The Northwest ISD Classic was definitely entertaining to say the least as Day 2 action rolled on! I hustled between Byron Nelson High School and Eaton High School to watch the four gold pools. Byron Nelson, Argyle and Grand Oaks all went 3-0 in their respective pools. In the other pool, a three-way tie occurred, with Wakeland finishing first in the pool followed by El Paso Coronado in second and Colleyville Heritage in third. The clash between Grand Oaks and Lovejoy was an absolute blast to watch, although ultimately Grand Oaks ended up winning the match. Saturday’s semifinals are set with Grand Oaks playing Byron Nelson and Argyle going against Wakeland.
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TEAM SPOTLIGHT
In the last 7 days I have been able to watch El Paso Coronado over four days AND let me tell you THEY ARE THE DEFINITION OF A SCRAPPY TEAM. Teams would be wise to play this team hard all the time. Seniors Alina Strickler, Nadia Peña, Gessell Martinez, Rhian Gee, Ashlee Macias and Alexa Lawrence lead their squad. Strickler and Peña offensively pack a punch on the pins. Juniors Danielle Gutierrez and Elle Rios are also huge contributors. They might not be in the gold bracket Saturday morning, but they will be facing off against SL Carroll in the silver bracket.
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DAY 2 SHOW STOPPERS
Reese Renfrow, SR OH, Prosper- Renfrow, a 3-star recruit committed to Lewis, is a undersized outside hitter who swings and tools blocks with the best of them.
Jayla Jackson, SO RS, Prosper- Jackson, a 3-star recruit, was really effective on the right side offensively. She also reads well defensively at the net.
Caroline Tredwell, SR MB, Flower Mound- Tredwell, a 3-star recruit committed to UTSA, makes her presence known on both sides of the ball. She takes up space and is a physical hitter and blocker.
Audrey Jackson, JR OH Flower Mound- a 4-star recruit committed to Texas Beach, brings the heat on the pins.
Ashlyn Seay, SO OH, Byron Nelson- Seay, a 3-star recruit, hits with good pace, swings well and was exploiting the holes in the block regularly.
Emily Housknecht, JR L, Byron Nelson- Housknecht is quick and covers ground chasing down balls and extending rallies.
Nadia Peña, S/RS, El Paso Coronado- Peña, a Texas A&M-Kingsville commit, is a lefty who can wail on the ball in the front row and has a soft touch setting in the back row.
Sophia Armstrong, SR L, Rockwall- Armstrong, a 3-star recruit committed to Louisiana, controls the back row with lots of range and presence in both serve receive and defense.
Kristin Smith, SR S, Frisco Reedy- Smith moves well and has a nice touch. She puts up a clean ball.
Tionna Owens, SR MB, Waxahachie- Owens has nice size and is a disrupter in the middle. She does well getting touches and blocks.
Taryn Barnes, SR OH, SL Carroll- Barnes, a 3-star recruit committed to Angelo State, was staying aggressive and challenging blockers with strong swings.
Abbey Pace, SR L, SL Carroll- Pace is a scrapper in the back court. She has a no fear attitude on defense.
Kayla Clark, SR RS, Arlington Lamar- Clark is a huge part of the Lamar offense with the way she can get up and deliver.
Lainee Pyles, SR OH, Fossil Ridge- Pyles, a 4-star recruit committed to LSU, is a high-flying, hard-hitting outside who shoulders a large load of the offense.
Jordyn Moore, JR S/RS, Argyle- Moore, a 3-star recruit, is a physical hitter on the right who helps spread out the attack being the threat she is and has a great touch on the ball setting her hitters.
Katherine Holtman, SR MB, Argyle- Holtman, a 3-star recruit committed to SFA, had a strong showing in the middle. She blocks well and has a nice arm to torment defenses with.
Maris Boop, JR MB, Weatherford- Boop has a knack defensively at the net. She tracks the ball and moves laterally incredibly well.
Ella Lewis, JR OH, The Woodlands- Lewis, a 3-star recruit, is a reliable scorer who was finding gaps in the seams and open spots on the court with her smart shot selection.
Payton Stroud, JR S/RS, The Woodlands- Stroud has her share of responsibility setting and hitting. She has a great touch on the ball when she dishes her hitters.
Brooklyn Bailey, JR MB/RS, Highland Park-Bailey, a 3-star recruit, is lanky and has a fluid swing and can generate pace to help spread out the attack, especially on the slide.
Aaliyah Smith, JR OH Ridge Point- Smith, a 4-star recruit committed to Rice, swings front and back row and did well in helping carrying her share of the offense.
Haley Kerstetter, JR MB, Hebron- Kerstetter was effective on the attack when set. She has a solid arm and has nice range with her shots.
Estella Homoya, JR S, Vandegrift- Homoya, a 5-1 setter, moves well, has a soft touch and locates well to all spots.
Mira Klem, SR RS, Coppell- Klem is long and lanky. She gets up well and takes aggressive swings wherever she is.
Kiley Brooks, SO L, Northwest- Brooks controls the back row. She’s spot on with her passing and gets after it defensively.
Madison Scrivner, SR S, Northwest- Scrivner, a 3-star recruit committed to North Texas, moves well and has a nice touch. She puts up a clean ball consistently.
Levariya Pinder, SO OH, Northwest- Pinder, a 4-star recruit, is a six-rotation outside who’s strong in serve receive and defense, Pereira is a bit undersized but a gamer on the attack.
Sarah Pfiffner, JR S/RS, Wakeland- Pfiffner, a 4-star recruit, does well getting her various hitters involved and keeping defenses honest by using her middles when she can.
Jessica Jones, SR MB, Wakeland- a 3-star recruit committed to LSU, is an impactful middle with both her swinging and blocking.
Suli Davis, JR S/RS, Colleyville Heritage- Davis, a 5-star recruit, is a smooth operator in any position she is in. She plays under total control and doesn’t get rattled at all.
Bethanie Wu, SR S, Lovejoy- Wu, a 4-star recruit committed to Yale, showed nice command running her offense. She has a soft, smooth deliver and was consistently on target with her location.
Sadiejane Hand, JR MB, Lovejoy- a 3-star recruit, is an impactful middle with both her swinging and blocking
Caelyn Emmerling, SR OH/RS, Grand Oaks- Emmerling, a 3-star recruit committed to Texas State, is playing mainly on the right side for her high school squad.
Freshman Standouts
Kamryn Mullican, S/RS Hebron
Lila Hickerson, MB Guyer
Brooke Felix, OH Coppell
Kaelee Berkley, OH Aledo
Claire Bundy, S Colleyville Heritage
