USAV All-Star Recruiting Feature: Great Lakes

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Time to take a look at the Youth division's runner-up.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Great Lakes Region brought plenty of firepower to Tulsa for the USAV All-Star Championship, and that has certainly warranted a recruiting feature on this squad. The team's only loss of the event came in the championship match against North Texas. Surely, we have some talent to talk about from the Illinois area.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>So, let's do it. Here's the all-star recruiting feature on the Great Lakes Region.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://x.com/KingsleyATK/status/1550941985686622208?s=20u0026t=N6CCdh7YNFrH5so6jhiLRQ","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://x.com/KingsleyATK/status/1550941985686622208?s=20u0026t=N6CCdh7YNFrH5so6jhiLRQ </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>One Big-Time Pledge</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Of course, we ought to start this recruiting feature by highlighting a player whose recruitment is no longer open.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>New Wave libero [player_tooltip player_id="136631" first="Ava" last="Falduto"] became one of the earliest pledges in the 2024 cycle when she announced her commitment to Penn State in late June. This savvy defender has the skills necessary to carry on a long tradition of strong backcourt players for the seven-time NCAA champions. Falduto backed up her elite status once again by locking down the Great Lakes back row and allowing the team's attackers to thrive throughout the All-Star Championships.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://x.com/KingsleyATK/status/1549759132034539529?s=20u0026t=N6CCdh7YNFrH5so6jhiLRQ","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://x.com/KingsleyATK/status/1549759132034539529?s=20u0026t=N6CCdh7YNFrH5so6jhiLRQ </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2024 Leadership</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Aside from Falduto, the Great Lakes Youth team got a wealth of leadership and experience from its other Class of 2024 athletes.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="135981" first="Alayna" last="Pierce"], for example, was an absolute showstopper on the left pin. Her elevation on the outside yielded a ton of highlight moments in Tulsa. Great Lakes frequently leaned on Pierce to deliver in clutch situations, and the [program_tooltip program_id='429102' first='Club' last='Fusion'] product stepped up every time.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://x.com/KingsleyATK/status/1550491442723930113?s=20u0026t=N6CCdh7YNFrH5so6jhiLRQ","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://x.com/KingsleyATK/status/1550491442723930113?s=20u0026t=N6CCdh7YNFrH5so6jhiLRQ </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Gwenyth Schiff</strong> is another 2024 attacker who made her presence felt in the frontcourt. She does her best work on the right pin and works incredibly hard in transition to be an option in the offense. Great Lakes took full advantage of that in Tulsa, and Schiff will have a chance to build on that success with Urbana High School this fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The list just keeps growing in this class, too. Alexa Miedema is another player who carried had moments in the spotlight on the left side for Great Lakes. Likewise, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="135966" first="Josilyn" last="Wadas"]</strong> joined the team's balanced offense and did a ton of damage from the middle during pool play. It makes sense that Great Lakes would want some older, veteran leaders to carry much of the load at the net, and that's the kind of dynamic this roster has.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"right","id":213557,"width":467,"height":306,"sizeSlug":"full","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-full is-resized"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2022/08/IMG_9621-scaled-crop-1399x919-1659462969.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-213557" width="467" height="306"/><figcaption>McHatten swings on the left pin for Great Lakes.</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>However, we can't discount the impact of the team's 2024 defenders, either. Alongside Falduto, [program_tooltip program_id='431567' first='[program_tooltip program_id='431567' first='Adversity' last='']' last=''] 16 Adidas defensive specialist <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="135961" first="Karina" last="May"]</strong> provided some stout floor defense for Great Lakes and go plenty of opportunities in the libero jersey. Positive first contacts were crucial in allowing some of the aforementioned frontcourt attackers to shine.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Down the Line: 2025s...and 2026s?</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Now, we venture into the part of the roster that hasn't reached recruitment age but still made a big impression at the All-Star Championships.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Players like <strong>Emma McHatten</strong> help demonstrate just how stacked Illinois' 2025 class is. This left-side hitter brings physicality and power beyond her years, and she was tough to slow down at every stage of the all-star event.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>McHatten was joined on the outside by <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='288649' first='Sydney' last='Buchanan']</strong>, a 1st Alliance athlete who racked up plenty of accolades during this year's club season. She helped elevate her 15 Gold squad to a Triple Crown NIT championship back in February, and Buchanan just kept rolling after that. Her six-rotation skills also make her a mainstay in the back row, which is nothing new from a 1st Alliance pin hitter.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Addy Horner</strong> chipped in on the right pin for Great Lakes and was a great compliment to Schiff in the team's ever-changing lineup. When Horner wasn't making a splash at opposite, she was likely showcasing her versatility by running the offense at setter. This all-star tournament was a perfect venue to get a ton of different scouting looks at the same player, and Horner's time in Tulsa embodies that.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Then, there's the Class of 2026. Look out, Illinois, because they're coming. Lions 14-1 teammates <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='323925' first='Nikolija' last='Bulatovic']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='323932' first='Carolyn' last='Tarnow']</strong> joined up one more time to represent the Great Lakes Region all-stars. You didn't get many chances to see a 2026 setter direct an offense in the Youth division, but that's exactly what Bulatovic did in Tulsa. She was not intimidated by this big stage, and it probably helped to have Tarnow back on her side to terminate in the middle.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Speaking of middles, <strong>Emilee Fitzgerald</strong> got her own taste of the all-star experience and completes the trio of 2026s on the Great Lakes roster. She already has a mature feel for a variety of middle attacking patterns and was particularly successful on gap plays during this tournament. We'll have a lot more months and years to talk about these rising freshmen, but it's always fun to get ahead of the curve on the prep volleyball's future leaders.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->