Mater Dei CA was not flawless on the last day of Volleypalooza, but the Monarchs played their best match of the tournament in defeating Prestonwood Christian TX in the championship match Saturday afternoon at Rouse. It capped three days of pure excitement and left us wishing there was more to come. However, that’s not the case. But we do have our top standouts from Day 3 featured below in our daily Show Stoppers.
DAY 3 SHOW STOPPERS
Alice Volpe SR L Bridgeland TX: Volpe – a 4-star TCU commit – is an under control libero who doesn’t get rattled or fazed. Teams were reluctant to challenge her in serve receive and her first touches on shots around her were often well played.
Amelia Creacy SR RS Bridgeland TX: A 3-star Angelo State commit, Creacy brings an offensive presence to the front row. Bridgeland likes to get her the ball as often as they can and she has a solid arm to score with.
Beka Pfefferkorn JR MB Bridgeland TX: Pfefferkorn – a 4-star recruit – brings some much-needed height to the lineup when she checks in. She moves well and can make plays on both sides of the ball.
Maya Evens JR L Cathedral Catholic CA: Evens is a 4-star recruit who recently committed to Maryland. She does it all above average, from passing out of serve receive, to covering and defending, she’s a big part of Cathedral’s defensive identity.
Jenna Hanes SR MB Cathedral Catholic CA: A 4-star Michigan commit, Hanes provides instant offense. She completely changes the attack when she comes in. Cathedral feeds her the ball as often as possible and even when opponents know what’s coming they still struggle to slow her down.
Tiana Owens SR RS Cathedral Catholic CA: Owens played well in her role on the right side. She provided consistent scoring when called upon and came through with timely kills as well.
Taylor Porter JR OH Cypress Ranch TX: Porter – a 4-star Vanderbilt commit – has a quick arm and is the go-to hitter for Cypress Ranch. She shoulders a large load as a result and keeps coming with it.
Zora Bello SO S/RS Cypress Ranch TX: A 3-star recruit, Bello did well in her role setting and hitting. She does a nice job locating her sets and when it comes to swinging she has a solid arm that helped produce points.
Taryn Gilreath SR S/RS Cypress Ranch TX: Gilreatch – a 3-star East Carolina commit – was running a 5-1 on Day 1 and showed her versatility on Day 3 by running a 6-2 and hitting across the front. She represented herself well in both roles.
Henley Anderson SO OH Dripping Springs TX: A 5-star recruit, Anderson is long at 6-3 and a force to be reckoned with because of it. She has a big arm and can hit at high angles the way she extends. It causes major problems for defenders to try and stop her.
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Sydney Lund SO S/RS Dripping Springs TX: Lund – a 4-star recruit – does a lot for her team in her two-way role setting and swinging. She has the length to make an impact at the net attacking and in turn can move the ball around when setting.
Riley Certain JR OH Dripping Springs TX: Certain – a 3-star recruit – would be the star on many high school teams around the country. She’s a reliable attacker with a lively arm who can tool blocks or send balls around them consistently.
Caelyn Emmerling SR RS Grand Oaks TX: Emmerling – a 3-star Texas State commit – could have put together her own offensive highlight reel with her attacking. She has a fluid swing and hits with lots of pace, which led to impressive kills over, through and around opposing blockers.
Halle Thompson SO OH Grand Oaks TX: A 5-star recruit, Thompson is an advanced hitter for her age. Offensively, she’s the total package. She jumps and hits high. She has a very quick arm swing and can score front and back row, as well as take something off and place her shots when needed.
Jaela Auguste SR MB Grand Oaks TX: Auguste, a 5-star Florida commit, is the real deal. She’s a game-changer across the front row both blocking and hitting. She’s another one who skies on the attack and send balls down at tough angles.
Samara Coleman JR OH Grand Oaks TX: A 4-star Pitt commit, Coleman has a big arm and can unload at times. She’s a physical attacker who takes hard swings and pressures defenses with her relentlessness.
Isabel Clark SR OH Mater Dei CA: Clark – a 4-star San Diego commit – had a monster day. She was playing very well and not only delivering highlight kills but doing so in the clutch when they were needed most.
Ayva Ostovar JR S Mater Dei CA: A UCSB commit, Ostovar is a smart setter with a clean delivery and nice tempo. She also has a knack for going over on two and catching the defense slipping.
Cymarah Gordon SR RS Mater Dei CA: Gordon – a 4-star Michigan commit – puts up a wall of a block. She also has a strong arm and was scoring well from both pins.
Julia Kakkis SR S/RS Mater Dei CA: Kakkis – a 3-star recruit – plays a vital role for the Monarchs with her ability to contribute as both a setter and hitter. She too has a powerful arm and can pound balls.
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Malyssa Cawa SR L Mater Dei CA: Cawa – a 3-star Stanford commit – brings a lot of energy to the lineup and is a vocal libero who takes control of the back row. She was defending all over and making lots of hustle plays to keep her team in the point.
Layli Ostovar SO OH Mater Dei CA: A 5-star recruit, Ostovar was on fire in the final against Prestonwood. She came through time and time again with key kills and provided a huge lift offensively.
Cari Spears JR OH Prestonwood TX: Spears – a 5-star recruit – can be unstoppable at times. She has a massive arm and can hit shots few can. She almost single-handily delivered Prestonwood a victory over Grand Oaks with her play in Game 3, as she took over down the stretch.
Jadyn Livings SR RS Prestonwood TX: A 5-star USC recruit, Livings is the emotional leader and is also valuable with her versatility. She can plays six rotations as an outside or can switch to the right side and crush balls all the same.
Gillian Pitts JR L Prestonwood TX: A 5-star Houston commit, Pitts showed why she’s among the top liberos in her class. She’s smooth in the back row covering and passes well out of serve receive.
Taylor Clarke JR RS Prestonwood TX: Clarke – a 4-star recruit – is yet another piece opponents have to be concerned about when she checks in. She has a whippy arm and can go over blockers. She unfortunately went down with an apparent ankle injury in the final against Mater Dei.
Mikala Young SR OH Prestonwood TX: A 4-star TCU commit, Young cannot be forgotten about in Prestonwood’s attack. She’s a smart hitter who knows how to use the block and mix her shots up. She also brings versatility to the lineup as she too can play as a six-rotation outside or post up on the right side.
Favor Anyanwu SR OH Sachse TX: Anyanwu – a 5-star USC commit – plays on the left (she’s normally a middle in club) and it allows her to showcase her physicality to the fullest. No one hits harder than she does and it’s a wonder the ball doesn’t go flat every time she connects. It’s also fun watching her unleash on balls from the back row as well.
Suli Davis JR S/RS Colleyville Heritage TX: Davis, a 5-star recruit, is a two-way player who can dish from pin to pin with ease and then pound the ball consistently. And let’s not forget she is a wall defensively.
Kassidy O’Brien JR S Cinco Ranch TX: O’Brien, a 5-star recruit committed to Kentucky, has great hands with a high release point. It’s fun to watch her quarterback her squad with precision and no fear.
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Ella Lewis JR OH The Woodlands TX: Lewis, a 3-star recruit, is a six-rotation outside and integral part of the lineup. She was passing well and swinging aggressively all over the court.
Aniya Joseph SR OH SA Harlan TX: Joseph, a West Texas A&M commit, was connecting well and hitting with a heavy hand on the outside consistently.
Avery Hamlin SR OH Lake Travis TX: Hamlin, a Duke commit, was swinging with intensity everywhere. And in a pinch handled the setting position for her squad.
