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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

It was a great opening day for a pair of local high schools and one which made the trek to Honolulu for the first time as the Ann Kang Invitational kicked off Thursday in Hawaii. Host school ‘Iolani was one of three teams to post a 3-0 mark, with Punahou and Cornerstone Christian TX also making it out of Day 1 without a loss. Punahou arguably had the best day of the trio, as the Honolulu school upset Mira Costa CA – which is ranked No. 4 in vballrecruiter.com’s initial Top 50 National High School Rankings. Mira Costa is playing without setter and 5-star Wisconsin commit Charlie Fuerbringer, who is away playing with the U19 USAV squad. Punahou pulled out one of the more dramatic victories Thursday as it clipped Mira Costa in three, 15-25, 27-25, 18-16. Punahou also beat Oaks Christian CA and Baldwin HI to finish 3-0. Baldwin is located on Maui and was able to make it to O’ahu despite the wildfires devastating the island. Punahou, the only team in Pool A at 3-0, also narrowly escaped against Oaks Christian, winning in three, 25-16, 16-25, 16-14. Cornerstone Christian, which is making its Ann Kang debut, joins Mira Costa as another Top-10 school in the field. Cornerstone opened the season at No. 8 in our Top 50 National Rankings. The San Antonio school finished last season ranked No. 2 overall in the nation. Despite losing three high-level Division 1 players, the program remains strong with 5-star junior outside Megan Fitch (Texas AM) and 4-star senior right side Grace Carroll (Baylor) helping leading the charge. Cornerstone finished off its day with a tight victory over No. 17 Sierra Canyon CA in three, 26-28, 28-26, 15-12. ‘Iolani joined Cornerstone in going 3-0 in Pool B after beating Huntington Beach CA, Kapolei HI and Orange Lutheran CA. ‘Iolani and Cornerstone are not set to play each other however until the final match of pool play on Saturday morning. *** TEAM SPOTLIGHTS Cornerstone Christian TX: The Warriors were among the top teams in the country last year, winning both Volleypalooza and the Nike TOC Southwest tournaments. Their only loss came to Westminster Christian FL in the final of the Nike TOC Southeast tournament. The school also handed Prestonwood Christian TX – which opens this year ranked No. 1 in the nation – its only loss of the season. The team lost three key pieces in middle Nayeli Gonzalez, setter Taylor Anderson and libero Alyssa Manzitas, but as we stated above does have Fitch and Carroll back among others. Other contributors returning also include junior 3-star setter Kaia Thiele and junior 3-star right side Macey Hughes. Maria Avendano, a senior, was suiting up at a libero to help fill out the lineup, as well as junior 3-star outside Aniya Hall. Hall could be a key piece as she can really help elevate the attack. The Warriors used three players in the middle in seniors Savannah Smith and Olivia Parker and junior Elly Stewart. Thiele was running a 6-2 along with senior setter Natalia Jackson. Cornerstone might not quite be competing for a national championship last season, but with the schedule they are facing it’s not out of the question if they could somehow run the table. The program is not only playing here at Ann Kang, but is also set to travel to both Nike TOC events as well as the Durango Fall Classic, plus another yet-to-be-announced event. Not many schools can match that type of schedule. Sierra Canyon CA: The biggest loss for the Trailblazers from a season ago was 5-star right side Olivia Babcock, who is at Pitt. They also lost their other outside in Jaida Sione but mostly everyone else returns and that’s good news. The back row is anchored by 4-star libero Lauren Lynch (San Diego). The offense is still directed by 3-star setter Sade Ilawole, and the middle still has a key part in 3-star Hawaii commit Madeline Way. Also back is 3-star Boston College outside Danica Rach. That alone is enough to keep Sierra Canyon very competitive, but there’s more pieces that will play a role this fall. Among them are three newcomers in Halie and Hanna McGinest and Taylor Treahy. Hanna, a freshman, was playing Thursday on Day 1 on the outside and already making an impact. As for her older sister, Halie, the CIF Southern Section is still ruling on whether or not she’ll need to sit out the 30-day period or not. The CIF-SS office has already ruled that Treahy, a 6-4 lefty right side transfer, will need to sit out the 30 days and will be eligible on Sept. 12. No matter what happens with Halie, Sierra Canyon will have both available by then and will add plenty of depth to the roster. As for Thursday, senior Lola Brown was making contributions in the middle, and 6-0 sophomore right side Mia Stewart was making plays in her role too. Like Cornerstone, Sierra Canyon will also be attending the Durango Fall Classic next month. *** DAY 1 SHOW STOPPERS Keoni Williams SO MB Boswell TX: Boswell went 1-2 on the first day. Williams, a 5-star recruit who helped Skyline 15 Royal to the 15 Open USAV gold medal this summer, was impactful at the net. Boswell struggled passing at times and getting Williams clean looks, but she made up for it with her length and size to still be a factor with her blocking and out-of-system plays. Rylinn Roberts SO RS Boswell TX: Roberts was another bright spot for Boswell. The sophomore is lanky with a nice arm and was contributing nicely to the offense when called upon. Kennedy Caton SR S Boswell TX: Caton was showing she can move the ball around and put her hitters in a good spot when in system. Olivia Foye JR L Huntington Beach CA: Foye – a 3-star Princeton commit – is among the standout liberos in the field. She had a breakout club season starring

The 2023 high school volleyball season kicked off with the MISD Methodist Mansfield Medical Center Invitational. This annual event was spread across five high schools, and I got the chance to watch the pools at Mansfield and Lake Ridge high schools on the first day. The atmosphere was electric as teams competed fiercely, showcasing their skills and teamwork. The matches were intense, filled with remarkable displays of athleticism.  One team that I was excited to see was the El Paso Franklin High School squad. Despite their smaller stature, these athletes brought the heat with their incredible athleticism. Setter Hannah Finn was dishing well for her squad, while senior outside Jordan Imperial unleashed a barrage of powerful hits from the outside. Defensive specialist Ireanna Carrasco showcased her defensive prowess with some superb plays. Victoria Bailey swung with confidence, pressuring opposing defenses, while Lindsay Herrera stood tall as a formidable blocker in the middle. Their fearless swings against big blocks and never say die defense was fun to watch. The match between Waxahachie and Frisco Memorial was a great match to finish Day 1. Tionna Owens from Waxahachie dominated the middle with her wall-like defense and powerful hits. The Waxahachie libero Brennan Ramirez showcased incredible speed and serve receive passing, while their outside hitter Migdaly Bernal delivered explosive hits. Frisco Memorial’s Ava Steffe swung with precision, and setter Kiana Babaei distributed excellent balls. Julianna Hernandez, Frisco Memorial’s libero, was a scrapper in the backcourt. Teams that went 3-0 on Day 1 included Mansfield, Colleyville Heritage, Lake Ridge, Waxahachie, Bushland, El Paso Franklin, El Paso Coronado and Canyon West Plains. *** DAY 1 SHOW STOPPERS Rachel Resta, SR S, Mansfield- Resta, a 3-star recruit committed to Oral Roberts, was dishing with authority. She quarterbacks her team well. Kylie Meche, SO OH, Mansfield- Meche jumps incredibly well and when she connects she can crank on the outside.  Landri Jay, JR L, Canyon- Jay was literally everywhere. She was also passing well in serve receive all day. Cali Mckinley, JR OH, Canyon- Mckinley is an undersized outside who is a firecracker. She swings with fire and plays scrappy defense.  Mira Klem, SR S/RS, Coppell- Klem, normally a setter/rightside, is actually playing everywhere on the court for her squad. She has a huge block at the net and is an offensive threat to opposing teams.  Hannah Finn, JR S, El Paso Franklin- Finn is strong and moves the ball well for her squad. She also has no fear in running down balls to keep her team in the match.  Jordan Imperial, SR OH, El Paso Franklin- Imperial is a bit undersized on the outside but she doesn’t care. She fires through the block with ease. Defensively she is scrappy.  Grace Sweeney, SR OH, Midlothian Heritage- Sweeney, an undersized outside, is a handful for defenses and she can unload on the ball well. Caitlin Beckham, JR S, Midland Legacy- Beckham, a 5-1 setter, was doing a great job dishing the entire court. She connected well with her hitters. Sarah Philley, SR MB, Midland Legacy- Philley is a wall defensively at the net. She also makes smart plays offensively.  Dawn Moore, SO S/RS, Lake Ridge- Lefty Moore, a 3 star-recruit, cranks on the ball when she is on the pins. She splits roles and does a great job dishing her teammates. Mckenzie Charles, JR MB, Lake Ridge- Charles, an undersized but incredibly athletic middle, runs the quicks with authority. Madelyn Ross, JR S/RS, South Grand Prairie- Ross is a competitor. She swings with aggression in the front row and dishes the ball effectively in the back row.  London Baker, SR S/RS, Hereford- Baker is a setter who has a lively arm in the front row and sets smoothly in the back row. Tionna Owens, SR MB, Waxahachie- Owens, was a constant force at the net. Her wingspan helped her seal the net against anything tight with her huge block. Migdaly Bernal, SR OH, Waxahachie- Bernal is a six-rotation outside who both swings and blocks well.\ Ava Steffe, JR OH, Frisco Memorial- Steffe is the do-it-all six-rotation outside. She is explosive and consistent all the way around. Julianna Hernandez, SO L, Frisco Memorial- Hernandez, a 3-star recruit, was everywhere in the back court. She is smooth in serve receive and digs anything thrown her way. Freshman Standouts Laney Jones, S/RS Canyon Madison Hatley, OH South Grand Prairie Scarlett Young, MB South Grand Prairie Brooklyn Ross, L Lake Ridge Brielle Smith, RS Lake Ridge Kensli Holley-Tyler, S Lake Ridge