Big Guns at Big South: Day 2, 16 Open

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Be sure to follow&nbsp;@lshotvb&nbsp;on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/lshotvb/">Instagram</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@lshotvb?is_from_webapp=1&amp;sender_device=pc">Tik Tok&nbsp;</a>and&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/LineShotVBall">Twitter</a>&nbsp;for all things volleyball!</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>–</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>And just like that, we're onto Day 3 of the Big South Qualifier.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 16 Open division is bringing all the heat! If there's something to be said about this 16s age group, it is that it is stacked in this southeast portion of the country. From the Carolinas and down to Florida, there is some mega-talent and lots of it. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Luckily for us, it's on full display here in Atlanta. Let's take a look at some of the big guns firing off at Big South on Day 2 in the 16 Open.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">16 Open</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Gracison Saylors - A5</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Starting off the day at the A5 court, Gracison Saylors was having herself a day. Virtually everything she touched was turning into gold. Saylors works so well off the net in transition and has impeccable placement with her attacks.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Clara Briley - A5</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This player gives this team a lot of steadiness in the ball control department. A six rotation baller for A5, Clara Briley does a really good job with her first contact and then taking out the trash. Briley may be one of the strongest out of system attackers at Big South.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Genevieve Harris - NC Academy </h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Genevieve Harris is coming off of a really exciting weekend. After a big showcase at UA Next, Harris has set Academy up nicely to walk away with a bid this weekend. Her and her squad are 5-1 thus far and have really strong possibility of coming out of the gold medal pools tomorrow morning.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Taylor Bruce - NC Academy</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>You got to love a high flying lefty opposite, at least I do. Add Taylor Bruce to your list of terminal players on the right side. Seemingly every time Bruce entered the match, the team would go on a run of points off of her sheer scoring nature.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Kate DeZurik - NC ACademy</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This wouldn't be your typical NC Academy team without a really high level libero. Kate DeZurik is one of those players. Taking over a lot of court space, DeZurik does a nice job managing her load well. Her first touch on the ball really takes this group to another level.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Ella Grimes - Elevation</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Another standout libero in this 16 Open division, Ella Grimes is a baller! Upon stepping onto the court for warm-ups, I caught Grimes ripping away at some balls like a seasoned attacker. Nonetheless, Grimes as a libero offers up a lot of dynamic play to this Elevation team. Mostly seen in middle back, she can cover corner to corner like no tomorrow.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Makenna Kirlin - Elevation </h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Alongside Harris, Makenna Kirlin may be one of my new favorite setters to watch in this age group. Kirlin's wingspan and ability to run her offense so smoothly makes her a really elite level player. She really impressed me with her ability to make clever plays into big scoring opportunities.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Kendall Northern - Elevation</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kendall Northern is coming off of earning one of the five MVP nods at this week's UA Next camp. Now, she's on a mission to get that bid. Let me tell you, when Northern gets in the air and good grasp of the ball, it is a goner. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Sidney Sprada - Elevation</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>When you have an outlet attacker like Sidney Sprada that can place the ball about anywhere on the court, you're in seriously good hands. Sprada is one of those pins that can make the hard balls look like in-system dimes. She tracks the ball so well and does a phenomenal job at taking it on at her apex. This causes so many issues for opposing defenders.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Ryea Jackson - IMG</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In it's first year, IMG has been turning quite the few heads in the club world. This morning Ryea Jackson really caught my eye. Bringing the boom and a quick presence to the middle, Jackson was a go-to option and did well with her opportunities.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Emma Frietch - NKYVC</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This player may be a personal favorite 'bro from this 2026 class. Again, she never fails to impress. Emma Frietch covers so much ground and can take some of the biggest of swings and make them look easy. This is a really talented NKYVC group that starts with Frietch.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading"> [player_tooltip player_id='368391' first='Kirsten' last='Kemper'] - NKYVC</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This player is the epitome of what it means to be a setter. Kirsten Kemper is a playmaker! There were quite a few plays today that Kemper made that had me going "wow"! She's the type of player that no matter where, what scenario, she is going to better the ball.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Audrey Dyas - NKYVC</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There is so many good middles in this 2026 class and you're looking at one of the best in Audrey Dyas. This player really has the complete game under her belt and can take over a match. One of the toughest blockers at Big South, Dyas packs an even more serious punch offensively. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Anna Vertin - Northeast </h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This is a new club on my radar out of Connecticut. There's a lot of untapped gems in this group. One of the most promising, Anna Vertin in the middle is an excellent point of reference. A steady player, she brings a lot of athleticism and finds the court really well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Kiara Copeland - Northeast</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Alongside some of the standouts, Kiara Copeland is an impressive 'bro from Northeast. A stalwart of a defender and receiver, I was really liking Copelands out of system. She puts up a solid ball with every touch.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Cara Lehmitz - Northeast</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Out on the pin, Cara Lehmitz was really showing off her chops against some of the best pins in the country. She has a nice first contact and follows it up with a lot of pace on her swings.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Sarah Quarelis - WF Waves</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The talent out of Florida in this 2026 class is absolutely insane. This was my first time seeing West Florida Waves in action and I really liked what I saw. Sarah Quarelis is a name that should be put onto everyone's radar. A solid 6'2 kid in the middle, Quarelis is a promising blocker with a lot of prowess in her attacks.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Isabel Bertelsen - Winter Park</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This team is having themselves a weekend. And one of the players that are really shining in Winter Park's current 6-0 streak is Isabel Bertelsen at libero. A real scrappy piece in the back row, she's all over any ball coming over the net. She takes control of the court and her defense really shines in the critical moments.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Isabelle Umpierre - Winter Park</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The go-to attacker on this squad is the lefty supreme on the right pin, Isabelle Umpierre. This girl really knows how to put the hammer down. Whether it be at the net, out of the D ball in the back row, or from the back line with her heavy top spin. Umpierre is one of those players with a motor that never lets up.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->