Premium Content

The CIF Southern Section out of So Cal always features at least a handful of nationally-recognized schools and 2022 is no different. A year ago it was Marymount of Los Angeles running the gauntlet and winding up undefeated as national champions in several publications. While Marymount graduated most of its starting lineup, two more So Cal schools which figure to be in the hunt for a possible national title this season include Cathedral Catholic of San Diego and Mater Dei of Santa Ana. However, none of those three schools made the trip to Hawaii for this year’s version of the Ann Kang Invitational. Hosted by ‘Iolani School, the prestigious event features 16 teams – with nine from So Cal and seven from the island. The two toughest and deepest leagues in So Cal this fall are the Bay and Mission leagues and representatives from both showcased their talents on the opening day of the tournament. Mira Costa, Redondo Union and Palos Verdes – all three from the Bay League – combined to go 9-0 Thursday while Sierra Canyon and Harvard-Westlake – in the Mission League along with Marymount – went a combined 5-1. Harvard-Westlake was the only team to drop a match of the five schools, with its setback coming at the hands of Redondo Union, 25-19, 25-21. As for the local schools, Punahou, ‘Iolani and Moanalua all finished 2-1 after Day 1 action was complete. Pool play continues Friday and wraps up Saturday morning. The conclusion of pool play on Day 3 will see Mira Costa and Sierra Canyon face off, as well as Palos Verdes and Redondo Union before breaking into bracket pool to determine the champions. vballrecruiter.com was on hand for the start of the tournament and will continue to provide coverage from all three days. Below, we give you a closer look at the teams in Pool A. We’ll provide a closer look at teams in Pool B after Day 2 is done. As for Pool B, one of the best matches on Thursday was between Palos Verdes and ‘Iolani. PV prevailed in three, 25-23, 23-25, 15-11, on its way to going 3-0. PV also defeated Corona del Mar and Hawaii Baptist. Redondo Union went 3-0 with sweeps over Corona del Mar, Hawaii Baptist and Harvard-Westlake. POOL A BREAKDOWN Mira Costa – Regardless of how the Mustangs finish in Hawaii, credit goes out to the parents of this school who showed up in big numbers and represented with loud cheering and support of their girls. There’s a lot to be excited about when it comes to Mira Costa this season. At the center of it is junior setter Charlie Fuerbringer, a 5-star recruit who recently committed to Wisconsin. She has pieces to work with, some of which include beach star senior Erin Inskeep and senior Drew Wright (3-stars) on the outside with Tanon Rosenthal on the right side. Bryn Shankle brings height to the middle. Toss in sophomore Taylor Deckert (3-stars) at libero and Costa should be a solid passing team who can spread the ball around with Fuerbringer running the offense. Costa picked up Day 1 victories over Maryknoll, Edison and Punahou. The toughest outing was against Punahou, as Mira Costa snuck by, 19-25, 25-14, 15-13.  Sierra Canyon – The Trailblazers are an impressive bunch and can play with the best the country has to offer. Sierra Canyon was strong in sweeping Santa Margarita, Le Jardin and Edison, allowing 20 points or more in just one set. The featured player is Olivia Babcock, a 6-3 right side who is a 5-star recruit committed to Pitt and chosen for the Under Armour All-American game in December in Orlando. At the high school level, she’s virtually unstoppable. The team is also strong on the outside with 3-star recruit and junior Danica Rach. The Trailblazers also showcased freshman Mia Stewart on the outside to show the young talent in the pipeline. Another strong point comes at libero, with sophomore Lauren Lynch, a 4-star recruit. Punahou – Punahou flashed its capabilities in playing Mira Costa tough. While Punahou doesn’t have a big arm like Sierra Canyon does with Babcock, the scrappiness, ball control and IQ can give any opponent fits. The defense is anchored by 3-star recruit and senior libero Melie Vaioleti. She routinely kept the team in system out of serve receive and extended rallies with her digging. Haumea Marumoto provided key offense on the left and showed a nice scoring sense with her ability to hit off speed. Rella Moon Binney plays a vital role as a setter/right side while Jodi Saelua brings physicality in the middle. Punahou defeated Moanalua and Maryknoll before losing a tight one to Mira Costa. Santa Margarita – The Eagles sit at 1-2 in Pool A after the opening day. After getting swept by Sierra Canyon in the first match, Santa Margarita dropped a three-setter to Moanalua before closing the day with a sweep of Maryknoll. Two key pieces of the offense are both underclassmen in sophomore outside Brooklyn Drumwright and freshman pin hitter Memphis Burnett – both 3-star recruits. At 6-2, senior middle Sophia Stalcup is the tallest member on the roster. She did a solid job getting touches and providing a blocking presence. Senior Grace Moss was suited up at libero and tasked with the defensive duties. Moanalua – Going 2-1 on the day, the lone setback came against Punahou as Moanalua recorded victories over Santa Margarita and Le Jardin. The key weapon is lefty junior Malu Garcia, a 3-star recruit who hits all across the front and back rows. She provides pop to the attack and is someone defenses must key in on or pay the price. Outside Leilani Giusta is another attacker defenses need to be concerned about. She’s a strong hit who adds physicality. At libero was Natalie Fukumoto and she was steady in consistent with her passing. Edison – The Chargers went 0-3 on Thursday, with losses to Le Jardin, Mira Costa and Sierra Canyon.

It’s a busy weekend ahead as the high school girls volleyball season begins to ramp up. There are three, three-day tournaments on tap for Aug. 11-13, including two big events in Texas along with one in Hawaii. ‘Iolani is hosting the prestigious Ann Kang Invitational, a 16-team field featuring teams from the island as well as California. The John Turner Classic is one of two in Texas and is made up of 44 teams, while the Mansfield tourney is comprised of 40 teams. vballrecruiter.com is making the trip to Hawaii to provide coverage of the Ann Kang tourney. Below, we give you a rundown of what to watch for. The first two days feature two pools of eight teams, while Day 3 wraps up pool play and then heads to bracket play to determine the champion. Top-seeded Mira Costa along with Sierra Canyon and Harvard-Westlake are very likely to be schools appearing in our initial Top 50 high school rankings coming out in a couple of weeks. Palos Verdes could also make the cut. Additionally, Sierra Canyon, Harvard-Westlake, Iolani, Punahou and Redondo Union are back together next month for the Durango Fall Classic taking place Sept. 16-17 in Las Vegas. Pool A Mira Costa Sierra Canyon Punahou Santa Margarita Moanahua Edison Le Jardin Maryknoll *** Pool B Harvard-Westlake ‘Iolani Redondo Union Palos Verdes Corona del Mar La Jolla Country Day Baldwin Hawaii Baptist *** The Ann Kang field features 17 players who appear in vballrecruiter.com’s player rankings. Here’s the breakdown: Edison Molly McCluskey Jr RS (3-star) *** Harvard-Westlake Ava-Marie Lange Sr OH (4-star) Grace Thrower Sr OH, (3-star) *** La Jolla Country Day Bianka Lulic Sr MB (4-star) *** Mira Costa Ameena Campbell Sr OH (3-star) Carly Greskovics Sr L (3-star) Drew Wright Sr OH (3-star) Charlie Fuerbringer Jr S/RS (5-star) *** Palos Verdes Kaci Demaria Soph OH (4-star) Kendall Beshear Jr OH (3-star) *** Redondo Union Mele Corral-Blagojevich Sr OH (4-star) *** Santa Margarita Brooklyn Drumwright Soph OH (3-star) *** Sierra Canyon Olivia Babcock Sr OH/RS (5-star) Lauren Lynch Soph L/DS (4-star) Danica Rach Jr OH (3-star) Madeline Way Jr MB (3-star) *** Punahou Melie Vaioleti Sr L/DS (3-star)

We’ve released a series of articles since updating our player rankings at the end of July. Among them have been introducing the newest 4-star recruits from the Class of 2025, tracking potential 5-star recruits as well as highlighting the newest 5-star recruits. Below, we bring you 29 players from the Class of 2024 whose ranking improved from 3 to 4-stars. Sarah Brodner, OH/RS, Jupiter HS, High Tide – We featured Brodner in our recent article tracking potential 5-star recruits. She was also part of the Class of 2024 group who moved up from 3 to 4-stars. She’s a 6-5 pin hitter with tons of upside. She’s one to track and could be special at the next level as she continues to gain strength and power. Kiarrah Horne, OH, Millbrook HS, Triangle – Horne is an athletic outside with next-level tangibles, such as being 6-1 and already touching 10-5. The sky’s the limit as she works her way toward the collegiate level. Taylor Williams, OH, St. Francis HS (Mountain View), Vision – After watching what Williams did and seeing her skills this past club season, Williams joins the 4-star rank. She’s a lanky 6-2 with a smooth arm and ability to tee off with big kills. Mia Tvrdy, MB, Papillion-LaVista HS, Premier Nebraska – Tvrdy is an impactful middle on both sides of the ball with her attacking and blocking capabilities. At 6-0, she has a strong arm and should be able to provide plenty of physicality at the next level. Madison Maxwell, S/RS, West Ranch HS, Legacy (CA) – An unheralded two-way player, Maxwell was a key component for Legacy – the 17 Premier gold medalist at AAU – this past club season. She’s a 6-2 setter/right side. While she’s a capable hitter, she seems destined to set at the collegiate level. With her length and nice touch, she should be a good get for a Top 50 program. Taylor Parks, S, Calvary Christian HS, OTVA – Parks is a fun setter to watch do her thing. She’s smooth and effortless and puts up a clean, hittable ball consistently. She’s 5-11, so not a super tall setter but not short either. She recently committed to Florida. Samantha Bowron, OH, Lake Brantley HS, Top Select – Bowron isn’t necessarily a flashy outside. She’s a type of player the more you watch, the more you appreciate what she brings to a lineup. She’s a six-rotation mainstay with a strong arm. At 6-0 and touching 10-2, she has plenty of potential to shine at the collegiate level. Bailey Higgins, RS, Berkley Prep HS, OTVA – Higgins is another player we recently featured in our tracking potential 5-star recruits. She’s a 6-1 lefty who touches 10-1 and has a hammer of an arm. Brooklyn Tealer, OH, Gainesville HS, Gainesville Jrs – We should have included Tealer in our potential 5-star recruits. For now, she moved up from 3 to 4-stars. She recently committed to USC and it’s easy to see why. She’s a 6-1, high-flying outside with a whippy arm who’s an effective scorer from the front and back row. Riley Whitlock, RS, Harrison HS, Boiler Jrs – The feeling here is Whitlock has lots of upside who could be a late-bloomer of sorts. She’s 6-0 with a good feel for the game and strong arm. Paityn Chapman, OH, Castle View HS, Co Jrs – A recent Tennessee commit, Chapman impressed during the past club season on the outside for Co Jrs. She’s capable of unloading on balls and is an offensive force at times. Mallory Bohl, MB, Saline HS, Legacy – Bohl certainly could make a mark at the next level and that’s part of the reason she moved up to 4-stars. She’s 6-3 and brings a presence to the middle. She’s already showing good strength and can be a disrupter at the net with her blocking. Molly Kate Patten, RS, Lambert HS, A5 – Patten was also part of the players we wrote about recently tracking potential 5-star recruits. A 6-5 lefty, she has a big ceiling when it comes to what she could become at the next level. She presents a big block on the right side and with her height has no issues going over blocks. Janelle Green, S, Blue Valley North HS, KC Power – Green is a high-energy setter and a great teammate. She has the perfect demeanor for a setter and that’s before getting to her skills. She has great hands and is accurate. She’s a recent Cincinnati commit.    London Wijay, OH, Alemany HS, Supernova – A 5-11 wirey outside, Wijay is springy with a loose arm. She was the go-to for Supernova this past club season and showed a nice knack for scoring with a variety of shots. Lolo Lambert, OH, Bishop Lynch HS, Drive Nation – Lambert is an athlete who besides playing volleyball indoor and on the beach is a sprinter as while as high and long jumper. She played last season for Skyline but will be part of Drive Nation this upcoming club season. She jumps well with a live arm and can be tough to slow down. Kennedy Washington, MB, Red Oak HS, TAV – Washington brings physicality to the lineup when she checks in front row. She’s 6-0 with a big arm and strong block and is built for the next level.   Jenna Hanes, MB, Cathedral Catholic HS, Wave – A recent Michigan commit, Hanes was a key in the middle for Wave this past club season. She’s a 6-3, two-way contributor who touches 10-0. She has a keen scoring sense who can put it down or find the open spots to tip to. She also showed good timing with her blocking. Isabel Clark, OH, Mater Dei HS, Momentous – Clark was the go-to left side for Momentous. She’s 6-0 with a big arm that generates plenty of pop. She has tons of upside and showed nice improvement in terms of consistency. Erin Debiec, S, Bishop O’Connell HS,

Hannah Beauford, shown playing for Drive Nation this past club season, is looking to make an impact for Prosper this fall. The 2022 high school volleyball season is underway in Texas! Saturday, Aug. 6, vballrecruiter.com was on hand watching the Lovejoy HS scrimmages with host Lovejoy, Gunter, Prosper and Prestonwood Christian. I had a chance to see potential starting lineups along with the “off the bench” athletes finding their groove. Here is a brief preview of these teams from what I saw. Lovejoy HS has big shoes to fill but they have plenty of depth to fill in the voids. Returning for the State 5A Powerhouse program includes North Texas commit SR MB Hannah Gonzalez (3-Star Recruit), JR S Bethanie Wu (4-Star) and JR Opp/DS Reagan Fitzsimmons. Other names to start remembering are SO MB/Opp Shelby Burriss (3-Star), Illinois state move-in JR S Nicole Cornell and a trio of DS’s to watch in JR Mckenna Brand, JR Isa Camacho, and JR Kalin Carlson. Gunter HS returns a large core of the Texas UIL 3A runner up squad which includes Southern Nazarene commit SR OH Rayanna Mauldin and Texas Wesleyan commit SR MB Hanna Rubis. Other stand out athletes included UTSA commit SR Miranda Putnicki, SR L Briley Singleton, Hendrix commit SR S Adilynn Henry, JR S Brelee Mauldin and SO OH Chloe Johnson. Prestonwood Christian was the lone TAPPS school at this scrimmage. The TAPPS State runner up squad includes JR OH Jadyn Livings (5-Star), JR OH Mikala Young (4-Star), JR S Camille Edwards (5-Star), and SO L Gillian Pitts (5-Star). Newcomers include U19 USA Team athlete SO OH Macari Spears (5-Star), SO S Taylor Cook (4-Star) and JR MB Autumn Smith. Spears did not play in the scrimmage. Prosper HS returns another great lineup of returners heading into the season which include Alabama commit S SR Callie Kieffer (4-Star), Louisiana Lafayette commit SR OH Ella Chaney, Gonzaga commit SR L Brianna Martin, Nebraska commit OH/MB Ayden Ames (5-Star) and JR OH Reese Renfrow (3-Star). Newcomers looking to make an impact this season include SO S Hannah Beauford (3-Star), FR S/Opp Danielle Whitmire (5-Star), and FR MB Jayla Jackson (3-Star).

Below, we introduce the newest 4-star recruits from the Class of 2025. It features 17 girls who moved up from 3 to 4-stars in our latest rankings update at the end of July. To give an idea of what a 4-star recruit is, they would be among the Top 100 players in the nation if we did a numbered ranking. Lauren Hurst, OH, Cleveland HS, K2 – If you spent most of the time last season watching the 15s age group you aren’t likely to know about Hurst. She played up on the 17s for K2. She’s a 6-1 outside who displayed lots of potential. She has a good arm and is going to be one to watch as she adds strength and power to her game. Taylor Cook, S, Melissa HS, Skyline – Cook – a 5-11 setter who can also hit on the right – was steady and consistent this past season and directed the offense well for Skyline. She has nice hands and locates well. Reagan Ennist, S, Shenendehowa HS, NYC Juniors – A 5-11 setter, Ennist is another one we felt was worthy of an improved ranking. Like the others on her, she’s shown upside with her game and setting skills. She delivers a clean ball with consistent location.   Kaci Demaria, OH, Palos Verdes HS, Surfside – Demaria should have been included in our 5-star watchlist we released earlier this week. She’s right on the cusp and should end up there before too long. She’s a 6-2 outside with a huge ceiling. Her ability to score consistently was on display this past season and she was the No. 1 option on Surfside. Logan Bell, OH, Roncalli HS, Circle City – Bell is a spring 5-11 outside who possesses a quick arm. She gets off the ground quick and can generate plenty of pace on her attacks. She has a bright future ahead of her. Kenna Cogill, MB, Perry HS, Arizona Storm – A 6-4 middle, Cogill is worth keeping an eye on as she improves. She showed lots of potential this past club season and she became more and more impactful as the season wore on. Her height is obviously a key advantage as she can impact both sides of the ball. Julia Grace, L/DS, Notre Dame Academy, NKYVC – Grace is one of three back row players who were moved up from 3 to 4-stars from the Class of 2025. She’s shown strong command of the back row and was a defensive anchor who was on-point out of serve receive. Naya Salfiti, S/RS, Liberty Christian HS, Madfrog – Salfiti was a valuable piece in the lineup. She showed versatility by being able to step in and set when necessary. She’s a 6-2 lefty who is projected as a right side at the next level. She’s lanky with a good arm and showed ability to score on well-placed angle shots. Bella Ocampo, OH, Highland Park HS, Skyline – Ocampo demonstrated her ability to play all the way around. She’s a sound passer and defender in the back row. She also has a good IQ and showed she was able to score in a wide variety of ways. Francesca Popescu, L/DS, Lambert HS, A5 – Popescu is one of three defenders who moved up one tier in our latest rankings update. She’s a steady back row defender who showed a strong knack for passing out of serve receive and solid court coverage. Asia Harvey, OH, Sandy Creek HS, A5 – A high-flying, 6-1 outside, Harvey oozes potential and could be a stud at the collegiate level. She showed flashes of what she can become delivering a few wow moments during our times watching her this past season. Ashlyn Paymal, RS, Burke HS, NE Elite – Paymal was impressive the times we caught her in action. She’s a 6-3, six-rotation right side. She was the team’s best offensive option with her ability to score all the way around the court. Charlotte Vinson, RS, Yorktown HS, Munciana – Vinson was a key part of the attack. She’s a 6-1 right side who is an option both front and back row. She has a good arm and proved to be a reliable and consistent scorer. Addison Gaido, RS, Georgetown HS, Austin Skyline – We wrote about Gaido earlier this week in our article tracking potential 5-star recruits. Gaido is part of the Class of 2025 players who moved up from 3 to 4-stars. She’s a 6-4 right side with lots of upside. Alex Richter, OH, Highland Park HS, Drive Nation – Richter has the prototypical frame that is screaming with potential. She’s a lanky 6-3 with a strong swing. She’s certainly displayed next-level abilities at times and is a name to know. Addison Makun, MB, Silver Creek HS, KiVA – A 6-3 middle, Makun has lots of raw talent and is one to keep tabs on as she continues developing. She’s long with the ability to go over blocks and she’s shown good strength as well. Maya Evens, L/DS, Cathedral Catholic HS, Wave – Evens shined playing up for Wave 16 Brennan this past club season. She’s absolute nails in the back row. She’s consistently on point in serve receive and she has great range defending and picking off attacks.

During our recent player rankings update, we reviewed every player we had listed to determine whether to keep their ranking the same or move them to the next tier. Earlier this week we wrote about the newest recruits to join the 5-star rank featuring those who moved up. You can view that article here. Below, we highlight athletes from the Classes of 2023-2026 who could be next in line to become 5-star recruits when our next update is released. All the players listed below are currently ranked as 4-star recruits. They are also listed with the club they played for last season. Please email chris@vballrecruiter.com with any changes. 2023 Mia Lee, MB, Mountain View HS, Club V – There are some who already view Lee – a BYU commit – as a 5-star recruit. She’s close and like a lot of the players listed in this article she would be at a 4.5 rating if we awarded half-stars. She’s 5-11 but touches a ridiculous 10-7, putting her in rare company. Noemie Glover, RS, Cathedral Catholic HS, Coast – A 6-1 high-flying lefty who is committed to Oregon, Glover is among those we are keeping a close eye on in seeing if she’ll move up in our next update. She’s capable of hitting crazy sharp angles and is still relatively raw compared to other studs in the Class of 2023. Kennedy Martin, RS, Appleton North HS, FC Elite – A Florida commit, there’s plenty to love about Martin. One aspect is her height of 6-6. She’s clearly a presence on the right side with her ability to hit high combined with her block. Brielle Kemavor, MB, Colgan HS, Metro – Kemavor has something in common with many of our recruits who are already rated at 5-stars. That’s her height. She’s tall at 6-5, which is obviously a valuable tool when it comes to the middle position. She’s commited to BYU. Claire Little, OH, Vista Murrieta HS, Coast – One thing we know for sure is BYU is getting a haul when it comes to the Class of 2023. Little is the third recruit we are writing about here with potential to get to 5-stars. She’s an all-around contributor who can take over matches at times. Kendal Murphy, OH, Horizon HS, AZ Rev – Murphy – a Baylor commit – was one of the MVPs at the recent Under Armour Next Selection Camp stop in So Cal. She’s a high-IQ outside with next-level height at 6-3. She’s a viable scorer whether front or back row. *** 2024 Sarah Brodner, OH/RS, Jupiter HS, High Tide – Brodner’s rating improved this last go around from 3 to 4-stars. There’s a chance she could be in 5-star territory the next time the rankings are updated. She’s definitely one to keep tabs on. Brodner is a 6-5 pin hitter with lots of length and ability to hit over blocks. She has the potential to shine at the collegiate level. Kiylah Presley, MB, Bishop McNamara HS, Paramount (Virginia) – There’s was strong consideration given to moving Presley up to 5-stars in our recent update. She’s very close. She has tremendous upside with her athletic gifts. She’s 6-0 and already touching 10-5. She recently committed to Virginia. Mia Hood, MB, Blessed Trinity HS, A5 – Feedback from certain coaches would already place Hood in the 5-star territory. Nothing is for certain, but odds are she’ll be a 5-star recruit before too long. She has too much going for her not to be. She’s 6-7 and takes up a lot of space at the net. Molly Kate Patten, RS, Lambert HS, A5 – Patten has endless potential and is surely on our radar as someone we are watching closely. She’s a 6-5 lefty who has proven to be a reliable scorer and strong blocker. Logan Wiley, MB, Alpharetta HS, A5 – One of the reasons A5 had such a strong team in the 16s age group this past season is Wiley is the third member from the squad who is in consideration for being a 5-star recruit. She recently committed to Georgia Tech. Wiley is 6-2 and quick. She’s shown strong scoring skills and can impact matches on both sides of the ball. Bailey Higgins, RS, Berkley Prep HS, OTVA – Higgins is an explosive attacker on the right side. She’s a 6-1 lefty with a strong arm. She’s touching 10-1 and could be a menace if she’s able to add a few more inches to her jump. Alec Rothe, OH/MB, Dublin Scioto HS, Elite VBTC – During club Rothe played at both outside and middle. With continued work and development she could be a pin at the next level. She’s 6-2 and moves well for her height. *** 2025 Lauren Coyne, RS, Wheaton-Warrenville South, SPVB – There’s plenty of time before Coyne gets to the next level and we’ll be watching as she progresses. She’s a 6-2 lefty who touches 10-0. As she moves up age divisions and adds to her game, she may be able to make the next tier as a 5-star recruit. Kalyssa Blackshear, MB, Torrance HS, Surfside – Blackshear was also a MVP at the recent Under Armour Next Selection Camp stop in So Cal. She was given strong consideration as a 5-star recruit in our latest update. A 6-4 middle with great court sense, it’s hard not seeing reach the top tier before too long. Addison Gaido, RS, Georgetown HS, Austin Skyline – Gaido certainly has the frame to star at the next level. She’s 6-4 with long arms and has no trouble going over the block. She had a strong club season for Austin Skyline this past spring and is definitely on the 5-star watchlist. Jordan Smith, OH/RS, Howell Central HS, Rockwood Thunder – Smith played up an age group, suiting up for Rockwood Thunder 16 Elite this past club season. She flashed plenty of upside and there’s tons to like about her game. She has certain tangibles too that has

vballrecruiter.com recently updated its player rankings for Classes 2023-2026. You can find out who is on the list for their respective classes by clicking the links: 2023 2024 2025 2026 Below, we highlight those players whose ranking improved from 4 to 5-stars in the 2023, 2024 and 2025 classes. There are eight players featured from the class of 2025; five from 2024; and two from 2023. For the Class of 2026, there are nine players who are 5-star recruits in our initial release for that age group. Players are listed with their clubs from this past season, unless we know of changes already. Please email chris@vballrecruiter.com with any updates. CLASS OF 2025 Lameen (Mimi) Mambu, OH/RS, Chantilly HS, (Paramount) – Mambu was the only member from the Class of 2025 to make the move from 3 to 5-stars. She has unbelievable potential with her 5-11 frame and already touching 10-6. Even if she doesn’t add to her jumping ability moving forward she’s already in an elite class and she is going to add power as well. The sky is the limit and she’s definitely one to keep tabs on as she moves through the age groups. Ryan Hunter, RS, Mallard Creek HS, (Carolina Juniors) – If you aren’t familiar with Hunter she’s a name you need to know and follow. She’s a 6-2 lefty who touches 10-5. She has limitless potential to star on the next level with her athletic abilities. It was a consensus decision moving her from 4 to 5-stars as she’s a rare talent. Campbell Flynn, S, Mercy HS, (Legacy) – The reality is Flynn could have started off as a 5-star recruit but after her performance during the club season where she flashed her undeniable potential she moved up from 4-stars. She’s a 6-1 setter with great hands, touch and the strength to make sets other in her age group aren’t capable of. With her height, she’s also an offensive setter in that you have to account for her dumping on the second touch. She’ll be a highly-sought after recruit come next summer. Kassidy O’Brien, S, Cinco Ranch HS, (Hou Skyline) – With O’Brien upgrading her ranking from 4 to 5-stars, she’s now one of eight setters in the Class of 2025 with a 5-star ranking. That’s a strong setting class overall and at 6-0 with her talent O’Brien fits in well. She locates consistently and sets a clean ball while rarely off her mark. She’s going to make a mark at the next level. Natalie Wardlow, MB, Lincoln Southeast HS, (Nebraska One) – A 6-4 middle, Wardlow was a standout at her position this past club season and has moved from 4 to 5-stars. She flashed remarkable upside and at times was the best player on the court. Her height and extension allow her to hit sharp angles as well as put up a big block. Kirra Musgrove, S/RS, Lutheran South Academy, (Hou Skyline) – There figures to be a few top-notch programs in the mix for Musgrove next summer. This 6-2 setter/right side was a key contributor for HJV 15 Elite this past club season and will suit up for Hou Skyline 17 Royal next year. Her length at the setting position is desirable and she’s a smooth disher. She can also attack well, bringing versatility to any lineup and is part of the reason why she moved from 4 to 5-stars. Addison Tindall, OH, Homestead HS, (Team Pineapple) – We had Tindall as a 4-star recruit but after watching her this club season and seeing her upside she was moved up to the top tier as a 5-star recruit. She’s a 6-2 outside who is long with a high contact point. She’s a threat wherever she is on the court. She’s only going to add strength and as she gets stronger she’s going to become more and more of a force moving forward. Navea Gauthier, OH, Shelby HS, (Far Out) – The final member of the Class of 2025 who moved up from 4 to 5-stars, Gauthier is a 6-1 outside with natural strength. She showcased a wide array of shots when watching her this season and with her powerful arm is always a threat whether front or back row. CLASS OF 2024 Ava Utterback, OH, Plainfield HS (Circle City) – One of the top outside hitters in the Class of 2024, Utterback’s ranking improved from 4 to 5 stars in our recent update. She’s a 6-0 high-flyer with the ability to take over matches with her offensive ability. She has a lively arm and with her jump can go over the top of blocks with ease. Hannah Benjamin, OH, Fideles Christian HS, (A5) – Benjamin was playing on an A5 2s team during her 15s year of club. Now, she’s rated as a 5-star recruit! That’s the level of improvement she’s showed in just two seasons. The 6-1 outside is an all-around contributor with her passing, defending and attacking skills. She has a bright future ahead of her and recently committed to Kentucky. Faith Frame, L/DS, Gretna HS, (Premier Nebraska) – Frame was one of three players to move up from a 3-star ranking to 5 stars after her recent club season playing for Premier Nebraska. This summer she committed to Cincinnati and should star for the Bearcats down the road. She’s a smooth backrow defender who doesn’t rattle and is capable of making highlight reel saves all over the court. Nayelis Cabello, S/RS, East Ridge HS, (Top Select) – Cabello was another member of the Class of 2024 who jumped from 3 to 5-stars after this past club season. A 6-0, two-way player, Cabello recently committed to Louisville. She’s a high-level setter with strong hands and consistent location who can also hit across the front row. It’s likely she’ll be running a 5-1 at the next level but could be part of a 6-2 if necessary. Emerson Sellman, OH, Holy Cross HS, (Metro) – This 6-4 outside hitter is oozing

Welcome back to Hermosa Beach. Sunday marked the final day at AAU Junior Nationals or as AAU calls it “Sandday”. There is a lot on our plate from the day as the Gold bracket for 18U, 16U, 15U, and 14U all played out. There was tons of quality volleyball and action on the courts so without further ado here are the Day 4 Show Stoppers.18UErin Inskeep/Ashley Pater – After coming in second in pool play Day 1, this team won eight straight matches to win the title. They are a solid group who can beat you in so many different ways. Their serving was accurate, combined with two outstanding defenders who read well and can finish the rally with great court vision proved to be a winning combination.Madison Goellner/Grace Hong – This duo had a good run taking second overall. A traditional team with Goellner blocking and Hong defending gave each teammate a specific role and they both excelled at their craft. Goellner covers a lot of court blocking while also being able to score with a heavy swing. Hong has a good feel for positioning in defense as she regularly makes the right read and converts with a good lefty swing.Macey Butler/Jenna Colligan – Colligan was solid on defense. Showing great athleticism, we watched her chase down and dive for balls on consecutive rallies that made it hard for opponents to score. Butler brought swagger with sharp kills and blocks propelled this team to a bronze at AAU.Malia Gementera/Kylie Vaickus – This duo played solidly all tournament and had a great third-place finish. Vaickus was very active at the net. We saw her block and drop multiple times consecutively showing her stamina and strength as an elite blocker. Then Gementera adds her scrappy defense and finishing with an attack that features a high snap that punishes the ball. 16UHaylee Lafontaine/Danielle Sparks – The winners of 16U, it all starts with their ball control. Lafontaine is clean with her touches around the net. As a blocker she punishes overpasses and tight sets, while also showing touch with scramble plays and a good arm capable of putting away any set. Sparks’ defense and serving sets a good tone for her team. Her accuracy in serving and instincts in defense combined with a great touch on offense makes her a scoring machine.Claire Sun/Logan Tusher – Sun serve was on point today. A hard flat serve gave opponents fits all day, giving her opportunities to use her cut shot to score ofter. Tusher was a beast at the net, making great reads blocking leading to big roofs for her team. They had a great run and finished second overall.Sophia Martinez/Demi Wagdy – They were the definition of a team that hustles. Combine that with their athleticism jumping and attacking we saw some great highlight plays. Seeing Martinez dive sideways for a touched ball and getting back up and putting a big swing for a point gave this duo a well-deserved third-place finish.Elise Lenahan/Kiera Tanioka – A steady duo, this team didn’t make too many errors forcing opponents to play a perfect game to beat them. Showing great chemistry by moving around each other and covering the open court they picked up and converted on defense without any hesitation. Lenahan’s big arm combined with Tanioka’s stellar defense solidified their bronze medal. 15UElena Fisher/Kyra Zaengle – The amount of pressure Zaengle produces with her jump serve was stunning. Her ability to snap a ball to a corner with consistency gave her team so much momentum. Add that both her and Fisher were punishing balls with the easy balls coming over gave them a dominating win and gold at AAU.Elena Lam/Zara Stewart – A team that possesses good ball control led the way to their second-place finish at AAU. This group’s passing touch in serve receive and defense gave them so many opportunities on offense. Attacking wise for this duo they had not only court vision but countless shots and wrist aways that completely stretched the defense and left them scrambling.Lily Dee Davis/Aubrey Mcbride – Mcbride’s energy and willingness to dive on defense brings some exciting rallies to her matches. She usually converts with a good court awareness cut shot or booming deep kill. Davis is a perfect complement for Mcbride’s defense with a solid block and ability to transition and finish with big kill for the 6-0 blocker. They teamed up for a good 3rd place finish.Audrey Davis/Samantha Hsu – This team’s third place relied on the arm of Davis. Davis’ swing is textbook example of something repeatable with success. An over-the-top high reaching swing gives her so much range she’s able to hit around most blocks. She gets so many opportunities due to Hsu and her ball control. Her hands delivering sets are strong and coupled with quick feet she gets to most balls and is a beast on defense. 14ULayla Austin/Jordyn Scribner – Austin was on fire. She was getting her feet to the ball and let that big arm produce some impressive kills all day. Scribner provided excellent ball control with not only her sweet sets but also a strong serve that produced long runs resulting in a gold medal for this duo.Ella Olson/Addison Terrell – Watching Terrell go swing for swing with Austin in the finals was fun. Terrell’s jumping abilities along with a great wrist snap allows her hit hard straight ahead or cutting the ball towards the sideline. Olson has great court sense and continuously makes strong reads on defense and converts with cut shots helping this duo to a strong second-place finish.Gentry Barker/Sophee Peterson – This team showed resilience, placing a well-deserved third. After losing 29-31 on Day 1 they bounced back and won six straight sets before losing to the eventual champions. Peterson showed good explosiveness with her block and approach along the net. Combined with strong hands she easily wins joust and scores with her swing. Barker compliments her with a hard serve and quick feet

On a sunny Saturday from Hermosa Beach we attended Day 3 of the AAU beach championships. The 14 and 15U finished pool play for a chance at the gold bracket. The silver brackets for 18 and 16U finished up. Here are the Show Stoppers for Day 3.18U Consolation ChampsAlexa Fernandez/Carys Patton – We were able to see a couple of this team’s matches and they were exciting to watch. Fernandez looked fearless out there. She played with a high defensive intensity going for every ball then converting with big swing after swing. Patton has an effective jump serve tracking towards the sideline and scoring points in bunches. She also possesses good court vision by continuously being able to chip the ball over the block and eluding the defender. 16U Consolation ChampsMadelynn Hokanson/Jordan Patrick – Although we only saw them once we were impressed. Patrick is a good defender and a low-error attacker. She perfectly compliments the 5-11 Hokanson and her big swing. An athletic lefty with a good jump and a high reach on her swing, we saw Hokanson absolutely crush it. We can’t wait to see her return next season with a year to train. The sky’s the limit for her. 14UElla Olson/Addison Terrell – Terrell dominated with her attack today. She can crush a ball, while also mixing in a roll shot made defending her a chore. Olson chipped in with some strong serving and low attack errors in a recipe for success.Sara Moynihan/Simone Roslon – Moynihan is a lefty who can play effectively on both sides and was solid again. She’s active defensively, leading to a powerful transition swing. Combined with Roslon’s ball control and a myriad of offensive shots gives this duo a good chance at a medal.Olga Nikolaeva/Thais Treumann – This duo’s ball control is solid. They were one of the better teams in serve receive that we witnessed. Nikolaeva can defend the best attackers with her reading and passing touch. Treumann is a spark, playing with good energy. It seems her team always goes on a long run with the momentum she gives.Nafanua Alofipo/Janie Mccanna – After watching these two play they can definitely make a run in the gold bracket. Both are plus defenders with good anticipation of where the attacker is looking at. Combined with a good court vision on offense made their day relatively easy. 15UElena Fisher/Kyra Zaengle – The No. 1 seed overall was impressive. Fisher was steady with her digging and offense. Rarely making errors she has a good feel for where the set and block are and made good choices. Zaengle put on a serving clinic. Her jump serve was on point. It blended her intensity with a consistent high velocity serve that scored in bunches.Mikki Carlin/Kiara Edwards – Both of these splits are not only tall but very skillful. Carlin’s moves are athletic and quick, constantly getting to shots usually reserved for smaller defenders. Edwards has a high reaching swing that makes it hard to block, combined with some feel for the block, she has no problem scoring.Lily Dee Davis/Aubrey Mcbride – Davis and McBridge are a well-balanced team. Mcbride covers the defense with her quickness and high conversion rate. Davis plays the net well. Getting good touches and blocks, Davis also shows quickness reading a shot then dropping to defend and getting back up to put down a big kill.Avery Cukjati/Ariana Medchill – We saw this team for the first time and came away impressed. Both possess good ball control making their defense and serve receive solid. Medchill moves well in the back defending and making good reads. Cukjati sees the court well offensively mixing in hard shots with a couple of wrist away swings finding the sand for points.