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Earlier this month we took our first look at how the recruiting classes for the Class of 2025 are starting to stack up. We highlighted five of the top classes to date. This week, we continue diving into the Class of 2025 by looking at other programs which are off to great starts and/or where more 5-star recruits are landing, in no particular order. USC   Breakdown: The Trojans came out of the gate on fire, landing a pair of 5-star talents in Messer and Deckert and a 4-star recruit in Loper. Both Messer and Deckert are at the top of the class at their respective positions. Depending on who you ask and what measures you want to use, Messer is arguably one of the top two setters in the class. The same goes for Deckert at libero, as many would consider her to be the top defender in the class. That’s two key positions locked up. Messer is playing high school at St. James Academy, which has the potential to be one of the top schools in the country this fall. Deckert is at Mira Costa, which has already shown it is one of the best teams in the nation thus far after winning the Ann Kang Invitational and defeating Mater Dei CA earlier this week. While Messer and Deckert are more polished players at the moment, Loper is intriguing because of her upside. She’s currently at San Clemente for high school. Being 6-2, she certainly has the length to excel at the next level. She had a strong club season in which she progressed nicely and will continue to improve as she adds more strength and power to her swing. *** DUKE   Breakdown: There is no doubt the Blue Devils have made major waves with this class. The fact they have two 5-star athletes committed so far is remarkable. Glass is another highly-ranked setter and one of the best in the class. She’s taller at 6-1 and had a strong club season with Tribe 16 Elite Cardinal this past spring and summer. She plays high school at St. Andrew’s. Another great recruit for Duke is 6-3 middle Gillen-Malveaux. She too had a standout club campaign with Drive Nation 16 Red and will switch over to Skyline for next season. The junior is currently playing high school for Greenville. Zubchevich has flown under the radar but could be a solid contributor at the next level. She’s a 6-1 outside who is touching 10-2 with a lively arm. She plays club for City and high school at La Canada. Wayne is a recent commit. She’s a 6-4 middle who played club last season for Madfrog before moving to TAV for the upcoming campaign. She has a strong arm and will add versatility with her ability to shift and play on the pin as well. *** OREGON   Breakdown: Though Oregon doesn’t currently have any 5-star commits, the Ducks have a solid class featuring three 4-star recruits. Cogill is a 6-4 middle who starred this past club season in role for the USAV 16 Open gold medalist Arizona Storm 16 Thunder. She plays high school for Perry. The Ducks went much further east for their next two 4-star commits. Bell – who plays high school at Roncali – is listed at 5-11 but plays taller than that with her jumping ability. She also has a whippy arm and is the type of player that has succeeded at Oregon under the current coaching staff. Mogridge is a 5-10 setter who moves very well and is consistent with her location. She should fit right in should the Ducks want to run a 6-2. She recently transferred high schools and is playing for Berkeley Prep. Mitchell is a local talent who adds another setting option and too could fit right in running a 6-2. *** KENTUCKY   Breakdown: Kentucky’s featured recruit thus far is O’Brien, a 5-star setter who is among the top five at her position in her class. She’s among the taller setters in the class at 6-1. She’s a smooth disher with strong command of the offense and is currently starring at Cinco Ranch for high school. Watson is a lesser-known name as she didn’t play for a club that competed on the national stage in Open. However, she’s 6-3 and touching over 10 feet. She has a big arm and will add physicality to the attack. She plays high school at Huntley in Illinois. Ward is a solid ball control addition. She spent this past season as defensive specialist for KiVA 16 Red, which featured 5-star Wisconsin commit Kristen Simon at libero. For high school, Ward plays for Holy Cross. *** OHIO STATE   Breakdown: With two commits so far, Ohio State’s class is one of the smaller ones we have noted. However, it does include a 5-star recruit in Gauthier. At 6-2 and with a powerful arm to match, she’s long been a next-level prospect. After playing 15s a season ago at Far Out, she moved up and competed on the 18s this year as a sophomore before finishing the season out at AAUs playing in 17 Open. She plays high school at Shelby. Stahler is a recent commit and brings the other side to the equation with her defense. She plays high school for Benjamin Logan in Ohio. *** PENN STATE   Breakdown: With Collins playing for Niagara Frontier, she doesn’t get the attention of other top-level recruits playing for national powerhouses. However, Collins – who plays for Frontier in high school – has tons of upside and lots of room for growth to star in college. She’s 6-3 with a snappy swing that generates a lot of pace. She was Penn State’s first commit from the class. Nichols is not currently ranked but will be in our next update. She’s not as polished as other middles in the class, but she comes with tremendous potential being 6-4 and her level of athleticism. She could develop

One coach whose team was participating in the three-day Volleypalooza extravaganza noted that the field this year was the deepest he had ever seen it. It was hard to argue given what we witnessed Thursday, Friday and Saturday in the greater Austin area. There was so much talent on display it was dizzying at times trying to track all of it. With the tournament concluded and Mater Dei having captured its second Volleypalooza trophy in program history, we wrap up our coverage by presenting our All Red Hat Team. This is different from the All-Tournament Team announced by the tournament organizers and represents the top players we witnessed from the three days of action. The cut off, however, was that in order to make the All Red Hat Team schools needed to make the silver or gold brackets to be considered. OUTSIDESLayli Ostovar Mater DeiIsabel Clark Mater DeiCari Spears Prestonwood ChristianMikala Young Prestonwood ChristianHenley Anderson Dripping SpringsRiley Certain Dripping SpringsHalle Thompson Grand OaksSamara Coleman Grand OaksAvery Hamlin Lake TravisGabi Martinez Cinco RanchElla Lewis The WoodlandsHarley Krause RockwallAnnie Witt Liberty HillAniya Joseph SA HarlanFavor Anyanwu SachseTaylor Porter Cypress Ranch *** MIDDLESJenna Hanes Cathedral CatholicKennedy Jones DawsonJaela Auguste Grand OaksBeka Pfefferkorn BridgelandKennedy Washington Prestonwood ChristianTya Lynch Cypress RanchAshley Euston Dripping Springs *** RIGHT SIDESCaelyn Emmerling Grand OaksTiana Owens Cathedral CatholicGigi Mason Liberty HillJadyn Livings Prestonwood ChristianTaylor Clarke Prestonwood ChristianCymarah Gordon Mater DeiAmelia Creacy Bridgeland *** SETTER/RIGHT SIDESSuli Davis Colleyville HeritageAddison Moss DawsonPayton Stroud The WoodlandsDa’Mya Mann SA HarlanJulia Kakkis Mater DeiTaryn Gilreath Cypress RanchZora Bello Cypress RanchSydney Lund Dripping Springs *** SETTERSKacey Kazmierski Lake TravisKassidy O’Brien Cinco RanchGabi Ashcraft RockwallKalea Lee Cathedral CatholicAmanda Saeger Cathedral CatholicCamille Edwards Prestonwood ChristianTaylor Cook Prestonwood ChristianAyva Ostovar Mater Dei *** LIBEROSAlice Volpe BridgelandMaya Evens Cathedral CatholicMalyssa Cawa Mater DeiSarah Mendoza Colleyville HeritageGillian Pitts Prestonwood Christian

Mater Dei CA was not flawless on the last day of Volleypalooza, but the Monarchs played their best match of the tournament in defeating Prestonwood Christian TX in the championship match Saturday afternoon at Rouse. It capped three days of pure excitement and left us wishing there was more to come. However, that’s not the case. But we do have our top standouts from Day 3 featured below in our daily Show Stoppers. DAY 3 SHOW STOPPERS Alice Volpe SR L Bridgeland TX: Volpe – a 4-star TCU commit – is an under control libero who doesn’t get rattled or fazed. Teams were reluctant to challenge her in serve receive and her first touches on shots around her were often well played. Amelia Creacy SR RS Bridgeland TX: A 3-star Angelo State commit, Creacy brings an offensive presence to the front row. Bridgeland likes to get her the ball as often as they can and she has a solid arm to score with. Beka Pfefferkorn JR MB Bridgeland TX: Pfefferkorn – a 4-star recruit – brings some much-needed height to the lineup when she checks in. She moves well and can make plays on both sides of the ball. Maya Evens JR L Cathedral Catholic CA: Evens is a 4-star recruit who recently committed to Maryland. She does it all above average, from passing out of serve receive, to covering and defending, she’s a big part of Cathedral’s defensive identity. Jenna Hanes SR MB Cathedral Catholic CA: A 4-star Michigan commit, Hanes provides instant offense. She completely changes the attack when she comes in. Cathedral feeds her the ball as often as possible and even when opponents know what’s coming they still struggle to slow her down. Tiana Owens SR RS Cathedral Catholic CA: Owens played well in her role on the right side. She provided consistent scoring when called upon and came through with timely kills as well. Taylor Porter JR OH Cypress Ranch TX: Porter – a 4-star Vanderbilt commit – has a quick arm and is the go-to hitter for Cypress Ranch. She shoulders a large load as a result and keeps coming with it. Zora Bello SO S/RS Cypress Ranch TX: A 3-star recruit, Bello did well in her role setting and hitting. She does a nice job locating her sets and when it comes to swinging she has a solid arm that helped produce points. Taryn Gilreath SR S/RS Cypress Ranch TX: Gilreatch – a 3-star East Carolina commit – was running a 5-1 on Day 1 and showed her versatility on Day 3 by running a 6-2 and hitting across the front. She represented herself well in both roles. Henley Anderson SO OH Dripping Springs TX: A 5-star recruit, Anderson is long at 6-3 and a force to be reckoned with because of it. She has a big arm and can hit at high angles the way she extends. It causes major problems for defenders to try and stop her. *** Sydney Lund SO S/RS Dripping Springs TX: Lund – a 4-star recruit – does a lot for her team in her two-way role setting and swinging. She has the length to make an impact at the net attacking and in turn can move the ball around when setting. Riley Certain JR OH Dripping Springs TX: Certain – a 3-star recruit – would be the star on many high school teams around the country. She’s a reliable attacker with a lively arm who can tool blocks or send balls around them consistently. Caelyn Emmerling SR RS Grand Oaks TX: Emmerling – a 3-star Texas State commit – could have put together her own offensive highlight reel with her attacking. She has a fluid swing and hits with lots of pace, which led to impressive kills over, through and around opposing blockers. Halle Thompson SO OH Grand Oaks TX: A 5-star recruit, Thompson is an advanced hitter for her age. Offensively, she’s the total package. She jumps and hits high. She has a very quick arm swing and can score front and back row, as well as take something off and place her shots when needed. Jaela Auguste SR MB Grand Oaks TX: Auguste, a 5-star Florida commit, is the real deal. She’s a game-changer across the front row both blocking and hitting. She’s another one who skies on the attack and send balls down at tough angles. Samara Coleman JR OH Grand Oaks TX: A 4-star Pitt commit, Coleman has a big arm and can unload at times. She’s a physical attacker who takes hard swings and pressures defenses with her relentlessness. Isabel Clark SR OH Mater Dei CA: Clark – a 4-star San Diego commit – had a monster day. She was playing very well and not only delivering highlight kills but doing so in the clutch when they were needed most. Ayva Ostovar JR S Mater Dei CA: A UCSB commit, Ostovar is a smart setter with a clean delivery and nice tempo. She also has a knack for going over on two and catching the defense slipping. Cymarah Gordon SR RS Mater Dei CA: Gordon – a 4-star Michigan commit – puts up a wall of a block. She also has a strong arm and was scoring well from both pins. Julia Kakkis SR S/RS Mater Dei CA: Kakkis – a 3-star recruit – plays a vital role for the Monarchs with her ability to contribute as both a setter and hitter. She too has a powerful arm and can pound balls. *** Malyssa Cawa SR L Mater Dei CA: Cawa – a 3-star Stanford commit – brings a lot of energy to the lineup and is a vocal libero who takes control of the back row. She was defending all over and making lots of hustle plays to keep her team in the point. Layli Ostovar SO OH Mater Dei CA: A 5-star recruit, Ostovar was on fire in the final against Prestonwood. She came through time and time

The anticipated showdown between the top two teams in the nation from vballrecruiter.com’s Initial Top 50 National High School Rankings came to fruition as No. 1 Prestonwood Christian TX faced off against No. 2 Mater Dei CA in the championship match of the Volleypalooza tournament Saturday afternoon at Rouse. There was plenty of drama preceding the two sides meeting up, but when the action was over for good it was Mater Dei celebrating a sweep, 25-21, 25-18, and capturing its second Volleypalooza championship. The Monarchs – which finished first at the event in 2021 – moved to 12-0 on the season. However, it’s no guarantee that Mater Dei will take over the top spot in our next updated Top 50. That’s because there is no rest for the Monarchs, who face national No. 4 Mira Costa CA in another highly-anticipated contest Tuesday when they visit the Mustangs in Manhattan Beach. Mira Costa, playing without 5-star Wisconsin recruit Charlie Fuerbringer, took home the Ann Kang Invitational tournament title earlier this month in Honolulu. It would be an exciting match under normal circumstances, but that the Volleypalooza champs are squaring off against the Ann Kang champs with the possible No. 1 spot in the nation on the line makes it a true heavyweight affair. Prestonwood opened the season as the top team in the nation, but already stumbled with an early loss to Boyd TX. While it’s usually near impossible to lay claim to the mythical high school national championship with a loss on your schedule, Prestonwood is playing arguably the toughest schedule in the country by participating in Volleypalooza, the Nike TOC Southeast and Durango Fall Classic tournaments. That gave Prestonwood a path to redemption after losing to Boyd. However, given Prestonwood’s defeat to Mater Dei at Volleypalooza, it created what appears to be a longshot scenario for now. Both Mater Dei and Mira Costa are also attending Durango, meaning not only could Prestonwood and Mater Dei meet once more, but the winner of Mater Dei and Mira Costa on Tuesday could become the front runner for the national championship. There are a lot of what ifs, but if Mater Dei could run the table like Cathedral Catholic CA did a year ago and win both Volleypalooza and Durango, plus hold a victory over Mira Costa, the Monarchs would have one of the best arguments around. Like Prestonwood, Mira Costa suffered an early loss – in it’s first match of the season at Ann Kang with a defeat against Punahou HI. Mira Costa did respond by winning the tournament, and with a victory over Mater Dei, winning Durango and not losing again this season could present a viable case to end No. 1. Of course, we are getting way ahead of ourselves! It’s just that a day like Saturday at Rouse plays a major factor in ultimately determining the final pecking order when the season is over. As for the final day of Volleypalooza, where to even start? The quarterfinals started off slowly, or rather quickly, depending how you want to view it. Given the talent in the gym there was an expectation that the morning matches would be closer than they ended up being. Prestonwood had no issues with Cypress Ranch TX (25-17, 25-14) while Cathedral Catholic – making the trip from California like Mater Dei – swept past surprise Bridgeland TX (25-16, 25-15). The two remaining quarterfinals that followed didn’t produce much drama either, with Grand Oaks TX handling Dripping Springs TX (25-16, 25-19) and Mater Dei beating another surprise in Sachse TX (25-14, 23-25, 25-11) in the closest match of the quarters. The Grand Oaks-Dripping Springs encounter featured the top two recruits from the Class of 2026 in sophomore outsides Halle Thompson (Grand Oaks) and Henley Anderson (Dripping Springs). Drippings Springs finished fifth overall. The semifinals, meanwhile, featured the tournament’s top four seeds and set up a Texas-California conclusion with top seed Prestonwood facing No. 4 Grand Oaks and No. 2 Cathedral Catholic taking on No. 3 Mater Dei. The Texas clash went Prestonwood’s way in three, 25-14, 17-25, 25-21. That was significant from the standpoint that it was Grand Oaks’ first loss on the season. In the other semi, Mater Dei handed Cathedral Catholic its first setback on the season in a close sweep, 28-26, 25-23. Grand Oaks outlasted Cathedral Catholic in three, 20-25, 25-19, 25-23, in the third-place contest to move to 27-1 as Cathedral fell to 7-2. Mater Dei and Cathedral Catholic could meet later in the season as well. Both are set to attend the Dave Mohs tournament in Orange County two weeks before heading to Las Vegas for Durango. With the final set, the drama didn’t quite follow. Mater Dei played its best match of the three-day event, defending with an intensity not seen the prior days. Matched with Prestonwood’s errors, the insane ending everyone wanted to witness just didn’t materialize.

Day 2 of Volleypalooza was action-packed as we hit the courts once again. I started off in the morning at Liberty Hill High School, where we witnessed some thrilling matches featuring Cathedral Catholic CA, Mater Dei CA, The Woodlands TX, Bishop Lynch TX, Liberty Hill TX, SA Johnson TX, Highland Park TX, and Austin TX. There were definitely a ton of exciting matches on those courts. I then made our way to Glenn High School to watch the pool with Grand Oaks TX, Keller TX, Brandeis TX and Cinco Ranch TX. Talk about another group of truly remarkable athletes gracing the court. Right next door was the pool that featured host Glenn along with Churchill TX, Plano TX, and Waco Midway TX. And for the end of my day, I headed to Cedar Park to catch the end of the pools. I was able to catch the final moments of the Flower Mound TX match against Cedar Park and Walnut Grove TX versus Lake Travis TX. So much talent in these gyms right now! Odds and Ends There’s nothing quite like the electric energy radiating from exceptional athletes during crucial plays. Grand Oaks middle Jaela Auguste and Sachse middle Favor Anyanwu immediately come to mind. When they dominate the net or their teammates score, they both have a fiery enthusiasm that is palpable. Another athlete who left a lasting impression with her infectious energy was SA Johnson TX right side Anais Velazquez, a true force to be reckoned with on the court. Her vivacity was definitely inspirational. And let’s not forget about Keller’s Carley Wright, the right side who delivered timely blocks and incredible kills while bringing an unparalleled level of passion and energy to her squad. But the energy doesn’t stop there. Danielle Whitmire from Walnut Grove is another true all-around talent. As a right side, she dominates the net with her imposing presence and serves as a skilled quarterback setter for her squad. These athletes embody the indomitable spirit of the game, leaving us in awe of their unwavering passion and unmatched drive. Team Spotlight I love being able to see Cathedral Catholic play in Texas this weekend. They might have lost some serious studs to the 2023 graduating class but don’t be fooled because they have a ton of great talent on the court. Seniors Jenna Hanes, Tiana Owens, Avya Moi, and Amanda Saeger are just a few of the leaders for this well rounded squad. Junior libero Maya Evens does a great job sweeping up the court defensively and watchout, freshman Kale’a Lee is making her presence known. *** DAY 2 SHOW STOPPERS Jenna Hanes, SR MB, Cathedral Catholic- Hanes, a 4-star recruit committed to Michigan, is just huge in the middle. She was literally hitting over people when I was watching. Maya Evens, JR L, Cathedral Catholic- Evens, a 4-star recruit committed to Maryland, owns the back row with lots of range and presence. Tiana Owens, SR RS, Cathedral Catholic- Owens, committed to Colgate, is an offensive weapon who can sky and crush it, making her tough to dig. Ella Lewis, JR OH, The Woodlands- Lewis, a 3-star recruit, passes consistently well and is a fearless attacker who can hit from the back row as well. Mia Zepeda, SR RS, The Woodlands- Zepeda collects timely blocks and brings a lot of energy to the court in the front row. Malyssa Cawa, SR L, Mater Dei- Cawa, a 3-star recruit committed to Stanford, is smooth and steady at the position. She also covers the court well. Layli Ostovar, SO OH, Mater Dei- Ostovar, a 5-star recruit, is a physical presence and a dynamic attacker who also brings a lot of offensive “smarts” to the court. Brooklyn Bailey, SO MB/RS, Highland Park- Bailey, a 3-star recruit, plays a bit in the middle and the right side. And she runs the slide incredibly well. Talia Davison Lardner, JR MB, Highland Park- Lardner was doing a great job at the net defensively. Gigi Mason, SR RS, Liberty Hill- Mason, a committed to Vanderbilt, is a lefty with a big jump and long wingspan which makes her a threat both offensively and defensively. Ava Kostroun, JR MB, Liberty Hill- Kostroun makes an impact on both sides with her scoring and blocking. Annie Witt, JR OH, Liberty Hill- Witt plays with lots of energy and a high spirit. She has a good arm and is fearless, as she keeps coming at defenses time and time again. Aleida Moreno, SR L, Austin- Moreno is sound in serve receive and putting passes and digs right on target. Emmy Swift, JR MB, Austin- Swift is a bit undersized in the middle but she was producing regularly. She was very efficient. Ada Awagu, JR MB, SA Johnson- Awagu, a 3-star recruit, is an athletic gem in the middle. And let’s just say her huge reach is something that propels her on both sides of the ball. Anais Velazquez, SR RS, SA Johnson- Velazquez is a physical presence with a ton of electric energy. Riley Seitz, SR MB, Bishop Lynch- Seitz did a good job controlling the net offensively for her squad. Kassidy O’Brien, JR S, Cinco Ranch- O’Brien, a 5-star recruit committed to Kentucky, sets a clean ball that is rarely off the mark. She sets on the move as well and does a nice job of connecting with all her hitters everywhere on the court. Gabi Martinez, JR OH, Cinco Ranch- Martinez, a Cal Baptist commit, can crush it at times. She’s aggressive and challenges defenses to make plays on her. Jade Washington, JR L, Waco Midway- Washington is extremely fast and has a knack for making incredibly athletic defensive plays. Sophia Kuyn, SR MB, Brandeis- Kuyn, a Fordham commit, did a good job at the net. She’s fearless and doesn’t hold back. Lola Isaeff, JR OH, Brandeis- Isaeff was not holding back. She was attacking with aggression and was a threat to hit from different spots on the court. Anna Boatner, SR

The top five seeds – Prestonwood Christian TX, Cathedral Catholic CA, Mater Dei CA, Grand Oaks TX and Dripping Springs TX – respectively made it through to the eight-team championship bracket as the three-day Volleypalooza extravaganza is set to conclude Saturday at Rouse. It’s the other three participants who have turned heads so far and will look to continue to take down higher-seeded squads in hopes of stunning the field. The biggest surprise in the final eight is Bridgeland TX, which opened Thursday seeded No. 41 overall. However, the Bears were able to upset No. 7 Prosper TX on Day 1 and kept at it on Day 2. Despite a setback against Round Rock TX, Bridgeland managed to make it out on top of its pool after clipping Rockwall TX in three, 23-25, 25-23, 25-22, in the 1 v 2 outing. Bridgeland and Rockwall tied at 2-1, but the head-to-head victory carried Bridgeland – which also beat Southlake Carroll TX – in the tiebreaker scenario. Not far behind Bridgeland is Sachse TX. The Mustangs entered Day 1 seeded No. 26 and finished in a three-way tie at 2-1 with Stratford TX and Clark TX. Sachse took second based on the tiebreakers, placing the Bears as the No. 4 team in Pool 6 on Friday. That was not an issue, as Sachse rose up and went 3-0, including beating No. 6 overall seed Lake Travis TX handily in two, 25-19, 25-21. Sachse swept Walnut Grove TX earlier before clinching first place by outlasting Pearland TX in three, 16-25, 25-23, 25-20, to close out its afternoon. Rounding out the eight-team championship bracket is Cypress Ranch TX. The Mustangs didn’t have as far to climb as Bridgeland or Sachse, as they started off seeded No. 18 overall. After a 3-0 Day 1, Cy Ranch stayed alive by beating both Allen TX and Stratford in a three-team pool. That set up a crossover showdown for a spot in the final eight against No. 8 overall seed Colleyville Heritage TX. Cy Ranch prevailed in three, 25-22, 15-25, 25-21. Before that, Colleyville held off Prosper, 26-24, 22-25, 25-23, to open play Friday. It was Prosper’s loss on Thursday that set up the early showdown and essentially ended Prosper’s chances at the final eight with the defeat to Colleyville. Here’s how the quarterfinals stack up for Saturday: • Prestonwood v Cypress Ranch• Dripping Springs v Grand Oaks• Mater Dei v Sachse• Cathedral Catholic v Bridgeland *** DAY 2 SHOW STOPPERS Sarah Hickman SO RS Stratford TX: A 6-4, 4-star recruit, Hickman brings plenty of length to the lineup. She contacts the ball at a high point and is tough to cover because of it as she can go over blocks at tough angles. Gwen Koss SO OH Stratford TX: A 3-star recruit, Koss carries her share of the offensive responsibilities, getting a lot of swings on the outside. She’s a steady attacker who doesn’t try to overdo it and does well finding open spaces. Alyssa Boyte SR MB/RS Allen TX: Boyte once again showed her skills. The Metro State commit played both middle and right side, as well as defending in the back row. She’s a near automatic on offense out of the middle, and helped complete a comeback victory over Stratford with four kills in the final five points in Game 3. Kennedy Crayton SO OH Allen TX: Crayton is an undersized pin with an explosive jump. She gets up in a hurry and can unleash with a fury. Sophia Wilson SR S Allen TX: Wilson – a Stephen F. Austin commit – is an undersized setter who does a great job running the offense. She not only locates consistently, she does well moving the ball around and mixing her sets up. Avery Penrod JR L Allen TX: Penrod came alive as the match went on against Stratford. She was doing a great job picking off cross-court shots coming her way and extending rallies. Sarah Mendoza JR L Colleyville Heritage TX: Mendoza – a 4-star recruit – fought through a collision with a teammate and kept on ticking. She was solid out of serve receive and did well making plays in the back row. Suli Davis JR S/RS Colleyville Heritage TX: Davis – a 5-star recruit – starred once more in her dual role. She helped carry Colleyville to a key victory over Prosper. While she does a nice job setting, she really shines attacking with her massive arm and the way she can slam balls from sideline to sideline. Maddie Bird SR OH Colleyville Heritage TX: Bird is a six-rotation glue piece. She’s not a flashy player but she doesn’t get fazed and was contributing in many ways, from solid serve receive to smart attacking and defensive prowess. Hannah Beauford JR S/RS Prosper TX: A 4-star recruit, Beauford is a smooth disher who carries a strong arm when attacking across the front row. She’s a key piece in what Prosper does and had her hand in a lot of plays. Ayden Ames SR OH Prosper TX: A 5-star Nebraska commit, Ames can be a wrecking ball at times. She can hit all over the court and with her size and length can hit hard angles like few can. Jayla Jackson SO OH/RS Prosper TX: Jackson provided an offensive lift with her ability to score on either pin. She’s a bit undersized but knows how to use the block and tools well. Karol Lopez SR L Vista Ridge TX: Vista Ridge is a smaller team overall and has to rely heavily on defense and digging. Lopez fits that bill to a tee, passing well and getting balls up all over the court. Taylor Porter JR OH Cy Ranch TX: Porter – a 4-star Vanderbilt commit – is a six-rotation mainstay. She has a fluid arm and can rip balls from corner to corner. Zora Bello SO RS Cy Ranch TX: A 3-star recruit, Bello does well on the right side adding offensive firepower to the

Volleypalooza 2023 has kicked off in spectacular fashion on Day 1. First up for me were the pools at Vandegrift High School. The athletes showcased their unwavering dedication and heart in every aspect of the game. Then I ventured over to Cedar Park High School to capture the play in those two pools. It was fun to watch some of the Austin, San Antonio, Houston and Corpus Christi area schools compete (as I have been watching a ton of the DFW metro teams over the last two weekends). Yet again I have to spotlight the Class of 2027 making its appearance known in the varsity world. Camille Presley, a middle blocker from Austin TX, is emerging as a true force, demonstrating power and finesse in dominating the front row. Also, S/RS hitters Kamryn Mullican (Hebron TX) and Lauren Garcia (SA Reagan TX) are solidifying their pivotal roles on their respective teams. And let’s not overlook the impressive performance of libero Addison Mayo (Flour Bluff TX), who has showcased her defensive prowess with athletic and timely plays. *** DAY 1 SHOW STOPPERS Mya Allen, JR OH, SA Reagan- Allen, a 3-star recruit, is explosive to say the least. She commands a presence everywhere on the court. Adyson Perez, SR L, SA Reagan- Perez makes tremendous plays keeping rallies alive and bringing a defensive tenacity to the floor. Thea Carter, SR OH, Alamo Heights- Carter, a 3-star recruit committed to Rice, was playing in a six rotation right side position and is a big plus for the offense. She has a booming arm and was crushing it. Cayley Hanson, SR S/RS, Deer Park- Hanson, a 3-star recruit committed to Mississippi State, does well directing the offense back row with a nice, consistent release. She’s also a solid attacker who helps spread out the offense. Tatum Busch, SR OH, Deer Park- Busch, a Tarleton State commit, is an aggressive swinger and doesn’t back down. Margaret Croft, JR OH, Flour Bluff- Croft, a six-rotation outside, hits with a heavy hand everywhere on the court. Beka Pfefferkorn, JR MB/RS, Bridgeland: Pfefferkorn, a 4-star recruit, can both unleash on the ball offensively and be a constant wall defensively. Alice Volpe, SR L, Bridgeland- Volpe, a 4-star recruit committed to TCU, is an smooth libero who is fun to watch take care of the back row duties. She is steady with her serve receive and does a great job defensively. Alex Beauchamp, SR OH, Vandegrift- Beauchamp takes aggressive swings and showed her ability to tool blocks, as well as pass and defend in the back row. Ava Carrasquillo, SO S/RS, Vandegrift- Carrasquillo does well getting her hitters involved when in system. She’s solid and consistent hitting her spots. Julia Hopkins, SR OH, Westwood- Hopkins, an Angelo State commit, hits a heavy ball and when she fully catches one she crushes it. Callie Krueger, SO L, Cedar Park- Krueger, a 4-star recruit committed to Texas, is smooth in serve receive. Defensively she holds down the back court with athleticism and grace. Muno Mmuo, SR MB, Cedar Park- Mmuo, a 3-star recruit committed to Dartmouth, is explosive in the middle. And when you give her an open net WATCH OUT. Joy Udoye, JR OH, Cedar Park- Udoye, a 3-star recruit, has a great arm that can already generate heat and pressure opponents consistently. Haley Kerstetter, JR MB, Hebron-Kerstetter might not be the tallest or flashiest middle blocker BUT she has a quick arm that beats blocks regularly. Sophie Hoke, SR RS, Hebron- Hoke is playing on the right side and every time I watch her play she comes up with these great plays. She’s a smart hitter who finds the hole. Harper Hall, SR S, Highland Park- Hall, a 3-star recruit committed to UCSB, has nice hands. She does well moving the ball around and keeping defenses on their toes. Alex Richter, JR OH, Highland Park- Richter, a 4-star recruit committed to Georgia, is a six-rotation outside who defenses have to give a lot of attention to because she’s an equal scoring threat whether front or back row. Gigi Whann, SO L, Highland Park- Whann was holding down the back row with her steady play. Her passing out of serve receive was consistent and she was making scrappy hustle plays. Dominique Phills, SR RS, Dawson- Phills, a 3-star recruit committed to Iowa, both swings well and provides a potent defense wall at the net. Kennedy Jones, JR MB/RS, Dawson- Jones can explode up and unload in the middle both offensively and defensively. Anna Flores, SO S, Keller- Flores, a 4-star recruit, has a great touch and consistent delivery. She hits her mark on the regular and has plenty of pieces to work with. Lauren Scheiden, SO L, Keller- Scheiden, a 3-star recruit, was strong in the back court. She has great reactions and does well tracking down balls to keep plays alive. Ayden Ames, SR OH/RS, Prosper- Ames, a 5-star recruit committed to Nebraska, can crush balls down the line or simply go over blockers and attack the deep cross court on corner. Hannah Beauford, JR S/RS, Prosper- Beauford, a 4-star recruit, is a solid setter with really good hands and location. As a hitter, she pounds and gives defenses all they can handle. Riley Malloy, SO OH, Austin- Malloy, a 5-star recruit, is a game-changing outside with her ability to control both sides of the net. She’s a phenomenal attacker with a big arm. And with her size, she can put up a wall of a block. Harper Luthy, JR OH, Austin- Luthy gets up well, swings hard and unloads with a fury. Suli Davis, JR S/RS, Colleyville Heritage- Davis, a 5-star recruit, is a glue piece who can carry the offensive load for stretches. She’s a smart hitter who can menace defenses on the reg. And did I mention yet she sets pretty darn well too? Sarah Mendoza, JR L, Colleyville Heritage- Mendoza, a 4-star recruit, was a back row force. She made a ton of