2026 Pins Preview: Las Vegas Classic

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Las Vegas Classic is Presidents Day's most significant event outside the Triple Crown NIT. 2026 pin hitters from Washington will be well represented, with clubs from the Evergreen State sending over forty teams to compete at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center. The tournament is in its 38th year, and college recruiters from every level will be in attendance for the first time this season. Here are several pins that are looking to hit it big in Vegas this weekend. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["251031"],"_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":"Grafton has the defensive skills to play as a DS/L and is athletic and long enough to provide solid swings from the OH spot. She has done both for a talented Aspire NW 16 squad in the early season, providing excellent passing and defense in the back row when she has played as a three rotation backrow sub. Grafton proved how impactful she can be on the outside as an attacker during the school season, lighting up teams for Kelso- including rival Prairie to the tune of 18 kills.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"Callie Hutchison","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"5'7u0022","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"32564","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"Ferris","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"CPA","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_1_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"Hutchison is an athletic outside who really brought it in the late part of the season for Ferris High School, helping the Saxons unexpectedly charge into the 3A state tournament. She will play with CPA 16 Jansen in Las Vegas in the Club Division. An undersized outside who knows how to score, Hutchison works angles and off-block to terminate, all while playing defense with hustle and determination. She plays with excellent energy and has been able to roll into club on the momentum of a terrific finish to the high school season.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["364043"],"_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":"Lee is playing tremendously in the early club season, and is poised to take a leap forward as a terminal attacker. She has added power and accuracy when swing down the line and to the hard angle, and is ripping the ball to the deep corners out of the pipe. Lee has ideal length and strength on the outside, standing 6'1u0022 with plus power. Her Sudden Impact 16-Thunder team is built to win and should have a chance to make a deep run playing in the 16 Premier Division.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["377091"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"Nichols is now 5'10u0022, and leading a competitive Club South 16 team that will compete in the 16 Premier Division in Las Vegas. The 2026 OH from Gonzaga Prep in Spokane plays six-rotations, and has added improved power to her swing. Nichols can drop in a roll shot or an off-speed tip, can hammer away from the right side and is not afraid to swing with power down the line. Her all-around game continues to grow, Nichols is playing inspired defense in the middle back and causing problems with her well located servicing.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":4,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-63f84fc60dec1"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://youtu.be/jTo9oqQNpXw?si=as7c6LbUs1aHSh5G","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/jTo9oqQNpXw?si=as7c6LbUs1aHSh5G </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">GIVE ME MORE!</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Two top-five attackers from the class of 2026 will be in Vegas:<strong> [player_tooltip player_id='243689' first='Selana' last='Morales']</strong> with Sudden Impact 16-Thunder and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='450701' first='Gabriella' last='Thompson']</strong>, who plays for Athena 16-Gold. Both are high-flying, powerful attackers with size who can pound down kills when their teams need it most. Both pin hitters had deep-state runs at the 4A tournament this fall and continued their outstanding play into the club season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We don't like to leave out our right sides- <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='244059' first='Ashlyn' last='Aaron'] </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='497506' first='Karolina' last='Flanagan'] </strong>from CPA 16 Benson are both long and athletic with a high work rate as blockers. <strong>Genesis Watkins</strong> plays with energy and bounce on the right for SIVBC, and<strong> [player_tooltip player_id='244063' first='Elizabeth' last='O'Connell'] </strong>can be a difference-maker for Renovators 16. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->