Fiesta MLK Preview

The club season is going to start flying now that we hit our first 3 day tournament! In AZ, the MLK tournament is always a good early season barometer as to where some teams stand. It provides multiple division for the older groups and gives us a chance to see the best of the best play each other in a highly competitive environment.   We will take some time to preview some teams we are excited to see this weekend, along with some athletes we want to see! We also are going to give some predictions but this tournament does bring a lot of surprises. If you have some time this weekend feel free to stop by one of the 7 sites in AZ that is hosting this tournament. I would encourage you to be ASU on Monday, as that is where the open finals are going to be held for all age groups.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">17/18 OPEN</h2>   Teams we are excited to see:   AZ Sky 17 Gold- This 17 team is a good one to watch, and will be a team to watch to make a run at the finals. This team is littered with top talent from the class of 2027 and should make it to the gold bracket with their talent. Leading the charge for them is setter [player_tooltip player_id='881806' first='Hailey' last='Johnston'] who is running a very effective and smooth offense. She was one of the standouts last week at Open 1 and should continue that trend this week. <a href="https://prepdig.com/player/ashlyn-quiri/">[player_tooltip player_id='749268' first='Ashlyn' last='Quiri']</a>, <a href="https://prepdig.com/player/berkley-france/">[player_tooltip player_id='808453' first='Berkley' last='France']</a>, and <a href="https://prepdig.com/player/riley-rooney/">[player_tooltip player_id='518443' first='Riley' last='Rooney']</a> lead a potent 3 headed attack for this Sky team. The versatility of these 3 is evident when watching them play as they can all hit from both pins, play 6 rotations, and serve/serve receive with the best of them. The ability to have such weapons to do it all makes them a team to watch this weekend for sure.   AZ Rev 17 Premier- This Revolution team is full of D1 talent. The bench on this team would probably be one of the better teams in open as well, that is the kind of depth we are talking. What sets this team apart first if the play of libero [player_tooltip player_id='808362' first='Annabelle' last='Cummings']. She is one of the top liberos in the state for 2028 and is playing up with this loaded team. She is able to get the team going with her elite level defense and serve receive. When this Rev team is in system not a lot of teams can slow it down with this front row. At the net for them is <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/17228974/Isabella-Stojkovic" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">[player_tooltip player_id='523986' first='Isabella' last='Stojkovic']</a>, <a href="https://prepdig.com/player/kristen-sheehy/">[player_tooltip player_id='781999' first='Kristen' last='Sheehy']</a>, and <a href="https://prepdig.com/player/lauren-forelli/">[player_tooltip player_id='806274' first='Lauren' last='Forelli']</a> all 3 are ranked in the top 5 for the class of 2027. You can't stop all 3 of these girls, let alone slow any of them down and having all 3 of them on the same team is really just unfair against most teams.   Players we will want to watch (not mentioned above):   <a href="https://prepdig.com/player/pulelehua-laikona/">[player_tooltip player_id='603194' first='Pulelehua' last='Laikona']</a>- AZ Storm 17 Thunder   <a href="https://prepdig.com/player/nylah-bibby/">[player_tooltip player_id='806931' first='Nylah' last='Bibby']</a>- AZ Storm 17 Thunder   <a href="https://prepdig.com/player/maryella-owens/">[player_tooltip player_id='827324' first='Maryella' last='Owens']</a>- Aspire 17 Alpha   [player_tooltip player_id='827907' first='Tatum' last='Clay']- EVJ 18 Elite   [player_tooltip player_id='544566' first='Vivian' last='Hickman']- AZ Sky 18 Gold   [player_tooltip player_id='874826' first='Ashley' last='Logan']- AZ Storm 18 Thunder   [player_tooltip player_id='807441' first='Sydney' last='Simon']- Club One 17 Platinum   [player_tooltip player_id='875006' first='Kate' last='Mobley']- Zona 18 Black   <a href="https://prepdig.com/player/shia-chancellor/">[player_tooltip player_id='877239' first='Shia' last='Chancellor']</a>-Atomic 17 Smack Premier   [player_tooltip player_id='706296' first='Alyssa' last='Ortiz']- 17 Outlaws Elite   Team (s) outside the top 8 seeds that can make a run at the Gold bracket:   Aspire 18 Alpha and EVJ 18 Elite   Finals Prediction:   AZ Storm 18 Thunder vs AZ Rev 17 Premier   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">15/16 OPEN</h2>   Teams we are excited to see:   Aspire 16 Alpha- This Aspire team is good and deep! They have a lot talent on this team starting with the setters on this team. [player_tooltip player_id='787997' first='Jade' last='Smith'] is a top level setter and she makes hitters look real good with her sets both in system and out of system. If you have the chance to swing by their court this weekend you will see a setter who is total command when she is on the floor. On the other side of the coin you see a team with a plethora or top level pins and middles on this team. You have [player_tooltip player_id='891132' first='Tiana' last='Hester'], [player_tooltip player_id='916085' first='Devi' last='Thomas'], [player_tooltip player_id='916730' first='Kendyll' last='Ross'], and [player_tooltip player_id='882773' first='Matilda' last='Hinder'] just to name a few. Their offensive numbers have to be through the roof when you have that many deep and talented hitters. It really keep the defense at home and gives a lot of 1 on 1 opportunities as you can't camp out on anyone.   AZ Storm 15 Thunder- 5 of the top 9 from the class of 2029 play on this team, and that is just the tip of the iceberg for how talented this team is. This court is on my list this weekend to come by as they have some future top level D1 players on this team. It starts on the pin with <a href="https://prepdig.com/player/sahmone-wadsworth/">[player_tooltip player_id='885088' first='Sahmone' last='Wadsworth']</a> and <a href="https://prepdig.com/player/sloan-kribel/">[player_tooltip player_id='888723' first='Sloan' last='Kribel']</a> both are exceptional 6 rotational hitters who can really do it all at a high level. These two can lead this team when called upon and are both high volume kill girls when needed. [player_tooltip player_id='885089' first='Sophia' last='Gregg'] runs the show as a 5-1 setter and really is a high level player who can not only run a fast offense but is also a force as a offensive setter as well. She can routinely get kills when called upon and keep the defense honest when she jumps as well. On the defensive end you have 2030 libero [player_tooltip player_id='746646' first='Kalenna' last='Thiele'] who playing well beyond her years by being in open and competing with girls almost 5 years older then her. She is a superstar in the making an a 2030 to be on the lookout for.   Players we will want to watch (not mentioned above):   <a href="https://prepdig.com/player/emma-brayer/">[player_tooltip player_id='888733' first='Emma' last='Brayer']</a>- AZ Revolution 15 Premier   [player_tooltip player_id='888469' first='Amari' last='Frazier']- AZ Storm 16 Thunder   [player_tooltip player_id='888725' first='London' last='Clark']- Livewire 16 Prime   [player_tooltip player_id='778155' first='Ava' last='Martinez']- AZ Sky 16 Gold   [player_tooltip player_id='913140' first='Morgan' last='Thorne']- AZ Sky 15 Gold   <a href="https://prepdig.com/player/alayah-krein/">[player_tooltip player_id='888556' first='Alayah' last='Krein']</a>- Blotz 16U Desert Aces   [player_tooltip player_id='888749' first='Emma' last='Howard']-Aspire 15 Alpha   [player_tooltip player_id='888746' first='Joelle' last='Wasson']-Omni 15N1   [player_tooltip player_id='807588' first='Zoey' last='Beamis']-Atomic 16 Smack Premier   [player_tooltip player_id='895335' first='Elyse' last='Wolf']- EVJ 16 Elite   Team (s) outside the top 8 seeds that can make a run at the Gold bracket:   Club One 15 Platinum, Aspire 15 Alpha, and AZ Sky 16 Gold   Finals Prediction:   AZ Storm 16 Thunder vs AZ Storm 15 Thunder   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">14 OPEN</h2>   Teams we are excited to see:   AZ Sky 14 Gold- This team really turned some heads at open number 1 by being the highest finishing team out of all the 14 year olds. Competing against girls almost 4 years their senior and winning most of their matches really just shows the high level this team is capable of. Leading the way for them is a future top 10 recruit in [player_tooltip player_id='919648' first='Charlotte' last='Lilley'] who is a force on the outside. She is a 6 rotational outside who can score from all places on the floor, whether they are in system or out of system. [player_tooltip player_id='920110' first='Sierra' last='Johnson'] is a setter we will be excited to see, she has soft hands and is capable of running a fast offense. She has great footwork for someone so young, and is fast to transition from defense to offense as a setter.   AZ Storm 14 Thunder- Another deep and talented team, should be a team that qualifies for nationals and makes a deep run at all their qualifiers this year. One name to keep an eye out for is <a href="https://prepdig.com/player/kora-callahan/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">[player_tooltip player_id='920104' first='Kora' last='Callahan']</a> who is a force at the net. She is already pushing 6'2 and is putting up a big block for her team. She has a physical presence at the net and not many players can beat her one on one. <a href="https://prepdig.com/player/harlow-dzurick/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">[player_tooltip player_id='886785' first='Harlow' last='Dzurick']</a> and <a href="https://prepdig.com/player/presley-farnes/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">[player_tooltip player_id='920115' first='Presley' last='Farnes']</a> are two hitters to also keep an eye on. Both are explosive hitters who can hit from multiple spots on the floor and can easily be top point getters when called upon.   Players we will want to watch (not mentioned above):   <a href="https://prepdig.com/player/brooklynn-noah/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">[player_tooltip player_id='920111' first='Brooklynn' last='Noah']</a>- Omni 14N1   <a href="https://prepdig.com/player/olivia-peterson-4/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">[player_tooltip player_id='920116' first='Olivia' last='Peterson']</a>- Livewire 14 Prime   <a href="https://prepdig.com/player/emma-cluff/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">[player_tooltip player_id='935412' first='Emma' last='Cluff']</a>- EVJ 14 Elite   <a href="https://prepdig.com/player/greer-nordin/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">[player_tooltip player_id='924597' first='Greer' last='Nordin']</a>- Victorium 14 UA   <a href="https://prepdig.com/player/addy-beck/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">[player_tooltip player_id='920224' first='Addy' last='Beck']</a>- Armor Elite 14   <a href="https://prepdig.com/player/tenley-wyss/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">[player_tooltip player_id='894710' first='Tenley' last='Wyss']</a>-Aspire 14 Alpha   Olivia Larkin- Revolution 14 Premier   [player_tooltip player_id='920122' first='Mia' last='Wells'] - Revolution 15 Premier (class of 2030)   [player_tooltip player_id='746646' first='Kalenna' last='Thiele'] -AZ Storm 15 Thunder (class of 2030)   [player_tooltip player_id='920124' first='Kristina' last='Mimic']- Atomic 14 Smack Premier   Team (s) outside the top 8 seeds that can make a run at the Gold bracket:   Livewire 14 Prime and Omni 14N1   Finals Prediction:   AZ Sky 14 Gold vs AZ Revolution 14 Premier     Make sure to come say hi this weekend if you see one of us! I will be at the KROC center tomorrow AM to check out some teams!     We can't wait to see what the rest of the 2026 club season will bring!   As always, make sure you are following us on Instagram <a href="https://www.instagram.com/prepdigarizona/?hl=en">@PrepDigArizona </a>as well as our scouts<a href="https://www.instagram.com/prepdiganthony/"> @PrepDigAnthony</a> and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/coachmarissamorah/">@CoachMarissaMorah</a>.   Want to get on our radar? Do the following:   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>Follow us on Instagram, Nominate Through our <a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeGWSR1w3a_ZgKVLmUouN7ymhvldIHGmG6f6zWs54-pGTM_-A/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=116487285663927782556">Form</a>, and Send us your Highlights! </li> </ul>

The club season is going to start flying now that we hit our first 3 day tournament! In AZ, the MLK tournament is always a good early season barometer as to where some teams stand. It provides multiple division for the older groups and gives us a chance to see the best of the best play each other in a highly competitive environment.