We are in the midst of the big-time national high school tournaments. Volleypalooza started things off last week in the greater Austin area. Up next, is the Nike TOC Southeast tournament in Tampa. Still on the schedule is the Louisville Invitational Volleyball Tournament next weekend, as well as the Durango Fall Classic in Las Vegas (Sept. 22-23) and the Nike TOC Southwest in Phoenix (Sept. 29-30).
The Nike TOC Southeast event is entering its fourth season, with last year being the first time it was played in one venue – at the Wiregrass Ranch Sports Complex. The two-day event returns to the facility this year and is broken down into three divisions (National, Premier and Elite) representing 80 teams. Below, we highlight the nationally-ranked teams participating, the top athletes to watch for as well as our outlook and predictions.
Number of Teams: 80
- National – 32
- Premier – 32
- Elite – 32
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vballrecruiter.com’s Nationally-Ranked Teams (5):
- 8. Cornerstone Christian TX
- 29. Westminster Christian FL
- 31. Bishop Gorman NV
- 36. Keller TX
- 41. Flint Hill VA
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5-Star Athletes To Know
- Izzy Starck SR S/RS Viera FL (Penn State)
- Taylor Parks SR S Calvary Christian FL (Florida)
- Camille Edwards SR S Prestonwood Christian TX (Michigan)
- Jadyn Livings SR OH/RS Prestonwood Christian TX (USC)
- Cari Spears JR OH Prestonwood Christian TX
- Gillian Pitts JR L Prestonwood Christian TX (Houston)
- Megan Fitch JR OH Cornerstone Christian TX (Texas AM)
- Charlotte Glass JR S Saint Andrew’s FL (Duke)
- Asia Harvey JR OH Sandy Creek GA
- Amina N’diaye JR OH Lake Brantley FL
- Ayanna Watson SO OH Bishop Gorman NV
- Gigi Artiles SO OH Westminster Christian FL
- Kelly Kinney JR OH The King’s Academy FL
- Brooklyn Sippio FR MB Osceola FL
- Naomi Livings FR OH Prestonwood Christian TX
- Nyla Livings FR MB Prestonwood Christian TX
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4-Star Athletes To Know
- Grace Carroll SR RS Cornerstone Christian TX (Baylor)
- Kennedy Washington SR MB Prestonwood Christian TX
- Mikala Young SR OH Prestonwood Christian TX (TCU)
- Ryla Jones SR MB Flint Hill VA (Pitt)
- Brooklyn Tealer SR OH Gainesville FL (USC)
- Leilia Toailoa SR OH Bishop Gorman NV (Alabama)
- Erin Debiec SR S Bishop O’Connell VA (Colorado State)
- Anna Boatner SR MB Keller TX (UCSB)
- Samantha Bowron SR OH Lake Brantley FL (Georgia Southern)
- Juleigh Urbina SR S McKeel Academy FL (Georgetown)
- Paisley Douglas SR L Skutt Catholic NE (USC)
- Elizabeth Tabeling SR L St. Henry KY (Ball State)
- Fallon Stewart SR OH Winter Park FL (Cincinnati)
- Zoey Matias JR L Westminster Christian FL (Missouri)
- Izzy Mogridge JR S Berkeley Prep FL (Oregon)
- Olivia Guzman JR OH Lourdes Academy FL
- Taylor Cook JR S Prestonwood Christian TX (Kansas)
- Taylor Clarke JR RS Prestonwood Christian TX
- Leilani Lawrence SO OH Tampa Prep FL
- Anna Flores SO S/RS Keller TX
- Mia Gold SO OH Pine Crest FL
- Lydia Chinchar FR OH/RS Carrollwood Day FL
- Mia Diouf FR RS Olympia FL
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OUTLOOK: We are mostly focused on the National division, given it features the top teams in the field. Prestonwood Christian TX is heading east a week after taking second in finishing runner-up to Mater Dei CA at Volleypalooza. Prestonwood opens as the No. 2 seed behind top-seeded Cornerstone Christian TX. Cornerstone finished in second place at last year’s Nike TOC Southeast and also took second place earlier this month in finishing runner-up to Mira Costa CA at the Ann Kang Invitational in Honolulu. It’s a true national tournament in the sense of the states being represented. Flint Hill VA went 36-0 last season and is taking the next step in traveling and participating in a tournament of this caliber. There is also a team from California in Clovis, as well as Skutt Catholic from Nebraska and Bishop Gorman of Nevada. Other teams traveling from out of state of note are Pace GA, Dorman SC, St. Henry KY and North Allegheny PA. One thing about the Texas schools traveling – Keller is another joining Prestonwood and Cornerstone – and schools from Georgia is they have played many more matches than anyone else and could have a leg up because of it. The field also features defending champion Westminster Christian FL.
Update: Prestonwood Christian is no longer attending the Nike TOC due to the hurricane in the area. This is developing and needless to say will have implications. Stay tuned.
PREDICTION: On paper, the tournament is set up to come down to the top two seeds in Cornerstone and Prestonwood. The question is will it hold up that way or will upsets spoil the all-Texas final? The expectation is that both schools will make it to the final and have a pseudo-rematch of last year’s Volleypalooza final. The call is Prestonwood beating Cornerstone in three sets to capture the tournament title.
Revision: With Prestonwood no longer attending the event, are original prediction is no longer valid. Therefore, we are revising the pick for Cornerstone to beat Westminster Christian in a rematch of last year’s final.
