The last day of the JVA West Coast Cup in Long Beach went down as expected. That is, with teams going all out in hopes of claiming their division’s gold medal. It produced plenty of spectacular individual efforts and outings. We present the ones who impressed us the most with our daily Show Stoppers.
DAY 3 SHOW STOPPERS
Gemma Larbalestier L/DS Actyve 17 Black: An energetic and outgoing libero, Larbalestier anchored the defense with strong passing out of serve receive and making plenty of digs to keep rallies alive.
Emma Rowell S/RS Actyve 17 Black: A setter/right side from the Class of 2025, Rowell was instrumental in Actyve’s gold medal march. She’s a physical attacker who can pound balls down. She’s an above-average setter as well, with nice hands and the ability to locate consistently.
Tate Drageset OH Actyve 17 Black: Drageset – another member of the Class of 2025 – proved nearly impossible to stop. Kills went over blocks, around them and through them as Drageset menaced defenses repeatedly.
Kiera Maynard OH Saddleback 17 Sofly: Saddleback finished with the silver medal in part because of the play of Maynard. The six-rotation outside held her own and gave her team regular scoring when set.
Riley Barr S Saddleback 17 Sofly: Barr did well running the offense and moving the ball around. She was connecting with all her hitters and putting the ball in nice spots.
Rian Barr MB Saddleback 17 Sofly: Barr was making plays at the net on both sides. She put up a strong block and also was able to turn around and put balls away.
Adia McCown OH Balboa Bay 17 Blue: McCown sums up Balboa Bay in a lot of ways. She’s a bit undersized but has a lot of fight and comes with it on the attack. She’s a free-swinger who lets it fly and was giving Balboa Bay an arm it could count on.
Jaedyn Houston L/DS Balboa Bay 17 Blue: Houston was sharp in serve receive and putting her passes on target. She’s a scrappy defender with lots of hustle.
MiKenna Henjum OH/S San Clemente 17 Riley: Henjum can set adequately at times, but she really stands out with her hitting. She carries a key role in the offense. She’s a springy, quick attacker with a solid arm.
Brooklyn Kostoff S San Clemente 17 Riley: Kostoff was dishing well in running the offense. She showed a nice touch and consistent release.
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Isabelle Marco S Academy 17 HP Lukasz: Marco was among the setters taking care of business in 17 Open. She sets a clean ball and connects well with her hitters.
Leimaile Lasike MB Tstreet LV 16 Trevor: Lasike is part of a strong 1-2 punch in the middle. She moves well and takes up a lot of space with her long reach. It allows to be impactful on both offense and defense as Tstreet likes to get her the ball.
Kate Camp MB Tstreet LV 16 Trevor: Camp is the other half who Tstreet likes to get involved as much as possible. Camp has a knack for scoring. Whether putting balls down with a big swing or tipping into the open space, she’s tough to stop.
Ai-Lani Hunter RS VVA 16-1: Hunter flashed her upside and potential more than a few times. She’s a big jumper with a strong arm who can generate pace and lots of offense.
Brooklyn Washington MB VVA 16-1: Washington is another standout middle in 16 Open. She’s tall with a long wingspan and can go straight over smaller blockers with ease. She’s one to follow as she continues to move up.
Madelyn Feramisco OH VVA 16-1: Feramisco is a bit undersized but a fearless outside who jumps well and doesn’t back down. She brings it on the attack with an aggressive swing and was providing her share of offense.
Kendall Timme OH Arete 16 Navy Telos: Timme is a long outside with nice extension. She’s one of the main offensive threats and can drill it at times.
Jaleah Bauss S Arete 16 Navy Telos: Bauss is a bit undersized but is quick and gets to the ball well. She has a smooth release and was locating well with her various hitters.
Isabella Wood RS Arete 16 Navy Telos: Wood has a booming arm. She was a back row opposite who was crushing balls and delivering points.
Charlotte Nowak OH Tstreet 15 Curtis: Nowak and teammates walked away with the gold medal. She’s a lanky outside who takes lots of swings in helping anchoring the offense.
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Emma Champagne MB Tstreet 15 Curtis: Champagne makes up one half of Tstreet’s middle threat. She can impact both sides with her strong blocking and attacking.
Addison Coady MB Tstreet 15 Curtis: Coady is another who makes it happen on both sides. She’s lanky and can take away space in a hurry while also being able to whip down kills.
Ava McBride S/RS Actyve 15 Black: McBride does a lot on the court with her setting and attacking. She’s tall with a high contact point and it makes her dangerous on the attack. She’s also an on-point setter who can move the ball around.
Karys Campos L/DS Actyve 15 Black: Campos, a 2027 libero playing up, is a gamer. She’s quick, covers and passes well and is another to keep tabs on.
Aviya Russo OH Academy 15 HP Daniele: Russo was one of the top outsides in the division. She’s another long outside who can extend and go over blocks.
Melina McKinney RS Academy 15 HP Daniele: McKinney is a baller with her ability to pass out of serve receive as well as her heady attacking from tips to tools to hammering balls for points.
Laila Turner OH Marin 13 Black: Turner and company rose to the top in capturing the 14 Club gold medal. She did well locating her shots and not forcing the issue.
Abigail Lardner RS Marin 13 Black: Lardner showed off her arm at times. She could connect and put balls away to push the offense along.
Kayla Wolford OH BRVBA 14 Royal: Wolford is a bit undersized but isn’t afraid to challenge the block.
Ella Iseminger OH BRVBA 14 Royal: Iseminger is another key outside for Blue Royals who provides solid play in the back row and scoring in the front.
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Whitney Longspaugh MB BRVBA 14 Royal: Longspaugh was coming through when called upon. She showed a nice arm and put down balls with pace.
Elsa Matherly OH 303 14 Alpha: Matherly is a lanky outside with plenty of potential. She can extend and score well now and was carrying the offense at times.
Lynniah Rodriguez S/RS 303 14 Alpha: Rodriguez is a two-way player setting and hitting. She moves well and that helps with her setting and getting to the ball. She’s also a solid attacker with a good arm.
Emerson Novac MB Juggernaut 14 National: Novac was another middle who was contributing across the front row. She was able to put balls away while also blocking a few.