Top Performers: USA All-Star Championships Day 1

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The four women's teams from the Pacific Northwest were all in action on day one of the USA All Star Championships in Ft. Lauderdale today. The Puget Sound Region has two boys teams in action as well, the 17U and 15U boys play in a combined 17/15 National Division, the competition for the men of the PNW looks to be extremely tough! </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 15U team from the<strong><em> Evergreen Region</em></strong> posted a 1-1 record on the day, losing 3-1 against Florida and sweeping to a 3-0 victory over the NCR Nike All Stars 15 squad. It was not an easy battle against NCR in the 15U International Division, the Evergreen All-Stars had to work hard, winning the third set 28-26. Let's take a look at three standouts for the team.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["288679"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"The California native is a big addition to the Evergreen All-Stars. McBride was able to search out a squad for the Championships as her home region did not field a team. A family connection between coaches brought her to Spokane for the Selection camp and that was it! She is one of the top-rated Prep Dig players in the 2026 class for California, a 6'0u0022 setter and attacker who played well in the 6-2 with u003cstrongu003eNoella Miglouriu003c/strongu003e from Gonzaga Prep today. The two setters each attacked from the front row, and set from the back, McBride showed a big arm finding the deep corner to score in transition and terminating out-of-system balls as well. She will run down balls as a setter and has the soft hands and control to still give her attackers a set to work with when she is at a full sprint. A big kill from McBride on the outside kept NCR at bay late in the third set.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64b9fcb2747e1"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://youtu.be/AADPGHk_Cpk","type":"video","providerNameSlug":"youtube","responsive":true,"className":"wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://youtu.be/AADPGHk_Cpk </div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='288679' first='Ava' last='McBride'] Highlights</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Leah Greeney | 6'0" MB | Pullman</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Greeney played with strength in the middle, controlling jousts and 50/50 balls at the net. Middles have to serve and play defense with the international rules and she hit a hard float deep into the court to keep the defense working, then showed an excellent platform and feel when playing defense. A young middle does not always show fundamentally sound passing ability, Greeney has spent some<em> serious</em> time in the gym working on her overall game. There is a big ceiling to explore for this powerful and athletic player.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='461185' first='Macie' last='Smart'] | 5'9" OH | 2027 Cashmere</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The soon-to-be freshman from Central Washington passed nails in serve receive, and played with a high volleyball IQ in the middle back. Smart backed up and angled her platform on deep serves, delivering the goods to her setters so they could keep the Evergreen offense in rhythm. The lefty may be a natural right side, but she operated well from the outside today, blasting swings off hands and combining with her middles on some monster blocks. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>The Puget Sound Region 15U </em></strong>team delivered 2 victories on the day, rolling over the All-Stars from the Arizona and Gulf Coast Regions in the 15 National Division. The team is loaded with up and coming prospects from the Westside of the state, here are a few with great efforts today. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["328292"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Swapp was a steady defender and attacker on the day, she does not make many mistakes and played calm and smart. The Arizona Region team tried to test her in serve receive, but Swapp was up to it, dropping in good balls to her setters. She is reading the attackers and showing solid vision, Swapp was noticeably moving from behind the block when playing the back row, maximizing her ability to make a play.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["243689"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"Morales as an attacker was just too much to handle on day one! The big timer from Dakine was taking huge swings, and defenders had little chance to handle the heat. Setters u003cstrongu003eKathryn Harrisu003c/strongu003e andu003cstrongu003e Maya Quitiquitu003c/strongu003e found her in good matchups and Morales put racked-up kills with authority. When she dropped a tip perfectly over the top of the block, it just didn't seem fair.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["275058"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"You know you have a healthy libero rotation when u003cstrongu003e[player_tooltip player_id='275058' first='Charlize' last='Espinosa']u003c/strongu003e, u003cstrongu003e[player_tooltip player_id='251023' first='Elaina' last='Duong'],u003c/strongu003e and u003cstrongu003e[player_tooltip player_id='251026' first='Kaitlyn' last='Nguyen'] u003c/strongu003eare all on the roster. We will focus on Espinosa here, she was assertive and was the winner of the mythical u0022most high fives givenu0022 award for the day. When the libero is keeping the team energized and talking it up, you usually see a successful squad. Espinosa isn't just talking, she is playing hard; delivering solid sets from her platform and running down balls to the corner.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":3,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64b9fcb2748d1"} /-->