Volleypalooza was where the best that Texas had to offer gathered Thursday-Saturday in what has become the state’s premier tournament. Cornerstone Christian entered as the No. 1 seed and held it throughout, topping Prestonwood Christian for bragging rights in the championship match. We were on hand and tried to get to as many sites to see as many teams as possible. With 68 schools competing, it was impossible to see them all. Still, wherever we were we noted the players we were watching and below we present our Show Stoppers from our three days in the Lone Star State.
Peyton Fadal, JR S, Barbers Hill – A 5-10, 3-star recruit, Fadal is in firm command of the Eagles’ offense. She did well connecting with both middles and spreading the ball around in general.
Alice Volpe, JR L, Bridgeland – A 3-star recruit, Volpe helps set the defensive tone for the Bears. This team relies a lot on defense and hustle and it helps to have a libero of Volpe’s caliber to make plays and keep her team in points.
Kennedy Kays, SR OH, Bridgeland – Kays is tasked with carrying the offensive load at times and she doesn’t back down from the challenge. She loads up and goes for it when the opportunity is there while knowing when to let up just a bit and not try to do too much.
Rebekah Pfefferkorn, Soph MB, Bridgeland – Pfefferkorn – a 6-1, 4-star recruit – makes her presence felt in the middle. She’s a solid attacker who the Bears can rely on to score points. She’s also does well getting her hands on balls when blocking.
Amelia Creacy, JR RS, Bridgeland – A 6-1 lefty, Creacy is a difference maker when she’s checked in across the front row. She has a strong arm and can deliver big kills. She’s someone the defense can’t lose track of or else her opponents will pay for it.
Taylor Anderson, SR S, Cornerstone Christian – Anderson – a 6-1, 4-star recruit – brings plenty to the lineup. She’s more than capable of running a 5-1 smoothly and efficiently. She can also be part of 6-2 and set in the back row. Or if needed she can hit across the front row. That’s a valuable piece for the Warriors to take advantage of.
Alyssa Manitzas, SR L, Cornerstone Christian – A 4-star recruit, the more we watched Manitzas the more she impressed. She’s a flat-out stud who brings endless energy and passion to the lineup. She was lights out on the final day, making unbelievable digs on hard-hit balls and forcing attackers to up their games.
Nayeli Gonzalez, SR MB, Cornerstone Christian – A 6-2, 4-star recruit, Gonzalez is one of the main offensive weapons. She plays outside in club but fills a void and shifted to middle for high school. She’ll still lineup on the left and hit from that spot. Also, if you’re best player is making that sacrifice, that’s tremendous leadership skills in action.
Grace Carroll, JR RS, Cornerstone Christian – Carroll is a 6-4, 4-star recruit who adds size across the front row. She has a big arm and can hammer down kills over or through blocks. She can also help slow down opposing outsides with her ability to disrupt shots.
Megan Fitch, Soph OH, Cornerstone Christian – We last saw Fitch – a 6-1, 5-star recruit – leading Alamo to the 15 Open gold medal. She’s a huge part of Cornerstone’s make up and takes plenty of big-time, clutch swings from the outside to help power the offense along.
Taylor Porter, Soph OH, Cypress Ranch – Porter played with the poise of an upperclassmen and didn’t back down from being set in crucial moments. The 5-11 outside hitter also made plays defensively hustling after balls to keep her team in points.
Bianna Muoneke, SR OH, Cypress Ranch – There wasn’t a more impressive outside hitter in the field. The 6-0, 4-star recruit showed her explosiveness over and over, including ripping balls from the back row.
Janyah Henderson, SR MB, Cypress Ranch – At 6-0, Henderson has nice hang time as well. It makes her a threat anytime Cy Ranch is in system and her scoring ability definitely helps open up the attack.
Tya Lynch, JR MB, Cypress Ranch – Lynch – also listed at 6-0 – can score as well but she does her best work blocking. She has strong hands and proved to be a problem for attackers directly challenging her.
Gabby Eads, JR L, Cypress Ranch – Eads was solid in the back row and helped keep the Mustangs in system when challenged in serve receive.
Kirby Kliafas, SR S, Cypress Ranch – Kliafas is a bit undersized at 5-9 but does well running a 5-1. She sets a consistently hittable ball and gave her attackers good looks to do something with.
Cierra Pesak, SR L, Friendswood – Pesak was very consistency in passing and defending. She picked off hard hit balls more than once in standing in there and brought a sound defensive energy to the floor.
Alex Richter, Soph RS, Highland Park – A 6-2, 4-star recruit, Richter takes up a lot of space on the right side. She’s long and attacks over blocks or in between the gap. Defensively, her length makes for a solid block to help contain opposing attackers.
Nicole Mauser, SR RS, Highland Park – Mauser is the other half of the right side front row duo. She’s a smart hitter who uses the block well or can find space with off speed.
Zoe Winford, SR L, Highland Park – Winford is the clear defensive quarterback for the Scots. She owns the backrow and stands in well against big hitters to make digs.
Ceci Gooch, SR MB, Highland Park – A 4-star recruit, the 6-2 Gooch played right side this past club season but is doing her part by moving to the middle for high school. She’s one of the top scoring threats in the lineup when she’s up front as she can bury balls down with ease.
Sydney Breon, SR OH, Highland Park – Breon – a 4-star recruit – is the team’s do-it-all outside. She’s a steady passer out of serve receive and she can carry the offense at times. She’s always a threat no matter front or back row.
Bella Ocampo, Soph OH, Highland Park – A 5-10, 4-star recruit, Ocampo is part of the reason what makes the Scots so tough. They always have someone in the front row who can deliver down the stretch. She’s a heady attacker with a wide variety of shots. She’s also a strong back row defender and passer.
Taylor Polivka, SR S, Keller – Polivka, a 3-star recruit, is an energetic setter and does well getting her hitters good looks in tough moments. She has nice hands and a clean delivery.
Kea Whillock, SR L, Keller – Whillock is cool and collected in the back row and has great passing skills. When challenged in serve receive she rarely missed putting the ball on target.
Landry McEchern, SR DS, Keller – McEchern also helps make up a strong defensive back row. She’s a steady passer and can close open spaces quickly.
Brianna Watson, JR OH, Flower Mound – A high-flying outside, Watson is the go-to arm on her team. When she gets a hold of one, everyone in the gym can feel it.
Layla Austin, FR OH, Southlake Carroll – Austin showcased her whippy swing in giving Southlake Carroll a reliable offensive outlet. A beach player, you could see it in her ability to mix in off speed and angled attacks.
Caleigh King, JR L, Southlake Carroll – A 3-star recruit, King was holding down the back row as she passed well out of serve receive and made hustle plays to keep her team in the rally.
Bethanie Wu, JR S, Lovejoy – Running a 5-1, Wu was instrumental in Lovejoy’s success. The 4-star recruit showed off her touch and accuracy as she directed the Leopards’ attack.
Morgan VanVoorhis, Soph OH, Lovejoy – This 5-11 outside takes a lot of swings for the Leopards. She does well not backing down against bigger blocks and keeps challenging the defense.
Anna Barr, Soph OH, Lovejoy – Barr is the other half of the outside duo who also gets set a lot as well. At 6-2, she’s tall and has good extension.
Camille Edwards, JR S, Prestonwood – Edwards has great hands and a soft delivery. She can make all the sets and knows how to ride the hot hand or mix it up to catch the defense off guard.
Jadyn Livings, JR OH, Prestonwood – A 6-2, 5-star recruit, Livings is a handful for defenders. She carries a lively arm and with her extension can be tough for blockers to get a hand on her swing.
Gillian Pitts, Soph L, Prestonwood – Pitts plays with a lot of poise. This 4-star recruit reads the court very well and passes dimes out of serve receive. She also does well tracking down balls and extending rallies.
Kennedy Washington, JR MB, Prestonwood – Washington – a 6-0, 4-star recruit – played the last two days of the tournament and added a spark in the middle. Her ability to get out and run the slide added a new diminesion to the offense.
Mikala Young, JR OH/RS, Prestonwood – A 4-star recruit, this 6-0 pin hitter is fearless. She played outside and right side and was an effective scorer no matter where she was positioned. She takes aggressive swings and goes right at blockers.
Taylor Cook, Soph S, Prestonwood – Cook’s role was setting across the front row at times and the 4-star recruit showed her deft touch. Her sets were routinely on target and allowed her hitters to make plays.
Cari Spears, Soph OH/RS, Prestonwood – Spears – a 6-3, 5-star recruit – delivered kills that were hard to comprehend. She gets up there and with her length can simply rocket balls over the block and straight down in front of defenders.
Ayden Ames, JR OH, Prosper – A 6-4, 5-star recruit, Ames played both middle and right side in club but is trying her hand on the outside this fall. Her length is a clear advantage, as she can go over blocks and easily find open spots on the floor to exploit.
Callie Kieffer, SR S, Prosper – A 4-star recruit, Kieffer does well locating the ball even when the pass is off and she has to cover ground to do. She has a great touch and puts the ball in the hitter’s window on the regular.
Savannah Skopal, JR S, Rouse – A 6-0, 3-star recruit, Skopal is a major asset to the lineup. She’s steady and consistent with her location and brings leadership to the floor while guiding the offense.
