One of the attractions about the Nike TOC Southeast tournament being held at the Wiregrass Ranch Sports Complex in Wesley Chapel just outside of Tampa is that even though the field features plenty of teams from the Sunshine State, it also draws its share of teams outside of Florida. Texas, California, Nevada, Nebraska, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Missouri and Virginia were all represented as the two-day event kicked off Friday with both AM and PM pools.
However, when it came to the National division – the top of the three that also includes Premier and Elite – the home state held firm and advanced six teams to Saturday’s quarterfinals and is guaranteed to have at least one school playing for the tournament championship. The exceptions were Cornerstone Christian TX and Bishop Gorman NV. The two squads actually play each other in the quarterfinals, meaning one will be eliminated from contention before the semis.
Cornerstone – the top seed which finished runner-up a season ago – finished second last month at the Ann Kang Invitational in Hawaii after falling to Mira Costa CA in the final. Cornerstone did not play in last week’s Volleypalooza event in Texas, where Mater Dei CA topped Prestonwood Christian TX in the final. Prestonwood, meanwhile, was scheduled to travel to the event here in Florida but canceled because of the hurricane impacting the area. Cornerstone held its seed by sweeping Berkeley Prep FL, Pace GA and Saint Andrews FL.
As for Bishop Gorman, the Nevada school arguably has its best team ever and opened as the No. 8 seed overall. Though Bishop Gorman made it through by going 3-0, it was a fight as Bishop Gorman defeated Mt. Paran Christian GA, St. Henry KY and Trinity Catholic FL each in three sets. Both Cornerstone and Bishop Gorman are scheduled to play at the Durango Fall Classic in Las Vegas later this month. Bishop Gorman is also set to travel to Southern California in early October for the Redondo Power Classic featuring Redondo Union CA and Mira Costa.
The quarterfinals could have featured another Texas school in Keller but Winter Park FL survived a three-set thriller Friday morning to go 3-0 and make it out of the pool instead.
Another team which impressed was Carrollwood Day FL, which also went 3-0 after sweeping past Skutt Catholic NE, Tampa Prep Fl and King’s Academy FL.
Both Venice FL and Viera FL were surprises in going 3-0 and reaching the quarterfinal as well. Venice swept Lake Brantley FL, Gainesville FL and Bishop Kenny. Viera, boosted by the addition of 5-star Penn State commit Izzy Starck to the roster, downed defending champion Westminster Christian FL, Sandy Creek GA and North Allegheny PA in straight sets.
Oviedo FL and Hagerty FL both advanced despite dropping matches. Oviedo finished tied with Plant FL at 2-1 but owned the head-to-head tiebreaker to move on. Hagerty finished in a three-way tie with Calvary Christian FL and Timber Creek FL at 2-1 and advanced based on having the best set percentage of the trio.
Here’s how the quarterfinals line up for Saturday:
- Cornerstone Christian v Bishop Gorman
- Oviedo v Winter Park
- Hagerty v Carrollwood Day
- Venice v Viera
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DAY 1 SHOW STOPPERS
Isabelle Bardin JR S/RS Flint Hill VA: A 3-star recruit, Bardin plays a vital role as a setter and hitter. She’s lanky and it allows her to make plays at the net attacking, blocking or playing tight balls while setting in the back row.
Ryla Jones SR MB Flint Hill VA: Jones – a 4-star Pitt commit – is a difference maker in the middle. At 6-3, she’s a presence on both sides of the ball with her hitting and blocking and is one of the team’s emotional leaders.
Talia Johnson SO OH Richmond Hill FL: Johnson is a 6-1 six-rotation outside with lots of upside. She’s a bit raw but is athletic and jumps well.
Carson Reeves SR MB Richmond Hill FL: At 6-3, Reeves brings height to the front row. She did well putting up a solid block and getting touches.
Olivia Guzman JR RS Lourdes Academy FL: A 4-star recruit, Guzman has shifted to the right side for high school after playing on the left during the club season. She has a lively arm and can bounce balls when given the chance.
Ella Garcia JR OH Lourdes Academy FL: Garcia is a six-rotation outside who carries a lot of responsibility. She’s an aggressive attacker who challenges bigger blocks.
Izabela Molina SR MB Doral Academy FL: Molina is a physical middle who puts up a wall of a block and can pound balls down with her powerful arm.
Connor Rahn SR OH Middleburg FL: A 3-star University of Tampa commit, Rahn provides a lot of offense in her role. She has a solid arm and is a smart attacker with a range of shots.
Camden Rahn SO RS Middleburg FL: A 3-star recruit, Rahn was holding down the right side and giving her team another scoring option that defenses needed to be mindful of.
Charlotte Glass JR S Saint Andrew’s FL: Glass – a 5-star Duke commit – brings a lot to the floor and does a great job quarterbacking her squad. She has a clean, consistent release and at 6-1 can also make a ton of plays at the net.
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Grace Agolli SR RS Pace Academy GA: A Cal commit, Agolli can also set like she does in club. However, she was a six-rotation right side who showed off her powerful swing and was connecting well in carrying the offense with her scoring ability.
Olivia Siskin SO S Pace Academy GA: A 3-star recruit, Siskin is a tall setter at 6-1. She’s a smooth disher with the ability to move the ball around well without sacrificing location.
Brooklyn Tealer SR OH Gainesville FL: Tealer – a 4-star USC commit – is a major weapon for Gainesville and the go-to hitter the team relies heavily on for offense. She has a lively arm and can let it fly.
Bella Schwantz JR OH Merritt Island FL: Schwantz is a versatile player. She was holding it down as a six-rotation outside and giving her team a boost on offense. It’s a change from the club season, when she is a setter.
Raegan Richardson SR S Jensen Beach FL: A Florida Gulf Coast commit, Richardson has nice hands and does well locating her sets consistently.
Victoria Santana SR OH The First Academy FL: Santana – a UNC-Charlotte commit as a defender – has a fast swing and brings it on the attack despite being a undersized. She also has sound ball control given her defensive play in club.
Emma Ortiz SR L Winter Park FL: A Syracuse commit, Ortiz was part of a 3-0 day as Winter Park advanced to the quarterfinals of the National Platinum division. She’s a solid defender who was passing on target consistently.
Fallon Stewart SR OH Winter Park FL: A 4-star Cincinnati commit, Stewart brings lots of punch to the offense with her big arm and ability to score both front and back row. She’s also tall enough to hit over blocks and was a difficult cover.
Isabel Incinelli FR MB Winter Park FL: Incinelli – a 3-star recruit – is one to watch out for. She’s 6-4 and hasn’t yet started adding power to her game. But she can still impact the match with her size and length on both sides of the ball and was providing nice production for her squad.
Haley Beigh JR RS Viera FL: Beigh is a bit undersized but she’s a fearless attacker who stays aggressive and comes with it on the attack. She was giving her team a reliable option on the right side.
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Izzy Starck SR S/RS Viera FL: Starck – a 5-star Penn State commit – fits right in with her new high school squad after moving from Colorado. There’s really nothing she can’t do on the court, from passing to setting, to hitting and defending, she’s the full package.
Gigi Artiles SO OH Westminster Christian FL: A 5-star recruit, Artiles has a massive arm and at 6-2 size to match. She’s a tough cover for anybody and nearly impossible to stop against smaller blockers as she easily goes right over them.
Ayanna Watson SO OH Bishop Gorman NV: Another 5-star recruit, the Class of 2026 was well represented with Watson starring for Bishop Gorman. At 6-4 and the ability to jump well, Watson screams next-level talent. She has a whippy arm and can tool blocks or simply go over them and hammer balls to the floor.
Leilia Toailoa SR OH Bishop Gorman NV: A 4-star Alabama commit, Toailoa combines with Watson to give Bishop Gorman a strong 1-2 punch on the outside. At 6-3, she has both the height and physicality to torment defenses with.
Amaria King JR OH Trinity Christian FL: King is a bit undersized, but the 3-star Marquette commit makes up for it with an explosive jump and arm swing to match. She can let loose and rip balls off blocks or around them and was providing a ton of offense for her side.
Summer Kohler JR RS Venice FL: Kohler proved to be a legit scoring option on the right side. Defenses had to key on her as Venice looks to get her the ball as much as possible when in system.
Asia Harvey JR OH Sandy Creek GA: Harvey – a 5-star recruit – is a high-flier with the ability to produce highlight kill after highlight kill.
Ariyanna Johnson JR RS Sandy Creek GA: At 6-1, Johnson brought size to the lineup and also showed she could score on the right side when called upon.
Megan Fitch JR OH Cornerstone Christian TX: A 5-star Texas AM commit, Fitch was a lethal force on the attack and was one of the more terminal hitters on the day. She can put balls away from sideline to sideline and is relentless to boot.
Amaya Tolentino JR RS Cornerstone Christian TX: Tolentino did a great job when set. She was coming through and providing timely kills and valuable offense on the right side.
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Mia Gold SO OH Pine Crest FL: A 4-star recruit, Gold is a six-rotation outside who Pine Crest relies heavily on to bring the majority of the punch to the attack. She can score in a variety of ways, from hard shots, to tools to well-placed off-speed shots.
Izzy Mogridge JR S Berkeley Prep FL: Mogridge – a 4-star Oregon commit – is a quick setter with nice hands. She does well guiding the attack and moving the ball around to keep defenses on their toes.
Lily Hayes JR L Berkeley Prep FL: A 3-star Florida commit, Hayes was one of the standout liberos with her ability to control the back row and own first touches.
Hannah Hankerson JR OH Berkeley Prep FL: Hankerson – a 3-star recruit – is a bit undersized but never backs down. She brings it on the attack, whether front or back row. She has a big arm and was providing her team with a reliable option.
Lydia Chinchar FR RS Carrollwood Day FL: A 4-star recruit, Chinchar played up two ages in club. That’s why she doesn’t look like a freshman on the court. She was the go-to hitter as a right side and was booming balls down.
Mattea Casale JR L Carrollwood Day FL: A recent Purdue commit, Casale – a 3-star recruit – was another libero who was playing solid defense and passing on-point out of serve receive.
Kinsley Timmons JR MB Lee County GA: Timmons, at 6-0, brought much-needed height to the lineup and did well when set. She has a nice arm and even made some digs when playing middle back when serving.
Maggie Dostic JR OH Plant FL: Dostic – a 3-star Tennessee commit – was starring in her role on the left. She was one of the main offensive pieces and was swinging well and putting away balls on the regular.
Stephanie Wallen SR S Ransom Everglades FL: Wallen was helping leading the charge in distributing the ball and giving her hitters good looks to take advantage of.
Addison Pollock JR L Ransom Everglades FL: Pollock – a 3-star recruit – was among the liberos who was showcasing their defensive prowess and knack for making plays to extend rallies and keep her side in the point.
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Julia Lewkowitz JR OH Ransom Everglades FL: Lewkowitz was the go-to hitter who was taking lots of swings and giving her team plenty of offense. She has a strong arm and hits with lots of power.
Tara Greenberry JR MB Incarnate Word MO: A 3-star Houston commit, Greenberry is another physical player who makes a big difference with her size. At 6-3, she puts up a strong block and can turn around and unload on balls.
Anna Flores SO S Keller TX: Flores – a 4-star recruit – did a great job dishing and guiding the attack in running a 5-1. She does well getting to the ball and not only locates consistently but can move the ball around too.
Jordin Southall SO OH Osceola FL: A 3-star recruit, Southall is a wirey attacker with springy legs. She has a loose arm and was unleashing impressive kills.
Cate Palmi SO OH Osceola FL: Palmi is another 3-star recruit who gives Osceola a reliable 1-2 tandem on the outside. She has a big arm and hits a heavy ball that can overwhelm defenders.
Mayte Camacho SR L Hagerty FL: A 3-star Georgia Southern commit, Camacho was providing a defensive edge to the lineup and making hustle plays to keep the ball in play.
Paisley Douglas SR L Skutt Catholic NE: A 4-star USC commit, Douglas was yet another standout defender who added a defensive identity to her team. She’s a smooth passer and plays under control.
Taylor Parks SR S Calvary Christian FL: Parks – a 5-star Florida commit – is an entertaining setter who is also the clear leader of her team. She has great hands and has a knack for going over on two and catching defenses off guard.
Erin Debiec SR S Bishop O’Connell VA: A 4-star Colorado State commit, the 6-1 Debiec was among the taller setters doing her thing. She plays a key role in her ability to run the offense as well as make defensive plays to contribute on that side of the ball as well.
Kelly Kinney JR OH The King’s Academy FL: Kinney – a 5-star Minnesota commit – was among the big arms in the gym. She’s always a threat no matter where she is on the court and she gets set all over to give defenses even more to worry about.
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Leilani Lawrence SO OH Tampa Prep FL: Lawrence – a 4-star recruit – can let loose when the opportunity presents itself. She can crush balls on either pin, going both cross court and down the line with equal effectiveness.
Dionna Mitchell SR OH Timber Creek FL: A 3-star Georgetown commit, Mitchell helped Timber Creek to a 2-1 showing but still finished third based on tiebreakers. She jumps very well and swings hard, which leads to big-time kills at times.
