Red Rock Rave Standout Players – Class of 2026 (Nevada)
This past weekend, the Red Rock Rave Junior National Qualifier was held in Las Vegas, NV. Hundreds of teams and thousands of players fought hard to earn a bid to the Nationals. Of course this tournament was not only about winning, but…
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Continue ReadingThis past weekend, the Red Rock Rave Junior National Qualifier was held in Las Vegas, NV. Hundreds of teams and thousands of players fought hard to earn a bid to the Nationals. Of course this tournament was not only about winning, but also getting a chance to put your skills to the test and play with different levels of competition.
Now that Red Rock Rave is over, I put together a list of standout players from Nevada club teams that you absolutely need to know. The class of 2026, current sophomores, had a ton of talent and it was very hard to narrow it down to just a few.
However, here are a few girls that I either got a chance to see live in person or on BallerTV.
Layla Driscoll
Layla Driscoll
I got a chance to watch Layla set in person at Red Rock Rave and was very impressed by her advanced decision-making skills. I had no idea when I looked up the roster that I’d be finding out she was only a sophomore. Driscoll makes it very difficult for opponents to read her and as soon as they think they have her figured out, she will dump the ball right into an open spot on the opponent’s side. Furthermore, she sets her players up for success with excellent decision-making and ball placement. Playing up on the Dig This! 18 National Black team, Layla has ample time to further refine her skills over the next couple of years. I’m already declaring her one of the top setters in her class and look forward to following her career further.
Rachel Purser
Rachel Purser
Rachel shines as a middle blocker at state runner up, Coronado High School, but I’ve seen additional film of her putting it down just as hard outside and she currently plays right side with her club team. A few things I noticed about the 6’3” sophomore immediately was her fast armswing, how quick she transitioned off the net and impressive vertical. Those attributes combined allow Rachel to score very quickly against her opponents before they can get a chance to read her or get a good block set. Not to mention, she plays just as hard on defense. Her Vegas Aces 17UA squad fought hard at the tournament and finished a commendable 5th place in the gold bracket. I’m excited to watch this outstanding athlete’s volleyball journey.
Julie Beckham
Julie Beckham
When I initially scouted Julie, she was playing for the Top Flight 15 National team, however, by Red Rock Rave, she had transitioned to playing with her club’s 17s team. That alone speaks volumes about her talent and volleyball IQ. Despite being only a sophomore, Julie demonstrates advanced skills and has that contagious energy on the court that teams thrive on. Beckham proved to be a threat both on the front row and the back row, impressing me greatly with her versatility and all-around game. I was able to see her execute several strategic kills, well-timed tips and crucial digs, helping to keep her team alive in tough matches. Julie held her own against the older players and was one of the most explosive hitters I saw in action at the tournament. I look forward to following the remainder of her volleyball journey and expect her to be a top prospect coming out of her class.
Ayanna Watson, the 2023 Nevada Gatorade Volleyball Player of the Year, dominated the entire Red Rock Rave weekend. Her performance further solidified her status as a standout player in Nevada and possibly the best player in the nation in my opinion. Ayanna had numerous uncontested kills, key digs and hustle plays at Red Rock Rave. Her contributions were crucial to her and the highly talented Vegas Aces 16UA team’s first-place finish in Gold, securing their bid to Nationals. Watson may only be a sophomore, but the Nevada state champ and state leader in kills has accomplished a lot in a short period of time and is an absolute stud. Her continuous commitment to excellence, paired with her height, vertical and high-level skills sets her apart from the majority of players in her class. There’s no doubt that the D1 offers are about to start rolling in very soon for this impressive player, if not already. I will be following the remainder of Ayanna’s career in club and school volleyball closely.