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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

In a 68-team field, it’s expected that the respective top seeds in their pools are going to get through the opening day. That was the case on Day 1 of Volleypalooza, save for one. Canyon TX, the No. 10 overall seed, caught a bad break and was eliminated Thursday as the tournament kicked off in the greater Austin area. After starting 2-0, Canyon was upended by Rockwall TX in the 1 v 2 contest. It created a three-way tie at 2-1 between Canyon, Rockwall and Vista Ridge TX. It was Vista Ridge upsetting Rockwall in the 2 v 3 match that helped create the drama. What made it even tougher on Canyon is that all three teams tied on set percentage, so each team’s points ratio was used to determine the final placing. Given that, Rockwall came out ahead, followed by Vista Ridge in second and then Canyon in third. Canyon wasn’t the only top seed in its pool to lose, but the other ones who fell still managed to advance to Friday’s top pools. Prosper TX, the No. 7 overall seed, and Stratford TX, the No. 9 overall seed, both went down during Day 1 action. Prosper fell in three to Bridgland TX, the No. 3 team in the pool which finished 3-0. After losing to Clark TX in its opening match, Stratford found itself in a similar position as Canyon did ending in a three-way tie. Stratford was knotted at 2-1 with both Clark and Sachse TX, but still held onto first place with the best set percentage. Sachse took second, which meant despite its big upset Clark still finished in third place. The biggest surprise of the day belonged to Walnut Grove TX, which as the No. 58 overall wrapped up first place by going 3-0. Walnut Grove upset No. 11 overall seed Southlake Carroll TX, as well as Seven Lakes TX and Leander TX. Southlake Carroll finished 2-1 to take second place. Clear Springs TX, the No. 13 overall seed, No. 14 Cinco Ranch TX, No. 15 Highland Park TX and No. 17 SA Harlan TX all finished 2-1 as the top sees in their pool. All finished in second place. In each instance, the No. 2 team in each pool took first place in Keller TX, Liberty Hill TX, Austin TX and Cypress Ranch TX. A few of the highest seeds which finished 3-0 lost one set each in No. 2 Cathedral Catholic CA, No. 4 Grand Oaks TX and No. 6 Lake Travis TX. Top-seeded Prestonwood Christian TX, No. 3 Mater Dei CA, No. 5 Dripping Springs TX and No. 12 Rouse TX all went undefeated in sets on Day 1. *** TEAM SPOTLIGHT Mater Dei and Rouse squared off Wednesday night ahead of the tournament action. Mater Dei came back to beat Rouse in four, 18-25, 25-23, 29-27, 25-15. Let’s take a closer look at the two sides in our Team Spotlight. MATER DEI CA: The Monarchs attended Volleypalooza in 2021 and headed back to California as the tournament champions. That year, Mater Dei also played a match on Wednesday, losing a nail-biter five-setter to Bryon Nelson TX. Mater Dei came out ahead this go around playing against Volleypalooza host Rouse. The Monarchs boast a strong lineup that includes 4-star senior outside Isabel Clark (San Diego) and 4-star senior right side Cymarah Gordon (Michigan). Another standout is 5-star sophomore outside Layli Ostovar. The team runs a 6-2 attack, with junior setter Ayva Ostovar and 3-star senior Julia Kakkis, who also hits across the front. The middle is patrolled by a pair of underclassmen in 3-star sophomore Addison Coady and 6-4, 3-star freshman Emma Kingston. Taking care of the libero position is recent 3-star Stanford commit Malyssa Cawa. ROUSE TX: Led by 4-star senior setter Savannah Skopal (Rice), Rouse gave Mater Dei a real scare. Skopal was fantastic in directing the attack and leading the charge. Mater Dei had a tough time slowing senior right side Naara Tanco, who was torching her opponent from both the front and back row. Also shining was 3-star Arizona State commit Jadyn Wilgus in the middle. Junior outside Jade Key had her moments as well, sending down spectacular kills. Freshman outside Avery Ralston also played a key role in delivering timely kills. Defensively, 3-star junior libero Mary Schirpik was holding it down and making lots of nice plays. *** DAY 1 SHOW STOPPERS DyBorrah Johnson JR MB Casteel AZ: Though Casteel went 1-2 on the day, Johnson was a force in the middle. She changed the dynamic of the lineup when she checked in, bringing her athleticism and big-time scoring ability to the court and boosting the attack. Kennedy Thompson JR S Casteel AZ: At 6-0, Thompson was a front row setter who did well dishing. She showed consistent location when delivering. Fara Bronson FR S Casteel AZ: Bronson – a 3-star recruit – set across the back row and showed the type of skills that helped Arizona Storm 14 Thunder to the 14 Open silver medal in Chicago. She moves well and does a nice job setting against the flow. Katelyn Bowman JR MB Allen TX: Bowman was in beast mode, especially when running the slide attack. She can really rip it and was scoring plenty for her squad. Alyssa Boyte SR MB Allen TX: Boyte had arguably the best stretch of any player I saw on the opening day. She was scoring effectively across the front row and then had nearly a 10-point service run in which she was playing middle back and making several digs to keep the run going. Jacy Carrejo JR S Leander TX: Carrejo – a 3-star recruit – commands the offense and is the court leader for Leander. She’s long and does a great job locating as well as playing defense and keeping plays alive. Macy Cepeda SO RS Leander TX: Cepeda, a lefty, was contributing to the offense when called upon. She showed a nice arm and ability to

It’s been just over two months since the recruiting period for the Class of 2025 officially opened and what a whirlwind It’s been since then. There has seemingly been a big-time announcement every day as players give verbals to their future collegiate program and home. We check in on the five programs leading the way to date. It should come as no surprise that four of the five are the regular powerhouses which typically bring in the top recruits. However, the fifth one may surprise most with Texas AM joining the likes of Wisconsin, Nebraska, Texas and Minnesota. Check out our analysis below. NEBRASKA• Campbell Flynn S Legacy (5-star)• Teraya Sigler OH AZ Storm (5-star)• Ryan Hunter RS Triangle (5-star)• Keri Leimbach L Nebraska One (4-star) Breakdown: Yes, we know it comes as a total shock to see Nebraska in this position. While the Huskers trail Wisconsin in total number of 5-star recruits, the caliber of talent Nebraska has landed is hard to surpass. Sigler, without question, is the top all-around outside in the class and anchors a strong recruiting class. She guided Arizona Storm 16 Thunder to the 16 Open gold medal at the USAV Girls Junior National Championships this summer and plays high school for Horizon. She’s a physical outside who hits with as much power and force as anyone. She’s also a strong passer out of serve receive and a solid defender. She figures to fit right in when she gets to Lincoln. Flynn, who plays for Legacy in club and Mercy in high school, is one of the top two setters in the class. At 6-3, she’s taller than a lot of outside hitters. Her placement and ability to run an offense is next-level. Her aggressiveness in being a threat to score on two while in the front row is a big bonus, as well as her being able to put up a huge block too. Hunter, a 6-2 lefty right side, hasn’t been playing volleyball as long as others but has quickly ascended the charts. She broke out on everyone’s radar playing up an age for CJV 16 during the 2021-2022 club season. She continued playing up an age group this past season for Triangle 17 Black, which tied for fifth in 17 Open in Chicago. She plays high school for Mallard Creek. She’s one of the more athletic and explosive hitters in the class, regardless of position. The scary part is how much better she can continue to get as she gains valuable experience and coaching and helps fill out a tall incoming class. We wrap up with Leimbach, who played for Nebraska One 16 Synergy and helped her team to a bronze medal in 16 Open at the USAV GJNC. She’s a fiery libero who brings tons of energy and passion to the lineup. Leimbach – who plays high school at Lincoln Lutheran – is a strong passer and defender and is part of the reason why Nebraska could be considered the front runner in terms of recruiting classes. *** WISCONSIN• Kristen Simon L KIVA (5-star)• Madison Quest OH Milwaukee Sting (5-star)• Natalie Wardlow MB Nebraska One (5-star)• Addison Horner S/OPP 1st Alliance (5-star) Breakdown: With four, 5-star recruits already on board, it’s easy to see why the Badgers are among the front runners so far. We recently featured Quest as one of our Players of the Week. The 6-3 outside suited up this past club season for MKE Sting 16 Gold and is currently playing high school for Divine Savior Holy Angels. She’s a lanky outside with a whippy arm who can score equally well front and back row. She’s part of a tall class for the Badgers that also includes 6-5 Wardlow and 6-3 Horner. Wardlow has been on the radar of top programs for years with her size and ability to impact both sides of the net. She’s a strong hitter and blocker and fits the mold of some recent Wisconsin middles with similar builds. She helped lift Nebraska One to a bronze medal in 16 Open this summer at the USAV GJNC. She plays high school for Lincoln Southwest. As for Horner, she burst onto the scene this season after joining 1st Alliance 16 Gold, which took home the silver medal in 16 Open. She clearly has the length and versatility to be a high-level Division 1 talent. She showed off her ability to both set and hit at an above-average level this past club season. It remains to be seen if she’ll stay in that role once in college, but she will bring roster flexibility to be certain. Simon was part of the KiVA 16 Red squad that captured the 16 Open gold medal at the AAU National Championships. She started making lots of waves last high school season starring at libero for nationally-ranked Assumption. She opened the club season splitting time at libero but soon took over the role for good and continued to prove that she is one of the best at her position in the country. She helps fill out a balanced incoming class so far for the Badgers, who are the only school thus far with four, 5-star commits. *** MINNESOTA• Kelly Kinney OH Tribe (5-star)• Jordan Taylor MB HJV (5-star)• Carly Gilk RS MN Select (4-star)• McKenna Garr L Northern Lights (3-star) Breakdown: New Gophers coach Keegan Cook is off to a terrific beginning in terms of recruiting. That’s not surprising given his success at Washington and the type of program Minnesota has been. The biggest commit so far is Taylor. At 6-5, Taylor is arguably the top middle in the class. Her length and the way she moves should translate well to the collegiate level. She can get up and go over blockers with ease. She played this past club season for Houston Jrs and is part of the Langham Creek high school team. She’s one of two 5-star recruits, with Kinney being the other. Kinney, who plays high school at