One thing is for certain. When it comes to a 64-team field of the caliber we see at a tournament like the Durango Fall Classic in Las Vegas there are going to be top players everywhere doing their thing and leaving their mark. That’s exactly what we witnessed during our two days in the desert. Below, we highlight our tournament Show Stoppers featuring the best of the best we saw in action. We also included more standout players as well who were also really good and noteworthy with their play.
SHOW STOPPERS
Claire Little SR OH Vista Murrieta CA – The Broncos were the only non-No. 1 team from the Day 1 pools to make the Top 16 and Little had lots to do with her team’s success. She’s a big-time attacker who can score front and back row and always gives her team hope of winning.
Nikki Quinn SR S Torrey Pines CA – Quinn – a 3-star recruit committed to Duke – is quick and does well getting to the ball and delivering clean balls to her hitters.
Finley Krystkowiak FR OH Torrey Pines CA – One of the stud freshmen in the field, this 5-star recruit flashed her remarkable potential. At 6-3, Krystkowiak is able to go over blocks and bounce balls down on the regular.
Katerina Lutz SR L Torrey Pines CA – Lutz – a 3-star recruit committed to UCLA – is a scrappy backrow defender. She’s a consistent passer out of serve receive and her hustle extends rallies for the Falcons.
Mia Lee SR RS Mountain View UT – A 4-star recruit committed to BYU, Lee is an incredible athlete with a monster leap. Add in her big arm and she’s a massive offensive force who can take over matches.
Mele Corral-Blagojevich SR OH Redondo Union CA – When Redondo is in trouble or needs a point it’s often Corral-Blagojevich who they turn to. The 4-star recruit committed to Oklahoma has a big arm and can also make her mark from the service line with her powerful jump serve.
Kennedy Phelan SR S Fayetteville AR – A 5-star recruit headed to Florida State, Phelan was as fun as anyone to watch do her thing. She’s a remarkable setter who can basically make any set from anywhere. Her jump serve is also a weapon as she can go on runs a reel of points in a hurry.
Brooke Rockwell SR OH Fayetteville AR – A Stanford beach commit, Rockwell is the arm that makes the Bulldogs’ offense sparkle. She has a whippy arm and can fire one down in impressive fashion or she can go off speed and catch defenses slipping.
Meredith Brown SR MB Mercy KY – Brown brings stability to the front row. She’s both a sound blocker and scoring threat who can impact a rally both ways.
Lauren Lynch SO L Sierra Canyon CA – There was plenty of defense being played and Lynch was a big-time factor for the Trailblazers. She’s not challenged much in serve receive because of her passing precision. She’s also a terrific defender who keeps her team in rallies.
Olivia Babcock SR RS Sierra Canyon CA – Babcock – a 5-star recruit headed to Pitt – delivers as many wow moments as anyone else in the field. When she gets a hold of one, watch out. She blasts it down with authority and causes a buzz throughout the gym.
Danica Rach JR OH Sierra Canyon CA – A 3-star recruit committed to Boston College, Rach is a six-rotation mainstay. She’s a solid scorer with a nice arm who helps keep the offense powering along.
Maya Evens SO L Cathedral Catholic CA – Evens is a sophomore who plays like a senior. She’s unflappable in the back row and is as steady and consistent as anyone in the field. She rarely misses a play or is off with her passing.
Jenna Hanes JR MB Cathedral Catholic CA – A 6-3, 4-star recruit committed to Michigan, Hanes bolsters what the Dons do on both sides of the ball. When in system, Cathedral will look to get her the ball as she can finish off points adeptly. She’s also a strong blocker who can help slow down opposing attackers.
Julia Blyashov SR OH Cathedral Catholic CA – The 5-star Stanford recruit is so difficult to lock up. Her length is a major asset and with her ability to extend and hit so high defenses don’t have much hope of blocking her and must try and dig her shots that come with plenty of pace.
Amanda Saeger JR S Cathedral Catholic CA – With the weapons around her, any setter in the gym would envy Saeger – a 4-star recruit committed to DePaul – and what she has to work with. She does well incorporating all her hitters and not just relying on the big arm of Blyashov to do it all.
Melie Vaioleti SR L Punahou HI – Vaioleti epitomizes what Punahou is about with its defensive scrap and intensity. It’s hard to put balls down cleanly against Punahou, with Vaioleti picking off shots left and right and forcing opponents to take five and six swings in hopes of winning the rally.
Haumea Marumoto JR OH Punahou HI – Marumoto is an unheralded player who does a lot for Punahou. She has a very high IQ that shows in the way she scores in so many different ways.
Torrey Stafford SR OH Marymount CA – A 5-star recruit on her way to Pitt, Stafford is must-watch entertainment with the way she gets off the ground and crushes ball. When she has it going she’s nearly unstoppable and is a unrelenting menace for defenses to deal with.
Dior Charles SR MB Marymount CA – Few players in the field could impact a match with their blocking prowess like Charles. A 3-star recruit committed to Wake Forest, Charles is also the Sailors’ biggest scoring threat out of the middle as well and her play is part of the reason Marymount finished in second place.
Fatimah Hall SR S Lakewood CA – Hall – a 3-star recruit headed to San Diego State – is an athletic setter who can turn a bad pass into an unbelievable set. She does well keeping the Lakewood offense ticking along with her ability to move the ball around and keep defenses guessing.
Samarah DaCoud SR OH Lakewood CA – A 3-star recruit headed to New Mexico, DaCoud is one of the main weapons the Lancers utilize. She’s a quick jumper with a good arm who can bury balls down.
Alex Bower JR S Skyview ID – A 5-star recruit committed to BYU, Bower was one of the top setters in the field. She’s silky smooth and can make all the sets. She does well keeping Skyview in system even if the pass is off some.
Bellamie Beus FR OH Skyview ID – Beus had to step up and carry a big load offensively with junior outside Alex Acevedo unable to hit this weekend. The freshman was up to the challenge and showed that her future is bright with her scoring ability on full display.
Maya Imoto-Eakin SR S ‘Iolani HI – Imoto-Eakin doesn’t miss with her location very often. She has a nice touch and puts up a consistently hittable ball.
Brooke Naniseni SR OH ‘Iolani HI – The Raiders rely a lot on their outside duo, with Naniseni part of that. She’s a strong attacker who does well attacking what the defense gives her.
Senna Roberts-Navarro SR OH ‘Iolani HI – An outside with a big arm, Roberts-Navarro can punish defenses when the set is lined up and she wants to bring the thunder.
Whitney Woodrow SR S Assumption KY – Woodrow brings senior leadership to a younger lineup. When the passing is on, she’s more than capable of spreading out the attack and getting all of her hitters involved.
Kristen Simon SO L Assumption KY – Simon is a rising talent who plays with the poise of an upperclassman. She’s nails as a passer and defender and is rarely a serving target.
Charlotte Moriarty JR OH Assumption KY – Moriarty does a lot for the Rockets. She’s a six-rotation stalwart who takes the out-of-system swings and carries a lot of responsibility to be the main scoring threat. She also has a strong serve that can generate points for Assumption as well.
Isabel Clark JR OH Mater Dei CA – A 4-star recruit and recent San Diego commit, Clark has a big arm and can put down impressive kills with it. She’s not someone defenses want to see coming at them when in system because she’ll unleash with a fury.
Babi Gubbins JR OH Mater Dei CA – A 5-star recruit, Gubbins is one half a strong outside duo that always gives the Monarchs a terminal hitter in the front row. She has good extension and can go over blocks at times.
Layli Ostovar FR RS Mater Dei CA – One of the freshmen standouts in the field, Ostovar has a lively arm and showcased a knack for scoring when given the chance. She helps keep the attack balanced when in system with her scoring prowess.
Taliah Lee SR OH Timpview UT – Lee’s physicality brings power to the attack. She’s a strong hitter with a heavy ball and carries a big offensive load.
Ava Napierski JR MB Timpview UT – Napierski is a real threat out of the middle and defenses cannot afford to lose track of her. She gives the Thunderbirds a scoring punch and she hits at a high percentage too.
Tiana Mariner SO L Timpview UT – A 3-star recruit, Mariner covers a lot of ground and does well chasing down errant balls. She’s consistent out of serve receive and does well keeping Timpview in system.
Audrey Liddle SR OH Archbishop Mitty CA – A six-rotation outside, Liddle is a steadying and calming presence. She’s a reliable and capable scorer who can deliver big kills at times to fire up her teammates.
Elena Fisher SO OH Branson CA – A strong beach player, you can see this 3-star recruit’s sand skills in action. She’s a steady passer and heady attacker who is good at finding open spaces to attack.
Logan Tusher JR S Branson CA – Tusher has great command of the offense and this 3-star recruit delivers a clean ball. She consistently gives her hitters good opportunities to score.
Jaidyn Jager SO OH La Costa Canyon CA – Jager – a 5-star recruit – is a smart attacker who sees the floor well. She has a good sense as when to unload or go off speed and catch the defense off guard.
London Wijay JR OH Bishop Alemany CA – A 4-star recruit committed to Texas AM, Wijay is the go-to outside force for the Warriors. She’s springy with a lively arm and that combo makes her very difficult to contain.
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MORE STANDOUT PLAYERS
Jade Epps JR OH Lakewood CA
Zaria Thornton JR MB Lakewood CA
Nyla Hankins JR MB Lakewood CA
Lilliana Montes JR RS Vista Murrieta CA
Milliani Villarreal JR L Vista Murrieta CA
Grace Flanagan SR MB Torrey Pines CA
Abby Zimmerman FR RS Redondo Union CA
Victoria Henkel JR OH Redondo Union CA
Gianna Tagoai SR S Redondo Union CA
Ella Zimmerman JR MB Redondo Union CA
Regan Harp JR MB Fayetteville AR
Madeline Lafata SR RS Fayetteville AR
Ashley Ruff SR L Fayetteville AR
Sade Ilawole JR S Sierra Canyon CA
Madeline Way JR MB Sierra Canyon CA
Jaida Sione SR OH Sierra Canyon CA
Ava Hewitt-Smith SR MB Sierra Canyon CA
Bianca Richardson JR OH Faith Lutheran NV
Lauren Ingram SR OH Hockaday School TX
Olivia Wayne SO MB Hockaday School TX
Milan Bayless SR OH Cathedral Catholic CA
Cate Schnell SR OH Cathedral Catholic CA
Mia Compass SR MB Cathedral Catholic CA
Koen Makaual SR MB Punahou HI
Lauren Brooker SR S Marymount CA
Kate Martin JR OH Marymount CA
Tessa Onaga SR L ‘Iolani HI
Mari Lawton SR MB ‘Iolani HI
Gabrielle Gerry SR MB Assumption KY
Bailey Blair SO MB Assumption KY
Alexis Strong SR RS Assumption KY
Cymarah Gordon JR RS Mater Dei CA
Malyssa Cawa JR L Mater Dei CA
Liv Hertzog SR MB Mater Dei CA
Joa Roberts JR MB Timpview UT
Silina Damuni SR S Timpview UT
Katelyn Cook JR OH Archbishop Mitty CA
Demi Harris SR L Archbishop Mitty CA
