USA Jr Nationals Preview – Surfside 16 PV Legends
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USA Jr Nationals, which will be held in Chicago at the end of June and early July, is the ultimate test to the end of the season as it will bring together all of the teams who have earned a…
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Continue ReadingUSA Jr Nationals, which will be held in Chicago at the end of June and early July, is the ultimate test to the end of the season as it will bring together all of the teams who have earned a bid to participate. These wonderful teams have proven themselves through a very long and grueling club season and will compete against other top notch teams who have earned the right to play in this prestigious tourney. We will be highlighting teams and individual players that we think you should be watching during the tourney in this series of articles. Let’s take a look at a few names to know!
Surfside 16 PV Legends will be competing in the Open Division of USA Jr Nationals. They are from the Southern California Region and have been competing in the Open division of national qualifiers all season long. They qualified in Open at the Northeast Qualifier. Here are just a few of the names to know from their talented squad.
Kaci Demaria Kaci Demaria 6'3" | OH Palos Verdes | 2025 State #7 Nation CA [2025] 6-3 Outside (HS: Palos Verdes/Club: Surfside Volleyball/Verbal: Uncommitted)
Kaci is currently the 3rd ranked overall prospect in the state according to the 2025 Prep Dig California State Rankings. She plays for Palos Verdes High School and plays club for Surfside Volleyball. I wrote an article on her in the past and here is a little refresher of what was written, “When we talk about game changing players, Kaci definitely comes to mind. She is a sure fire kill waiting to happen on the left side. She is for sure the star amongst stars for any team she plays on. Miss Demaria is no stranger to accolades as she has already burst onto the scene as a standout freshman for her high school. When I watched her play at nationals, I was blown away by her abilities. She is their go to point scorer whether she is in the front row or the back row.” Not a lot has changed when it comes to her being the “go to” hitter, except for the fact that this young lady has gotten taller and stronger. There is no doubt that she is one of, if not the most highly touted recruit in the age group. Her sheer size and raw natural power are two aspect that get noticed by every spectator in the gym, but she is a lot more than just that. Her volleyball IQ is very high and she plays the game like a seasoned pro already at a young age. Miss Demaria is a phenom that cannot be stopped on the court, she can only hope to be contained.
Kalyssa Blackshear Kalyssa Blackshear 6'4" | MB Torrance | 2025 State #58 Nation CA [2025] 6-4 Middle (HS: Torrance/Club: Surfside Volleyball/Verbal: Uncommitted)
Kalyssa is currently ranked as the 5th best overall prospect in the 2025 class according to our Prep Dig California State Rankings. She plays at Torrance High School and also club for the awesome Surfside program. Miss Blackshear has everything you want in a top tier middle. Her frame is long and strong as she uses it both offensively and defensively at the net. Her footwork is impeccable and she drives her legs hard into the ground as she runs her quick attack routes. I love how she rises up so fast and is intent on smashing the ball around the block. Because of the length in her arms and the fact that she contacts at the peak of her reach, she creates an amazing angle on the attack when she gets on top of it making it very difficult for any defender to get under it. She is a member of the ten foot club meaning she can approach touch ten feet high in the air and that is something that all college coaches will drool over. I have watched her play at the Open Level all year long and she is a force to be reckoned with. She is a point just waiting to happen out of the middle and she can totally control the net on the defensive side of the ball. Give her a look and you will not be disappointed.
Reese Stringer Reese Stringer 5'11" | S Mira Costa | 2026 State CA [2026] 5-11 Setter (HS: Mira Costa/Club: Surfside Volleyball/Verbal: Uncommitted)
Reese is currently ranked as the 3rd best overall player in the 2026 class according to our Prep Dig California State Rankings. She plays at Mira Costa High School and also club for Surfside volleyball. We have been extremely impressed with the skill set that Miss Stringer brings to the table for this very talented juggernaut. She is a younger player that is playing up but don’t sleep on her because she can hang with the big girls for sure. This is why we have her listed as the top setter in her age group, because she is a phenom. Her long frame and extensive power in her upper body allows her to battle at the net very well. As a distributor of the rock, the ball comes out of her hands so well and so smoothly. That is due to her extremely soft hands and amazing technique. This team has a high-powered offense and she is one of the main reasons why they can score on anyone. The way she moves the ball around to all of her hitters is astounding. We think she is still improving and has a very high ceiling to get even better in the setting position. Give her a look and you will definitely see what I see in her.
Other notable players for this star-studded roster are middle Danielle Rusich who runs a super fast tempo quick set in front of her setter. She truly makes it difficult for opposing middles to time her attack. Libero Olivia Foye has amazing defensive range and utilizes some great emergency techniques to keep the ball off of the ground. We will be highlighting these young ladies and others from this team in another article after the tournament. Stay tuned for more from this beast of a team who has a serious shot at standing on the podium in Chicago.
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 Michael@prepdig.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 Cali Family! Don’t be afraid to interact with us. We love the likes, shares, and quotes/comments. Keep them coming!