That is “Dots,” VolleyballMag.com’s weekly take a look at 10 issues in highschool volleyball, previous or current, that curiosity me and hopefully will curiosity you. Search for Dots each Tuesday till the final highschool state championship in November:
• Volleypalooza, the 68-team behemoth in Texas close to Austin, featured a lot of the better of the Lone Star State in addition to California powers Cathedral Catholic and Mater Dei. The highest 4 groups nonetheless standing on Saturday afternoon have been the highest 4 seeds to open the three-day event.
Boy did they placed on a present!
Prime-seeded Prestonwood Christian Academy, that includes OHs Cari Spears and Jadyn Livings, edged Grand Oaks, the highest giant public college in Texas, in three units to make the ultimate.
On the opposite facet of the bracket, Mater Dei, the 2021 champion, ended 2022 nationwide champion Cathedral Catholic’s 50-match profitable streak, 28-26, 25-23.
Grand Oaks, which options standouts Jaela Auguste and Samara Coleman, then knocked off Jenna Hanes and Cathedral Catholic, 25-23 within the third, to say third place general.
That left Prestonwood to battle undefeated Mater Dei for the title.
Coach Dan O’Dell stated that Mater Dei performed its greatest match of the event within the closing, profitable 25-21, 25-18.
The Monarchs handed a 2.61 for the match, led by libero Malyssa Cawa, who was unreal in serve-receive (2.75) and had 16 digs. Pins Layli Ostovar, Isabel Clark and Cymarah Gordon mixed for twenty-four kills, most on candy units from Julia Kakkis, within the win.
“Our potential to facet out constantly obtained us early leads and made Prestonwood should play from behind,” O’Dell stated. “They made some uncharacteristic errors because of this. I used to be actually pleased with the workforce; we combined and matched lineups lots to beat a number of accidents and whoever was on the courtroom actually stepped up every time. It was only a nice expertise and weekend for us.”
• The win improved Mater Dei’s document to 12-0 on the 12 months heading into in the present day’s showdown versus Mira Costa, the present No. 1 workforce in California.
“We’ve sort of had this season circled for some time since we have been beginning 4 sophomores two years in the past the season we misplaced to Marymount within the CIF Finals,” O’Dell defined. “I do know the expertise is there to be nice this 12 months. With 5 D1 commits, plus a star sophomore in Layli Ostovar, it’s only a matter of determining methods to come collectively and maximize the items to the perfect of our talents.”
• The state of Illinois, particularly within the higher Chicago space, is teeming with expertise this 12 months. The highest three groups firstly of the season, in line with Illprepvb.com, have been defending 4A champion Mom McAuley, Benet Academy and Marist, in that order.
That order might have to alter after the weekend.
Mom McAuley, the “Mighty Macs,” are doing their half at 7-0 behind hitter Ellie White, center Ellery Rees and libero Samantha Falk, however the subsequent two spots would possibly want reversing.
Marist (6-0) received the 32-team Crimson Traditional this weekend, defeating Oak Park-River Forest, pre-season No. 5, for the title.
Junior OH Bella Bullington was named MVP of the event. In bracket play on Saturday, she totaled 42 kills, 35 digs, 10 blocks and 6 aces. Spectacular!
Teammates Elayna Davidson, a sophomore libero; and senior RS Jessica Kurpeikis joined Bullington on the All-Match workforce.
In the meantime, on the Wheaton North Match, Benet (4-1) fell to No. 8 Glenbard West, 14-25, 25-15, 25-17, within the championship match. Penelope Vilkama and Marin Johnson have been named to the All-Match workforce for West.
• Shout out to the US U21 Girls’s Nationwide Staff for going 4-4 and putting sixth on the FIVB U21 World Championships in Mexico this previous week. The workforce consisted solely of 16- and 17-year-old athletes, as school gamers had already began their seasons. 5 of the workforce members have been on the U19 workforce that received gold on the U19 World Championships two weeks earlier than.
Right here was the total U21 roster, by place:
S: Izzy Starck, 6-1 senior
S: Campbel Flynn, 6-3 junior
OH: Kaci DeMaria, 6-4 junior
OH: Kelly Kinney, 6-2 junior
OH: Skylar Pierce, 6-2 senior
OH: Abby Vander Wal, 6-3 junior
OH: Emerson Sellman, 6-4 senior
MB: Taylor Harvey, 6-3 junior
MB: Lizzy Andrew, 6-5 senior
MB: Alec Rothe, 6-3 senior
RS: Abigail Mullen, 6-3 junior
Libero: Ava Falduto, 5-7 senior
• For kicks, let’s see how these gamers’ highschool have began their seasons with out their Nationwide Staff standouts.
Viera (FL), a college we wrote about final week, stays 0-1 in Starck’s absence.
Flynn’s college, Mercy (MI), is 7-3-1.
DeMaria will not be taking part in for Palos Verdes (CA) this season, however the Sea Kings have moved into the state prime 25 and are 5-2 on the 12 months.
King’s Academy (FL) is 3-1 with out Kinney.
Olathe Northwest (KS) misplaced its opener to always-tough St. Thomas Aquinas on Saturday with out Pierce.
Timothy Christian (IL) has began 3-1 with out Vander Wal.
Sellman’s college, The Academy of the Holy Cross (MD), doesn’t begin its season till September.
Bountiful (UT) is 0-2 with out Harvey within the lin eup.
Ridgefield (WA), Andrews’ college, referred to as the “Spudders,” doesn’t begin till subsequent Tuesday
Rothe who? Dublin Scioto (OH) has began 5-0 with out its famous person, who’s rated the No. 1 participant in all of Ohio.
Liberty (MO), Mullen’s college, has but to play.
Lastly, Falduto’s college, IC Catholic Prep (IL), is 1-1 to start the varsity 12 months.
• Being reminded that Ridgefield HS is the Spudders has gotten me fascinated about different enjoyable or edgy highschool nicknames I’ve come throughout throughout my 24 years protecting highschool volleyball nationwide.
The primary that involves thoughts is the “Soiled Dozen” of Alabama’s McGill-Toolen. They’ve received 15 state titles of their historical past. I used to know why they’re the Soiled Dozen when the official college nickname is “Yellowjackets,” but it surely’s one indisputable fact that appears to be misplaced to time. Maybe I would like Prevagen…
Others I discover amusing embody the Effingham (IL) Flaming Hearts, the Golden Goblins of Harrison (AR), the Camas (WA) Papermakers, the Freeburg (IL) Midgets, the Hesston (KS) Swathers (what’s a Swather?), the New Braunfels (TX) Unicorns, the Speedway (IN) Sparkplugs, the Teutopolis (IL) Wood Sneakers and the Frankfort (IN) Sizzling Canines.
There are numerous extra, in fact. What are a few of your favorites?
• On Saturday, Kameron Stover, a 5-9 junior OH from Highland Excessive in Ohio, slammed dwelling 48 kills in a five-set win over Jonathan Alder. Not solely did this set a brand new college document for the Preventing Scots, it tied the second highest whole in a match in Ohio historical past and tied for seventh all-time nationally in line with the NFHS document guide.
The highest single match kill whole ever was 61, set by former U.S. Girls’s Nationwide Staff member Katie Wilkins again in 1999 whereas taking part in highschool ball in San Diego.
• Defending North Carolina 4A champion Millbrook misplaced for the primary time in 2023 on Thursday. The Wildcats fell, on the street, in 4 units to Center Creek, the state’s second-ranked workforce. Center Creek received because of 34 kills, 9 digs and 4 blocks from 6-3 senior OH Sally Perez, a UCLA seaside volleyball recruit.
• A plethora of California highschool tournaments occurred over the weekend.
Oaks Christian received its personal occasion behind MVP libero Hannah Brady.
Senior OH Taylor Boyce is averaging 5.5 kills per set to this point for Windsor, which received the Marin Academy Match.
Archbishop Mitty roared unbeaten by way of Milpitas Spikefest I behind the trio of Maya Baker, Katelyn Prepare dinner and Makenna Crosson.
Branson, the defending California Div. I champions, stayed unbeaten by taking the highest division on the Stockton Pre-season Traditional.
James Logan captured the Hillsdale Girl Knights Varsity Problem. Sophomore OH McKenzie Anderson had an enormous effort for the Colts.
A balanced assault that includes Kalani Soares, Sarah Hook and Lyric Garcia propelled Clovis West to the title on the Clovis Volleyball Problem.
Chaparral stayed unbeaten by dominating the IE Traditional behind Mauriana Rayford and Madison Johnson.
• The newest Kentucky Volleyball Coaches Affiliation ballot, out in the present day, has Assumption (5-0) No. 1, adopted so as by Louisville Sacred Coronary heart, Dunbar and Notre Dame Academy.
Now, I can see not rating the defending state champion Notre Dame No. 1 within the pre-season given the commencement of superstars Sydney Nolan and Kamren Schrand, however the Pandas are off to a 6-0 begin, together with a 3-2 win over Sacred Coronary heart final Thursday at Sacred Coronary heart. A transfer to No. 2 behind Assumption, and even No. 1, would appear extra applicable.
• It’s the beginning of the 2023 season, which makes it applicable to remind everybody that Alabama’s Bayside Academy is on a present run of TWENTY-ONE consecutive state titles. Sure, the Admirals began out by dominating on the decrease ranges, however success has pushed this workforce larger and better. Bayside received in 6A final fall, one classification from the very best within the state.
Bayside, which is younger this 12 months, with solely 4 seniors on the roster, has began 2023 with an 8-1 document. Its lone loss got here on Saturday to undefeated 7A college Bob Jones at a event. The Admirals get a shot at revenge after they meet once more this Friday in a best-of-five contest.
Till subsequent time …
