Salt Lake Showdown National Qualifier – 15 USA – OP2 15-1
This brand new USA National Qualifier that is held in Salt Lake City, Utah is very well attended with teams from all over the United States to earn a bid for Nationals. There are teams from Alaska to Texas and…
Access all of Prep Dig
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingThis brand new USA National Qualifier that is held in Salt Lake City, Utah is very well attended with teams from all over the United States to earn a bid for Nationals. There are teams from Alaska to Texas and everything in between competing to prove just how great they are. This series of articles will be to highlight those special teams and players that stood out during the tourney. We were able to watch some amazing action over the course of the weekend and will be writing a few articles on some teams and players that showcased their skills. This next article will be on the 15 USA Division and Oklahoma Peak Performance 15-1.
We are still working on the State Rankings for the class of 2025 but rest assured that a lot of this team will be listed when it is unveiled. With a national ranking from AES, which is based a lot on wins/losses, of 7th in the nation, this team was primed for a great showing in the USA Division. OP2 came into the tourney ranked as the 1st seed overall in the division out of 52 teams entered. They left as the undefeated Champion of the USA Division and a bid to USA Nationals in Indy later this summer. This team only dropped one SET all tourney and it was by two points. They won eight other matches in straight sets. I have covered this team already after I watched them in person at the Redlands Rendezvous tourney earlier in the year, so I knew what to expect from them when I saw the field of teams entered.
Although we could easily write an article on all of the players on the team because they all play an integral role in their dominance so far this season, I will be highlighting a few that stood out to me when I watched them play. Here are the players that deserve kudos for their play:
Anna Rice [2024] 6-1 Outside (HS: Edmond Santa Fe/Club: Oklahoma Peak Performance/Verbal: Uncommitted)
Anna has been unstoppable so far this season for OP2. She is able to hit from multiple positions/locations with power and stay scoring at a high clip. Her height is unmistakable from a spectator’s viewpoint, but true volleyball aficionados will marvel at her overall skill-set on the court. She is remarkable at both offense and defense along the net. Her long frame allows her to press/penetrate the net and take away a lot of space from opposing attackers. She is also able to attack at both the left and right side of the net. While this may seem like an easy thing to do to the casual observer, it isn’t. OP2 uses her on both sides at times and it is a huge matchup nightmare for their opponents. She will be a very highly recruited player in a few years. Write down her name and add her to your short list and you will not be disappointed.
Livia Ward [2024] 5-10 Outside (HS: Mount St. Mary/Club: Oklahoma Peak Performance/Verbal: Uncommitted)
I have been covering Miss Ward very closely since she stepped foot in our Top 250 Expo in December. She wowed me then and she continues to wow me as I see her continue to improve in both attacking and setting. She has the potential to be in the running for one of the best overall prospects in the entire state in the class of 2025. Liv is able to hit the bulls-eye multiple times in a row at all locations with her setting. Her attacking has really improved with every rep and she is a very efficient point scorer. What I truly love is her ability to shut down opposing left sides with her blocking. The length in her arms provide a solid detour for every hitter, but what I really think stands out is the power in her core. She has been working out tremendously on her high school’s power lifting team and this will definitely help her get even stronger in every aspect of the game. Miss Ward is someone who I think colleges should already start looking at even as a freshman. I will be giving her name to all of my college contacts.
Morgan Manning [2024] 5-5 Outside (HS: Deer Creek/Club: Oklahoma Peak Performance/Verbal: Uncommitted)
As a libero Miss Manning has the unenviable task and responsibility to cover almost the entire thirty by thirty area during the course of the game. She does it extremely well covering each hitter during offense. I love how the coaching staff is teaching her how to move without the ball and always keep her head on a swivel. Her serve receive has helped keep her team in system against some amazing competition. She has great defensive range and is not afraid to hit the floor to keep her team in a rally. In our opinion, she has a very high ceiling in the position. Stay tuned on more from Morgan as she has not reached her potential yet.
Victoria Gray Victoria Gray 5'10" | OH Community Christian | 2024 State OK [2023] 5-10 Outside (HS: Community Christian/Club: Oklahoma Peak Performance/Verbal: Uncommitted)
Miss Gray plays for Community Christian high school and is one of the top point scorers for this team. She hits the ball with lots of power and is a great offensive option to get her team out of a rally. Most teams only have one or two threats to score, but what makes this team scary is Victoria on the pins. They have three legit options to take over a game at any time. Victoria has a lot of experience playing at the high school level and brings it to 15-1. Miss Gray is a great volleyball player and we are excited to cover her for the next couple of years.
Other notable players that we will be watching very closely to add to our State Rankings list are middles Georgia Byers, Addison Seefeldt, and setter Sydney Dunkleberger. They are all playing amazing and have all made my watch list for sure and I will be evaluating them to see if they make the State Rankings.
OP2 15-1 are as of now one of the best teams in the nation based on wins/losses and I cannot wait to see them play at the Open level in future tournaments. This will be the true litmus test of whether they belong in the conversation of the best 15’s teams in the nation. We are very proud of them for what they just accomplished by winning their division. Stay tuned on more from this very talented Oklahoma team as they are only getting started.
As always stay tuned for more articles on your favorite athletes. If you have anyone you think we should watch out for, please shoot me an email with some info at nov8vb@yahoo.com. Also don’t forget to help these kids get more exposure by sharing our stories with your friends. Help us help them by simply retweeting on Twitter or sharing on Facebook. Thanks for following us, Prep Dig Oklahoma Family! Don’t be afraid to interact with us. We love the likes, shares, and quotes/comments. Keep them coming!