Premium Content

The atmosphere on the third and final day of the Northwest ISD Classic was absolutely electrifying, sending waves of excitement through the crowd from the very beginning. The first match of the gold bracket saw Grand Oaks deliver a stunning victory over Byron Nelson after an intense battle that stretched to three games. While Grand Oaks emerged as the ultimate victors, it must be acknowledged that Byron Nelson displayed moments of brilliance and played with incredible skill throughout the match. In another thrilling showdown, Wakeland showed its strength and prowess by defeating Argyle in a swift two games, earning itself a spot in the finals. Grand Oaks, powered by a roster of extraordinary athletes, demonstrated its mettle on the court throughout the weekend, setting the stage for a spectacular clash against Wakeland in the much-anticipated final. Grand Oaks ended up capturing the tournament title in straight sets, 25-20, 25-13. That being said this was a great preseason tournament for all the squads as they head into the next month and eventually the postseason! *** Freshman Phenoms Five talented freshmen players from North Texas made a significant impact during the tournament. Mariah Akinsola from Frisco Reedy dominated as a middle blocker, delivering powerful swings and solid blocks. Sophee Peterson from Byron Nelson showcased her versatility by running a six-two system from the back row, effectively distributing the offense while playing exceptional defense. Kamryn Mullican, representing Hebron, impressed as a setter and right-side hitter, unleashing a strong attack. Gentry Barker from Lovejoy shined as a six-rotation outside hitter, bringing athleticism and strategic play to distribute the offense. And Lexi Martin from Eaton stood out as a dynamic attacker everywhere on the court. *** Gold Bracket Results Grand Oaks d Byron Nelson 19-25, 25-16, 25-16 (semis) Wakeland d Argyle 25-13, 27-25 (semis) Byron Nelson d Argyle 25-17, 25-16 (3rd) Grand Oaks d Wakeland 25-20, 25-13 (final) *** All-Tournament Team MB Jaela Auguste– Grand Oaks OH Halle Thompson – Grand Oaks OH Samara Coleman – Grand Oaks S Audrey Terry – Grand Oaks S/RS Sarah Pfiffner – Frisco Wakeland L Aubree Fernandez – Frisco Wakeland MB Jessica Jones – Frisco Wakeland OH Sydnee Peterson – Byron Nelson OH Kylie Kleckner – Byron Nelson OH Ashlyn Seay – Byron Nelson MB Kat Holtman – Argyle S/RS Jordyn Moore – Argyle OH Ayden Ames – Prosper S/RS Hannah Beauford – Prosper S/RS Suli Davis – Colleyville Heritage *** Day 3 Show Stoppers Jaela Auguste, SR MB, Grand Oaks- Auguste, a 5-star recruit committed to Florida, is a literal wall at the net. She moves laterally well and her wingspan helps shut down the opposition. Halle Thompson, SO OH, Grand Oaks- Thompson, a 5-star athlete, is an explosive hitter who can fly. She has a quick jump and fast arm and is difficult to read. Samara Coleman, JR OH, Grand Oaks- Coleman, a 5-star recruit committed to Pitt, is a six-rotation contributor. She’s such an explosive attacker with a monster arm and ability to score in so many ways and anywhere on the court. Cali Reece, SO L, Grand Oaks- Reece was holding it down in the backrow in both serve receive and defensively. She helped set the pace on her first touches. Sarah Pfiffner, JR S/RS, Wakeland- Pfiffner, a 4-star recruit, was effective in both roles as a setter and a hitter. She came in clutch offensively in the final points against Argyle in the semifinals. Aubree Fernandez, SO L, Frisco Wakeland- Fernandez, a 3-star recruit, brings stability to the position for her team. She’s a steady passer with strong ball control skills. Jessica Jones, SR MB, Wakeland- Jones, a 3-star recruit committed to LSU, is a six-rotation middle who was providing offense both in the front row and back row throughout the day. Kealakai Bandy, SR OH, Wakeland- Bandy was a key contributor officially on the outside. She was playing smart and tooling the block consistently. Katherine Holtman, SR MB, Argyle- Holtman, a 3-star recruit committed to SFA, is a strong presence in the middle, She’s a scoring threat and someone defenses have to track. Jordyn Moore, JR S/RS, Argyle- Moore, a 3-star recruit, brings so much to the squad, from her skills to her competitive fire. She was setting on point and delivering reliable and consistent offense across the front. Shaye Feely, SR OH, Argyle- Feely is a bit undersized on the outside but it doesn’t matter when she goes up for a kill. She takes aggressive swings and showed her ability to tool blocks, as well as pass and defend in the back row. Ayden Ames, SR OH, Prosper- Ames, a 5-star recruit committed to Nebraska, is a six-rotation outside for her squad who defenses have to give a lot of attention to because she’s an equal scoring threat whether front or back row. And watch out for her on the slide attack. Hannah Beauford, JR S/RS, Prosper- Beauford, a 4-star recruit, did a fine job directing the offense. And in the front row she was delivering impressive kills consistently. Suli Davis, JR S/RS, Colleyville Heritage- Davis, a 5-star recruit, is a difficult cover no matter who is on the other side of the net. She’s an athletic attacker who gets up and swings with fire. She plays a dual role when in the back row and quarterbacks her squad well. Maddie Bird, SR OH, Colleyville Heritage- Bird is a six-rotation glue piece. She has great ball skills in the back row and lots of smarts shots when it comes to scoring. Sydnee Peterson, JR OH, Byron Nelson- Peterson, a 4-star recruit, is an athletic, wirey outside who gets off the ground quick. She has a fast swing and can generate real heat on her shots. Kylie Kleckner, SO OH, Byron Nelson- Kleckner, a 4-star recruit, has great ball skills in the back row and lots of smarts when it comes to scoring. Ashlyn Seay, SO OH, Byron Nelson- Seay, a 3-star recruit, has a great arm that can already generate heat

The Northwest ISD Classic was definitely entertaining to say the least as Day 2 action rolled on! I hustled between Byron Nelson High School and Eaton High School to watch the four gold pools. Byron Nelson, Argyle and Grand Oaks all went 3-0 in their respective pools. In the other pool, a three-way tie occurred, with Wakeland finishing first in the pool followed by El Paso Coronado in second and Colleyville Heritage in third. The clash between Grand Oaks and Lovejoy was an absolute blast to watch, although ultimately Grand Oaks ended up winning the match. Saturday’s semifinals are set with Grand Oaks playing Byron Nelson and Argyle going against Wakeland. *** TEAM SPOTLIGHT In the last 7 days I have been able to watch El Paso Coronado over four days AND let me tell you THEY ARE THE DEFINITION OF A SCRAPPY TEAM. Teams would be wise to play this team hard all the time. Seniors Alina Strickler, Nadia Peña, Gessell Martinez, Rhian Gee, Ashlee Macias and Alexa Lawrence lead their squad. Strickler and Peña offensively pack a punch on the pins. Juniors Danielle Gutierrez and Elle Rios​ are also huge contributors. They might not be in the gold bracket Saturday morning, but they will be facing off against SL Carroll in the silver bracket. *** DAY 2 SHOW STOPPERS Reese Renfrow, SR OH, Prosper- Renfrow, a 3-star recruit committed to Lewis, is a undersized outside hitter who swings and tools blocks with the best of them. Jayla Jackson, SO RS, Prosper- Jackson, a 3-star recruit, was really effective on the right side offensively. She also reads well defensively at the net. Caroline Tredwell, SR MB, Flower Mound- Tredwell, a 3-star recruit committed to UTSA, makes her presence known on both sides of the ball. She takes up space and is a physical hitter and blocker. Audrey Jackson, JR OH Flower Mound- a 4-star recruit committed to Texas Beach, brings the heat on the pins. Ashlyn Seay, SO OH, Byron Nelson- Seay, a 3-star recruit, hits with good pace, swings well and was exploiting the holes in the block regularly. Emily Housknecht, JR L, Byron Nelson- Housknecht is quick and covers ground chasing down balls and extending rallies. Nadia Peña, S/RS, El Paso Coronado- Peña, a Texas A&M-Kingsville commit, is a lefty who can wail on the ball in the front row and has a soft touch setting in the back row. Sophia Armstrong, SR L, Rockwall- Armstrong, a 3-star recruit committed to Louisiana, controls the back row with lots of range and presence in both serve receive and defense. Kristin Smith, SR S, Frisco Reedy- Smith moves well and has a nice touch. She puts up a clean ball. Tionna Owens, SR MB, Waxahachie- Owens has nice size and is a disrupter in the middle. She does well getting touches and blocks. Taryn Barnes, SR OH, SL Carroll- Barnes, a 3-star recruit committed to Angelo State, was staying aggressive and challenging blockers with strong swings. Abbey Pace, SR L, SL Carroll- Pace is a scrapper in the back court. She has a no fear attitude on defense. Kayla Clark, SR RS, Arlington Lamar- Clark is a huge part of the Lamar offense with the way she can get up and deliver. Lainee Pyles, SR OH, Fossil Ridge- Pyles, a 4-star recruit committed to LSU, is a high-flying, hard-hitting outside who shoulders a large load of the offense. Jordyn Moore, JR S/RS, Argyle- Moore, a 3-star recruit, is a physical hitter on the right who helps spread out the attack being the threat she is and has a great touch on the ball setting her hitters. Katherine Holtman, SR MB, Argyle- Holtman, a 3-star recruit committed to SFA, had a strong showing in the middle. She blocks well and has a nice arm to torment defenses with. Maris Boop, JR MB, Weatherford- Boop has a knack defensively at the net. She tracks the ball and moves laterally incredibly well. Ella Lewis, JR OH, The Woodlands- Lewis, a 3-star recruit, is a reliable scorer who was finding gaps in the seams and open spots on the court with her smart shot selection. Payton Stroud, JR S/RS, The Woodlands- Stroud has her share of responsibility setting and hitting. She has a great touch on the ball when she dishes her hitters. Brooklyn Bailey, JR MB/RS, Highland Park-Bailey, a 3-star recruit, is lanky and has a fluid swing and can generate pace to help spread out the attack, especially on the slide. Aaliyah Smith, JR OH Ridge Point- Smith, a 4-star recruit committed to Rice, swings front and back row and did well in helping carrying her share of the offense. Haley Kerstetter, JR MB, Hebron- Kerstetter was effective on the attack when set. She has a solid arm and has nice range with her shots. Estella Homoya, JR S, Vandegrift- Homoya, a 5-1 setter, moves well, has a soft touch and locates well to all spots. Mira Klem, SR RS, Coppell- Klem is long and lanky. She gets up well and takes aggressive swings wherever she is. Kiley Brooks, SO L, Northwest- Brooks controls the back row. She’s spot on with her passing and gets after it defensively. Madison Scrivner, SR S, Northwest- Scrivner, a 3-star recruit committed to North Texas, moves well and has a nice touch. She puts up a clean ball consistently. Levariya Pinder, SO OH, Northwest- Pinder, a 4-star recruit, is a six-rotation outside who’s strong in serve receive and defense, Pereira is a bit undersized but a gamer on the attack. Sarah Pfiffner, JR S/RS, Wakeland- Pfiffner, a 4-star recruit, does well getting her various hitters involved and keeping defenses honest by using her middles when she can. Jessica Jones, SR MB, Wakeland- a 3-star recruit committed to LSU, is an impactful middle with both her swinging and blocking. Suli Davis, JR S/RS, Colleyville Heritage- Davis, a 5-star recruit, is a smooth operator in any position she is in. She plays under total control and

If you want some non-stop, action-packed volleyball, look no further than the high school scene! It’s a well-known fact that the volleyball world operates in cycles – teams go through highs and lows, programs rise and fall. But let me tell you at the NorthWest ISD Volleyball Classic this year is on a whole new level of fun! It’s like a whirlwind of talent, passion and sheer determination hitting the courts. Get ready for some mind-blowing plays, breathtaking digs and epic comebacks this weekend.  Talk about an international volleyball extravaganza in North Texas this weekend! Picture this: four Texans, fresh from their adventures at the U19 World Championships in Croatia, now back on their high school squads ready to ball out with their teammates. It was so awesome to see them all back on the high school court. From the ferocity of USC Commit Favor Anyanwu at Sachse HS, to the finesse of LMU commit Bella Ocampo at Highland Park HS, not forgetting the sheer grit of Ayden Ames at Prosper HS and the dynamic energy of Florida Commit Jaela Auguste at Grand Oaks HS. They walked back onto that court and brought an undeniable spark to their respective teams. It was an absolute blast witnessing their seamless transition from the world stage to the local brilliance of high school volleyball.  It’s the year of the freshman, in my opinion, and mark my words, they are here to make a statement. Now, don’t misunderstand me, we have some jaw-dropping talent across all grade levels, but let me tell you, these young rookies are something special. It’s so fun to be witnessing a new crop of superstars emerge and set the bar higher than ever before.  There’s nothing quite like the bond of sisterhood, especially when it comes to the volleyball court! And guess what? North Texas is brimming with incredibly talented sister duos that are taking the varsity squads by storm. Take a look at Flower Mound, where the Tredwell sisters (UTSA commit middle blocker Caroline Tredwell and setter Allison Tredwell) bring their synchronicity to create an unstoppable force. Another dynamic duo is the Davis sisters (setter/right side Suli Davis and middle blocker Onita Davis) representing Colleyville Heritage, who bring athleticism and passion to the court. And let’s not forget about the Peterson sisters (outside hitter Sydnee Peterson and setter Sophee Peterson) at Byron Nelson, showcasing their teamwork and determination with every play. This is just the beginning, as there are even more phenomenal sister duos throughout the country, ready to leave their mark on this season.  *** TEAM SPOTLIGHT Grand Oaks HS out of the Houston metro boasts an incredibly powerful lineup. With middle blocker Jayla Auguste (Florida commit), sophomore outside hitter Halle Thompson, junior outside hitter Samara Coleman (Pitt commit) and senior outside hitter Caelyn Emmerling (Texas State commit) firing away at the pins, their offensive firepower is impressive to say the least. Additionally, sophomore libero Cali Reece anchors the defense and serves as a vital component in their ball control. Their cohesion and skill make them a force to be reckoned with, and it’s going to be thrilling to watch them grow throughout the season.  *** DAY 1 SHOW STOPPERS Sydnee Peterson, JR OH, Byron Nelson- Peterson, a 4-star recruit, is a valuable six-rotation outside for her squad who takes a lot of big swings. She did well tooling and scoring consistently. Kylie Kleckner, SO OH, Byron Nelson- Kleckner, a 4-star recruit, is fearless with a hard, aggressive swing challenging blockers. She’s also really solid in the back row defensively. Vivian Parker, SR OH, Aledo- Parker, a 3-star recruit committed to Missouri, just gets the job done being steady, consistent, and powerful. She has good ball skills and uses her smarts to be a reliable scorer. Alyssa Todd, SO OH, Aledo- Todd can get up and get after it. She has a smooth swing and generates pace. Brennan Ramirez, SR L, Waxahachie- Recent Texas commit Ramirez is quick and covers ground in a hurry. She has no problem flying all over the court in pursuit of the ball. Claire Conner, SO OH, Weatherford- Conner is an undersized hitter who has no fear when attacking.  Gabi Ashcraft, SR S, Rockwall- Ashcraft, who is committed to Palm Beach Atlantic, does well guiding the attack. She has a nice release and sets a hittable ball consistently. Harley Krause, SR OH, Rockwall- Krause, a SFA commit, was bringing the heat on the attack. She was not holding back, taking aggressive swings and delivering on a regular basis. Ava Shankle, SR OH/MB, Grapevine- Shankle, a 3-star recruit committed to The Ohio State, was playing in a six-rotation right side position when I was watching. She has a massive arm and brings the heat consistently.  Mckenna Brand, SR L, Lovejoy- Brand, a 4-star recruit committed to UConn, is an intense competitor who plays all out and is steady and consistent with her passing. Skylar Jackson, SO OH, Lovejoy- Jackson, a 3-star recruit, passes well out of serve receive. She also just explodes on the attack offensively when called on.  Shelby Burriss, JR MB, Lovejoy- Burriss, a 4-star recruit, is fiery at times, especially after delivering a timely block. She also provides stability in the middle, being both a scoring threat and solid blocker. Danielle Gutierrez, JR L, El Paso Coronado- Gutierrez again shows her scrappiness on the court. She plays with good energy and has solid ball control to help anchor the defense. Alina Strickler, SR OH, El Paso Coronado- Strickler is an undersized outside hitter with no fear on the court. She swings with the best of them and plays defense with the best of them consistently.  Favor Anyanwu, SR MB/OH, Sachse- Anyanwu, a 5-star recruit committed to USC, was literally going over blocks on the pins. It was fun to see her playing outside for her squad. She brings the heat LITERALLY anywhere she swings. Kaelynn Sims, JR MB/OH, Sachse- Sims, a UNLV commit, can hit from the left, middle and right as she makes her way across the front row.   Kennedi Rogers, JR OH, Ridge Point- Rogers, a 4-star recruit, is

The Ann Kang Invitational – hosted by ‘Iolani – was one of the high school tournaments helping kick off the season this past weekend. Fourth-ranked Mira Costa CA defeated national No. 8 Cornerstone Christian TX in three sets, 16-25, 25-19, 15-11, to capture its second consecutive and eighth overall tournament title at the prestigious event in Honolulu. You can read more about the Mustangs’ victory here. Below, we present our version of this year’s All-Tournament Team — which is separate from the awards handed out by the tournament itself — with vballrecruiter.com’s All Red Hat Team. The list features our top players from the three-day tournament. Congrats to all who made it! OUTSIDESLulu Uluave SR PunahouAshley Repetti JR Los Alamitos CAAudrey Flanagan SO Mira Costa CASimone Roslon SO Mira Costa CAMegan Fitch SR Cornerstone Christian TXHaylee LaFontaine SR Huntington Beach CAAvery Perreira SR ‘Iolani HIDanica Rach SR Sierra Canyon CAHanna McGinest FR Sierra Canyon CAGentry Barker FR Lovejoy TXSkylar Jackson SO Lovejoy TX *** MIDDLESBryn Shankle SR Mira Costa CAMadeline Way SR Sierra Canyon CAShelby Burriss JR Lovejoy TXKeoni Williams SO Boswell TXManaia Ogbechie JR Oaks Christian CAMalinah Purcell-Telefoni SR Kapolei HI *** RIGHT SIDESChloe Hynes SR Mira Costa CAKamaluhia Garcia SR Moanalua HIGrace Carroll SR Cornerstone Christian TXMacey Hughes JR Cornerstone Christian TXAnna Barr JR Lovejoy TXIndigo Clarke SR Punahou HI *** SETTERSRella Binney SR Punahou HIKaia Herweg SR Los Alamitos CA (S/OH)Dani Sparks SR Huntington Beach CASade Ilawole SR Sierra Canyon CABethanie Wu SR Lovejoy CAHayden Lin SR Mira Costa CAMilly McGee SO Mira Costa CA *** LIBEROSTaylor Deckert JR Mira Costa CALauren Lynch JR Sierra Canyon CAOlivia Foye JR Huntington Beach CAReese Teves SR Punahou HIEryn Hiraki SR ‘Iolani HIMaria Avendano SR Cornerstone Christian TXHannah Brady JR Oaks Christian CA

It was once again Mira Costa CA proving itself as the best as the Ann Kang Invitational hosted by ‘Iolani wrapped up Saturday in Honolulu. The Mustangs were the defending champion and added to its nation-leading eighth Ann Kang title after rallying past Cornerstone Christian TX in the championship match. Below, we highlight the Day 3 standouts with our Show Stoppers. DAY 3 SHOW STOPPERS Lulu Uluave SR OH Punahou: Punahou’s only setback of three-day event came against Los Alamitos CA during Day 2 pool play. Uluave was a six-rotation stalwart. She committed to BYU has a defender and has excellent ball-control skills as well as a heavy arm and high IQ shots. Ashley Repetti JR OH Los Alamitos CA: Los Al had a great run here, tying for third. Repetti was a key cog in the attack. She has a good arm and can score from sideline to sideline, keeping pressure on the defense. Audrey Flanagan SO OH Mira Costa CA: A 5-star recruit, Flanagan earned Most Outstanding Player honors. She has a whip for an arm and a wide range of shots to keep defenses on their toes. Simone Roslon SO OH Mira Costa CA: Roslon – a 3-star recruit – helped anchored Mira Costa with her six-rotation contributions. She’s a sound passer and another smart attacker who knows how to locate shots and mix up between hard swings and off speed. Megan Fitch SR OH Cornerstone Christian TX: A 5-star Texas AM commit, Fitch never backs down and stays aggressive with her attacking. She’s a legit scoring threat whether front or back row and someone defenses always key on. Haylee LaFontaine SR OH Huntington Beach CA: Huntington Beach just missed the four-team championship bracket and settled for sixth place. LaFontaine played a huge role in the team’s run. She’s a six-rotation contributor who is a heady attacker and backs it with a strong serve. Danica Rach SR OH Sierra Canyon CA: A 3-star Boston College commit, Rach carries her share of the offensive load for the Trailblazers. She’s another who can swing it front or back row and provides plenty of offense. Hanna McGinest FR OH Sierra Canyon CA: A 4-star recruit, McGinest was thrust into a starting role in her first high school action and managed just fine. She’s an athletic outside who jumps and swings well and has a very bright future. Gentry Barker FR OH Lovejoy TX: Barker was another standout freshman. The 4-star recruit is fearless on the attack. She has a big arm to back it and was carrying the offense at times. Skylar Jackson SO OH Lovejoy TX: Jackson is part of the outside duo which Lovejoy relies on to provide a lot of offense. She carries a lively arm and can let it fly when she connects. *** Bryn Shankle SR MB Mira Costa CA: Shankle – a 3-star recruit – adds much-needed height to the Mustangs’ front row when she checks in. She makes an impact on both sides of the ball with her blocking and scoring ability. Defenses need to be ready when Mira Costa is in system because Shankle will get the ball. Madeline Way SR MB Sierra Canyon CA: Way is a feisty middle with a very strong arm. The 3-star Hawaii commit adds an offensive presence when she’s on the court. Shelby Burriss JR MB Lovejoy TX: Burriss – a 4-star recruit – knows what to do when she gets the ball. She scores at a high clip when she gets set and is someone defenses must keep track of. Chloe Hynes SR RS Mira Costa CA: Hynes plays a valuable role for the Mustangs. She can play six rotations and pass. She can swing from the back row. Or help the Mustangs run a traditional 6-2 and just play across the front row. Either way, she has a powerful arm and can score from either pin. Kamaluhia Garcia SR RS Moanalua HI: A 4-star Iowa commit, Garcia can rip with the best of them. She plays all the way around and there’s no place she won’t swing from. She’s capable of delivering impressive kills from corner to corner. Grace Carroll SR RS Cornerstone Christian TX: Carroll – a 4-star Baylor commit – is a big presence on the right side. She’s a two-way factor with her blocking and hitting. She helps open the attack because the Warriors like to get her the ball as often as they can. Anna Barr JR RS Lovejoy TX: Barr – a 3-star recruit – is another right side who showed off a big arm. She too changes the dynamic of the attack when she’s in because she brings size and power to the offense. Nora Williams SR RS Mira Costa CA: Williams’ contributions can’t be overlooked. She came in for the second set in the final and remained in the rest of the way swinging across the front row. She provided timely blocks and kills to boost Costa’s chances at victory. Rella Binney SR S Punahou HI: Binney – a 3-star Texas commit – is a smooth operator. She’s a high IQ setter and is quick too. She sets a consistent, clean ball and locates very well too. Kaia Herweg SR S/OH Los Alamitos CA (S/OH): Herweg – a 3-star Grand Canyon commit – is a high-energy two-way player who allows Los Al to maximize its roster. She’s a solid setter and a smart attacker who can find the open spot. *** Dani Sparks SR S Huntington Beach CA: Sparks – a Cal Poly San Luis Obispo beach commit – was among the standout setters. She runs a 5-1 and is both accurate and consistent with her setting. Sade Ilawole SR S Sierra Canyon CA: Ilawole – a 3-star recruit – did well distributing the ball to her various hitters. She’s a confident setter and does well playing defense too. Bethanie Wu SR S Lovejoy CA: Wu was running a 5-1 on Saturday and doing it well.

The quarterfinals of the MISD Methodist Mansfield Medical Center invitational were filled with some fun matchups to start off Saturday morning. Mansfield went head-to-head against Waco Midway, while Colleyville Heritage faced off against Amarillo Tascosa in the other gym. The next two matches featured El Paso Coronado squaring off against El Paso Franklin and Frisco Memorial seeing Waxahachie. In the semifinal matchups, Colleyville Heritage faced off against Waxahachie, while El Paso Coronado advanced to play against Mansfield. And in the final round, El Paso Coronado faced off against Colleyville Heritage. Colleyville Heritage’s dominance at the net, coupled with its well-rounded performance, ultimately secured them the tournament victory. The Davis sisters, Maddie Bird, and Audrey Popp shined, while libero Sarah Mendoza displayed exceptional defensive skills. Colleyville Heritage emerged as the deserving champions (25-20,25-21), showcasing its talents and determination throughout the tournament. Can we just talk about the El Paso Coronado squad? They are the perfect definition of a scrappy team. They might not be big height wise but don’t tell them that. Outside hitters Alina Strickler and Ashlee Macias swing with no fear. Right sides Nadia Pena (a Texas A&M-Kingsville commit) and Lauren Bates do a great job giving setters Rhian Gee and Faith Silex options. Libero Danielle Gutierrez sweeps up the backcourt. And middle blocker Elle Rios might not be the “normal” middle size but can score with the best of them. *** Gold Bracket Results Mansfield d Waco Midway 25-20, 25-14 Colleyville Heritage d Amarillo Tascosa 25-20, 25-14 El Paso Coronado d El Paso Franklin 25-19, 15-25, 25-20 Waxahachie d Frisco Memorial 25-23, 25-11 El Paso Coronado d Mansfield 26-24, 25-17 Colleyville Heritage d Waxahachie 25-12, 25-22 Colleyville Heritage d El Paso Coronado 25-20, 25-21 *** All-Tournament Team MVP: Suli Davis S/RS Colleyville Heritage Maddie Bird OH Colleyville Heritage Sarah Mendoza L Colleyville Heritage Danielle Gutierrez L El Paso Coronado Alina Strickler El Paso Coronado Brennan Ramirez L Waxahachie Rachel Resta S Mansfield Jordan Imperial OH El Paso Franklin Meredith Sanning S Amarillo Tascosa McCall Sims Canyon West Plains Randee McCloud Coppell Mira Klem RS Coppell Lily Hamilton OH Keller Timbercreek Brooklyn Ross Lake Ridge *** DAY 3 SHOW STOPPERS Meredith Sanning, SR S, Tascosa- Sims showed nice command running the offense. She has a soft, smooth delivery and was consistently on target with her location. Bennet Berryman, SO L, Tascosa- Berryman was active and playing with high energy. She was making big digs to extend rallies, bringing a defensive edge to the lineup. Jennifer Zuniga, SR MB, Tascosa- Zuniga is an undersized MB but incredibly smart and crafty, She gets the job done. Suli Davis, JR S/RS, Colleyville Heritage- Davis, a 5-star recruit, can do it all. Not only is she a wall at the net defensively, but when she gets an open net to swing on its truly impressive. Maddie Bird, SR OH, Colleyville Heritage- Bird is a reliable scorer who was finding gaps in the seams and open spots on the court with her smart shot selection. Audrey Popp, SO OH, Colleyville Heritage- Popp, a 3-star recruit, takes some big swings on the outside. Sarah Mendoza, JR L, Colleyville Heritage- Mendoza, a 4-star recruit, is smooth and consistent and rarely makes mistakes. She also reads welloin defense. Maria Herron, FR RS, Midway- Herron, a freshman, swing wells on the right side. She will be fun to watch as she continues to grow in the game. Kenna McKenzie, JR OH, Midway- McKenzie, a 3-star recruit, keeps the offense ticking across the front row. Her line shot is pretty impressive. She’s also a strong contributor in the back row. Jade Washington, JR L, Midway- Washington was holding it down defensively, coming up with saves all over to extend rallies. She is incredibly fast, dynamic and fun to watch. Rachel Resta, SR S, Mansfield- Resta, a 3-star recruit committed to Oral Roberts, has a soft touch and she can be aggressive across the front row going on two to keep defenses on guard. She can push from pin to pin with ease. Mia Clay, SR OH, Mansfield- Clay, a St. Edward’s commit, is a consistent contributor to the attack and a tough one to slow down with her extension that has her going over or around the block. Kylie Meche, SO OH, Mansfield- Meche has an athletic edge on the court. She jumps incredibly well and has no fear swinging. Julianna Hernandez, SO L, Frisco Memorial – Hernandez, a 3-star recruit, makes plays others don’t. She’s money in serve receive. She’s quick and covers ground chasing down balls and extending rallies. Ava Steffe, JR OH, Frisco Memorial- Steffe is a steady six-rotation outside who gets up with a good arm who provides offense everywhere on the court. Lauren Bates, JR RS, El Paso Coronado- Bates is an effective scorer who has a ton of energy. She helps split the offensive duties in the front row. Alina Strickler, SR OH, El Paso Coronado- Stickler is an undersized scrapper who finds ways to score in the front and back row. Danielle Gutierrez, JR L, El Paso Coronado- Gutierrez provides a steadying presence in the back row. She was sound in serve receive and putting digs right on target consistently. Jordan Imperial, SR OH, El Paso Franklin- Imperial was my favorite athlete to watch play. She might be 5-6 BUT she literally played like she was 6-0. She has a whip of an arm and loved to tool blocks. Did I mention she plays lights out defense? Hannah Finn, JR S, El Paso Franklin- Finn can set on the move as well and does a nice job of connecting with all her hitters. Tionna Owens, SR MB, Waxahachie- Owens makes a big impact defensively at the net and putting down any overpasses that came her way. Brennan Ramirez, SR L, Waxahachie- Ramirez is a calm presence at libero with strong skills and rarely makes mistakes or errors. She is also fast and able to make quick reaction plays. Migdaly Bernal, SR

Mira Costa CA arrived at the Ann Kang Invitational hosted by ‘Iolani in Honolulu as the defending champion and ranked No. 4 overall in vballrecruiter.com’s initial Top 50 National High School Rankings. However, if the Mustangs were going to head back to the mainland with their eighth overall Ann Kang title, they were served an early reminder that it wasn’t going to come easy. With 5-star Wisconsin commit Charlie Fuerbringer (S/RS) playing with the USAV U19 squad, the Mustangs were short-handed and left without their best player and leader. It looked like that could lead to a real struggle for Mira Costa, which was upended by Punahou HI in its first outing on Thursday morning. However, the setback didn’t derail the team’s hopes, as Mira Costa didn’t blink and instead responded by running the table from there, including handing national No. 8 Cornerstone Christian TX its only loss with a three-set victory, 16-25, 25-19, 15-11, in the championship match Saturday evening. It was an impressive feat not only because Fuerbringer was missing from the trip, but because those the Mustangs needed to rely on were underclassmen who needed to help the cause and they all stepped up in admirable fashion. Five-star outside Audrey Flanagan, 4-star setter Milly McGee and 3-star outside Simone Roslon are all sophomores who contributed in key roles to back the play of the upperclassmen. Flanagan was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player. Junior libero Taylor Deckert – a 5-star USC commit – and senior right side Chloe Hynes also made the All-Tournament Team. Senior setter Hayden Lin, senior right side Nora Williams and senior middles Bryn Shankle and Rachel Moglia filled out the lineup that lifted the Mustangs to their nation-leading eighth Ann Kang championship and a comeback victory over Cornerstone Christian. The two programs weren’t totally unfamiliar with one another. The sides met in the championship match of the Nike TOC Southwest tournament last October, with Cornerstone pulling out a three-set victory in that one. Though Cornerstone graduated three key pieces, the Warriors remain formidable with 5-star junior outside Megan Fitch (Texas AM) and 4-star senior right side Grace Carroll (Baylor) still in the mix. Mira Costa entered as the top overall seed, but it was Cornerstone which was looking like the favorite heading into the championship clash. The Warriors had dropped just one set through seven pool matches and its semifinals victory over Los Alamitos CA. That came in a three-set victory over national No. 17 Sierra Canyon CA to close out Thursday’s action for the Warriors. Cornerstone came out hot in the opening set against Mira Costa, racing to a 12-5 cushion and never looking back. However, the Mustangs were not ready to enjoy the rest of their time on the island without first putting up a fight, turning the tide and pulling away down the stretch of Game 2 to force a decisive game to 15. Once more, Mira Costa outplayed the Warriors in the clutch, leading to a joyous celebration after Hynes put away the final point with a cross-court kill from the left side. Mira Costa reached the four-team championship bracket only after narrowly getting past Lovejoy TX in three, 25-22, 24-26, 15-10, earlier in the day. It was a must-win contest for Mira Costa, which ended in a three-way tie for first in Pool A with Los Al and Punahou. Punahou was eliminated from contention based on tiebreakers. It was Los Al which handed fifth-place Punahou its only loss of the tournament. That victory proved key for Los Al, which ended tied for third after being swept by Cornerstone in the semifinals. Before getting a shot at Cornerstone in the final, Mira Costa needed to get past Sierra Canyon in its semifinal. The two schools had their recent history from last year’s encounters at the event. First with Sierra Canyon beating Mira Costa to close out pool play in a memorable match that saw the third set to 15 go Sierra Canyon’s way at 25-23! However, Mira Costa delivered payback by sweeping the Trailblazers when they met again in the final. Mira Costa’s swept Saturday’s contest, 25-23, 25-21. It won’t be the only time this season Mira Costa, Cornerstone and Sierra Canyon are at the same tournament. All three are set to participate in the 64-team Durango Fall Classic next month in Las Vegas, as well as sixth-place finisher Huntington Beach CA.

The way Friday’s results played out set the stage for a frenzied finish to pool play before teams break out for the placement matches, including the four-team gold bracket, at the Ann Kang Invitational hosted by ‘Iolani in Honolulu. Only one team – Cornerstone Christian TX – remains undefeated. The Warriors are 6-0 and in control of Pool B. Cornerstone closes pool play against ‘Iolani, which is 5-1 and can still win the pool. Sierra Canyon CA, which defeated ‘Iolani on Day 2, is also 5-1 and still alive for the gold bracket. It’s possible that Pool A ends in a three-way tie. Mira Costa CA, Punahou HI and Los Alamitos CA are all 5-1 and none of those teams play each other in the final round. That means all three could finish at 6-1. Only the first and second-place teams advance to the semifinals, so if that scenario happens one team will miss out based on tiebreakers. Los Al set itself up by taking down Punahou on Friday to continue its strong performance. *** TEAM SPOTLIGHTS Mira Costa CA: The Mustangs have lots of young talent on the roster and are playing this week in Hawaii without senior 5-star S/RS Charlie Fuerbringer (Wisconsin). It makes it hard to gauge what the team will look like when she comes back, but it’s obviously going to improve the lineup with her presence. In her absence, the Mustangs have sophomore setter Reese Stringer, senior setter Hayden Lin and sophomore 4-star recruit Milly McGee as options. A key part is junior 5-star libero Taylor Deckert (USC). She has proven herself as one of the top at her position in the country. Mira Costa boasts yet another 5-star recruit in sophomore outside Audrey Flanagan. She teamed with sophomore outside Simon Roslon to anchor the left side. Senior Chloe Hynes, who along with Deckert was part of the SCVC 17 Roxy squad which captured 17 Open gold in Chicago, holds down the right side. Seniors Bryn Shankle and Rachel Moglia round out the lineup in the middle. Mira Costa is currently 5-1 after the first two days and wraps up pool play against Lovejoy on Saturday morning. Los Alamitos CA: The Griffins are coming alive in the early season. They too are 5-1 through six matches, including handing Punahou its only setback so far. Los Al doesn’t carry the 5-star recruits like Mira Costa but early success can boost confidence and help Los Al down the road. Senior S/OH Kaia Herweg is a key piece in her two-way role. Junior outside Ashley Repetti finishes her share of points taking big swings on the outside. Right side Kate Foley was getting in the mix with impressive kills as well while libero Noa Nuez was taking care of the defensive duties. We’ll see if Los Al can make some noise as the season moves along. Punahou HI: The coaching staff said the varsity team was just formed this week and there was no practice time leading into the tournament. Given that, Punahou’s 5-1 mark so far, including beating Mira Costa on Day 1, is noteworthy. This is a tough team to get a ball down on, as Punahou digs a ton of swings. A big arm on the outside is senior Haumea Marumoto. At 6-2, she’s tall and able to go over blocks. The squad also relies on seniors Rella Binney and Indigo Clarke both setting and swinging in dual roles. Senior libero Reese Teves is part of the defensive tenacity Punahou brings to the court. While those girls are seniors, junior Faatamalii Brown and sophomore Marley Nobriga line up in the middle. *** DAY 2 SHOW STOPPERS Kaia Herweg SR S/OH Los Alamitos CA: Herweg – a Grand Canyon commit – starred in her two-way role hitting and setting. Los Al runs a hybrid offense with Herweg hitting on the left and setting in the back. She’s a smart attacker with a variety of shots and does a nice job guiding the attack. Ashley Repetti JR OH Los Alamitos CA: Repetti – a 3-star recruit – shoulders a load on the left. She gets set a lot and takes strong, aggressive swings to help power the attack. Noa Nuez SR L Los Alamitos CA: Nuez did well in her role, passing well out of serve receive and getting touches on balls to help keep the rally going. Haumea Marumoto SR OH Punahou HI: Marumoto changes the dynamics of the offense when she comes in across the front row. She’s long at 6-2 and does well finding the open spots on the court and keeping pressure on the defense. Rella Binney SR S/RS Punahou HI: Binney – a 3-star Texas commit – is a well-rounded player. She was playing libero during club season and sets and hits for Punahou. She plays with lots of poise and confidence and is part of the reason for the team’s 5-1 showing so far. Indigo Clarke SR S/RS Punahou HI: Clarke is another two-way player who was holding it down and delivering in both roles. Reese Teves SR L Punahou HI: Teves was making impressive digs and keeping rallies going, as well as passing on point out of serve receive. Lulu Uluave SR OH Punahou HI: Uluave – a BYU commit – is another member of the roster who played libero in club but lines up on the left in high school. Given her time at libero, she’s a strong ball control player who also is a heady attacker who knows how to score against bigger blockers. Reese Stringer SO S Mira Costa CA: Stringer was performing well, setting a nice ball and giving her hitters favorable looks. Hayden Lin SR S Mira Costa CA: Lin brings tons of energy to the court. She’s quick and does well getting to balls and also has nice hands. *** Audrey Flanagan SO OH Mira Costa CA: Flanagan – a 5-star recruit – can crush it when the opportunity is there. She’s lanky,

The second day of the MISD Methodist Mansfield Medical Center Invitational was a fun one to be sure. And like Day 1 I was only able to watch matches at two locations. It was fun to see Colleyville Heritage take the court with a few new faces. As did Midlothian. And leading into the Championship bracket Saturday only four squads remained undefeated: Mansfield, Colleyville Heritage, El Paso Franklin and Midlothian. *** TEAM SPOTLIGHTS Colleyville Heritage: The defending state 5A champions faced the challenge of rebuilding their lineup after losing several key seniors. Returning starters junior S/RS Suli Davis and senior OH Maddie Bird have added transfer libero Sarah Mendoza along with the younger Davis sister, Onita, in the mix. Their presence has provided a new look and injected renewed energy into the squad. With their talents and capabilities, Colleyville Heritage is poised to continue their success and defend their title. Mansfield: This squad boasts a group of experienced seniors who have been instrumental in leading the squad. Senior Mia Clay excels as a dynamic outside hitter, while Lauren Demuth dominates in the middle, providing a strong presence at the net. Oral Roberts commit setter Rachel Resta is a constant presence on the court and sophomore Kylie Meche adds athleticism and power on the outside. Their collective leadership and talent are instrumental in shaping the squad’s early success. Midlothian: The roster has a new look after losing a senior heavy starting lineup from last season. Junior 6-2 outside McKenzie Berg is one to keep your eyes on heading into the season. She has a high contact point on the pins and is hard to read when she connects. Senior Oklahoma Baptist commit Angelina Masojc holds down the middle along with sophomore outside Kameron Rector hammering on the outside. *** DAY 2 SHOW STOPPERS Sarah Mendoza, JR L, Colleyville Heritage- Mendoza, a 4-star recruit, is a new addition to the reigning 5A state champion squad. She is steady out of serve receive and reads/anticipates well. Suli Davis, JR S/RS, Colleyville Heritage- Davis, a 5-star recruit, splits time on her high school squad setting and swinging. She has a great touch on the ball and when she attacks, well, she brings the heat. Nadia Peña, JR RS, El Paso Coronado- Peña is a undersized lefty who has a whip of an arm and a no fear attitude. Alina Strickler, JR OH, El Paso Coronado- Strickler is a bit undersized but doesn’t ever back down. She’s an aggressive attacker who knows how to challenge and tool blocks for points. Karizma Trevino, JR L Hereford- Trevino is a speedy and talkative libero who plays with good energy. Brooklyn Kinsey, JR OH, Canyon- Kinsey is another outside who is a bit undersized. But Kinsey has an aggressive approach to her attacking and isn’t afraid to challenge blockers. Trinity Nunley, SR RS, Richland- Nunley, a UT Tyler commit, can hammer on the right side. She is a reliable and consistent scorer. Serenity Nunley, JR L Richland- The younger Nunley sister brings athleticism and a won’t-back-down attitude to the libero position. Holland Hickman, SR MB, Creekview- Hickman is a bit raw but has incredible upside with her length and athleticism. Memorie Wilson, SR MB, Creekview- Wilson can get up in a hurry. She is an athlete and when she does, she can rip the ball. Kassidy Meyer, JR MB, Whitehouse- Meyer puts up a solid block as well as presenting a good scoring option. Ashley Rhame, JR S, Whitehouse- Rhame has nice hands and sets a clean ball. She’s also spot on with her location, including a good connection with her middles. Grace Maxwell, SR S, Mansfield Legacy- Maxwell is a constant hustler. She also knows how to move the ball around without fear. Jordan Henderson, SR MB, Mansfield Legacy- Henderson makes her presence felt defensively with her blocking. MJ Piggee, SR MB, South Grand Prairie- Piggee has some major physicality to her. She gets up pretty well and is capable of crushing one down when the option is there. McCall Sims, SR L, West Plains- Sims is a gamer with her hustle. She moves around the court quickly and covers a lot of ground because of it. Angelina Masojc, SR MB, Midlothian- Masojc, an Oklahoma Baptist commit, is a two-way contributor with her blocking and effective scoring with an ability to vary her shots. McKenzie Berg, JR OH, Midlothian- Berg, a six-rotation outside, has a lively arm and high contact point and it makes her a very difficult hitter to block. Kathryn Dietrich, JR RS/S, Mansfield- Dietrich is a right side who can jump in and set in a pinch which adds to a different level of connectivity with her teammates. Mia Clay, SR OH, Mansfield- Clay, a St. Edwards commit, is a six-rotation outside who brings calmness on the court. That being said when she connects with the ball she definitely brings the heat. Kiana Babaei, JR S, Frisco Memorial- Babaei has solid hands to go with a strong ability to move the ball around to her various hitters with reliable accuracy. Faith Roulston-Aliu, SO MB, Frisco Memorial- Roulston-Aliu is still a bit raw but has incredible upside with her length and athleticism. She will be fun to watch grow in this position. Freshman Standouts Sheridan Riles, S Midlothian Chloe Flowers, DS Colleyville Heritage Claire Bundy, S Colleyville Heritage