Cueva NMMegan Fitch JR Cornerstone Christian TXAniya Hall JR Cornerstone Christian TXEmily Pruitt SR Sunrise Mountain AZAddison Wiemann SO Sunrise Mountain AZJulie Beckham SO Coronado NVGentry Oblad SO Coronado NVVivian Hickman SO Xavier Prep AZMadisyn Crnjac SO Queen Creek AZTaylor Williams OH St. Francis/Mountain View CAErin Curtis OH St. Francis/Mountain View CALauren Forelli FR Liberty AZMia Radeff SR Sacred Heart Prep CAGeorgi Stein JR Sunnyslope AZZoe Haan JR Sunnyslope AZTeraya Sigler JR Horizon AZDionna Mitchell SR Timber Creek FLEvan Hendrix SR Notre Dame Prep AZReese Shugart SO Dorman SCKate Martin SR Marymount CA MIDDLESSophie Diouf JR La Cueva NMDyBorrah Johnson JR Casteel AZElla Fulton SO St. Francis/Mountain View CAKendall Omoruyi FR Sunnyslope AZJordyn Joppru SO Pinnacle AZElle Vandeweghe SO Marymount CAMadeline Way SR Sierra Canyon CA RIGHT SIDESTea Kalajdzic SR La Cueva NMGrace Carroll SR Cornerstone Christian TXBlaykli Bobik SR Queen Creek AZKamille Scott SO Casteel AZNatalie Harris JR Lake Highland Prep FL SETTERSHannah Maguire SR St. Francis/Mountain View CAIsabelle Marco SR Sacred Heart Prep CATristen Raymond JR Liberty AZKK Green JR Lake Highland Prep FLKaelyn Putz SR Xavier Prep AZKaeley Walz SR Sacred Heart Academy KYHailee Peters SR Liberty AZSade Illawole SR Sierra Canyon CA LIBEROSMarianne Garcia SO Millennium AZHannah Allman SR Sunrise Mountain AZIzzy Mahaffey JR Queen Creek AZWhitney Wallace SR St. Francis/Mountain View CANola Smith JR Hamilton AZErin Clark SO Corona del Sol AZAva Lambert JR Horizon AZ

With teams converging from all around the country, it was Nor Cal’s St. Francis/Mountain View topping them all after getting past Cornerstone Christian TX in the championship match of the Nike TOC Southwest tournament Saturday in the greater Phoenix area. It was a day filled with both tremendous team and individual efforts. We highlight those who stood out the most to us below with our Day 2 Show Stoppers. DAY 2 SHOW STOPPERS Elina Wheeler SR L Sacred Heart Prep CA: The Gators were among the surprise teams by reaching the quarterfinals after upsetting Sierra Canyon CA. Wheeler was part of the run, supplying support in the back row and helping set the defensive tone. Isabelle Marco SR S/RS Sacred Heart Prep CA: Marco – a 3-star Utah commit – is the glue piece and does a lot to contribute toward her team’s success. She’s a consistent setter who locates well. She’s also a smart hitter who can frustrate defenses with her various shots. Marianne Garcia SO L Millennium AZ: Garcia is a scrappy defender who moves and covers well. She doesn’t flinch against big hitters and does well extending rallies. Victoria Marthaler SR OH La Cueva NM: A 3-star recruit, Marthaler is the go-to on the left and provides lots of offense. She’s a heady attacker who can take big swings or let up and score with off speed shots. Sophie Diouf JR MB La Cueva NM: Diouf – another 3-star recruit – provides a boost offensively across the front row. She has a solid arm and does well making herself available. Tea Kalajdzic SR RS La Cueva NM: Kalajdzic helps open the attack with the scoring punch she provides on the right side. Megan Fitch JR OH Cornerstone Christian TX: Fitch – a 5-star Texas AM commit – keeps coming at defenses and never backs down. She’s an aggressive, physical attacker who can torch defenses whether she’s front or back row. Grace Carroll SR RS Cornerstone Christian TX: A 4-star Baylor commit, Carroll is an imposing presence on the right side with her ability to impact rallies with her blocking and scoring. She can stuff balls straight down and she’s also a terminal attacker with a booming arm. Aniya Hall JR OH Cornerstone Christian TX: Hall – a 3-star recruit – jumps well and is another player the Warriors rely on to provide offense. She takes big swings and can deliver highlight kills at times. Elly Stewart JR MB Cornerstone Christian TX: Stewart filled her role well. She was coming up with timely plays with both her blocking and hitting. *** DyBorrah Johnson JR MB Casteel AZ: Johnson is a high-flying middle who can deliver wow moments. She gets up quickly and can pound balls straight down in impressive fashion. Hannah Allman SR L Sunrise Mountain AZ: Sunrise had a great run to the semifinals, in part because of the defensive energy Allman brings to the lineup. She flies around the court and has a never-give-up attitude. Addison Wiemann SO OH Sunrise Mountain AZ: Wiemann is part of a solid 1-2 punch on the outside. She brings size to the front row and helping boost the attack. Emily Pruitt SR OH Sunrise Mountain AZ: Pruitt is a six-rotation mainstay who provides both plenty of offense and a steadying presence. She has a strong arm and can unload when the moment is right. Julie Beckham SO OH Coronado NV: Beckham is a fun outside to watch. She is fearless against bigger blocks and takes aggressive cuts. Gentry Oblad SO OH Coronado NV: Oblad is another outside who is tough to deal with. She jumps well, has a nice arm and hits with plenty of pace. Annemarie O’Gara JR RS Xavier Prep AZ: O’Gara showed a knack for making timely plays on the right side. She came up with key blocks and clutch kills to help the Gators to a fifth-place finish. Vivian Hickman SO OH Xavier Prep AZ: Hickman continued her role as six-rotation outside as Xavier was playing short-handed. She was leaned on to carry the offensive load. She’s a cagey attacker who showed her beach skills with a wide variety of shots. Chineze Gray JR MB Xavier Prep AZ: Gray is an undersized middle and brings a lot of pep to the front row. She’s quick and moves well and was also making plays at the right times. Izzy Mahaffey JR L Queen Creek AZ: Mahaffey – a 4-star Long Beach State commit – was holding it down in the back row. She was passing consistently out of serve receive and making hustle plays to keep rallies going. *** Madisyn Crnjac SO OH Queen Creek AZ: Crnjac – a 3-star recruit – doesn’t shy away from taking big swings. She keeps coming at defenses with her strong arm that can produce powerful kills. Blaykli Bobik SR RS Queen Creek AZ: A 4-star BYU commit, Bobik played on the outside last week at Durango but was on the right side on Day 2. She has a lively arm and when she gets up and connect, watch out because the ball is coming in hot. Taylor Williams SR OH St. Francis/Mountain View CA: Williams – a 4-star Duke commit – comes with it time and time again. She helped fueled the Lancers’ attack with ability to blast balls from the front and back row with ease. Whitney Wallace SR L St. Francis/Mountain View CA: A 3-star Oklahoma commit, was among the standout defenders. She’s calm and plays under control and doesn’t rattle in pressure situations. Erin Curtis SR OH St. Francis/Mountain View CA: Curtis is another mainstay in the lineup as a six-rotation outside. She’s a consistent passer out of serve receive and she too can score all the way around. Hannah Maguire SR S St. Francis/Mountain View CA: Maguire does a nice job running the offense and delivering to her various hitters. She also brings her share of energy to the court. Ella Fulton SO MB St.

Mother McAuley IL defended its home court at the 2023 Asics Challenge and was crowned CHAMPIONS after taking down Notre Dame Academy KY in the final! The second day of the tournament hosted by the Macs showcased an electric display of talent and tenacity on the volleyball court. From the very start, it was apparent that this would be a day with tons of incredible plays and exceptional effort. The stage was set for an exhilarating clash of skills, as the athletes on the floor left no room for disappointment. The adrenaline was palpable as the gold bracket kicked off with a thrilling showdown between Mother McAuley and Marist IL. The history between these two teams added an extra layer of intensity to the competition, with Marist having recently claimed victory over Mother McAuley the week prior. Nestled just blocks away from each other, the fierce rivalry was on full display, with club teammates now transformed into fierce opponents. This time it was Mother McAuley who emerged with the win over Marist in three exhilarating sets (25-27, 25-2, 25-14). And on a side note the pins on both sides of the net were bringing the heat every single point, which made the liberos and defensive specialists have to ball out the entire match. The gold bracket semifinals match up between Notre Dame Academy and Assumption KY also was electric. These teams — having faced each other already this season when Assumption outlasted Notre Dame to claim the LIVT title — showcased a lot of fire at the net and defensively in the back court. Notre Dame emerged triumphant, securing a gripping victory over Assumption in three (24-26, 25-15, 29-27). And like the Mother McAuley/Marist match above it was full of aggressive swings and scrappy defensive plays. In the finals Mother McAuley squared off against Notre Dame Academy, which was a repeat from the 2022 finals match. Mother McAuley ended up winning in two 25-20, 25-17. Asics Challenge All Tournament Team (named by tourney officials)   DAY 2 SHOW STOPPERS Bella Bullington JR OH Marist IL: Bullington, a 4-star recruit committed to Northwestern, has a hammer for an arm. Not only can she swing anywhere on the court, but she gets great air which makes her a very lethal attacker. Maddie Berry JR S Marist IL: At first glance Berry isn’t your typical 5-1 setter, BUT let me tell you, she holds her own there in the front row. She also dishes well to her hitters everywhere on the court. Jessica Kurpeikis SR RS Marist IL: Kurpeikis, a Wisconsin Green Bay commit, is a lefty who Marist uses a ton of in the front row. She has a no fear attitude when swinging and loves to tool the block. Elayna Davidson SO L Marist IL: Davidson was smooth out of serve receive. She is incredibly nimble on her feet and can run balls down anywhere she needs to. Morgan Jones SR OH Huntley IL: Jones, a 3-star recruit committed to Missouri, can get up quickly and can generate pace on her attacks. Georgia Watson JR MB Huntley IL: Watson, a 4-star recruit committed to Kentucky, is a six-rotation right side. She is not only a wall at the net but swings well anywhere they need her to. Samantha Falk SR L Mother McAuley IL: Falk, a 3-star recruit committed to Loyola Chicago, was showcasing her skills by making some big-time digs on the court time after time. Olivia Urbon SR DS Mother McAuley IL: Urbon is the queen of aces. Her serving is a key component for her squad. And defensively she is sound in the back court. Ellery Rees SR MB Mother McAuley IL: Rees, a 3-star recruit committed to Alabama, made up one half of the defensive wall for her squad. She’s a physical middle who hits with power and puts up a strong block. Mary Claire Deacy JR RS Mother McAuley IL: Deacy another other part of that wall for her squad. She was huge defensively at the net. *** Gwen Adler SR S Barrington IL: Adler, a Seton Hall commit, is a smooth disher and runs a nice offense. She has soft hands, locates well and doesn’t give her sets away. Whitney Mall JR OH Barrington IL: Mall has potential written all over her. She seems even longer than her height of 6-2 and carries a smooth yet powerful arm. Berkeley Ploder SR MB Barrington IL: Ploder, who is committed to Georgetown, has a huge upside. She puts up a solid block as well as presenting a great scoring option. Jenna Meitzler SR S Barrington IL: Meitzler, a 3-star recruit committed to Iowa, is a fluid and reliable setter with strong hands. She also can get up and hit with authority on the right side. Molly Fox SR MB Sandburg IL: Fox might not be as tall as the other middle blockers but she literally has a knack for blocking. She has an incredible read on the ball defensively. Elise Sterling SR MB Sandburg IL: Sterling adds physicality to her squad. She’s strong and has a powerful arm when swinging quicks or the slide. Aubree Deshetsky SO OH North Branch MI: Deshetsky, a 3-star recruit, can pack a punch anywhere on the court. She has a smooth swing and generates pace consistently. Alana Deshetsky SR OH North Branch MI: Deshetsky, a Ferris State commit, is a steadying six-rotation player who does just about everything for her squad. She is also a smart hitter who finds a way to get the point. Adrienne Greschaw SR S North Branch MI: Greschaw directs the offense well. She sets a great ball with very consistent location Eva Finnessy JR OH Hamilton WI: Finnessy has a heavy hand and takes aggressive swings and goes right at and/or through the blockers. *** Brooke Aslakson JR MB Hamilton WI: Aslakson has lots of upside to her. She sees the court well. She has a strong feel for blocking and gets in the way

With two of the top-four seeds lining up from each other in the championship match, much of the chaos that had ruled the Nike TOC Southwest tournament had settled. All that was left to determine was this year’s champion. Second-seeded Cornerstone Christian TX was looking to not only capture both Nike TOC events in 2023, but was also seeking to defend its tournament title here from a season ago. However, St. Francis/Mountain View CA wasn’t ready to play its part. Instead, the fourth-seeded Lancers were spoilers in defeating Cornerstone in three, 25-19, 22-25, 15-6, as they gear up for another state final run. After suffering its only loss last year to Cathedral Catholic CA in the CIF Open Division state final, St. Francis beefed up its schedule this fall by adding the Durango Fall Classic and Nike TOC Southwest tourneys to its slate. A week after finishing in 13th place in Las Vegas, the Lancers had to put in a lot of work Saturday to rise to the top of the 32-team National division field. All four outings went the distance, starting with its closest decision of the day in beating Beckman CA, 20-25, 25-18, 15-11, in qualifying pla. St. Francis was dominant in the decisive set the rest of the way. The Lancers beat Millennium AZ in the quarterfinals, 25-15, 24-26, 15-7, and then Liberty AZ in the semis, 11-25, 25-19, 15-4, before doing the same to Cornerstone – which took sixth at Durango last weekend – in the final there. An anticipated rubber match between Cornerstone and top-seeded Sierra Canyon CA didn’t materialize. Cornerstone beat Sierra Canyon back in August during pool play at the Ann Kang Invitational. The sides ran into each other last weekend in Vegas, with Sierra Canyon sweeping Cornerstone in the quarterfinals and spoiling any chance of a rematch between Mira Costa CA – which beat Cornerstone in the Ann Kang final – and Cornerstone in the final. There was no trilogy, however, as Sierra Canyon – playing without 4-star San Diego libero commit Lauren Lynch – was upset in the morning qualifying round by Sacred Heart Prep CA, 25-18, 25-20. It continued a trend of top seeds bowing out early, as No. 5 Sacred Heart Academy KY, No. 6 Corona del Sol and No. 7 Lake Highland Prep failed to advance on Day 1. It opened the door for others to make noise. One was Sunrise Mountain AZ. The Mustangs went 3-0 on Day 1 – including beating Corona del Sol – and then eliminated third-seeded Xavier Prep AZ in the quarterfinals. Xavier – a week after taking 11th at Durango – caught a tough break as freshman outside Tessa Larkin wasn’t available for this weekend’s tournament. As for Sunrise, the Mustangs’ hopes of a Cinderella run ended to Cornerstone in the semis, 25-14, 25-13. Joining Sunrise Mountain in making waves was Liberty AZ. The Lions lost their season-opener to Xavier Prep before going on a seven-match winning streak. But it was a tough week heading into the Nike TOC as Liberty dropped matches to Sunnyslope, Corona del Sol and O’Connor before coming alive over the weekend. It started with Liberty – which opened as the No. 9 seed – taking down No. 8 Marymount CA in three sets to win its pool Friday. Liberty then kept it going by beating Notre Dame Prep AZ in qualifying play Saturday morning before beating Sacred Heart Prep in the quarterfinals. St. Francis proved too much in the semifinals. Sunrise Mountain beat Liberty in one game to 25 for third place. Xavier Prep swept Millennium to end up in fifth. Sacred Heart Prep downed Queen Creek AZ to wind up in seventh place. Meanwhile, Marymount finished up in ninth place after Sierra Canyon forfeited that match. The two schools are in the same league and play each other this coming week, so it’s not surprising they wouldn’t play to close Saturday’s action. Marymount had a shot at the platinum bracket but was stunned when Queen Creek AZ produced a giant rally in qualifying play. Marymount took the opening set and was leading 20-13 in Game 2 before the Bulldogs turned it around and prevailed in three, 24-26, 25-23, 15-13. In the Premier division, it was Canyon View AZ beating Verrado AZ, 14-25, 25-19, 15-10, for the title. In the Elite division, Christian CA swept Seton Catholic AZ, 25-19, 25-16, in the final.

I am so thrilled to be back in Chicago for the Asics Challenge Tournament at Mother McAuley. Last year’s tournament was an absolute blast, but now it’s time to dive into the action of Day 1. A side note, Friday evening’s matches featured pools of three teams, and while I couldn’t catch every game at both sites, I did my best to watch as many as I could. Let’s get started on this exciting opening day of the tournament! Mother McAuley, the host team, is a powerhouse led by senior 4-star recruit and Michigan commit Ellie White, last year’s vballrecruiter.com Junior of the Year. White’s smooth and high-flying skills as an outside hitter are fun to watch. Her teammates, senior middle blocker Ellery Rees, who is a 3-star recruit committed to Alabama, and senior libero Samantha Falk, who is a 3-star recruit committed to Loyola-Chicago, along with junior Sydney Buchanan‘s explosive swings, have a squad that is a force to be reckoned with. Freshman Peyton Heatherly takes charge as the team’s quarterback in the 5-1 setting position, showcasing remarkable leadership.  Watch out because Divine Savior is another team which is a ton of fun to watch ball out together. With powerhouses like Wisconsin commit and 5-star recruit junior Madison Quest and Creighton commit senior Sophia Wendlick on the outside, expect nothing less than an explosive display of talent. Michigan State commit and 4-star recruit junior Olivia Durst is a dynamic libero who fearlessly scoops up everything thrown her way. Belmont commit senior setter Jordan Czajkowski runs a 5-1 offense with an aggressive edge, And let’s not forget about the sophomore middle blocker, Maddie Brown, who may be technically undersized but boasts a lightning-fast arm where she swings around the block with ease. Divine Savior is a team which guarantees an exhilarating and entertaining performance on the court. And then there is the Assumption squad. This historically strong squad never fails to captivate with their exceptional talent. Senior outside hitters Charlotte Moriarty, a 4-star recruit committed to Xavier and Chloe Smith, a 3-star recruit committed to Wofford, dominate. But the action doesn’t stop there because junior 3-star recruit Bailey Blair in the middle is a force to be reckoned with. And then there is 5-star recruit and Wisconsin commit libero Kristen Simon who owns the backcourt for her team.   Day 2 starts bright and early! So let’s get to who I thought shined in pool play on Day 1. PS, who’s ready for Bracket action on Saturday?  DAY 1 SHOW STOPPERS Brooke Baldwin SO S/RS Hamilton WI: Baldwin, a 3-star recruit, was doing double duty of dishing her hitters and powering through blocks on the reg.  Emily Zgonc SO L Hamilton WI: Zgonc held her own in the back row as she passed well out of serve receive and made hustle plays to keep her team in the rally. Francesca Lorenzo SO OH Montini IL: Lorenzo, a 3-star recruit, was shutting down outsides with ease. And she brings a wallop on the right side attacking wise.  Addison West SO OH Skutt Catholic NE: West, a 3-star recruit, easily goes over blocks and finds open spots on the floor to exploit. She also packs a punch when she swings. Sarah Musial S St. Charles East IL: Musial, a Wichita State commit, dished the ball effectively. She has a great touch on the ball.  Reilly Chausse L Sandburg IL: Chausse, an Akron commit, was incredibly scrappy and fast in the backcourt. She read the ball really well and consistently got touches.   Jessica Horn SR S Joliet Catholic IL: Horn was very quick on her feet and had no problems getting her feet to the ball and her hands on impossible balls. She made setting from her knees look easy.  Ellie White SR OH Mother McAuley IL: White. a 4-star Michigan commit, is just so smooth on the court. She can swing anywhere, plays scrappy defense, passes dimes, and bring energy to her squad.  Peyton Heatherly FR S Mother McAuley IL: Heatherly, a 3-star commit, might be a freshman, but she is playing like an upperclassman. She has a really nice touch and spreads the ball around to her hitters well.  Sydney Buchanan JR OH Mother McAuley IL: Buchanan, a 3-star recruit, explodes off the ground and gets in the air quickly. She has a fluid swing and can rip the ball.  Lauren Salata SR OH Nazareth Academy IL: Salata, a 3-star Illinois State commit, is springy with a whip of an arm. She can tool with ease to boot.  Madison Quest JR OH DSHA WI: Quest, a 5-star Wisconsin commit, is a hard-working outside who plays with lots of energy. She carries a powerful arm and can crack on the ball when the opportunity presents itself. Olivia Durst JR L DSHA WI: Durst, a 4-star Michigan State commit, racks balls down with ease along with bringing great energy to the court.  Sophia Wendlick SR OH DSHA WI: Wendlick, a Creighton commit, has a whip of an arm that I was seriously impressed to watch. She has a knack for not only swinging fast but swinging around blocks with ease. Kristen SimonJR L Assumption KY: Simon, a 5-star Wisconsin commit, is a fireball in the back court. She is nails in the back row and makes wow saves regularly.  Charlotte Moriarty SR OH Assumption KY: Moriarty, a 3-star Xavier commit, can literally bounce balls when needed. She hits with a heavy hand consistently.  Bailey Blair JR MB Assumption KY: Blair, a 3-star recruit, is a firecracker in the middle. And when you give her an open net in the middle, watch out. She can hammer it.  Brooklynne Brass SO OH Minooka IL: Brass, a 3-star recruit, was swinging well on the court today. When she connected SHE CONNECTED.  Eleanor Dorritie SR RS Penfield NY: Dorritie, a Binghamton commit, was a force to be reckoned with on the right side. She was swinging with fury everywhere on the court. Addy Horner JR S/RS St. Francis/Wheaton IL: Horner, a 5-star Wisconsin commit, does well dishing to her targets. She’s also an impact scorer as she’s capable of delivering some big kills. Anna Paquette SR OH St. Francis/Wheaton IL: Paquette can fly on the outside. She is undersized to say the least but

Any tournament is unpredictable, but the opening day of the Nike TOC Southwest in Phoenix featured more than the average twists and turns as the unexpected ruled. Being the No. 1 team in a pool came with little safety, as top-seeded teams struggled. While a team like Cornerstone Christian TX – seeded No. 2 overall – managed to still hold seed despite losing, others were not so fortunate. Top-seeded Sierra Canyon CA, No. 3 Xavier Prep AZ and No. 4 St. Francis/Mountain View CA were the only No. 1 teams in their respective pools to go 3-0. It was chaos elsewhere. Fifth-seeded Sacred Heart Academy KY finished 1-2 and wound up in fourth place. It was among the most surprising results given the Valkyries own victories over both Assumption KY and Mother McAuley IL this season. However, those results meant nothing to Friday’s opponents, starting with Pinnacle AZ. Sacred Heart held a 22-20 advantage in the opening set but the Pioneers held firm and ended up sweeping, 25-23, 25-9. Sacred Heart’s chances of making the top two and advancing were spoiled by another upset loss. This time it was at the hands of Coronado NV. The Cougars have had a wild nine days. Last Thursday, Coronado upset nationally-ranked Lone Peak UT ahead of the Durango Fall Classic. Lone Peak went onto to finish in 10th place while Coronado came in 50th out of 64 teams. But the Cougars produced another big upset by beating Sacred Heart and then advanced to the top 16 after knocking off Pinnacle. Millennium AZ won the pool at 2-1, falling to Sacred Heart but already had first place clinched prior to the contest. Two more top seeds joined Sacred Heart in not advancing in No. 6 Corona del Sol AZ and No. 7 Lake Highland Prep FL. CdS was surprised in its opener by Sunrise Mountain AZ, which prevailed in three, 25-16, 19-25, 15-10. The Mustangs kept it up and finished 3-0 as the No. 3 team in the pool. CdS still had a shot at advancing but needed to win the 1 v 2 showdown against La Cueva NM. But it was La Cueva which had the upperhand, also winning in three, 20-25, 21-25, 15-9. Meanwhile, Lake Highland Prep was in a similar position after being upset in its first match of the day by Notre Dame Prep AZ. After taking the first set, Lake Highland was up 19-14 in the second set before the Saints rallied for the three-set victory, 22-25, 25-22, 15-10. After that one, it was Oak Ridge CA upsetting Queen Creek AZ in straight sets to create plenty of havoc in the pool. It eventually led to Lake Highland and Queen Creek squaring off to join Notre Dame Prep in advancing. Queen Creek swept, 25-21, 27-25, and wound up winning the pool based on its head-to-head victory over Notre Dame Prep, 25-17, 23-25, 15-12. Cornerstone Christian – which finished first at the Nike TOC Southeast tournament and is the defending champion here – overcame a close call after being upset by the No. 4 team in the pool in Horizon AZ, 29-27, 25-20. However, the Warriors were still able to hang onto first place after sweeping Sunnyslope AZ, 25-23, 25-20, to close out the pool. That’s because the Warriors finished in a two-way tie with Sacred Heart Prep CA at 2-1 but swept their meeting, 25-18, 25-12. As far as Pool 8 went, it came down to a clash between eighth-seeded Marymount CA and No. 9 Liberty AZ. Liberty finished first in the pool after a nail-biting victory, 25-20, 18-25, 15-13, but both teams advanced to the top 16. Here’s how the top 16 stacks up Saturday:   DAY 1 SHOW STOPPERS Kamille Scott SO RS Casteel AZ: Scott is a bit undersized but the lefty can get up. She also has a quick arm those two things combined made her a big part of the attack as the Colts went 2-1 and moved on. DyBorrah Johnson JR MB Casteel AZ: Johnson is another high-flyer the Colts lean on to produce. She gets off the ground in a hurry and the way she elevates is a problem for opponents as she can swing straight down. Mia Radeff SR OH Sacred Heart Prep CA: Radeff is part of the reason the Gators went 2-1 as the No. 3 team. She’s an aggressive attacker who can really bring it at times. Isabelle Marco SR S/OH Sacred Heart Prep CA: Marco – a 3-star Utah commit – is a gamer. She both sets and hits for the Gators. She’s a smooth disher who locates well. She’s also a heady attacker who provides her share of offense. Kendall Omoruyi FR MB Sunnyslope AZ: Omoruyi – a 5-star recruit – is a presence in the middle, even as a freshman. Her length and size are problematic on both sides of the ball and she can disrupt attackers with her blocking and in return send balls down over the block. Georgi Stein JR OH Sunnyslope AZ: Stein is a pivotal part of the attack. The 3-star Northern Arizona commit shoulders a load on offense. She’s a reliable scorer who can move the ball from sideline to sideline. Megan Fitch JR OH Cornerstone Christian TX: Fitch – a 5-star Texas AM commit – is among the top outsides in the field. She’s physical and the go-to on the left. Teraya Sigler JR OH Horizon AZ: Sigler – a 5-star Nebraska commit – was sensational in Horizon’s upset over Cornerstone Christian. She’s a big swinging, hard-hitting outside who can power balls past, through or off the block whether front or back row. Vivian Hickman SO OH Xavier Prep AZ: A 3-star recruit, Hickman was adjusting to a different role because Xavier was playing short-handed due to an injury. She normally sets and hits but was just doing the latter on Day 1. She keyed the offense as a six-rotation outside and helped the Gators go 3-0. Kaelyn