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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

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