In a 68-team field, it’s expected that the respective top seeds in their pools are going to get through the opening day. That was the case on Day 1 of Volleypalooza, save for one. Canyon TX, the No. 10 overall seed, caught a bad break and was eliminated Thursday as the tournament kicked off in the greater Austin area. After starting 2-0, Canyon was upended by Rockwall TX in the 1 v 2 contest. It created a three-way tie at 2-1 between Canyon, Rockwall and Vista Ridge TX. It was Vista Ridge upsetting Rockwall in the 2 v 3 match that helped create the drama. What made it even tougher on Canyon is that all three teams tied on set percentage, so each team’s points ratio was used to determine the final placing. Given that, Rockwall came out ahead, followed by Vista Ridge in second and then Canyon in third.
Canyon wasn’t the only top seed in its pool to lose, but the other ones who fell still managed to advance to Friday’s top pools. Prosper TX, the No. 7 overall seed, and Stratford TX, the No. 9 overall seed, both went down during Day 1 action. Prosper fell in three to Bridgland TX, the No. 3 team in the pool which finished 3-0. After losing to Clark TX in its opening match, Stratford found itself in a similar position as Canyon did ending in a three-way tie. Stratford was knotted at 2-1 with both Clark and Sachse TX, but still held onto first place with the best set percentage. Sachse took second, which meant despite its big upset Clark still finished in third place.
The biggest surprise of the day belonged to Walnut Grove TX, which as the No. 58 overall wrapped up first place by going 3-0. Walnut Grove upset No. 11 overall seed Southlake Carroll TX, as well as Seven Lakes TX and Leander TX. Southlake Carroll finished 2-1 to take second place.
Clear Springs TX, the No. 13 overall seed, No. 14 Cinco Ranch TX, No. 15 Highland Park TX and No. 17 SA Harlan TX all finished 2-1 as the top sees in their pool. All finished in second place. In each instance, the No. 2 team in each pool took first place in Keller TX, Liberty Hill TX, Austin TX and Cypress Ranch TX.
A few of the highest seeds which finished 3-0 lost one set each in No. 2 Cathedral Catholic CA, No. 4 Grand Oaks TX and No. 6 Lake Travis TX. Top-seeded Prestonwood Christian TX, No. 3 Mater Dei CA, No. 5 Dripping Springs TX and No. 12 Rouse TX all went undefeated in sets on Day 1.
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TEAM SPOTLIGHT
Mater Dei and Rouse squared off Wednesday night ahead of the tournament action. Mater Dei came back to beat Rouse in four, 18-25, 25-23, 29-27, 25-15. Let’s take a closer look at the two sides in our Team Spotlight.
MATER DEI CA: The Monarchs attended Volleypalooza in 2021 and headed back to California as the tournament champions. That year, Mater Dei also played a match on Wednesday, losing a nail-biter five-setter to Bryon Nelson TX. Mater Dei came out ahead this go around playing against Volleypalooza host Rouse. The Monarchs boast a strong lineup that includes 4-star senior outside Isabel Clark (San Diego) and 4-star senior right side Cymarah Gordon (Michigan). Another standout is 5-star sophomore outside Layli Ostovar. The team runs a 6-2 attack, with junior setter Ayva Ostovar and 3-star senior Julia Kakkis, who also hits across the front. The middle is patrolled by a pair of underclassmen in 3-star sophomore Addison Coady and 6-4, 3-star freshman Emma Kingston. Taking care of the libero position is recent 3-star Stanford commit Malyssa Cawa.
ROUSE TX: Led by 4-star senior setter Savannah Skopal (Rice), Rouse gave Mater Dei a real scare. Skopal was fantastic in directing the attack and leading the charge. Mater Dei had a tough time slowing senior right side Naara Tanco, who was torching her opponent from both the front and back row. Also shining was 3-star Arizona State commit Jadyn Wilgus in the middle. Junior outside Jade Key had her moments as well, sending down spectacular kills. Freshman outside Avery Ralston also played a key role in delivering timely kills. Defensively, 3-star junior libero Mary Schirpik was holding it down and making lots of nice plays.
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DAY 1 SHOW STOPPERS
DyBorrah Johnson JR MB Casteel AZ: Though Casteel went 1-2 on the day, Johnson was a force in the middle. She changed the dynamic of the lineup when she checked in, bringing her athleticism and big-time scoring ability to the court and boosting the attack.
Kennedy Thompson JR S Casteel AZ: At 6-0, Thompson was a front row setter who did well dishing. She showed consistent location when delivering.
Fara Bronson FR S Casteel AZ: Bronson – a 3-star recruit – set across the back row and showed the type of skills that helped Arizona Storm 14 Thunder to the 14 Open silver medal in Chicago. She moves well and does a nice job setting against the flow.
Katelyn Bowman JR MB Allen TX: Bowman was in beast mode, especially when running the slide attack. She can really rip it and was scoring plenty for her squad.
Alyssa Boyte SR MB Allen TX: Boyte had arguably the best stretch of any player I saw on the opening day. She was scoring effectively across the front row and then had nearly a 10-point service run in which she was playing middle back and making several digs to keep the run going.
Jacy Carrejo JR S Leander TX: Carrejo – a 3-star recruit – commands the offense and is the court leader for Leander. She’s long and does a great job locating as well as playing defense and keeping plays alive.
Macy Cepeda SO RS Leander TX: Cepeda, a lefty, was contributing to the offense when called upon. She showed a nice arm and ability to tool blocks.
Sameena Burns SR RS Seven Lakes TX: Burns – a 6-2 Sam Houston commit – makes a huge impact for Seven Lakes. She’s a six-rotation right side who can pass at times and takes big swings across the front row.
Temi Sam-Olibale SR OH Seven Lakes TX: Sam-Olibale is an undersized outside who is fearless on the attack. She plays a key role in the offense and she keeps coming at bigger blockers.
Kacey Kazmierski SR S Lake Travis TX: Kazmierski – a 6-1 North Florida commit – was another standout setter who did a great job running the offense. She sets a consistently clean ball and did well mixing her sets up too.
Avery Hamlin SR RS Lake Travis TX: A Duke commit, Hamlin is a gamer who plays with lots of fire. She played six rotations and was a threat both front and back row in showing off a strong arm.
Carrington Jaimes SR MB Lake Travis TX: A St. Edwards commit, Jaimes was a valuable asset in the middle with the way she was scoring. She has a quick arm swing and can put the ball down consistently.
Emmalee Jett SR L Churchill TX: Jett was balling out in the back row. She was making plays all over, laying out, covering and doing whatever she could to extend rallies and keep her team in the point.
Morgan Manwaring SO RS Churchill TX: At 6-1, Manwaring brings both a big block and power arm to the front row. She was doing well scoring when set and helping to slow down the opposition when blocking.
Peyton Fadal SR S Barbers Hill TX: Fadal – a 3-star Houston Christian commit – was dishing well and connecting with her hitters. She’s a scrappy setter who plays with lots of confidence.
Chloe Morgan SR MB Barbers Hill TX: Morgan – a Loyola-Chicago commit – can bring it in the middle. She has a solid arm and takes big rips, which leads to impressive kills.
Kansas Lamar SO MB Lake Creek TX: Lamar has plenty of upside. She’s a long middle at 6-1. Lake Creek was struggling passing and not getting her the ball a lot, but she has a nice arm and is someone to keep tabs on.
Morgan Houston SR MB Round Rock TX: Houston was among the noticeable middles because she was playing six rotations, including passing out of serve receive. She’s a heady scorer and delivered her share of points for Round Rock.
Riley Clinton SR S/RS Round Rock TX: Clinton was a two-way contributor, setting and hitting. She did well distributing the ball as well as taking smart swings.
Eleanor Thiel SR L Round Rock TX: Thiel was playing well in her role. She was passing soundly out of serve receive and doing a nice job picking of shots coming her way.
Sydney Lund SO S/RS Dripping Springs TX: A 4-star recruit, Lund is a lanky setter/right side who can run a 5-1 or hit as part of a 6-2. She did well dishing the rock and setting up her hitters for success.
Henley Anderson SO OH Dripping Springs TX: A 6-3, 5-star recruit, Anderson is a difference-maker type of player. She’s long, hits high and hard and is the go-to on the left side. She’s a legit threat front and back row and can score with the best of them.
Riley Certain JR OH Dripping Springs TX: A 3-star recruit, Certain fills out a strong 1-2 punch on the outside for Dripping Springs. She has a fluid swing and can score in many ways, from going around blocks or tooling them.
Maddie Smotherman JR L/DS Bishop Lynch TX: Smotherman – a 3-star recruit – was part of a solid defensive makeup that helped Bishop Lynch advance as the No. 3 team in its pool. She was covering and passing well.
Delaney Moon SR L/DS Bishop Lynch TX: Moon, a Fairfield commit, also was helping with the defensive responsibilities. She was making nice hustle plays and doing a fine job keeping her team in points.
Cate Hatfield SR S/RS Bishop Lynch TX: Hatfield is an undersized setter/right side but plays with poise and stays under control. She brought lots of value to the lineup in her dual role.
Halle Thompson SO OH Grand Oaks TX: Thompson is one of three 5-star recruits for Grand Oaks. She could be viewed as the top prospect in her class and without question among the top few with her athletic ability and the way she soars in the air for attacks. She’s long with great extension and crushes balls.
Samara Coleman JR OH Grand Oaks TX: Coleman – a 5-star Pitt commit – is a physical attacker with a powerful arm. She’s also smart and knows when to hold back versus going for it.
Jaela Auguste SR MB Grand Oaks TX: A 5-star Florida commit, Auguste is flat-out filthy with what she brings to the front row. She gets up and hits ridiculous angles as well as possessing a very quick arm.
Caelyn Emmerling SR RS Grand Oaks TX: A 3-star Texas State commit, Emmerling helps fill out a front row at times that is hard for any opponent to match. She takes strong swings on the right side and is yet another weapon Grand Oaks can utilize when it needs a point.
