Two Teams I Can't Wait to See in Reno

Two teams I'm genuinely excited to see at 18 Nationals in Reno are [program_tooltip program_id='491326' first='IMG' last='Academy'] and Dallas Skyline 18 Royal — and I was lucky enough to watch them go head-to-head at NEQ Weekend 1.   What I saw that weekend only added to my anticipation. These are two programs operating at an elite level, and if they meet again in Reno, it's going to be must-watch volleyball.   IMG: The Team That Sets the Standard   [program_tooltip program_id='491326' first='IMG' last='Academy'] is one of the most complete teams I've seen this early in the club season. At NEQ Weekend 1, they dropped only one match to three sets all weekend — a level of consistency that made them the clear standard in the 18 Open division.   Their identity was immediately obvious watching them play:   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>Aggressive from the service line</li>   <li>Efficient in system</li>   <li>Disciplined in transition</li> </ul>   They consistently forced opponents out of system, limiting offensive options and creating predictable plays that their defense could handle. When IMG was in system, they were difficult to stop, running a balanced offense with multiple scoring options.   What impressed me most wasn't just their physicality — it was their composure. Even in tight moments, they didn't press. They trusted their system and executed when it mattered. That's the kind of team that makes deep runs at Nationals.    At just 16 years old, [player_tooltip player_id='772100' first='Olivia' last='Henry'] is one of the youngest players on [program_tooltip program_id='491326' first='IMG' last='Academy']'s roster — and somehow, she's already one of the most imposing offensive presences in the 18 Open division.   Watching her compete at NEQ Weekend 1, it was clear why opposing teams game-plan around her. She puts genuine fear into defenders across the net. That's not something you can coach — that's a player who has already figured out how to weaponize her presence.   Henry is a true 6-rotation outside hitter, which means she's not just a front-row threat — she's a problem everywhere on the court. From the back row, she attacks with the same aggression and efficiency that she brings in the front, giving her team a reliable offensive option in every rotation.   What makes her truly special is the combination of height and athleticism. Her reach eclipses nearly every block put in front of her, and she has the volleyball IQ to know it — attacking angles and finding seams that most hitters her age simply don't see yet. Her court vision is advanced well beyond her years.   At 16, she's already playing at a level that college programs need to be paying close attention to. The trajectory here is as exciting as anyone in her class.     At 6'2" and already committed to UConn, [player_tooltip player_id='530831' first='Courtney' last='Grayson'] is one of the most decorated and physically imposing middle blockers in the 18 Open division — and watching her at NEQ Weekend 1 made it clear she has earned every bit of that reputation.   Grayson is a genuine two-way weapon at the net. Her length and timing make her a disruptive force as a blocker, and her efficiency through the middle puts consistent pressure on opposing defenses in a way that very few middles at this level can. She doesn't need to do anything flashy — she just executes at a high level, every single time.   What stands out most is how much she elevates the players around her. For a program like [program_tooltip program_id='491326' first='IMG' last='Academy'], having a middle blocker of her caliber anchoring the front row changes the entire dynamic of how opponents have to approach the game.   A 3x Player of the Week nominee, 2x First Team All-District, 2x First Team All-Metro, and AVCA All-Region honoree, the résumé already speaks for itself. But if you haven't seen her play in person yet, Reno is going to be a great opportunity to watch one of the best middles in her class do what she does best.     There are setters, and then there are setters who make you stop and take notice. [player_tooltip player_id='882850' first='Eda' last='Nil Ozenli'] is the latter.   The 6'3" left-handed setter from Turkey brings an international pedigree that is rare at any level — having spent four years with VakifBank's youth teams and competing in the Turkish Junior Volleyball Super League, the country's highest-level youth competition. She has also been selected twice for the U16 Turkish National Team program, recognized among the top five setters in her age group in all of Turkey.   Now competing at [program_tooltip program_id='491326' first='IMG' last='Academy'], she is doing it all over again — and then some.   What makes Ozenli so fascinating to watch is the combination of her physical tools and her volleyball IQ. At 6'3", she presents a genuine offensive threat every time she touches the ball — she can score, serve aggressively, and block at a level most setters simply can't. But it's her decision-making that truly sets her apart. She manages an offense with poise and precision, putting her hitters in the best possible position and never letting the moment get too big.   For college programs still searching for their next elite setter, Reno is going to be a very important weekend to have eyes on [player_tooltip player_id='882850' first='Eda' last='Nil Ozenli']. She's the kind of player who quietly controls the outcome of every match she's in — and that's exactly what makes her so special.    Skyline: The Team I Believe Can Beat Them   Dallas Skyline 18 Royal reminded me exactly why they're one of the most respected programs in the country. Watching them compete against IMG, they never flinched. They stayed within reach the entire match and made IMG earn every single point.   The final score was 25-21, 25-23 — and honestly, it was closer than that reads. Skyline's ability to compete in transition and defend at a high level kept both sets tight throughout. Late in the second set, with the score tied 23-23, they had a real opportunity to force a third.   That's not a team that's outmatched. That's a team that's right there.    If you want to understand why Dallas Skyline 18 Royal is one of the most dangerous teams heading into Reno, start with [player_tooltip player_id='327912' first='Kiley' last='Brooks'].   Brooks has been a cornerstone of the Skyline program across their 15, 16, 17, and 18 Royal teams — and the accolades have followed her every step of the way. A two-time National All-Tournament Team honoree, a 2023 15s Open National Champion, a 2025 AVCA Girls High School All-Region selection, a three-time all-district honoree, and the 2024 Defensive MVP — the résumé speaks for itself.   But stats and hardware only tell part of the story. What makes Brooks truly special is that she plays with absolutely no fear. She digs hard driven balls with ease, and her fiery, competitive attitude is contagious — it elevates the entire team around her.   LSU head coach Johnson put it best when she said Brooks is "tough as nails" and that her ball control and competitiveness set her apart. That's high praise from a Power Four program — and watching her at NEQ Weekend 1, it's easy to see why the Tigers came calling.   At Nationals in Reno, [player_tooltip player_id='327912' first='Kiley' last='Brooks'] is going to be one of the most impactful defensive players on the floor. She's the kind of libero who changes the outcome of matches — and one of the biggest reasons Skyline belongs in every conversation about the top teams in 18 Open.     [player_tooltip player_id='452241' first='LeVariya' last='Pinder'] is the kind of player that makes you do a double take the first time you see her compete. Versatile, physical, and relentless, she is one of the most dynamic pin hitters in the entire 18 Open division — and one of the biggest reasons Dallas Skyline is a genuine national title contender heading into Reno.   Ranked 37th nationally by PrepDig and 12th in the state of Texas in her class, Pinder has been putting up numbers that turn heads at every level. She led the entire Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex with 5.4 kills per set during her high school season — a stat that tells you everything you need to know about what she brings offensively. Over her high school career she has accumulated over 1,800 kills with a .300 hitting percentage, setting Northwestern High School records in kills per set and kills in a season along the way.   What makes her so difficult to defend is her ability to play multiple positions at the highest level. Whether she's attacking out of the middle or working the pins, she threads the needle with some of the hardest swings in the country. She doesn't just score — she scores in big moments, which is exactly what separates good players from great ones.   A First Team All-District honoree, AVCA All-Region selection, and now SMU signee, Pinder arrives at Nationals with every tool she needs to be one of the most impactful players on the floor in Reno.     [player_tooltip player_id='756626' first='Lily' last='Boatner'] is one of the most intriguing two-way hitters on Dallas Skyline 18 Royal's roster, and heading into Reno she is a player that opposing teams are going to have to account for on every rotation.   As a player who can operate both on the right side and at outside hitter, Boatner brings a versatility that gives Skyline's offense an added dimension that is difficult to game-plan against. That kind of positional flexibility at the 18 Open level is rare — and it speaks to both her athleticism and her volleyball IQ.   Skyline doesn't put players on the floor who can't compete at the highest level, and Boatner has earned her spot on one of the most respected programs in the country. That alone tells you everything you need to know about what she's capable of bringing on any given day.   Reno is going to be a big stage — and it's a great opportunity for [player_tooltip player_id='756626' first='Lily' last='Boatner'] to show the country exactly what she can do.    What I'm Looking Forward to in Reno   The difference in their NEQ matchup wasn't talent — it was execution in critical moments. IMG was more efficient late in sets, with a lower error rate, sharper decision-making, and more consistent first-ball sideout. That's what closed it out.   But Nationals is a different environment. Higher stakes, more pressure, and a longer road to a championship. Skyline has every tool needed to flip the script, and having already been in that moment with IMG, they'll know exactly what it takes.   If these two programs meet in Reno, I'll have a front-row seat if I can manage it. IMG comes in as the team to beat. Skyline comes in with something to prove. That's the kind of matchup that defines a national tournament — and exactly why I can't wait for Reno.

Two teams I'm genuinely excited to see at 18 Nationals in Reno are IMG Academy and Dallas Skyline 18 Royal — and I was lucky enough to watch them go head-to-head at NEQ Weekend 1.