Day One Recap: Redland’s Rising Stars

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Day 1 of the Redland Rendezvous is in the books, and the intensity inside the Bennett Center was palpable. With bracket play set to kick off tomorrow, the competition is heating up, and everyone is eager to see who will come out on top. As we gear up for another intense day of volleyball, it's the perfect time to spotlight a few players who caught my eye on Saturday. These athletes showed skill, grit, and determination. Here are the standouts who made Day 1 unforgettable.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='750107' first='Naomi' last='Ross']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2028","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'0u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"32926","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Victory Christian School","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Oklahoma Charge Volleyball Club 16 UA Tulsa","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","fullHeight":false,"anchor":"acf-block-67796858206ac"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='750107' first='Naomi' last='Ross']</strong> is a DS/L with a passion and discipline for the sport. When playing, it is clear that Naomi puts time into her craft. She is disciplined in her footwork on defense, in her serve-receive angles, and with her out-of-system passing. Today, we saw her technique shine through during intense pool play in the 17/18s open division. As a freshman, Naomi is well beyond the typical skill level for her age. Naomi showed grit and determination in the back row today, not allowing much to fall before she snuck under it. Her performance is a testament to her hard work and love for the game. Her team (Charge 16 UA Tulsa) is a must-stop by court in the gold bracket tomorrow. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":739269,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Lilly Wilcox","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2028","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'8u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"32561","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Crossings Christian School","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Oklahoma Charge Volleyball Club 15-1 South","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6779678df145c"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700"><strong>Lilly Wilcox</strong> is as offensive of a setter as you can find. Lilly is aggressive at the net, dumping and swinging lefthanded often. When teams play her, they have to stay on their toes not knowing if she will set up her hitters or simply attack herself. Lilly is also a skilled setter with excellent timing and location. She seems to be able to make a play out of any pass. She is tall so the tight balls don't bother her- she simply jumps and dimes it to her hitters. Lilly stays at the net to help on overpasses and makes sure she doesn't get too eager to set. On day one she led her team to the gold bracket and will surely excel there tomorrow!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":739271,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Blayke Cummins","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2029","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'7u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"32564","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Edmond Memorial High School","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"[program_tooltip program_id='505790' first='Oklahoma' last='Peak Performance'] 15-3","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6779678df150f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700"><strong>Blayke Cummins</strong> is a dynamic OH with a lot of power. A 2029 graduate, Blayke is an impressive addition to the 15s division. She utilizes her heavy arm to send hard-driven attacks that challenge opposing defenses. Teams struggle against her simply because of her power. She has a knack for finding seams in the block, turning tough situations into scoring opportunities with her court awareness. Defensively, Blayke excels at playing off-blocker defense, positioning herself perfectly to make plays and keep rallies alive and remembering to dig first before transitioning out. On day one, Blayke's tool kit was on full display, and it will be exciting to see how she and her team do tomorrow!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":739272,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Caroline Graham","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'11u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"32925","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Choctaw High School","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Oklahoma Charge South 18-1","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6779678df15a3"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700"><strong>Caroline Graham</strong> is a versatile RS hitter with a lot of power behind her swings. She displayed a wide variety of shots today including short tips over the block, dunks in the middle of the court, running a 2 out of serve receive on set plays, and the classic Mac attack. Caroline was impressive today on off-blocker defense making sure she put herself in a position to contribute to the beginning of the play as well as ending it with a kill. She was impressive in both cross-court seams and seams down the line. As a lefty, she was able to turn the ball and keep the opposing defense guessing. She will be on my list of people to check out at Redlands Day 2 and she should be on yours as well. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["734744"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":739273,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6779678df1630"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='734744' first='Sophia' last='Carollo'] is an OH with a heavy arm and a good attitude. Sophia was crucial in Virago 15-1's upsets and advancements today. Her team came in ranked last in the pool and finished 2nd, advancing them to the gold bracket. As their starting OH, Sophia came out with a massive torque and arm swing, giving her attacks a ridiculous amount of power. She is also a very bouncy attacker, using her vertical to reach and swing over opposing blockers. Sophia's court awareness and IQ stood out to me as she was appropriately shotty and tricky with plays. She excelled today, tooling the block, recycling poor sets, and using power to her advantage. Sophia and Virago 15-1's are in a good position to upset the entire tournament seeding tomorrow, and I cannot wait to watch. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Stay tuned for more articles on Oklahoma's finest volleyballers! If you have anyone you think we should watch, please e-mail me at abisnailjoy@gmail.com. To help these athletes get exposure, please repost and share this article on your social media and with family and friends.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->