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The top teams continued their stranglehold in the Top 10, with Cathedral Catholic CA leading the way after beating both Skyview ID and Papillion-LaVista South NE over the weekend at the Geico Invitational. The one exception was with St. James Academy KS as the Thunder were taken down for the second time this season by Aquinas KS plus lost to Lafayette MO to tumble down the rankings. It allowed Highland Park TX to climb inside the Top 10 for the first time. Also continue to move up is St. Francis/Mountain View CA. The undefeated Lancers check in at a season-best 24 this week. In all, three new schools joined the Top 50 this week in Eureka MO, Horizon AZ and Jesuit OR. vballrecruiter.com TOP 50 1. Cathedral Catholic CA (1 – last week’s ranking) 2. Westminster Christian FL (2) 3. McCutcheon IN (3) 4. Cornerstone Christian TX (5) 5. Marian MI (7) 6. Prestonwood Christian TX (7) 7. Mira Costa CA (4) 8. Santa Fe FL (9) 9. Oconomowoc WI (10) 10. Highland Park TX (11) *** 11. Hamilton Southeastern IN (12) 12. Washburn Rural KS (14) 13. Cypress Ranch TX (15) 14. Marymount CA (16) 15. Aquinas KS (17) 16. Lincoln Southwest NE (18) 17. Mother McAuley IL (19) 18. Sierra Canyon CA (13) 19. Liberty MO (20) 20. Brebeuf Jesuit IN (21) *** 21. Fayetteville AR (22) 22. ‘Iolani HI (23) 23. Yorktown IN (24) 24. St. Francis/Mountain View CA (27) 25. St. James Academy KS (8) 26. North Gwinnett GA (28) 27. Papillion-LaVista South NE (26) 28. Assumption KY (30) 29. Corona del Sol AZ (31) 30. Dike-New Hartford IO (33) *** 31. Plano West TX (34) 32. Ursuline Academy OH (35) 33. Valor Christian CO (40) 34. Millennium AZ (43) 35. Reagan NC (46) 36. Palos Verdes CA (38) 37. Punahou HI (47) 38. Magnificat OH (39) 39. Redondo Union CA (41) 40. Eureka MO (n/r) *** 41. Mater Dei CA (42) 42. Torrey Pines CA (32) 43. Benet Academy IL (25) 44. Liberty North MO (29) 45. Mountain View UT (45) 46. Flint Hill VA (49) 47. Horizon AZ (n/r) 48. Jesuit OR (n/r) 49. St. Ursula Academy OH (44) 50. Archbishop Mitty CA (48) *** Out: Mercy MI; Skyline MI; Skutt Catholic NE In: Eureka MO; Horizon AZ; Jesuit OR HONORABLE MENTION Huntley IL Mercy McAuley OH Barrington IL Rock Bridge MO Hamilton AZ Mount Notre Dame OH Mercy MI Skyline MI Xavier IO Ankeny IO Lyons IL Notre Dame Academy KY Mercy KY Wayzata MN Lakeville North MN Northfield MN Marshall MN Skutt Catholic NE Pickens SC Dorman SC Cardinal Newman SC Nolensville TN Knoxville Catholic TN Cleveland TN Pope GA Buford GA Alpharetta GA Sequoyah GA Lake Catholic OH Rock Canyon CO Heritage CO Legend CO Chaparral CO Trinity Catholic FL Olathe Northwest KS Lincoln-Way East IL Vista Murrieta CA Harvard-Westlake CA Alemany CA Calvary Christian FL Tampa Prep FL Tompkins TX Bryon Nelson TX Bishop Watterson OH Ardrey Kell NC Millbrook NC Kamehameha HI Moanalua HI Jackson Academy MS Ponte Vedra FL Venice FL O’Connor AZ Divine Savior Holy Angels WI Appleton North WI Burlington WI Hamilton WI Timpview UT

Last month Kamehameha/Hawaii HI made its way to the mainland for the Durango Fall Classic in Las Vegas, where the Warriors finished a respectable 19th overall. The Warriors made another trip east and spent the past week in San Diego facing off against local schools before participating in the So Cal Invitational on Friday and Saturday at Alliant University. Capping off a great week, Kamehameha didn’t drop a set on its way to capturing the tournament title, which featured defeating Lake Stevens WA, 25-17, 25-13, in the final. Leading up to the two-day event, Kamehameha picked up victories over Eastlake, San Marcos and Sage Creek before sweeping its way to victory over the weekend. The semifinals featured three out-of-state teams. Joining Kamehameha and Lake Stevens was Coronado NV, which came in as the top seed after finishing 22nd overall at Durango. Del Norte was the fourth team in the semis, losing to the eventual champs. The tournament provided a stage for athletes to set it off. Below, we feature the players who drew our attention the most with our Show Stoppers. SHOW STOPPERS Sarah Schubert SR OH Kamehameha HI – Part of the reason the Warriors overcome their limited size is the play of Schubert. She’s a strong attacker who hits hard and puts pressure on defenses to make plays. Maela Honma JR OH Kamehameha HI – Honma is a solid six-rotation outside whose steadiness and consistency the Warriors rely on. She’s used both front and back row and does well with her placement. Leisey Kelii SR L Kamehameha HI – The Warriors defense can frustrate opponents with Kelii leading the charge in the back row. Her passing is on target and she does well extending rallies too. Mackenzie Parsons JR MB Poway CA – Parsons is a weapon in the middle. She has a big arm and is tough attacker to stop with her scoring prowess. Laura Eichert FR OH Lake Stevens WA – Eichert is one of the key components of the attack. She’s an aggressive hitter who challenges blocks and keeps coming at defenses. Hayli Tri SR MB Lake Stevens WA – The Vikings will get Tri involved when they can so defenses need to stay with her. She has a good arm and is a reliable option when in system. Isabella Christensen SR OH Lake Stevens WA – A lanky outside, Christensen is a handful for opponents. She has nice range and did well finding the open spaces on the court. Abigail Paulson JR RS Coronado NV – Paulson packs a punch. She’s a physical attacker with a strong arm. She’s one of the featured hitters and is someone the Cougars can go to in a tight spot.   Mia Arambula SR L Coronado NV – An energetic libero, Arambula is a scrapper. She showed consistent passing out of serve receive and defended with a fury. Jillian Neal SR OH Del Norte CA – A strong, hard-hitting outside Neal is the centerpiece of the Nighthawks’ offense. She hits a heavy ball and can overpower opponents at times. Nia Thompson SO OH Westview CA – Thompson is a six-rotation player who contributes on both sides of the ball. She’s a smart hitter who uses off speed shots well in addition to being a strong passer. Avery Banaag SR L Eastlake CA – Banaag brings a defensive spirit to the lineup. Her passing out of serve receive is on point and she makes her share of hustle plays as well. Ava Poinsett SO OH Francis Parker CA – The Lancers have a big-time scorer in Poinsett. She can make life rough on defenses with the multiple ways she can punish them with. Madison Triplett JR OH El Capitan CA – Triplett is an explosive hitter who though a bit undersized can crush it. Her ability to tool blocks or bang it down makes it difficult on defenses to slow her down. Madelyn Wutzke SO OH El Capitan CA – The 6-0 sophomore is the other half of a dangerous outside tandem. Her swing is smooth and she delivers with lots of pace. Savannah Simpson SO MB El Capitan CA – A 6-0 middle, Simpson is definitely an option and someone the Vaqueros will utilize when in system. She has a nice arm and can finish plays off. Kenna Cogill SO MB Perry AZ – At 6-4, Cogill is a disrupter in the middle for the Pumas. She hits for a high percentage and can really hurt teams with smaller middle blockers. Lily Cammack SR L Oviedo FL – Cammack held down the back row with her hustle and energy. She tracked down balls and gave her team another shot. Anna Cathcart SO OH Oviedo FL – Cathcart comes with plenty of upside. She’s a 6-2 outside who is capable of going over blocks and putting balls away. Paige Wisneski JR S Oviedo FL – Wisneski has nice hands and delivers a hittable ball. She was also moving the ball around well. Charlotte Nowak FR RS JSerra CA – Nowak may be an underclassman but she helps liven up the attack with what she brings to it. She’s a reliable target who is one of the team’s more consistent scorers. Reese Brown JR OH JSerra CA – The Lions have options and Brown is one of them. She does well adding to the attack with a variety of shots. Tatum Johnson JR MB JSerra CA – Johnson provides plenty of offense for the Lions. She has a good arm and can get after it so defenses must be ready when the Lions are in system. Maylynn Mitchell SO OH Santiago CA – Mitchell is a physical hitter who can makes defenders feel it when she catches one. She’s capable of carrying the offense at times and is a key piece of the attack for the Sharks. Marlee Arrington JR RS Ontario Christian CA – Arrington was one of the most explosive attackers in the field. She’s an athletic

Mira Costa CA closed out its tournament schedule by beating Bay League foe Redondo Union CA, 25-10, 25-19, in the championship match of the Redondo Molten Varsity Power Classic on Saturday. The Mustangs – who captured the title at the Ann Kang Invitational in August – added their second tournament title of the season. It comes on the heels of Mira Costa taking second place the previous weekend when it finished runner up to Cornerstone Christian TX at the Nike TOC Southwest tournament in Phoenix. Mira Costa didn’t drop a set either day in their latest endeavor, including sweeping Lakewood CA in Saturday’s semifinals. Redondo swept Torrey Pines CA in the other semis, avenging an earlier loss this season at the hands of the Falcons. Mira Costa and Redondo Union are set to face off again in league play this coming Thursday, the final match of the regular season before sectional play begins. Mira Costa prevailed in five games in the first league clash and can clinch the outright league title by beating Culver City on Monday. In addition to Mira Costa earning the title, the weekend also delivered its share of players starring for their teams. We highlight those who caught our attention the most with our Show Stoppers below. SHOW STOPPERS Charlie Fuerbringer JR S Mira Costa – The Mustangs’ leader was once more doing her thing. The 5-star Wisconsin recruit is among the top setters in the country for a reason. She directs the offense flawlessly. She also is a high-level defender and a heady scorer. Tanon Rosenthal SR RS Mira Costa – Rosenthal has a big showing in the final. When she’s on and scoring consistently she really opens up the attack and gives Mira Costa another reliable arm to count on. Taylor Deckert SO L Mira Costa – Deckert continued her strong season with another round of strong defensive play. She’s so steady and consistent and rarely misses a play in front of her. Drew Wright SR OH Mira Costa – After missing last Saturday’s action in Phoenix taking the SATs, Wright was back and doing what she’s done all season. She paces the attack and gives the Mustangs a go-to arm along with her steady passing and ball control. Fatimah Hall SR S Lakewood – Hall – a 3-star San Diego State commit – always turns heads of those watching her and causing comments to be made by fans surrounding the court. She does a phenomenal job of reversing flow and keeping defenders guessing as to who she’s going to dish it to, even if she’s not perfectly in system. Mele Corral-Blagojevich SR OH Redondo Union – A 4-star Oklahoma commit, Corral-Blagojevich comes at opponents with a big, strong arm and a heavy ball that’s hard to dig when she gets a hold of it. Ella Zimmerman JR MB Redondo Union – This 6-4 middle makes her presence known across the front row. She’s a scoring threat when in system and with her height can tip to the open court. She’s also an impactful blocker who does well getting in the way of attackers. Nikki Quinn SR S Torrey Pines – Quinn’s job was made more difficult with Torrey Pines missing kill leader Finley Krystkowiak but she did well trying to help keep her team in system and giving her hitters favorable match ups. Grace Flanagan SR MB Torrey Pines – Flanagan is someone defenses must take note of. When in system, Torrey Pines is going to get her the ball because she’s close to automatic when she gets up and has a good look.   Kiara Edwards JR RS Torrey Pines – Edwards showed off her potential. The springy right side gets up well and has a solid arm to boot. It lead to impressive kills at times as she did well contributing when called upon. Katerina Lutz SR L Torrey Pines – Lutz – a 3-star UCLA commit – was tough to score on. Hitters took turns ripping balls cross court only to watch Lutz scoop their shots up and keep the rallies alive as she held down the left back position with authority. Jordin Taulua SR OH Bishop Montgomery – An undersized outside hitter, Taulua was fun to watch. She’s an aggressive attacker who isn’t afraid of bigger blocks. She challenges them and lets it fly on the regular as the offensive leader. Zoe Morales SR L Bishop Montgomery – Bishop Montgomery knows how to scrap and claw and Morales brings that mindset to the libero position. She’s a hustler and did well extending rallies chasing down errant balls. Jada Stone SR S Oxnard – Stone brings a lot to the lineup at the setting position. At 6-1, she’s tall and can make an impact in the front row at the net. She’s also consistent with her location. Anika Huelskamp SR OH Oxnard – A huge part of the attack, Huelskamp carries a big load on offense. Even with opponents loading up and trying to stop her, she can still score for her team. Emma Fredrick SR OH Liberty – Fredrick is another outside who does heavy lifting on offense. She’s the focal point of the attack and the go-to hitter Liberty rides. Nikki Tawil SO S/OH Village Christian – Listed as a setter on the roster, Tawil spent time this past weekend hitting on the outside. She did set too, showing her versatility she brings to the lineup. Kennedy Osunsanmi JR OH West Ranch – At 6-4, Osunsanmi is an imposing figure at the net. She has huge upside with her length and ability to extend when attacking. Malia Thorne SR MB Newport Harbor – Thorne is undersized in the middle but she brings it! She can hammer balls when the opportunity present itself and she gives Newport Harbor a reliable scorer out of the middle. Anabel Kotzakov SR OH Newport Harbor – Kotzakov is a 6-2 uncommitted senior with a big arm. She’s a smart attacker who also

The So Cal Invitational takes place Friday and Saturday at Alliant University in San Diego. It features 23 teams in Division 1 and another 24 schools in Division 2. The first and second-place teams in each pool advance to Saturday qualifying with hopes of making the eight-team gold bracket. The event features mostly California schools but does have teams like Coronado NV, Perry AZ, Lake Stevens WA and Oviedo FL making the trip. Below, we highlight the top seven seeds plus more players to watch for this weekend. TEAM SPOTLIGHTS Coronado NV – The Cougars’ only loss to an in-state foe this season came at the hands of Bishop Gorman NV. They’ll see if they can hold down the top seed behind kill leader and junior outside Abigail Paulson. Also playing keys roles are outside Angelina Sayles, senior setter Camdyn Carpenter, junior setter Hannah Pemberton and senior libero Mia Arambula. Del Norte – The Nighthawks have beaten teams like Torrey Pines and La Costa Canyon this season and certainly have what it takes to finish on top here. Defenses need to be aware of senior outside Jillian Neal at all times. Kamehameha/Hawaii HI – The Warriors make the trip back to the mainland after competing at the Durango Fall Classic weeks ago. Among those making key contributions are senior libero Leisey Kelii, junior outside Maela Honma and senior outside Sarah Schubert. Eastlake – The Titans will look to make noise this weekend and turn a few heads. They did lose a non-league contest against Kamehameha earlier in the week. Senior right side Bianca Merloti, senior libero Avery Banaag and junior outside Lily Stewart all do their parts in helping the team find ways to win. Perry AZ – The Pumas have played a tough schedule, seeing a lot of the best schools in Arizona. Can they find success out-of-state? Senior outside Avery Burks, senior outside Amy Whalin and sophomore middle Kenna Cogill are the main threats on offense. Westview – The tournament hosts will look to write a winning script and pull off surprises along the way. Senior outside Ella Alibegovic and junior libero Makenna Roberts are integral parts of the lineup. JSerra – The Lions play a tough enough schedule and won’t back down from anyone. There’s lots to like on this roster, including junior setter Delaney Hughes, freshman setter Sara Moynihan, junior middle Tatum Johnson, freshman outside Charlotte Nowack and sophomore right side Ruby Hill. *** MORE PLAYERS TO WATCH Madison Triplett JR OH El Capitan Madelyn Wutske SO OH El Capitan Isabella Christensen SR OH Lake Stevens WA Laura Eichert FR OH Lake Stevens WA Katelyn Eichert JR S Lake Stevens WA Fallyn Blotzer SO OH Santiago Maylynn Mitchell SO OH Santiago Hannah Guzzetti SR MB Santiago Jannah Jonick SO MB Rancho Bernardo Natalie Ratkiewicz SO OH Rancho Bernardo Kiki Remensperger JR S Poway

The Molten Varsity Power Classic hosted by Redondo Union is on the schedule Friday and Saturday. The Nike TOC Southwest last weekend marked the last major national tournament this season as teams around the country wrap up their tournament schedule with local events. Outside of Casteel AZ making the trip, the remaining 26 teams in the field are from California, including host Redondo and No. 7 ranked Mira Costa. They are part of a small group of favorites which we highlight below, along with some more players to watch for. TEAM SPOTLIGHTS Let’s take a look at the four tournament favorites: Mira Costa – The Mustangs are coming off a runner-up showing at the Nike TOC Southwest tournament last weekend when they finished second to Cornerstone Christian TX. They picked up a key Bay League victory over ranked Palos Verdes on Tuesday and will look to finish its week with its second tournament title of the year after claiming the Ann Kang Invitational title back in August. Junior setter and Wisconsin commit Charlie Fuerbringer has a trio of hitters who have carried the offense in senior outside Drew Wright, senior right side Tanon Rosenthal and junior outside Chloe Hynes. Meanwhile, sophomore Taylor Deckert continues to shine at libero. Redondo Union – The Sea Hawks are among the handful of teams capable of winning the title. They’ve faced a difficult schedule all season and will look to gear up for the end of league and the start of the playoffs with a strong showing. The team has been paced by senior outside and Oklahoma commit Mele Corral-Blagojevich as Redondo has utilized a variety of lineups throughout the year.  Lakewood – The Lancers are a feisty group who can give anyone fits with their athletic lineup. San Diego State commit and senior setter Fatimah Hall does an excellent job guiding the offense and setting her hitters up for success. It includes senior outside Samarah DaCoud and junior outside Jade Epps, as well as junior middle Zaria Thornton. Torrey Pines – There are a couple of key matches remaining for the Falcons against Cathedral Catholic and a league rematch with La Costa Canyon. But first up is this weekend where they could face a pair of familiar opponents in Mira Costa and Redondo. Torrey Pines defeated Redondo earlier this year and more recently lost to Mira Costa. Freshman outside hitter Finley Krystkowiak continues to be the main target of senior setter Nikki Quinn. Senior middle Grace Flanagan scores at a high percentage and is another weapon while senior Katerina Lutz leads the defensive effort at libero. *** MORE PLAYERS TO WATCH Anabel Kotzakov SR OH Newport Harbor Madyson Smith SR MB Aliso Niguel Nicole Feliciano SR S/RS Aliso Niguel Danet Whiting SR L Aliso Niguel Grace Witcher SR OH Liberty Bakersfield Emma Fredrick SR OH Liberty Bakersfield Jordan Taulua SR OH Bishop Montgomery Zoe Morales SR L Bishop Montgomery Jada Stone SR S Oxnard Anika Huelskamp SR OH Oxnard Kalyssa Blackshear SO MB Torrance M’kera Drake SR MB Summit Aidan Goodrich SR MB Clovis West Kayleigh May SR S Thousand Oaks Nina Hemsley FR MB Rancho Cucamonga Joyce Shih JR OH Rancho Cucamonga Tori Davis SR MB West Ranch Kennedy Osunsanmi JR RS West Ranch Sophia Lynch SR OH West Ranch Hailie McGinest JR OH LB Poly

We released our updated Top 50 HS National Rankings this week. We’ll continue doing so until the end of the state playoffs next month, when we award a national champion. For now, we check in and spotlight 15 teams from the Top 50 to see how their seasons are coming along. McCutcheon IN (3 – national ranking) – The Mavericks have ascended the rankings riding a 24-1 mark entering the week. Yorktown is the only team to notch a win over McCutcheon this season, with it coming in tournament play in late August. McCutcheon opened the season with a victory over Hamilton Southeastern. The duo of Purdue commits in senior outside Chloe Chicoine and junior setter Allie Shondell have been instrumental. Also contributing have been junior outside Isabella Humphrey and sophomore middle Reanna Lee, who leads the team in blocks. Marian MI (5) – The Mustangs have dropped just four sets as they began the week 27-0. Senior setter and Kentucky commit Ava Sarafa has directed a potent attack. It features sophomore outside Isabelle Busignani as the kill leader. Also involved in the offense consistently is senior pin hitters Ella Schomer and Molly Banta, as well as senior middle Reagan Sass. St. James Academy KS (8) – The Thunder came into the week sporting a 21-1 record. The only setback occurred against Aquinas, with a rematch looming Oct. 6. Sophomore setter Reese Messer has done well running a balanced attack. Juniors Julia Headley, Ava Spachek and Ella Goodwin, as well as senior Kate McKnight, are all threats. Junior Mya Bolton has been a defensive spark at libero.   Hamilton Southeastern (12) – The Royals are another school putting together a terrific season. They started the week 25-1 with the only loss coming to McCutcheon. The trio of senior Avery Hobson, junior Lauren Harden and sophomore Lindsey Mangelson have been lethal on the pins and frequent targets of junior setter Macy Hinshaw and sophomore setter Ava Hunter. Highland Park TX (11) – The Scots entered the week riding an 11-match winning streak to stretch their record to 32-2. Both losses came to Prestonwood Christian TX during tournament play. Highland Park has established itself as the 6A favorite for the state playoffs and have been propelled by UCLA commit and senior outside Sydney Breon and senior libero and Georgia Tech commit Zoe Winford. Senior middle and Michigan commit Ceci Gooch has also played a key role, as has sophomore right side Alex Richter and sophomore outside Isabella Ocampo. Washburn Rural KS (14) – The Blues are powering along, posting a 19-1 mark at the week’s start. The team started the year with a big victory over Aquinas then suffered its only loss to date in the second outing going down to St. James Academy. Kentucky commit and senior outside Brooklyn DeLeye is the featured attacker. Cypress Ranch TX (15) – The Mustangs have played like 6A contenders, running their mark to 34-2 entering this week which includes an 18-match winning streak. Cypress Ranch suffered an upset loss to Tompkins and another one to Cornerstone Christian at Volleypalooza. Senior outside and Texas AM commit Bianna Muoneke has been supercharging the attack, Sophomore outside Taylor Porter has turned in a solid season, as has senior middle Janyah Henderson. Aquinas KS (17) – The Saints have done well with a challenging schedule. They came into the week 24-3. Victories have come against St. James Academy, Liberty MO, Skutt Catholic NE and St. Teresa’s Academy MO, as well as splitting a pair of matches with Liberty North MO. The Saints have also lost a pair of contests to Washburn Rural. Yale commit and senior pin hitter Betsy Goodenow is leading the charge, along with sophomore outside Alea Goolsby and senior libero Reagan Anderson. Lincoln Southwest NE (18) – The Silver Hawks started the week sitting at 17-2. The two defeats have come against Marian and Omaha Westside. The Silver Hawks also own a victory over both schools, as well as Papillion-LaVista South. Senior outside Alexa Gobel leads the team in kills. Junior setter Malayah Long and junior libero Teagan Little have also turned in solid seasons. Liberty MO (20) – The Blue Jays started the week 25-1, with the lone loss to Aquinas. Key wins have come against Olathe Northwest KS, St. Teresa’s and Liberty North. Sophomore outside Abigail Mullen is leading the team in kills, while sister and senior setter Ashley Mullen – a UCLA commit – is directing the attack. Junior Macy Bartlett is the libero and leading the way in digs. St. Francis/Mountain View CA (27) – The Lancers – 18-0 at week’s beginning – have proven themselves as the best team in Nor Cal and a state title contender. Junior outside Taylor Williams and junior outside Erin Curtis have been key components in the attack and frequent targets of senior setter Havannah Hoeft. Defensively, it’s been junior Whitney Wallace holding down the back court at libero. Liberty North MO (29) – The Eagles are having a fantastic season, entering this week with a 20-3 record. Blue Valley West KS was able to upset Liberty North a few weeks ago, with the other two losses coming against higher-ranked schools in Aquinas KS and Liberty. The Eagles were able to avenge the loss to Aquinas this past weekend, also picking up a strong victory over Fayetteville AR. Junior outside and Arizona commit Carlie Cisneros is having a big season and leading the Eagles in kills. Senior Abby Christian has turned in a strong performance at libero. Plano West TX (34) – The Wolves, who started the week at 23-2, suffered two losses in mid-August and none since. They came to Lovejoy and Reedy. The Wolves have since defeated Lovejoy to avenge one of the setbacks. Pitt commit and senior outside Blaire Bayless is having a monster year as she has twice as many kills as the next closest player. Ursuline Academy OH (35) – The Lions are in the thick of the Division

Like I stated in our Day 1 recap, attending the Mother McAuley Asics Challenge was amazing. From the history of this iconic tournament to the amazing athletes representing their schools it did not disappoint. Congrats to the host school Mother McAuley for capturing the tournament title! Here is the list of the Show Stoppers who shined during the tournament. Also I added a list of the freshmen athletes I was able to see performing well for their squads.  Show Stoppers Ellie White, JR OH, Mother McAuley – A 4-star Michigan commit, White swings hard anywhere on the court. She is one of the most effective back row attacks I have seen all year. Congrats on breaking 1,000 kills this weekend!  Gigi Navarrete, SR L, Mother McAuley – Navarrete, a 4-star recruit committed to Northwestern, is a straight SCRAPPER. She brings a lot of fire and passion to every play. She loves to pick everything thrown her way, mopping up the floor consistently.  Sydney Buchanan, SO OH, Mother McAuley – Buchanan, a 3-star recruit, is another one of the MAC’s offensive weapons. She helps balance out attacks with her strong arm on the court which keeps opponents on their toes.  Ellery Rees, JR MB, Mother McAuley – Rees, a 3-star recruit, is an impact player at the middle blocker position. She gets her hands on balls when blocking along with owning the middle attack.  Mary Kate Sheehan, SR Opp, Mother McAuley – Sheehan, ​​a John Carroll commit, was a ball of fire on the right side. She added a bunch of balance to pin attacks along with some key blocks in the final match.  Sydney Nolan, SR OH, Notre Dame Academy – A 6-3 UNC commit, this 3-star recruit was able to swing over blocks. She was incredibly effective in Game 2 of the finals where she was literally unstoppable every time she attacked.  Ava Tilden, SO OH, Notre Dame Academy – Tilden, a 4-star recruit, is a huge offensive threat for the Pandas. She does well not backing down against bigger blocks and keeps challenging the defense. Kamden Schrand, SR L, Notre Dame Academy – Schrand, a Louisville commit, held her own in the back row as she passed well out of serve receive and made hustle plays to keep her team in the rally. Riley McCloskey, SO OH, Notre Dame Academy – McCloskey, a 4-star recruit, was swinging mainly on the opposite pin. She has a good arm and is not afraid to swing.  Charlotte Moriarty, SO OH, Assumption – Moriarty, a 3-star recruit, hits a heavy ball consistently. She takes aggressive swings and goes right at and/or through the blockers. Kristen Simon, SO L, Assumption – A 3-star recruit, Simon was everywhere in the back court. I love how smooth she is in serve receive and how she can dig anything thrown her way.  Gabrielle Gerry, SR MB, Assumption – A South Carolina commit and 3-star recruit, Gerry makes her presence felt in the middle. She is a solid wall at the net and attacks with force.  Whitney Woodrow, SR S, Assumption – Woodrow, a 3-star recruit committed to Fordham, is smooth and a great “quarterback” for her squad. At 6-1 she is very effective at the net.  Morgan Burke, SR OH, Skutt – I stated in yesterday’s post about how Burke, a 3-star recruit committed to Michigan, moved to the outside. And between her leadership and her incredible line shot, she helped lead her team to third-place despite the odds.  Paisley Douglas, JR L, Skutt – Douglas was solid in the back row and helped keep the Mustangs in system when challenged in serve receive. Abbie Hagehorn, SO Opp/OH, Skutt – Hagehorn helped balance out the attack throughout the weekend. She might not be “flashy” but she packs a punch on the pins.  Sylvie Zgonc, SR OH, Hamilton – Zgonc, a 3-star recruit committed to South Dakota State, is the do-it-all six-rotation outside. She is explosive and consistent all the way around.  Alex Kreutzmann, SR S, Hamilton – A East Tennessee State commit, Kreutzmann is a 5-1 setter who dished the ball effectively. She has a very smooth touch.  Bella Bullington, SO OH, Marist – Bullington, a 3-star recruit, easily goes over blocks and finds open spots on the floor to exploit. She also packs a punch when she swings.  Kamryn Chaney, SR OH, Marist – A Princeton commit, Chaney was an all-around banger. Her jump serve was a force that every team struggled with and she was so impressive to watch! Georgia Watson, SO OH, Huntley – Watson, a 6-3 pin, played all around adding an attack from right back that most teams don’t field. She also attacks over blocks with ease. Avery DeBlieck, SR MB, Huntley – DeBlieck, a 6-3 Loyola Chicago commit, is a presence in the middle with her size. She is also a solid attacker. Maggie Duyos, SR S, Huntley – An Austin Peay commit Duyos is a technical setter who leads her team with her energy, athleticism, and clean deliveries.  Colleen Engstler, SR OH/Opp, Downers Grove North – Engstler is a key offensive component with her scoring prowess. She has a good arm too and can pound it at times.  Madison Quest, SO OH, Divine Savior – Quest, a 4-star 6-3 recruit, hits a heavy ball anywhere on the court and with her extension it is tough for blockers to slow her down.  Olivia Durst, SO OH, Divine Savior – Durst, 3-star recruit, is another one of the “undersized” athletes bringing the heat. She has a great vertical and swings aggressively.  Katherine (Kitty) Sandt, SR S/Opp, Nazareth Academy – Sandt, a 6-1 Clemson commit, was huge at the net both defensively and offensively. Also, with her steady and consistent setting with placement. Lauren Salata, JR OH, Nazareth Academy, Salata, a 4-star recruit, is a handful for defenses and she can unload on the ball well. She’s very smooth and consistent.  Kate Goudreau, SR OH, St. Charles East – Goudreau is a very fiery outside hitter. She’s also a very smart

There was very little movement within the Top 25 this week and very minor movement inside the Top 10. With Cornerstone Christian TX defeating Mira Costa CA in the finals of the Nike TOC Southwest tournament over the weekend, the Warriors jumped the Mustangs in this week’s rankings, moving up to No. 4 while Mira Costa slid to No. 7. We are nearing district, sectional and regional finals, which along with the state playoffs, are going to give shape to our final rankings out in November. For now, five new schools joined the Top 50 this week. vballrecruiter.com TOP 50 1. Cathedral Catholic CA (1 – last week’s ranking) 2. Westminster Christian FL (2) 3. McCutcheon IN (3) 4. Cornerstone Christian TX (5) 5. Marian MI (7) 6. Prestonwood Christian TX (7) 7. Mira Costa CA (4) 8. St. James Academy KS (8) 9. Santa Fe FL (9) 10. Oconomowoc WI (10) *** 11. Highland Park TX (11) 12. Hamilton Southeastern IN (12) 13. Sierra Canyon CA (13) 14. Washburn Rural KS (14) 15. Cypress Ranch TX (16) 16. Marymount CA (17) 17. Aquinas KS (19) 18. Lincoln Southwest NE (23) 19. Mother McAuley IL (15) 20. Liberty MO (24) *** 21. Brebeuf Jesuit IN (25) 22. Fayetteville AR (18) 23. ‘Iolani HI (22) 24. Yorktown IN (28) 25. Benet Academy IL (30) 26. Papillion-LaVista South NE (32) 27. St. Francis/Mountain View CA (39) 28. North Gwinnett GA (40) 29. Liberty North (n/r) 30. Assumption KY (20) *** 31. Corona del Sol AZ (29) 32. Torrey Pines CA (34) 33. Dike-New Hartford IA (35) 34. Plano West TX (46) 35. Ursuline Academy OH (27) 36. Mercy MI (36) 37. Skyline MI (38) 38. Palos Verdes CA (41) 39. Magnificat OH (31) 40. Valor Christian CO (n/r) *** 41. Redondo Union CA (43) 42. Mater Dei CA (44) 43. Millennium AZ (47) 44. St. Ursula Academy OH (37) 45. Mountain View UT (45) 46. Reagan NC (n/r) 47. Punahou HI (33) 48. Archbishop Mitty CA (49) 49. Flint Hill VA (n/r) 50. Skutt Catholic NE (n/r) *** Out: Huntley; Mercy McAuley; Barrington; Rock Bridge; Hamilton In: Liberty North; Reagan; Flint Hill; Valor Christian; Skutt Catholic *** HONORABLE MENTION Huntley IL Mercy McAuley OH Barrington IL Rock Bridge MO Eureka MO Hamilton AZ Horizon AZ Mount Notre Dame OH Xavier IO Ankeny IO Lyons IL Notre Dame Academy KY Mercy KY Wayzata MN Lakeville North MN Northfield MN Marshall MN Pickens SC Dorman SC Cardinal Newman SC Nolensville TN Knoxville Catholic TN Cleveland TN Pope GA Buford GA Alpharetta GA Sequoyah GA Lake Catholic OH Rock Canyon CO Heritage CO Legend CO Chaparral CO Trinity Catholic FL Olathe Northwest KS Lincoln-Way East IL Vista Murrieta CA Harvard-Westlake CA Alemany CA Calvary Christian FL Tampa Prep FL Tompkins TX Bryon Nelson TX Bishop Watterson OH Ardrey Kell NC Millbrook NC Kamehameha HI Moanalua HI Jackson Academy MS Ponte Vedra FL Venice FL O’Connor AZ Divine Savior Holy Angels WI Appleton North WI Burlington WI Hamilton WI Timpview UT

Can we just start this article off with a shout out to the McAuley Asics Challenge?! Fun fact it has been running since 1987. When I was in HS back in the early 90s this tournament and the Redondo tournament were the two “big ones” for HS volleyball. I was so excited when I got a chance to FINALLY come to the esteemed Mother McAuley High School Tournament. And let’s just say it was so much fun to watch! The gold bracket started off with a bang and ended with host Mother McAuley IL defeating Notre Dame Prep KY in the final. Shout out to Skutt Catholic NE which dealt with two tournament injuries and still kept balling to reach the semifinals. In the championship match, Game 1 saw Mother McAuley steam roll ahead behind outside hitters in junior and 4-star Michigan commit Ellie White and sophomore outside and 3-star recruit Sydney Buchanan. NDA didn’t go down easily though. Senior and 3-Star UNC commit Sydney Nolan was just getting warmed up but McAuley still ended up on top, 25-22.  In Game 2, Nolan started powering through on the outside steadily. Also senior libero Kamden Schrand, a Louisville commit, sophomore DS Julia Grace and senior DS Kayla Hostetler – an Eastern Michigan commit – cleaned up the backcourt with everything McAuley threw at them.  Game 3 was a battle in the beginning but both opposite hitters in senior and John Carroll commit Mary Kate Sheehan and senior Southern Indiana commit Jillian Moonan were able to slow down Nolan on the outside. That and incredible defense from senior and 4-star recruit libero Gigi Navarette, a Northwestern commit, and junior DS Sam Falk helped host Mother McAuley win 25-13 and earn the tournament title.  All Tournament Team Morgan Burke, SR OH, Skutt  Madison Quest, SO OH, Divine Savior Kamden Schrand, SR L, Notre Dame Academy Sydney Nolan, SR OH, Notre Dame Academy Gigi Navarette, SR L, Mother McAuley Ellie White, JR OH, Mother McAuley Whitney Woodrow, SR S, Assumption TEAM SPOTLIGHTS Skutt Catholic NE – I was able to watch Skutt in Tampa at the Nike Tournament of Champions Southeast Tournament last month. Senior Michigan commit and 3-star recruit Morgan Burke was playing mainly middle for this tournament. Now, I did not get to see them play on Friday night but heard about them losing senior Nebraska-Omaha commit Ivy Lueck to an injury for Saturday’s matches. When I saw them Saturday morning they had the “nothing to lose” attitude which helped them play incredibly well against teams all day. Burke was also swinging on the outside, which she owned. And I just want to give a shoutout to senior Anna Weberg who literally ran off the court onto the other court’s sideline and dove into a water cooler hitting her head. The coach in me just wanted to jump in and grab her. Her will was incredible and I hope she is doing ok!  Notre Dame Academy KY – I have seen a bunch of these kids on the club circuit so I knew the potential of this squad. Senior UNC commit and 3-star recruit Sydney Nolan and Louisville commit Kamden Schrand highlighted a squad of scrappy and explosive athletes.  Marist IL – This is another team I did not get to Friday night. They are definitely fun to watch. Senior outside Princeton commit Kamryn Chaney and sophomore outside Bella Bullington lead this squad with high flying and hard swinging. Undersized sophomore setter Maddie Berry runs a 5-1 incredibly well. Senior middles and Lehigh commit Ufuoma Omene and Emilia Batus were very effective running the quicks.  RANDOM NOTES Every tournament always has a ton of strength and weaknesses, along with star power, which this tournament definitely had. But I just want to highlight the Class of 2025 (sophomore) pin hitter position. Can we just say WOW. Seriously. Take note of every one of them if you haven’t seen them yet.  Madison Quest – Divine Savior Eva Finnessy – Hamilton Georgia Watson – Huntley Bella Bullington – Marist Sydney Buchanan – Mother McAuley Ava Tilden – Notre Dame Academy  Riley McCloskey – Notre Dame Academy Abbie Hagedorn – Skutt Emma Barrett – Assumption UNDER THE RADAR PLAYERS Alexis Strong, SR OH, Assumption (Abilene Christian) Riley Angst, SR L, Brookfield Central Sophia Wendlick, JR OH, Divine Savior Holy Savior Bella Lipiski, SR MB, Divine Savior Holy Savior Jennifer Buehler, SO OH, Downers Grove North Emma Barton, SR MB, Downers Grove North Briella Wrench, SR MB, Hamilton Brooke Aslakson, SO MB, Hamilton Morgan Jones, JR OH, Huntley (Indiana) Ally Panzloff, SR OH, Huntley (Brown) Maddie Berry, SO S, Marist Ufuoma Omene, SR MB, Marist (Lehigh) Olivia Klapp, SR S, Mother McAuley Tess Hayes, SR S, Mother McAuley (Michigan Tech) Sam Falk, JR L, Mother McAuley Reese Butkus, JR L, Nazareth Academy Olivia Austin, JR MB/Opp, Nazareth Academy Julia Grace, SO DS, Notre Dame Academy Kayla Hostetler, SR DS, Notre Dame Academy Brooke Banker, SO S, Skutt Keira Link, SO MB, Skutt Anna Weberg, SR DS, Skutt  Natalee Rush, SR MB, St. Charles East Julie Ferrandino, SR MB, St. Charles East