The Mountains Are Calling, and I Must Go…Recruit 2025s

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“The mountains are calling, and I must go.” The famous quote by John Muir, iconic American naturalist and conservationists resonates with all who make their way to the mountains.&nbsp; Being based out of the Midwest, we romanticize the mountains with their breathtaking beauty and how its so different than the fields we have in our landscape.&nbsp; Besides the views of these landscapes, there are also high caliber volleyball players in these mountain cities.&nbsp; We're taking a look at 2025s in Colorado, Idaho, and Utah.&nbsp; I might need to make another trip to the West to see these athletes live.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://x.com/PrepDigChris/status/1541796807969226752?s=20","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/PrepDigChris/status/1541796807969226752?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='397470' first='Elizabeth' last='Bower'] - Idaho Crush&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of the best liberos in the West, Bower commands the defense for Idaho Crush 16 Bower.&nbsp; This team is scary athletic.&nbsp; I am so excited to see them in the 16 Open field in Chicago.&nbsp; Bower is able to provide a dependable first contact.&nbsp; Her platform awareness is amazing.&nbsp; She is consistently passing outside of her midline where she creates really good angles to get the ball to star setter [player_tooltip player_id='397469' first='Tenesyn' last='Frye'].&nbsp; With a really high IQ for the game, Bower anticipates well, beating the ball to the spot and has such a presence.&nbsp; She's generating energy always moving around the court between plays, connecting with teammates, and has a cool, clam, and collected vibe with her teammates. Do we pencil her in as a BYU commit to stay in line with her sisters?&nbsp; She will start the process tomorrow.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='397469' first='Tenesyn' last='Frye'] - Idaho Crush&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Big time.&nbsp; What an athlete and talent [player_tooltip player_id='397469' first='Tenesyn' last='Frye'] is for her Idaho Crush squad.&nbsp; She's long, athletic, and glides across the court.&nbsp; At 6'2 and seeing Frye jump set, swing, and block - she's got to be touching ten feet.&nbsp; Frye receives the ball extremely high and neutral and makes all the tempos look the same.&nbsp; When she jump sets in the front row, it puts so much pressure on the other side of the net because she can take it herself or dish to any of her attackers.&nbsp; Above all, she's a pure playmaker where she makes something out of nothing.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='397439' first='Taylor' last='Harvey'] - Club V (UT)&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Harvey has videos and photos that look like they were created by AI or Photoshop.&nbsp; Plays that make you go, “Whoa”.&nbsp; Harvey crushes the ten foot club with how springy she is and her length presents a problem to her opponents.&nbsp; She played on the 18s team for Club V Ren Reed alongside her sister Jordyn Harvey who is heading to Stanford.&nbsp; I'm sure Taylor will be on the call list for Stanford tomorrow.&nbsp; This past spring, Harvey was able to train with the U19 USAV squad while also being a big time basketball player for her high school team this winter.&nbsp; Not a bad start to her 2023.&nbsp; Her ceiling is crazy high, definitely a name that everyone will know as she progresses through the ranks.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://x.com/PrepDigChris/status/1626940060221247491?s=20","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/PrepDigChris/status/1626940060221247491?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='397461' first='Erika' last='Sayer'] - Colorado Juniors</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I saw Sayer at the USAV Nationals in Indy when she was a 15s and her explosiveness was impressive.&nbsp; I saw her again on her high school team at the Colorado State Tournament where she was so dominant for Discovery Canyon.&nbsp; And once again she's doing it on the club courts for her Colorado Juniors team.&nbsp; Sayer is 6'2, a big time leaper and really athletic off one foot.&nbsp; Her efficiency hitting this club season has to be extremely impressive.&nbsp; There aren't many time where she misses.&nbsp; We're seeing more and more teams go with speed and athleticism out of the middle and that's something Sayer has without question.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://x.com/PrepDigChris/status/1591201657186324480?s=20","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/PrepDigChris/status/1591201657186324480?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:image {"id":400975,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/06/DSC08737.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-400975"/></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='352209' first='Avery' last='Gibbs'] - Colorado Juniors</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Gibbs might have the hardest swing I've seen at the 16s level.&nbsp; When she has an open net and a clean approach she is going to break the fingers on a block.&nbsp; What an athlete.&nbsp; I saw her at the Colorado State tournament where she was able to attack anywhere along the front line.&nbsp; Her Thompson Valley squad took home the state title in Class 4A where they are loaded with 2025s.&nbsp; Colorado Juniors 16 Shannon will be a favorite in the 16 National Division in Chicago.&nbsp; They have so much depth and balance with their attackers and I could see them playing in some big matches come day three with hopes of gold on day four.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":400971,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/06/DSC08754-e1686767812102.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-400971"/></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Ashlyn Tafoya - Rocky Elite (CO)&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Tafoya is the QB1 for Thompson Valley and was one of the top players in Colorado's Class 4A this past fall.&nbsp; I was so impressed with her ability to lead the court and take command of her offense.&nbsp; On the club court, she has been playing up on the Rocky Elite 17s team where she has shown she can attack, dish, and defend.&nbsp; She is a true 5-1 setter where she stays within herself and can find ways to win.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":400970,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/06/DSC08670.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-400970"/></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://x.com/PrepDigChris/status/1591233815976050688?s=20","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/PrepDigChris/status/1591233815976050688?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Alivia Eikenberg - Front Range (CO)&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I was able to see Eikenberg at the Colorado State Tournament where she was a huge part of the Rock Canyon High School run to a state runner-up finish in Colorado's largest class.&nbsp; This outside hitter has an explosive approach and a violent arm swing.&nbsp; She is looking to break fingers on the block.&nbsp; Her athleticism is so fun to see on the court where she does a little bit of everything and is a scorer in every rotation.&nbsp; She will wind up to swing where she holds nothing back, but as soon as the defense has dug in she is tipping right over the block.&nbsp; She was the only sophomore named 1st Team All State in Class 5A.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Bellamie Beus - Idaho Crush</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lightning in a bottle, fireworks, dynamite emoji (too much there?).&nbsp; Beus is a six rotation outside for Idaho Crush 16 Bower who is a key point scorer. &nbsp; She is another attacker who is extremely fast to the ball where she is looking to break fingers off the block.&nbsp; Besides her power, she has a bag of tricks when it comes to shots.&nbsp; When cross court is taken away, she can do a thumb up swing where she can find the deep corner.&nbsp; Crush might be the team I am most excited to see in Chicago, they are going to be a tough matchup with their speed and athleticism.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->