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I have been covering Texas tournaments this past month so it was great to be given the opportunity to travel to Florida to cover this tournament here in Tampa Bay! vballrecruiter.com wrote a preview of the Nike TOC Southeast tournament that highlighted the athletes and programs that would be in attendance. Let’s take a quick look at the top headlines from Friday, followed by team spotlights and under the radar players. Pool A in the National Division was definitely a fun one to watch. Lafayette (MO) ended up winning the pool by upsetting the top seed Ponte Vedra (FL). Pool F in National had an upset with Venice (FL) winning the pool. Pool H in the National Division had another upset with Tampa Prep (FL) beating Bishop Gorman (NV) to capture the top seed. TEAM SPOTLIGHTS Cornerstone Christian (TX) is just so deep. It’s fun to watch them work together out there. And with a outside hitter like Nayeli Gonzalez doubling as a middle blocker sometimes it definitely changes the offense in a pinch. Lafayette was the team that prevailed in an incredibly talented pool of teams. Outside Maya Witherspoon and Allison Risley were hitting some heavy balls consistently throughout the day. Layne Witherspoon and Ellie Emms helped balance the attack in the middle. Bishop Gorman is a team to reckon with. Their physicality and energy are fun to watch. Names to remember are Lellia Talloa and Ayanna Watson. UNDER THE RADAR PLAYERS We’ve watched many of the top tier players during club season and are very likely to see the top teams in action on Days 2, so instead of highlighting those girls as part of our normal Show Stoppers, let’s mix it up a bit and present a few players who fly under the radar but caught our attention on Day 1 nevertheless. Emily Ortiz, SR L, Winter Park Bree Rivas, SR OH, Seacrest Country Day Sarah Gooch, SR OH, Lake Brantley (West Virginia) Morgan Burke, SR OH, Skutt Catholic (Michigan) Madison Smith, SR OH, West Orange Abigayle Dickinson, SR OH, Olympia (Texas Tech) Reese Burry, SR L, Windermere Prep Madi Hartman, SR L, Lafayette (Arkansas Tech) Anna Grace Sparks, SR OH, McGill Toolen (Queens Univ of Charlotte) Rylee Busse, SR OH, Cornerstone Christian (Memphis) Devereaux Hoxsie, JR OH, Kings Academy Mae Mae Lacey, JR MB, Mountain Brook Raegan Richardson, JR S, Jensen Beach Tatum Thompson, JR L, Bishop Gorman Hannah Hankerson, SO OH, Berkeley Prep Ada McCoy, SO OH, Musselman Rylee Tanner, SO OH, Winter Haven Isabella Medeiros, SO S, Pine Crest Anna Cathcart, SO OH, Oviedo Meme Davis, JR OH, Gainesville Audryana Colon, SO OH, Niceville Morgen Talley, SO MB, Calvary Christian Aracelys Sanchez, SO OH, Vero Beach Eva Goodson, FR OH, Florida High Leilani Lawrence, FR OH, Tampa Prep

(Cornerstone Christian’s Taylor Anderson (5)) Get ready for another exciting, action-packed weekend with the upcoming Nike TOC Southeast tournament Friday and Saturday in Tampa Bay. vballrecruiter.com is going to be at the event providing coverage as teams seek out the championship trophy. There are 96 schools participating across three divisions – National, Premier and Elite. Below, we focus on the 32-team National division. It features last week’s Volleypalooza champion Cornerstone Christian. The Warriors are one of the teams we shine a spotlight on. We also list Players to Watch who are not mentioned in one of the team spotlights. TOP 8 SEEDS (in order) PONTE VEDRA (FL): Facing a strong field, it’ll be a challenge for the Sharks to hold down the top seed because of the depth of competition. Among the players assisting in that effort is senior MB/RS Zeta Washington (Cincinnati), junior middle Chelsea Sutton (Tennessee), senior outside Ava-Grace Redick (College of Charleston beach), senior setter Jessica Shattles (New Hampshire) and sophomore pin hitter Cassidy Miskowiec. SANTA FE (FL): The Raiders receive the No. 2 overall seed and will chase after the tournament title behind a lineup featuring three key seniors. They are setters/outsides Jalyn Stout (Coastal Carolina) and Anisa Dorloiuis, who are the top two kill leaders. The third senior is libero Ro’miya Thomas. Another member opposing teams must be concerned about is junior middle Joselyn Sanjurjo, who enters the tournament third in kills.   CORNERSTONE CHRISTIAN (TX): The Volleypalooza champs are loaded enough to challenge any team in the country. Senior MB Nayeli Gonzalez (Iowa State) is one of the key pieces on offense, along with sophomore OH Megan Fitch. The Warriors also have right sides Grace Carroll (junior, Baylor) and Macey Hughes (sophomore), as well as setters Taylor Anderson (senior, Purdue) and Kaia Thiele (sophomore) and senior libero Alyssa Manitzas (Notre Dame). WESTMINSTER CHRISTIAN (FL): The No. 4 overall seed returns plenty from last season and is looking to make a mark over the weekend. The top three kill leaders from a year ago are back in senior outside Emily Matias (Coastal Carolina), senior outside Alyah Cadavid and senior outside Gaby Arroyo. Also part of the package is senior L/DS Lamaya Fuller and junior setter Alyssa Cadavid. TRINITY CATHOLIC (FL): The Celtics scheduled strong out of the gate, including a head-to-head match against Santa Fe, a showdown Trinity lost. Now, the attention turns to making a run this weekend. Players of note include current kill leader and senior outside Kiana Laborde, senior setter Amelia Fitzpatrick (Flager), senior setter Marisol Perez, junior Avery Campise and junior L/DS McKenna Yates.   SPAIN PARK (AL): The Jaguars made the out-of-state trek to test their hands against some of the best Florida has to offer. Senior outside Emily Breazeale (West Florida) currently leads the team in kills followed by freshman OH/MB Megan Ingersoll. Senior L/DS Brooklyn Allison (East Tennessee) has done well defending so far this season, while seniors Lilly Johnson and Haley Thompson have teamed up on setting duties. CALVARY CHRISTIAN (FL): A modest 3-0 start includes a victory over Plant as Calvary prepares for the weekend ahead. Junior setter Taylor Parks (Florida) directs the Warriors offense and is among the top players in the field to watch. Senior outside Deanna Dollar – a California transfer from Village Christian committed to the College of Charleston – comes in as the kill leader and has taken the most swings. Defensively, junior L/DS Ava Bonin is tasked with leading the charge in the back row. BISHOP GORMAN (NV): The Gaels have only played a couple of matches but have been balanced with their attacking, led by junior outside Leilia Toailoa. Also included in that is freshman outside and rising prospect Ayanna Watson, senior middle Katelyn Eberwein and junior middle Ashley Duckworth. Bishop Gorman has relied on freshman Trinity Thompson and junior Taylor Treadwell at setter. *** MORE TEAM SPOTLIGHTS SKUTT CATHOLIC (NE): The Skyhawks are a perennial power in Nebraska and make the trip to test themselves across country. The No. 2 team in Pool 7, Skutt Catholic is paced by captains Hailey Kiscoan (SR MB/OH), Anna Weberg (SR L/DS), Morgan Burke (SR OH, Michigan) and Ivy Leuck (SR S/RS). MCGILL-TOOLEN (AL): The Yellowjackets have eight matches under their belts and haven’t lost to a team in-state yet. They are also one of three teams from Alabama in the field. The go-to hitter is senior outside Anna Grace Sparks, who is hitting over .300 this season. She’s backed by sophomore pin hitter Paris Mcquirter, junior outside Chelsea Daffin, senior middle Riley Carter and junior middle Emma Moore. Junior Mamie Fromdahl leads the team in assists, followed by junior Laura Boykin. Junior Annalise Lee comes in as the team’s dig leader. LAFAYETTE (MO): The Lancers could be under-seeded and stir the pot as the No. 3 team in Pool 1. Senior outside Caitlyn Little is more than a handful for opponents to deal with it. She’s joined by junior outside Allison Risley (Northern Kentucky), senior middle Layne Witherspoon and sophomore outside Maya Witherspoon. WALTON (GA): The Raiders head to their second national tournament of the season and start off as the No. 2 team in Pool 5 behind Trinity Catholic. Walton has played much of the season without senior outside Mary Neal which has hindered its success. The current kill leader is junior outside Sophia Henry. Sophomore Abigail Li is in charge of directing the attack as the setter, while senior Elizabeth Cheney anchors the defense at libero. BUFORD (GA): The Wolves enter at 15-1 overall, with their only setback to Alpharetta, a team Buford has beaten as well. Senior outside Ashley Sturzoiu (Mississippi State) is a menace to opponents and is backed by senior middle Sydney Austin. Senior Polly Cummings is the setter with sophomore Alexa Flowers the libero. The Wolves open as the No. 2 team in Pool 6. ST. HENRY (KY): One of the top teams from Kentucky, the Crusaders won’t back down from anyone and come

Making a statement can be overstated when it comes to athletics, but what’s a better way to describe what Cornerstone Christian did in capturing the Volleypalooza championship over the weekend in Texas? The 68-team field was loaded! It featured eight of the current Top 10 teams in the most recent 6A Coaches Association Poll, plus five of the Top 7 from the current 5A poll. Of course, neither poll contains Cornerstone Christian or Prestonwood Christian, who the Warriors swept, 25-21, 25-15, in the title showdown between arguably the two best teams in the state. “It was an incredible field,” Cornerstone coach Mike Carter said. “It was a bunch of grown women playing and I was impressed by so many teams and the level of play. Honestly, I was in awe and enjoyed being a fan and watching these teams playing other matches. My team really rose to the challenge. Cy Ranch had us down 23-20 in the third set and we rallied to finish that match. The match against Prestonwood, that was the best we played all year.” It was a true showdown, as the top two seeds worked their way into position to go home with the tournament trophy. Cornerstone – whose only setback this season came against The Woodlands, a team the Warriors have also defeated – handed Prestonwood its first loss. Prestonwood reached the final after downing Highland Park for the second time this season by sweeping their semifinal encounter. The way the teams were playing, the final was set up to produce a classic. However, Cornerstone’s play suffocated Prestonwood at times and the expected slugfest never materialized. “We got on a good roll,” Carter said. “Our block set up well. I think it caused them to try and avoid our big kids and in doing so it led to some hitting errors or easier balls for us to play. When we are in system, we have three hitters in each rotation who are capable of putting it away. It makes us tough to defend.” None of that would have taken place had Cornerstone not produced an epic rally over Cy Ranch in the quarterfinals in what proved to be the match of the tournament. The Mustangs grabbed the opening set, the first Cornerstone had lost since dropping its contest to The Woodlands two weeks prior. After stepping up in the second set, Cornerstone found itself trailing for much of the third – which was played to 25. In fact, Cy Ranch built up a 19-14 advantage before looking like it was ready to close the Warriors out leading 23-19. Hannah Spencer’s stuff was part of a 5-0 run and cut the deficit to 23-22. Megan Fitch followed with back-to-back kills to make it 24-23. Bianna Muoneke stalled Cornerstone’s run with a monster bash to tie it at 24 all. Fitch kept her hot hand going with another winner before the match ended on a net violation against Cy Ranch. “When we dropped the first one it was let’s see how we respond,” Carter said. “I thought we came out in the second set and played well. The third set we got behind. Having 12 seniors, there’s a lot of leadership there and the young girls play so much volleyball they stayed calm and didn’t get rattled.” Winning Volleypalooza sets the stage for Cornerstone, which is heading to the Nike TOC Southeast tournament in Tampa Bay this coming weekend. The Warriors are also heading west later in the year to compete at the Nike TOC Southwest event in Phoenix. An independent school, Cornerstone can travel out of the state unlike other schools who can’t compete in any tournament anywhere once district play begins. Capturing major tournament titles like Volleypalooza and Nike TOC is one way for a program to put itself in the discussion for being named national champions at the end of the year. “We are excited about (the upcoming tournaments,” Carter said. “Tampa and Phoenix are like our playoffs. We’ll see some of the top teams around the country and outside of Texas.”

The Arlington Invitational Showcase was run differently than your normal preseason high school tournament. There were three locations with two different pools running over a day and a half. Matches were best-of-five and each location had its own championship. There ended up being three champions and three MVPs. I had seen a few of these teams back at the Mansfield tournament two weeks ago so it was great to see how much those teams had grown since the first weekend and I loved being able to catch some new teams! Congrats to McKinney, Arlington Martin and Richland for winning the tournament titles. Below, you can find our tournament Show Stoppers, Under The Radar Players, Freshmen Standouts and the All-Tournament Team. SHOW STOPPERS Olivia Cohee, SO OH, McKinney – A 4-star recruit, Cohee led her team to one of the three titles for the weekend. A heavy hitter and a ball control oriented passer, she is one to continue to watch over the years. Kensie Mundell, SR L, Arlington Martin – Mundell is an anchor for her team in the backcourt who led her team to one of the three tournament titles. She’s a ball control oriented libero who was scrappy defensively all weekend. Emily Keoen, SR S, Richland – Keoen is a 5-1 setter who led her team to one of the three titles this weekend. She showed great hands with a smooth demeanor. Miller Mcdonald, SR S, Lake Highlands – Miller, a 3-star recruit, is a crafty 5-1 setter. She’s consistent with great placement. Lainee Pyles, JR OH, Fossil Ridge – Pyles, the 16 Open MVP at Junior Nationals, completely dominated on the outside. This 4-star recruit hit a heavy ball from wherever she was. Brynn Dowd, SR OH, Mansfield Legacy – Crafty is the first word that comes to mind for Dowd. She can swing with authority or place the ball, but either way it usually ended the play with a point. Kenna Buchanan, SR OH, Midlothian – The 17 USA MVP at Junior Nationals is a 3-star recruit who can do it all. Buchanan might be undersized but don’t let that fool you. She can swing from anywhere on the court with the best of them. Alayna Guerrero, SR S/MB, Red Oak – Guerrero was a ‘Jack of all trades’ on the court for Red Oak. She proved to be a court leader all around. Kennedy Jean-Louis, SR MB, South Grand Prairie – Jean-Louis is both a scoring threat and a defensive threat in the middle. Meredith Sanning, JR S, Tascosa – A undersized setter who is athletic, fast, and crafty. She leads her team on the court. Faiana Halatoa, SR OH, Euless Trinity – Halatoa hits a heavy ball on both pins. Defensively at the net she is huge. Rachel Resta, JR S, Mansfield – Resta is the quarterback of her team. She has a beautiful touch and a great setter IQ. Morgan Collier, SO MB, Joshua – Collier is definitely someone to watch moving forward. An undersized middle with a huge presence. She is quick and fiery. Rachael Spicer, SR MB, Arlington – An all around threat, from blocking to swinging to playing in the back, Spicer can do it all. Lily Hamilton, JR OH, Timber Creek – Hamilton, a 3-star recruit, played the pins well. She’s an aggressive hitter with a huge block. *** Under the Radar Players Alexis Dolton, SR S, Abilene Ahlyss McDaniel, SR OH, Burleson Tatum McBloom, SR MB, Burleson Peyton Cole, SR L, Joshua Autumn Wilburn, SR MB, Hereford Camryn Blair, SR OH, Hereford Natalia Newsome, JR MB, Arlington Martin Rhian Carter, SR Opp, Arlington Martin Payton Tompkins, JR S, Lake Highlands Hannah Russ, JR MB, Arlington Fabiola Betancourt, SR OH, Euless Trinity Kamiera Watkins, SR MB, Euless Trinity Jenna McMichael, SR L, Midlothian Lauren Safrit, SR OH, Midlothian Alyssa Castillo, SR L, Fossil Ridge Morgynne McQueen, JR MB, Chisholm Trail Juju Ogueri, SO MB, Lakeview Centennial Trinity Nunley, JR MB, Richland Brooke Bohannon, SR OH, Richland Maddie McKee, JR L, Arlington Lamar Isa Reneau, JR S, Arlington Lamar Lauren Demuth, JR MB, Mansfield Nicole Ngo, SR L, Mansfield Anaiah Turner, JR MB, Mansfield Summit Sarahi Paez, JR L, Mansfield Summit Brooklyn Ramey Halkyard, JR MB, Mansfield Legacy Laynie Kovacs, SR L, McKinney Kyanna Creecy, SR MB, McKinney Alanna Deering, SR OH, North Crowley Madelyn Ross, SO S, South Grand Prairie Kassidy Langeland, SO L, Tascosa Addi McCrary, SR L, Timber Creek *** Freshmen Standouts Elle Holley, FR OH, Lake Highlands Malaya Balina-Ayers, FR MB, Burleson Malia Miller, FR OH, Euless Trinity Caitlyn Cavitt, FR OH, Arlington Martin Brynley Buck, FR L, Mansfield Legacy Jayden Fitzgerald, FR OH, Red Oak Jaedyn Sheffield, FR OH, Red Oak Katrina Garcia, FR DS, South Grand Prairie Nylah Lewis, FR OH, Timber Creek Addison Litke, FR OH, Joshua Keara Savory Calbo, FR MB, Mansfield Summit *** MVPs and All-Tournament Team Showcase MVP: Olivia Cohee, SO OH, McKinney Showcase MVP : Richland – Emily Keohen Showcase MVP: Martin – Kensie Mundell All-Tournament Team: Alexis Dolton, SR S, Abilene Hannah Russ, JR MB, Arlington Ahlyss McDaniel, SR OH, Burleson Morgynne McQueen, JR MB, Chisholm Trail Lainee Pyles, JR OH, Fossil Ridge Nickilah Whatley, SR MB, Hereford Peyton Cole, SR L, Joshua Payton Tompkins, JR OH, Lake Highlands Juju Ogueri, SO MB, Lakeview Centennial Maddie McKee, JR L, Arlington Lamar Brynn Dowd, SR OH, Mansfield Legacy Lauren Demuth, JR MB, Mansfield Anaiah Turner, SR MB, Mansfield Summit Natalia Newsome, JR MB, Arlington Lamar Laynie Kovacs, SR L, Mckinney Kenna Buchanan, SR OH, Midlothian Alanna Deering, SR OH, North Crowley Alayna Guerrero, SR S/MB, Red Oak Brooke Bohannon, SR OH, Richland Kennedy Jean-Louis, SR MB, South Grand Prairie Meredith Sanning, JR S, Tascosa Addi McCrary, SR L, Timber Creek Faiana Halatoa, SR OH, Euless Trinity

Volleypalooza was where the best that Texas had to offer gathered Thursday-Saturday in what has become the state’s premier tournament. Cornerstone Christian entered as the No. 1 seed and held it throughout, topping Prestonwood Christian for bragging rights in the championship match. We were on hand and tried to get to as many sites to see as many teams as possible. With 68 schools competing, it was impossible to see them all. Still, wherever we were we noted the players we were watching and below we present our Show Stoppers from our three days in the Lone Star State. Peyton Fadal, JR S, Barbers Hill – A 5-10, 3-star recruit, Fadal is in firm command of the Eagles’ offense. She did well connecting with both middles and spreading the ball around in general. Alice Volpe, JR L, Bridgeland – A 3-star recruit, Volpe helps set the defensive tone for the Bears. This team relies a lot on defense and hustle and it helps to have a libero of Volpe’s caliber to make plays and keep her team in points. Kennedy Kays, SR OH, Bridgeland – Kays is tasked with carrying the offensive load at times and she doesn’t back down from the challenge. She loads up and goes for it when the opportunity is there while knowing when to let up just a bit and not try to do too much. Rebekah Pfefferkorn, Soph MB, Bridgeland – Pfefferkorn – a 6-1, 4-star recruit – makes her presence felt in the middle. She’s a solid attacker who the Bears can rely on to score points. She’s also does well getting her hands on balls when blocking. Amelia Creacy, JR RS, Bridgeland – A 6-1 lefty, Creacy is a difference maker when she’s checked in across the front row. She has a strong arm and can deliver big kills. She’s someone the defense can’t lose track of or else her opponents will pay for it. Taylor Anderson, SR S, Cornerstone Christian – Anderson – a 6-1, 4-star recruit – brings plenty to the lineup. She’s more than capable of running a 5-1 smoothly and efficiently. She can also be part of 6-2 and set in the back row. Or if needed she can hit across the front row. That’s a valuable piece for the Warriors to take advantage of. Alyssa Manitzas, SR L, Cornerstone Christian – A 4-star recruit, the more we watched Manitzas the more she impressed. She’s a flat-out stud who brings endless energy and passion to the lineup. She was lights out on the final day, making unbelievable digs on hard-hit balls and forcing attackers to up their games. Nayeli Gonzalez, SR MB, Cornerstone Christian – A 6-2, 4-star recruit, Gonzalez is one of the main offensive weapons. She plays outside in club but fills a void and shifted to middle for high school. She’ll still lineup on the left and hit from that spot. Also, if you’re best player is making that sacrifice, that’s tremendous leadership skills in action. Grace Carroll, JR RS, Cornerstone Christian – Carroll is a 6-4, 4-star recruit who adds size across the front row. She has a big arm and can hammer down kills over or through blocks. She can also help slow down opposing outsides with her ability to disrupt shots. Megan Fitch, Soph OH, Cornerstone Christian – We last saw Fitch – a 6-1, 5-star recruit – leading Alamo to the 15 Open gold medal. She’s a huge part of Cornerstone’s make up and takes plenty of big-time, clutch swings from the outside to help power the offense along. Taylor Porter, Soph OH, Cypress Ranch – Porter played with the poise of an upperclassmen and didn’t back down from being set in crucial moments. The 5-11 outside hitter also made plays defensively hustling after balls to keep her team in points. Bianna Muoneke, SR OH, Cypress Ranch – There wasn’t a more impressive outside hitter in the field. The 6-0, 4-star recruit showed her explosiveness over and over, including ripping balls from the back row. Janyah Henderson, SR MB, Cypress Ranch – At 6-0, Henderson has nice hang time as well. It makes her a threat anytime Cy Ranch is in system and her scoring ability definitely helps open up the attack. Tya Lynch, JR MB, Cypress Ranch – Lynch – also listed at 6-0 – can score as well but she does her best work blocking. She has strong hands and proved to be a problem for attackers directly challenging her. Gabby Eads, JR L, Cypress Ranch – Eads was solid in the back row and helped keep the Mustangs in system when challenged in serve receive. Kirby Kliafas, SR S, Cypress Ranch – Kliafas is a bit undersized at 5-9 but does well running a 5-1. She sets a consistently hittable ball and gave her attackers good looks to do something with. Cierra Pesak, SR L, Friendswood – Pesak was very consistency in passing and defending. She picked off hard hit balls more than once in standing in there and brought a sound defensive energy to the floor. Alex Richter, Soph RS, Highland Park – A 6-2, 4-star recruit, Richter takes up a lot of space on the right side. She’s long and attacks over blocks or in between the gap. Defensively, her length makes for a solid block to help contain opposing attackers. Nicole Mauser, SR RS, Highland Park – Mauser is the other half of the right side front row duo. She’s a smart hitter who uses the block well or can find space with off speed. Zoe Winford, SR L, Highland Park – Winford is the clear defensive quarterback for the Scots. She owns the backrow and stands in well against big hitters to make digs. Ceci Gooch, SR MB, Highland Park – A 4-star recruit, the 6-2 Gooch played right side this past club season but is doing her part by moving to the middle for high school. She’s one of the top scoring

A powerhouse conclusion is on the way at Volleypalooza. There’s no doubt about it now that the eight-team gold bracket is set. It looks like this:   On Day 2, 34 teams in Group 1 went at it in hopes of making it this far and remaining alive for the prestigious championship trophy. If you can make it to Rouse High School on Saturday for the last day of the three-day event it promises to be worth the price of admission as the last eight standing go toe-to-toe for top honors. What’s ahead is a showdown of arguably the best the state of Texas has to offer this high school season with the trio of Cornerstone Christian, Prestonwood and Highland Park among the teams left standing. All three are looking to add another tournament title to their collection. Cornerstone took first at the John Turner Classic; Prestonwood was tops at the Battle at the Rock; and Highland Park captured last weekend’s Northwest ISD tourney. Prestonwood – undefeated on the year to date – has defeated Highland Park once already this season and a rematch could happen as soon as Saturday’s semifinals. Neither school has faced off with Cornerstone yet. Cornerstone’s only loss came to The Woodlands at the John Turner Classic, where Cornerstone also avenged that loss to The Woodlands in the final. Through the first two days here at Volleypalooza, the trio has matched each other step for step. All three sit at 6-0 without a set loss among them. Of course, that’s going to change Saturday and I can’t wait to see how it plays out. It’s time to get hyped! With the top three seeds holding it down, let’s take a quick look at how the other teams reached the final eight, followed by our Team Spotlight and Under The Radar Players. Keller made it out of Pool 4 as the No. 3 team, going 3-0 with victories over Clear Springs, Westlake and Amarillo. In Pool 5, another No. 3 team in Rockwall advanced at 3-0 as well. Rockwall moved on by topping Sasche, Brandeis and Dawson. Keeping the streak going is Lovejoy, which you guessed it, is yet another No. 3 team to break pool Saturday at 3-0. Lovejoy secured its spot in the quarterfinals by downing Dripping Springs, Round Rock and Pearland in Pool 6. In Pool 7, Bridgeland finished 3-0 as the No. 2 team by beating Canyon, Lake Creek and Prosper. Pools 8 and 9 were three-team pools. Cypress Ranch went 2-0 in Pool 8 while Lake Travis went 2-0 in Pool 9. They went head-to-head for a spot in the quarters in crossover action. Cypress Ranch swept that one, 25-19, 25-18, to stay in contention. *** TEAM SPOTLIGHT LIBERTY HILL – Hosts of one of the sites, the Panthers did well for themselves in Pool 2 on Friday. Liberty Hill finished 2-1, losing only to Prestonwood and picking up an upset over Southlake Carroll, 26-24, 27-25. The Panthers staged a remarkable comeback in Game 2, storming back to take the frame after trailing 16-4! The Panthers utilize two setters in junior Carson Glenn and sophomore Ava Hight. Keegan Walton suited up at libero to help out with defensive duties while 6-2 senior middle blocker Morgan Poulain provided needed height. Also check out more on junior right side Gigi Mason and junior outside Kealy Dirner in our Under the Radar players featured further down. LOVEJOY – The Leopards are still in the mix and could be a threat to pull off an upset. They are one of the more consistently taller teams in the field with a pair of 6-2 players in sophomore outside Anna Barr and senior middle Hannah Gonzalez. Both setters on the roster have nice height as well in 6-0 sophomore Nicole Cornell and 5-11 junior Bethanie Wu. Senior right side Charlotte Wilson, sophomore middle Shelby Burriss, and sophomore MB/RS Sadie Jane Hand are among those listed at 6-0 or taller. Six more players are listed at 5-10 or 5-11, including sophomore outside Morgan VanVoorhis and junior outside Reagan Fitzsimmons. KELLER – The Indians return key pieces from last year’s 6A runner-up squad and can’t be overlooked. Among those back are junior outside Reagan Sharp and senior middle Leah Ford. Keller also returns senior setter Taylor Polivka plus senior defenders Landry McEachern and Kea Whillock. Keller might not be favored to walk away with the title on Day 3 but the Indians won’t go down without a fight. ROCKWALL – The Yellowjackets had a Friday to remember. All three matches went down to the wire as Rockwell downed both Sachse and Brandeis in the third 25-22, and Dawson 25-23 in the final set. (Third sets are played to 25). Rockwall will seek to play spoiler Saturday behind the big arm and play of 6-3 senior outside Becca Kelley, 6-1 junior pin hitter Harley Krause and junior pin hitter Kayla Bullard. BRIDGELAND – The Bears have dropped just one set through the first two days. It came in a three-set victory over Canyon, 25-23, 22-25, 25-17, to close out pool play Friday. Bridgeland gets a crack at Prestonwood to open the quarterfinals. Plenty of offense flows through senior outside Olivia Waggoner, senior outside Kennedy Kays and senior pin Gracie Comeaux. Senior middle Molly McClure, sophomore middle Rebekah Pfefferkorn and junior right side Amelia Creacy will also get involved. *** UNDER THE RADAR PLAYERS We’ll have our featured Show Stoppers compiled after tournament play concludes highlighting the top players we saw over the three days here. A lot of them we followed closely and wrote a lot about in club, so we are familiar with them. That leads us to wanting to showcase some players you might not have heard or read about and that’s who we mention below. Skylar George, SR OH, Stratford – A 6-1 outside, George carries a nice arm. She’s a featured part of the offense and has to deliver a lot of points to keep Stratford

Personally, it’s been a historic start to the high school season. Two weeks ago I was in Hawaii covering the Ann Kang Invitational for the first time. Now, I’m in Austin covering the massive Volleypalooza for the first time. If you love watching and covering volleyball there’s no other places to be to begin the year. The opening day of Volleypalooza, hosted by Rouse, lived up to expectations and then some. Knowing the level of Texas volleyball, the bar is set high and the best thing is the action only heats up the next two days with a field featuring almost all the top teams in the state from 5 and 6A. Day 1 consisted of 17 pools of four, with the top two teams advancing and remaining in contention. The top half of Day 2 features 7 pools of 4 paired with 2 pools of three. The winners of the four-team pools each earn a spot in the eight-team gold bracket on Day 3, along with the crossover winner between the top teams in the three-team pools. Let’s take a quick look at some of the top headlines from Thursday, followed by team spotlights and under the radar players. — Most of the top seeds advanced but were hardly untouchable. Boswell – seeded No. 15 – was the lone top team in its pool not moving on however with upset losses to Westlake – which won the pool at 3-0 – and to Stratford. — Prosper – seeded No. 4 – and No. 5 The Woodlands both lost their final outings to finish 2-1 but will move on. Prosper was surprised by a scrappy Clear Springs group while Sachse swept past The Woodlands to win Pool 5. — Lake Travis – seeded No. 8 – went down to Cypress Ranch in the 1 v 2 contest, allowing Cypress Ranch to win the pool at 3-0 and place Lake Travis second at 2-1. — In Pool 11, the No. 2 team in Bishop Lynch topped the No. 1 team in Lovejoy to go 3-0. — Keller – seeded No. 13 – also went 2-1 after losing to Round Rock in the 1 v 2 clash. — Barbers Hill – the No. 2 team in Pool 16 – uprooted No. 16 O’Connor to grab first at 3-0. — Lastly, Pool 17 was the only one featuring a three-way tie. Friendswood, the No. 1 team, tied at 2-1 with the No. 2 team Cedar Park and the No. 3 team Southlake Carroll. Southlake Carroll ended in first thanks to the tiebreakers and joined Stratford as the only other No. 3 team to advance on Day 1. Friendswood wound up in second, which meant Cedar Park was third and eliminated. It started with Southlake Carroll downing Friendswood, which closed out the day by beating Cedar Park. In between, Cedar Park defeated Southlake Carroll. *** TEAM SPOTLIGHTS     Let’s shed some light on a few teams of note: CLEAR SPRINGS – We begin with the Chargers after they pulled off the biggest upset of the day in downing Prosper. The roster doesn’t have one player listed above 5-11, so this isn’t a group built on bullying opponents into submission. However, Clear Springs demonstrated sound chemistry and clearly cherish the underdog role. Ashley Richardson showed off her big arm pounding balls on the right. The other right side in lefty Carissa Young extends nicely and can get on top of the ball. Anzley Rinard was solid on the left while Abigail Fuller displayed her scrappiness at libero. CORNERSTONE CHRISTIAN – We’ll know plenty about the top seed here by the time the season is done. The Warriors are slated to also participate in both Nike TOC events – one in Tampa and one in Phoenix. The roster is loaded with high-level talent which includes 4-star recruit and outside Nayeli Gonzalez, 4-star recruit and setter Taylor Anderson, plus 5-star prospect in sophomore outside Megan Fitch. Alyssa Manitzas is a 4-star libero while recent Baylor commit Grace Carroll is a 4-star lefty right side. PRESTONWOOD CHRISTIAN – The Lions are the No. 2 seeds and the scary thing is the roster features just one senior – MB/RS Emma Kate Mullican. That means Prestonwood is going to be a national power next year, if it isn’t already. One of the highlights is the arrival of 5-star recruit and sophomore outside Macaria Spears. Spears played club this past season for Metro out of DC but made the move to Texas and transformed the look of the lineup. Also among the players to know is junior outside Jadyn Livings, a 6-2, 5-star recruit. Another premier pin hitter is Mikala Young, a 4-star recruit who is 6-0 and was hitting on the right side for the Lions. At setter, is recent Michigan commit Camille Edwards. Added to the that, the team gets the services of middle Kennedy Washington, a 4-star recruit who becomes eligible to play for the Lions beginning Friday. HIGHLAND PARK – The Scots are seeded No. 3 overall and coming off a victory at last weekend’s Northwest ISD tourney. Three seniors lead the way in outside Sydney Breon, middle Ceci Gooch and libero Zoe Winford. Breon is a 4-star recruit committed to UCLA. Gooch – who played on the right side for Drive Nation during club – is a 4-star recruit heading to Michigan. Winford – a 3-star recruit – is committed to Georgia Tech. There’s underclassmen talent on the roster as well. Alex Richter, a 6-2, 4-star OH/RS, is one of them. She’s joined by 4-star outside and fellow sophomore Bella Ocampo. There is also 6-2 right side Nicole Mauser, a 3-star recruit committed to Cal Baptist. Setters Harper Hall and Gracie Braner get to work with all those options. ROUSE – As the host, we highlight Rouse. The Raiders have some size to work with, especially in the middle with 6-3 junior Jadyn Wilgus and 6-1 junior Naara Tanco. Tabby Allen, a 6-1 senior, stands in

Faith Frame, shown above playing for Premier Nebraska, has verbally committed to Cincinnati. It’s been a little over two months since college coaches were officially allowed to contact players in the 2024 class. We currently have 29 5-star recruits from the age group, with 18 of them committing already. Below, we give a rundown of which schools are currently leading the recruiting race. Of course, the classes are bound to change as a few switch programs and others continue to announce their commitments so periodically we’ll be checking in to see how schools are matching up. NEBRASKA      Skyler Pierce OH Dynasty (5-star) Olivia Mauch L/DS Premier Neb (5-star) Ayden Ames MB Drive Nation (5-star) Note: It shouldn’t be surprising to anyone to see Nebraska at the top of the chart. The Cornhuskers came out of the gate hot, landing three 5-star recruits. Skyler Pierce is arguably the top-rated outside from the class. Nebraska also did well getting Ayden Ames from the state of Texas. She’s one of the top-rated middles who could play on the right side or even eventually move to the outside. Rounding it out is 5-star defender Olivia Mauch, an in-state get. There’s still another year to go but it’s already going to be hard-pressed for any program to move ahead of Nebraska. MICHIGAN      Camille Edwards S TAV (5-star) Ella Demetrician OH FC Elite (4-star) Ellie White S 1st Alliance (4-star) Jenna Hanes MB Wave (4-star) Lauren Evans OH Munciana (3-star) Note: How about the Wolverines? Michigan landed 5-star recruit and setter Camille Edwards most recently to add to what was already a strong class. The balance and depth is to be liked as well, with Michigan adding two setters, two outsides and a middle. MINNESOTA   Stella Swenson S MN Select (5-star) Olivia Swenson OH MN Select (4-star) Note: To nobody’s surprise the Gophers scooped up homegrown talent in the Swenson sisters, whose older sister Samantha starred at Minnesota as well. Both played up on MN Select this past club season helping the team earn a silver medal in 17 Open at Junior Nationals. Stella Swenson is arguably the top-rated setter in the class, so that’s a major score for Minnesota. Olivia Swenson is a big, physical outside who at the very least can provide good depth. KENTUCKY      Hannah Benjamin OH A5 (5-star) Asia Thigpen OH Triangle (4-star) Note: Given how important the position is, there’s nothing wrong loading up on outsides. That’s the case for Kentucky as they landed two earlier studs on the left. Hannah Benjamin showed this past club season she’s one of the best all-around outsides in the division and was highly sought after. That’s a feather in the Wildcats’ cap. Asia Thigpen could be a 5-star recruit by the time she’s headed to the school. She showed tremendous strides in upping the level of her play this past club season and will give Kentucky another big arm to utilize. FLORIDA         Jaela Auguste MB Hou Skyline (5-star) Taylor Parks S OTVA (4-star) Bella Lee L/DS OTVA Note: The Gators are one of 14 schools who have already received a commitment from at least one 5-star recruit. Theirs came from the 6-1 Jaela Auguste. The Texas stud highlights the class so far and will continue the athleticism for the Gators in the middle. Florida also gets a couple of local players, including 4-star recruit and setter Taylor Parks. Parks was solid for OTVA this past club season and seems destined to fit in well with the Gators. PENN STATE Izzy Starck S/RS Co Jrs (5-star) Ava Falduto L/DS New Wave (4-star) Note: Izzy Starck was one of the more sought after players in the class. She’s a versatile player who excels setting and hitting. She committed to Penn State, where her older sister Anjelina is currently playing. Given that, it seemed like Penn State was the favorite to get the younger Starck, much to the chagrin of other programs. Toss in 4-star defender Ava Falduto and the Nittany Lions have a Top 10 class so far. Can they keep it up? NOTRE DAME Morgan Gaerte OH Team Pineapple (5-star) Anna Bjork MB MKE Sting (4-star) Note: Notre Dame is one of five schools which has secured commitments from one 5-star and one 4-star recruit. That puts the Fighting Irish in the thick of the recruiting race as it currently stands. Morgan Gaerte is a 6-4 big time outside who would fit in well at any top level program. She’s a great commit to get for Notre Dame. Anna Bjork is a 6-3 middle with the size and ability to contribute mightily on the next level. CINCINNATI Faith Frame L/DS Premier Neb (5-star) Janelle Green S KC Power (4-star) Note: The Bearcats are a non-Power 5 program making a big splash in the recruiting process so far. Faith Frame is one of the top-rated defenders and will assuredly bring a defensive presence to the lineup. Janelle Green is a solid setter with great leadership skills. Seeing them commit together may lead to some more surprises down the road. WISCONSIN    Charlie Fuerbringer S/RS Long Beach (5-star) Note: We must say, given Charlie Fuerbringer’s ability on the sand, it was surprising to see her go out of state and commit to a school like Wisconsin. However, given her indoor ability, she was a sure thing to land at a top program like the Badgers offer. She’s one of the highest IQ players in the class and a dynamic setter. More players are surely to be added to the recruiting haul, but what a centerpiece to begin with. ARIZONA         Carlie Cisneros OH Dynasty (5-star) Note: No doubt the Wildcats made waves with this commit. Carlie Cisneros was a stud for Dynasty this past club season and one of the best performing outsides in her age group. She gives Arizona a big jolt by committing to the PAC 12 school. TENNESSEE     Camdyn Stucky S Shockwave (4-star) Paityn Chapman OH Co Jrs (4-star) Chelsea Sutton MB OTVA (4-star) Note: