UNLV Commit Shares Insights with Prospects of the Class of 2026

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sophomore year in high school is a period brimming with anticipation and excitement. NCAA Division 1 and Division 2 volleyball coaches can contact athletes starting June 15 after an athlete's sophomore year of high school. The time leading up to this date is a time for maximum exposure.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='382780' first='Maya' last='Banks'], a 6'1 junior Opposite/Outside from Chino Hills High School has already committed to her dream school, UNLV. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I reached out to Maya, and she graciously shared her insights for the benefit of our readers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["382780"],"_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":"Maya known for her loud, outgoing, energetic, and encouraging personality is what sets her apart from similar talent. Maya's advice to our readers is to do your research on the school, coaches, and players. Keep your options open, and make sure the school supports you in all areas. Continue to send films and emails to the programs you are interested in, communication is key. For [player_tooltip player_id='382780' first='Maya' last='Banks'], UNLV offered more than just volleyball. Maya commented on the relationship that she built with the coaching staff. “It wasn't just about volleyball, they took the time to get to know me as a person, not just as an athlete. The diversity and culture of the team was also very important.u0022","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["394276"],"_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":"Meet [player_tooltip player_id='394276' first='Bridget' last='Blu'], an outside hitter from Mira Costa High School in Manhattan Beach. At 6 feet tall, she's a formidable outside hitter known for her exceptional skills and leadership. Bridget's ability to shine under pressure and her natural talent for uplifting her teammates make her a true leader on the court. Off the court, she has a fun and playful personality, but once she steps onto the court, she transforms into a u0022smartu0022 player with a high volleyball IQ. Her offensive skills include an impressive eye for court openings and a remarkable ability to adapt, hitting accurately even in challenging situations. Bridget's back flight allows her to elevate her attacks. Bridget's reliable serve-receive passing in the back row further solidifies her as a well-rounded player. With her transition to the Actyve 16-1 team, Bridget is ready to make her mark on a bigger stage.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":473202,"_player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"Makenna Crosson","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"6'3u0022","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"32564","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"Archbishop Mitty","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_2_player_details_club_team":"Vision Volleyball Club","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_2_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"Meet Makenna Crosson, the 6'3 outside hitter from Archbishop Mitty in San Jose. Known for her composed on-court demeanor, Makenna thrives in high-stress situations without being overly emotional. She leads her team through her actions rather than words, excelling as a hitter with a smooth approach and precise hand contact on the ball. Makenna's court vision allows her to make strategic shots, be it down the line or cross-court, and she navigates the block effectively. In addition to her offensive skills, she is a disciplined passer. Makenna's dedication to her game is evident in her proactive approach of reaching out to coaches with highlights to express her interest in their programs. Notably, she played in a higher age group last season, instead of playing 15's, she played 17's, which helped raise her profile. This club season, you can find her on the court with Vision Volleyball Club.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["467443"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_player_featured_image":473201,"_player_evaluations_3_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='467443' first='Samantha' last='Sabaot'], a 5'1 setter/defensive specialist at Mater Dei Catholic High School in San Diego, is best described as driven. She leads her team on the court with an unwavering dedication and hustle to get to every ball. Samantha displays strong competitiveness and a resilient mindset while running the offense and is always ready to give her all. In preparation for the club season and to enhance her skills and opportunities, she's committed to private lessons, studying college volleyball, and diligently reviewing game footage to gauge her understanding of new techniques and areas for improvement. In the upcoming season, Samantha will be playing for [program_tooltip program_id='429485' first='Point' last='Break'] Volleyball Club under the guidance of Coach Troy Lake.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["470854"],"_player_evaluations_4_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"Meet [player_tooltip player_id='470854' first='Brighton' last='Richards'], a 5'5 Libero/DS hailing from Rancho Christian in Temecula. Brighton's standout talent lies in her exceptional footwork, enabling her to adeptly track the ball during serve receive and defensive plays. Whether she's in passing or defensive mode, Brighton's unwavering hustle and preparedness are undeniable. Notably, her remarkable skill in covering for her hitters often goes unnoticed. She is dedicated to continually refining her passing skills, especially as a libero, and has earned invitations to Division 1 camps from prestigious programs such as Long Beach State and Stanford. This club season, you can witness her remarkable skills in action with the Forza1 Volleyball Club Team on 16-1 Poyer.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_player":["391095"],"_player_evaluations_5_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_5_player_featured_image":473197,"_player_evaluations_5_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"Sam Krystkowiak, a 6'0u0022 Rightside (Oppo) hailing from Torrey Pines in San Diego, possesses remarkable skills in her long approach and quick snap on the ball, making her a dynamic force on the volleyball court. Her athleticism enables her to excel even with out-of-system sets, showcasing impeccable control and timing. Sam's performance is not only impressive but also incredibly enjoyable to watch. Beyond her offensive talents, she excels in tracking on blocking, passing on serve receive, and serving up aces. In preparation for the upcoming club season and her aspirations to play college volleyball, Sam plans to attend college games, practice daily with her high school team, work with a new coach to refine her skills and adapt to their coaching tactics, create recruiting videos, and maintain her impressive 4.0+ GPA. This season, Sam will be playing club with [program_tooltip program_id='429377' first='Coast' last='Volleyball Club'].","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":6,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-653f5a536dbfc"} /-->