Rise N Roar Tournament Standouts

Over this last weekend Millennium High School hosted their annual Rise N Roar tournament at their school. 16 teams all from the big school divisions competed in this highly competitive tournament. We saw 11 out of the 16 teams ranked in our last rankings attend the tournament, and top 5A contender Sunrise Mountain taking the whole thing. Sunrise Mountain played Sandra Day O'Connor in the final with a score of 2-1. The other finishers in gold were Liberty taking 3rd, and Sunnyslope taking 4th. Lastly Corona Del Sol were the winners of the Silver Bracket finishing 5th overall, Centennial won the Bronze to finish 9th, and Verrado won the Copper to 13th.   While the team competition was intense and exciting to watch, we wanted to take some time to talk about some standouts from the tournament who really stood out to us. These are players from all different teams in the tournament and not just the gold bracket standouts. With so much depth and talent at this tournament you can find some of the best players throughout the each of the brackets.   Without further ado, here are some of the standouts:    Lily had a great tournament, being one of the key members of the championship team. Lily had the offense humming averaging over 12.5 assist a set throughout the 6 matches that Sunrise Mountain had during the tournament.   She wasn't just doing well with her sets, she also did well with her defense and timely kills shots as well. She average over 4 digs a set and 1 kill a set on top of the 12.5 assists a set. She had a all around great tournament and kept defenses guessing with her tempo and offensive game as well.   Lily did a great job spreading the ball around and keeping teams guessing where the ball was going so blockers couldn't get to their hitters as well. Her ability to locate hitters in transition and still deliver a tempo ball to all locations on the floor is what really separated her as well.   It was easy to see why this top level setter is a standout for this tournament. Her exceptional decision making and all around game was a big reason why she stood out and a even bigger reason as to why her team won the championship.     A all-tournament selection at the Rise N Roar we find this 2027 libero from Sunnyslope as one of the standouts for all passers in this tourney. Emma is a very athletic libero who really stood out to us with her explosiveness to the ball and ability to read hitters early.   Her first contact this tournament was elite, and made even easier by the fact that she read serves early and got to postions early to make high level contact each time. She made clear angles and controled the seams well in serve receive to keep Sunnyslope in system and rythem more ofthen then not.   She used her quick reaction and footwork to get great reads on hitters throughout the tournament. She was able to pick up on tips, line shots, hard angles, and setter dumps. She seemed to be anticipating and reading hitters so well she was there before the ball left the hitters hand it seemed like. Along those lines her serve receive she would provide high, smooth, and efficient passes to the setter to have them be in system throughout the matches for her offense to generate points.   Overall Emma was a key cog in the Sunnyslope teams run to a top 4 finish, and a easy selection for one of the standouts this tournament. Be on the lookout for her in the coming months!     Kaiya was another all tourney selection from the tournament who stood out with her exceptional play at the net. Kaiya average almost 2.5 kills a set and was the go to offensive weapon for the Eagles during pool play. She hit an astonishing .400 throughout pool play and was very powerful with her swings, but also showed poise and vision by hitting open spots on the floor when the dfense started to adjust to her.   Not only did she do well with her offense game, she was also a complete 6 rotation outside with her defense and most impressively her serve receive. Throughout the 6 matches she played, and over 76 receptions in serve receive she only had 1 error. She continually helped keep her offense in system even when she wasn't a part of it. Her passing, offense, and defense were all exceptional throughout the tournament helping lead the Eagles to the championship match.   Kaiya was a big reason that the Eagles were in the Championship match for this tournament and her all around game made her an easy standout player for the Rise N Roar. We look forward to see Kaiya continue these standout performances as the playoffs approach.     Bailey was also a member of the all tournament team at Rise N Roar for the Jaguars. She was one of the top offensive threats for Canyon View throughout the tourney, constantly terminating balls and providing side outs at important junctions of the match.   Her offense was nearly unstoppable at times, as she was able to hit from all spot in the front row and had great court vision to see where openings were. In multiple matches she would be able to crush a ball to a deep corner and throw in a tip right afterward. In another match it might be running a quick followed by a deep tip to the corner. Her vision and shot selection were next level and a big reason why she is always at a high hitting percentage and kill percentage.   Bailey can also contribute with her serving and blocking as well, she was able to log multiple aces throughout the tournament along with keeping teams out of system with her float serves. Even when teams could return her serve they weren't always in system or able to run the offense they wanted to as well. In moments they were able to run their offense when she wasn't serving, Bailey was a big force and block at the net. Team usually tried to hit around her and when teams tried to go through her, they paid for it with her getting the block.   A middle who contributed with her offense, defense, and serving makes her an easy selection for the stand outs from this tournament.     Sienna was a constant presence for the Huskies in this tournament. She was the model of being a consistent all around player who could contribute with her offense, defense, or serving.   One area she really stood out with her serving. Sienna has a hard jump float that is super aggressive and difficult to stay in system with. Multiple times throughout the tournament that ball would move and cause havoc on the opposing side. It seemed like she was at the serving line for multiple points in a row each set, giving her team some much need cushion each time she went back.   Her offensive game was effective for Horizon as well. She did a great job on the outside putting balls away with her heavy arm swing. She was able to beat the block and the defenders with how hard and fast she was swinging. Besides the numbers and physical ability she seems to be a leader out on the floor. She was always loud and one of the first to celebrate with her teammates after each point. It seemed her teammates would look to her in tough situations and she would be a calming presence to help her teammates remain focus and work for the side out.   Based off her leadership, athleticism, and physicality it is easy to see why she was chosen for the all-tournament team and why she is an easy pick for our stand outs of the tournament.     Adelyn had a great tournament for Corona Del Sol, running a very fast and effective offense for them throughout the tourney to help lead them to the Silver Championship.   Adelyn averaged close to 9 assist a set for the Aztecs as she seamlessly set balls to her pins hitters from all over the floor. Her connections with her middles are also exceptional, it always seemed like the middles had perfect sets and would terminate on command because of it. Her decision making was also elite as she was able to read the defense and know when they were camping out on certain hitters to get the ball to the one on one match ups.   She should a lot of poise and leadership being a setter for the #2 team in 6A. Her energy was great and she always wanted to cheer on her teammates when they did something well. On a team with so many great players she really stood out with how well she handled herself and with her energy and passion. The physical abilities are there, but what made her standout was all the little things coaches look for (energy, communication, poise) as she did all that at a high level.   Adelyn is a top level setter and her hitters are the beneficiaries of her elite abilities. She was easily one of the best setters at the tournament and was able to stand out with her high level game play and court IQ. We look forward to seeing her jump in the rankings for 2027 prospects when the update comes out!     Anela was a top level libero at the tourney this weekend as she demonstrated her defense by getting so many touches and getting Pinnacle in system throughout the tournament.   Averaging over 5.4 digs a set, she was a force to be reckoned with by her ability to anticipate and react so well to opposing teams and their offense attacks. She was always reading the hitters and getting her feet to the ball to create a solid platform that made it easy to pass to the setter to keep her team in system most of the weekend. Her footwork was second to none as she was able to effectively and quickly move from defense to overage back to defense and always seemed to pick up the tip or dump when it happened.   In serve and serve receive she did great with her ability to keep teams out of system with aggressive serves and would place them super effectively when needed short or to the corners. Her serve receive was excellent as she was able to get a solid pass off whether it was right at her or if she needed to take the seam ball. She basically was able to take up half the court with her serve receive which is what all coaches want out of their libero.   It is always hard to find liberos that stand out however Anela was an easy choice with her exceptional play this weekend. We look forward to seeing this 2027 libero play more the rest of the season!     Makenna really stood out as a offensive threat for the Lions this weekend. She was dominate with her offense game, as any time she was in the front row the ball seemed to work its way to her. She could hit from all locations on the floor, especially from both pins.   She also did a great job with her blocking, getting multiple impact blocks throughout each match. She would also get good block touches on almost all blocks, anticipating and reading hitters very well. She has a high vertical and was able to meet the ball at its highest point to penetrate the net to get those blocks and block touches.   I will say although she has a strong offensive and defensive game she really showed her all around ability by being able to serve and serve receive at a high level. When a lefty can hit from all positions in the front row, block, serve, and serve receive... you really see a rare blend of an all around player. She could play any position for Liberty if they needed her to. She has the rare ability to be a place holder in a pinch if needed because she is highly impactful when she touches the ball. Her court IQ is just another assest to her as she is able to hit all angles with her serve and offensive game.   Liberty really has a ton of weapons to choose from but Makenna really stands out above the rest when you go watch them play. If you haven't seen them play make sure to find a night to see this high level athlete before she leaves for the college game.

Over this last weekend Millennium High School hosted their annual Rise N Roar tournament at their school. 16 teams all from the big school divisions competed in this highly competitive tournament. We saw 11 out of the 16 teams ranked in our last rankings attend the tournament, and top 5A contender Sunrise Mountain taking the whole thing. Sunrise Mountain played Sandra Day O'Connor in the final with a score of 2-1. The other finishers in gold were Liberty taking 3rd, and Sunnyslope taking 4th. Lastly Corona Del Sol were the winners of the Silver Bracket finishing 5th overall, Centennial won the Bronze to finish 9th, and Verrado won the Copper to 13th.