Queens of the Court: Preseason Players Who Left an Impression

The annual Queens of the Court tournament at Momentous Volleyball Club in Irvine is more than just a preseason high school tournament. It's a kickoff to the season and a celebration of rising talent, from wide-eyed freshmen to committed seniors already shaping their collegiate futures. The gym buzzed with energy, packed with athletes who brought heart, hustle, and undeniable skill to every point and at every level: Freshman, Junior Varsity, Varsity, and Elite Varsity.   Covering a tournament like this always pushes me. I wish I could sit courtside for hours, soaking in every detail and writing about every single athlete who deserves the spotlight. But weekends like this call for movement. To get eyes on as many players as possible, I have to keep moving from court to court, phone in hand, trying to capture those standout moments for our college coach followers.   Even in all the constant motion, some players still managed to stop me in my tracks. These are the athletes who left a lasting impression as the high school season begins.    [player_tooltip player_id='542713' first='Madison' last='Goodrich'] is ready for the next level. She's locked and loaded on serve receive and plays with relentless fire on defense. Fast, disciplined, and always involved, she scoops, dives, and keeps rallies alive. Her energy fuels her teammates, and her presence demands attention. If you haven't watched her yet, it's time. ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable24     [player_tooltip player_id='492164' first='Megan' last='Hodges']' next-level potential is clear, but what stood out at this tournament was her steadying impact in serve receive. She handled movement with balance and control, and her platform consistently delivered balls that kept the offense in rhythm. At the net, she an automatic wall, especially on balls hit directly at her. Her decision-making remained calm in pressure moments. Megan brings a grounded, composed presence that quietly raises the level of play around her. ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247     [player_tooltip player_id='532639' first='Mackenzie' last='Mcdaniel'] was a vocal leader who anchored the back row with precision and grit. Her communication kept her team organized, and she was always ready for the second effort. Her serve had pace and purpose, often putting opponents out of system. Mackenzie plays with high volleyball IQ and dependable consistency. ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247     [player_tooltip player_id='569580' first='Ceana' last='Schnake'] runs a fast offense with a confident touch. Her one-handed saves and quick reactions are notable under pressure. She connects with her hitters early and keeps the ball moving. Ceana brings awareness and speed to the setting position. ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247     [player_tooltip player_id='580631' first='Kendall' last='Stark'] ran a fast-paced offense with clean hands and a quick release. She showed comfort at the net and was not afraid to dump when the opportunity was there. Her ability to disguise her intent kept blockers off-balance. Kendall is a setter who knows how to keep defenses honest. ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247     [player_tooltip player_id='709153' first='Lydia' last='LeVier'] was one of the most composed liberos at the tournament. Her fast footwork and court vision kept her involved in every play. She made highlight-worthy digs look routine and kept her team in-system with clean, consistent passing. A steady presence from the service line, Lydia also showed intent and control in her zone placement. Her communication and defensive range elevated everyone around her. ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247     [player_tooltip player_id='492745' first='Kate' last='Jackson'] is a physical outside who plays with speed and control. Her ability to adjust in the air and beat the block shows both awareness and timing. She swings confidently down the line and off high hands. Kate brings a consistent offensive presence and a competitive edge that shows up in key moments. ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247     [player_tooltip player_id='482047' first='Westley' last='Matavao'] dominated at the net with well-timed blocks and heavy swings. Her footwork and technique in solo blocking situations were standout. She also showed range in her attack and made smart adjustments mid-rally. Westley plays with strength, control, and the kind of presence that anchors the entire team. Westley is verbal committed to play Division 1 volleyball at UCLA! ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247     [player_tooltip player_id='826455' first='Lailah' last='Thompson'] is a powerful middle who finishes with authority. When in rhythm, she closes quickly and gets her hands over the net with purpose. She transitions hard and makes the most of every opportunity. Lailah adds pressure to the opposing defense with her speed and timing. Lailah is verbal committed to play Division 2 volleyball at Cal State San Bernardino!~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247     [player_tooltip player_id='545961' first='Layla' last='Graham'] was one of the most impressive middles at the tournament. She tracked the ball early and positioned herself well to close the block. Her ability to read the setter with both vision and body control allowed her to make plays that disrupted rhythm. She transitioned quickly and stayed available as a scoring option. Layla brings reliable execution and sharp timing that makes her a standout in the middle. ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247     [player_tooltip player_id='500618' first='Ireland' last='Real'] is a do-it-all outside who contributes in every phase of the game. She delivers in serve receive, swings with purpose, and shows maturity in her decision-making. Her confidence is steady, and her body language reflects leadership. Ireland adds value no matter where she is in the rotation and stays locked in from first point to last. ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247     [player_tooltip player_id='455792' first='Emma' last='Kingston'] is one of the most improved players I've seen develop. Her pace, vision, and confidence are at an all-time high. With a fast arm swing and the ability to score off a variety of sets, she's become a key offensive weapon. She reads the block well, changes speeds when needed, and consistently finds ways to score. Emma plays with the kind of offensive instincts the middle position was meant for. To all the young middles out there, [player_tooltip player_id='455792' first='Emma' last='Kingston']'s style is the one to study. Emma is verbally committed to play volleyball at the University of California, Berkeley!~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247     Jordan Wilson adjusts quickly to the ball and can swing with purpose, even on imperfect sets. She finds ways to score using vision, control, and smart placement. Her ability to turn the ball across the court adds dimension to the offense. Jordan brings a mature presence that helps keep plays alive and points within reach. Jordyn is verbal commited to continue both academics and D1 beach volleyball at Cal Berkeley! ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247     [player_tooltip player_id='523224' first='Whitney' last='Port'] guarded the net with grit and determination. Her lateral speed and ability to read the set allowed her to close blocking seams and disrupt attacks. She stayed vocal in transition and fully engaged in every rally. Her competitive fire was visible on every point. Whitney brings an edge that makes her a commanding presence at the net. She's verbally committed to play Division I volleyball at Utah Valley University! ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247     [player_tooltip player_id='486781' first='Katherine' last='Nowak'] anchored serve receive with quiet consistency and passed in rhythm even under pressure. Her arm swing was efficient and repeatable, giving her team reliable production from the outside. She stayed low and fast in transition, and her shot selection gave her hitters spacing. Katherine brings momentum to the floor with her ability to stay composed and deliver. She's verbally committed to play Division I volleyball at Georgetown University! ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247     [player_tooltip player_id='454603' first='Asia' last='Udo-Ema'] is a natural playmaker who always seems to be in the right spot. Her first contact is clean, and she responds well to out-of-system moments. Offensively, she is becoming more confident and consistent. Asia brings all-around reliability and reads the game well. She's verbally committed to play Division I volleyball at Arizona! ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247     [player_tooltip player_id='533581' first='Kalea' last='Lee'] ran the offense with a calm presence and a well-timed release. Her touch on the ball was consistent, and she knew when to speed things up or slow them down. She kept hitters in rhythm and stayed composed under pressure. Kalea leads with poise and makes the court feel settled. ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247     [player_tooltip player_id='534120' first='Emma' last='Owens'] played with length and poise, showing smooth footwork and clean mechanics. She made smart decisions when swinging and showed the ability to work the ball around the block with confidence. Her connections with the middle were fluid and consistent. Defensively, she touched balls at the net and was quick to reset into transition. Emma impacts both tempo and rhythm with how she plays. ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247     [player_tooltip player_id='228678' first='Layli' last='Ostovar'] is all work, all game long. She doesn't need the spotlight to make an impact. Her steady effort, strong communication, and smart decisions show up on every play. Layli contributes wherever she's needed and brings a sense of dependability to the court. She's verbally committed to play Division I indoor and beach volleyball at USC! ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247     [player_tooltip player_id='601655' first='Catherine' last='Beadles'] keeps the offense moving with steady tempo and solid decision-making. She connects with her go-to hitters and doesn't overcomplicate her game. Her footwork to the ball is clean, and she remains balanced even on tight passes. Catherine brings control and calm to the court and allows her team to stay in system. ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247     [player_tooltip player_id='492684' first='Samantha' last='Capinpin'] delivered tough, controlled serves and clean, hittable sets. She consistently moved her feet and adjusted to tough passes with ease. Her setting decisions were smart and well-timed. Samantha provides reliability and sharp execution as a floor leader. Sam is verbally committed to play D1 volleyball at California State University, Bakersfield! ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247     Charlotte McCully's growth is clear in both her court presence and execution. She moves with confidence and stays engaged in each play. Her ability to hold her position and contribute in rhythm adds depth to her team. Charlotte is a key contributor through effort and consistency. ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247    Cydnee Bryant, 2026- Centennial/Corona   Cydnee brings athleticism and presence to every rally. Her jump serve has both velocity and control, consistently putting opponents out-of-system. Her natural quickness shows up across her game. A standout dual-sport athlete with strong crossover potential and fast reaction time, Cydnee is a competitor in every sense. I truly hope that when she chooses a school for basketball, she'll also be suiting up for indoor volleyball. ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">If you enjoyed this article, please help us keep the momentum going!</h3>   <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-full"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/04/image_b3bd7c.png" alt="" class="wp-image-770392" /></figure>     ✨ Help a player get discovered — share this article using the share buttons and tag us on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/prepdigca/?hl=en">PrepDigCa</a>!   <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-full is-resized"><a href="https://prepdig.com/subscribe/"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/04/image_ff10cb.png" alt="" class="wp-image-770394" style="width:98px;height:auto" /></a></figure>   🚀 <a href="https://prepdig.com/my-account/subscriptions/">Upgrade to a PrepDig+ Subscription</a> — exclusive rankings, in-depth analysis, and access to the full <a href="https://prepdig.com/prospect-index/">prospect index</a>.     <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />   Throughout August, as tryouts, preseason training, and early matches unfold, high school players enter a critical stretch of growth, leadership, and visibility. 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The annual Queens of the Court tournament at Momentous Volleyball Club in Irvine is more than just a preseason high school tournament. It's a kickoff to the season and a celebration of rising talent, from wide-eyed freshmen to committed seniors already shaping their collegiate futures. The gym buzzed with energy, packed with athletes who brought heart, hustle, and undeniable skill to every point and at every level: Freshman, Junior Varsity, Varsity, and Elite Varsity.