14 Open at the 2026 USAV Girls Junior National Championships

<a href="https://prepdig.com/subscribe/" id="https://prepdig.com/subscribe/">This article was shared with 150+ college coaches. Join PrepDig with 30% off using code: Coachable247</a>   The 14 Open Gold Pool gave us a glimpse of some of the best rising talent in the country, including many of California's premier clubs. While standing court side, University of Louisville Head Coach Dan Meske commented that he couldn't believe the size of the 14s. The athleticism, physicality, and level of play on these courts were remarkable for such a young age group.   At this stage of their development, every athlete is learning how to put the pieces together. Serve receive, transition footwork, defensive discipline, decision-making, communication, and offensive vision are all developing in real time. The teams that separate themselves are often the ones that master those details the fastest.   California clubs once again proved why they remain among the strongest programs in the country with the following finishes:   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>Absolute 14 Black – 10th</li>   <li>WAVE 14-Juliana – 16th</li>   <li>COAST 14-1 Said – 20th</li>   <li>Vision 14 Gold – 26th</li>   <li>[program_tooltip program_id='876208' first='SC' last='Rockstar'] 14-Libby – 36th</li>   <li>MVVC G 14 Red – 45th</li> </ul>   Those finishes speak to the depth and quality of volleyball being played throughout the state.   One of the biggest challenges at any event I scout is that every court is filled with athletes deserving of recognition. As much as I would love it, I simply cannot follow every team from first serve to match point. Instead, I move from court to court, evaluating the athletes whose play consistently draws my attention. The players featured below earned these write-ups through the volleyball details that matter most. I watched how they processed the game, responded under pressure, communicated with teammates, created advantages, and found ways to influence winning volleyball.   These are the athletes who made me stop, watch a little longer, and write their names in my notebook. While college recruiting may still be years away for many of them, the volleyball IQ, physical tools, competitive habits, and coachability they are developing today are the same qualities that will continue opening doors as they progress through high school and beyond.    [player_tooltip player_id='752867' first='Layla' last='Marquez'] brings an energy to the court that matches her production. She had one of the biggest performances I watched, but what made it memorable was the personality she played with throughout the match. She attacks every area of the court with confidence and understands that great hitters don't rely on one shot. When clean swings aren't available, she does an excellent job tooling the block to create points instead of forcing low-percentage attacks. She remains a weapon from both the front and back row, communicates exceptionally well with her teammates, and competes with a confidence that elevates the players around her. Layla doesn't just score points. She creates momentum. ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247     [player_tooltip player_id='524364' first='Hailey' last='Lee']'s footwork immediately caught my attention. She consistently works herself into balanced positions, allowing her to see the court develop before making her decision. What impressed me most was her eye sequence on defense. She processes the play exceptionally well, reading the action early and transitioning seamlessly into the offense. Because she arrives under control, she consistently delivers hittable balls that allow her attackers to stay aggressive. Setters who combine disciplined movement with advanced court vision become the players who keep an offense operating at a high level, and Hailey continues to show those qualities.   ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247     Cassandra's length immediately stands out at the net. She plays with a lean, athletic frame that allows her to attack at a high contact point and consistently challenge opposing blockers. Rather than relying solely on power, she uses her reach to create advantageous attacking angles that are difficult to defend. Middles who consistently contact the ball high over the block force opposing defenses into uncomfortable positions, and Cassandra continues to make that one of her biggest strengths. ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247     [player_tooltip player_id='745053' first='Savannah' last='Hwang'] sees the court exceptionally well. Her ability to read the attack allows her to establish early positioning and create quality first contacts before many defenders are even moving. Her serve receive platform remains disciplined, consistently putting the ball in a position where the offense can stay in system. Just as importantly, she works relentlessly in coverage, anticipating where the next touch will be needed and helping extend rallies. Liberos who combine vision, anticipation, and disciplined fundamentals give their teams a chance to run quality offense, and Savannah continues to do exactly that.   ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247     Senalah Sagaio's hands immediately caught my attention. She pushes the ball with strength and purpose, consistently delivering it to the location her hitters need to stay in rhythm. Her footwork allows her to establish early positioning, and she plays with a calm confidence that settles the offense around her. She communicates naturally, leads her court without unnecessary emotion, and knows exactly when to become an offensive threat herself. Her setter dumps are well-timed, forcing blockers to respect every touch and creating more opportunities for the hitters around her.   ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247     Kaila understands that a setter's first responsibility is creating opportunities for everyone around her. She consistently delivers clean, hittable balls that allow her attackers to stay aggressive and in rhythm throughout the match. Defensively, she remains disciplined, transitioning efficiently and maintaining the balance needed to keep the offense organized after every first contact. Kaila's steady decision-making and commitment to fundamentals give her team the consistency every successful offense is built around.   ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247     Maveti brings a physical presence that immediately stands out. She attacks with confidence, generates a strong, aggressive swing, and consistently finds ways to terminate when opportunities present themselves. What I appreciated most was that she remained assertive throughout the match, continuing to apply offensive pressure instead of becoming tentative against quality competition. Attackers who maintain that mindset become difficult to slow down over the course of a match, and Maveti has the tools to continue developing into a dynamic offensive threat. ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247     [player_tooltip player_id='849288' first='Sydney' last='Conway'] understands that great blocking begins long before the jump. She reads the hitter well, establishes early positioning, and consistently presses her hands high and across the net to take away quality attacking angles. Rather than relying solely on her physicality, she uses disciplined technique to influence opposing hitters and create opportunities for her defense behind the block. Middles who combine strong instincts with disciplined hands become a constant presence at the net, and Sydney continues to show those qualities.   ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247     [player_tooltip player_id='917506' first='Bryn' last='Gardiner'] attacks with confidence and understands how to score against a formed block. Rather than forcing swings into defenders, she works around the block with intelligent shot selection while maintaining an aggressive mindset. She remains steady from the service line, applying pressure without sacrificing consistency, and competes with the kind of vocal energy every team appreciates. Her constant encouragement of teammates reflects the confidence she brings to the court, making her an athlete whose leadership matches her offensive production.   ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247     Morgan Cole plays with a calm composure that gives her offense confidence. She never appears rushed, consistently delivering the ball with excellent push while allowing her hitters to attack in rhythm. One detail I appreciated was her discipline in decision-making. She doesn't predetermine where the ball is going. Instead, she reads the play as it develops and makes the setter's job look simple by delivering to the best offensive option.   What also caught my attention was the way she positively coaches herself throughout a match. You can see her processing the game in real time, making adjustments, and immediately applying what she has learned to the next play. That level of self-awareness is difficult to teach and speaks to her desire to continually improve.   Defensively, she stays disciplined and understands when to transition from defense into the offense, allowing her team to stay connected throughout the rally. Setters who combine patience, court awareness, and a commitment to constant improvement become the steady presence every offense needs.   ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247     Being a left-handed attacker immediately creates matchup problems, and Kate knows how to take advantage of that strength. She attacks the cross-court seam with confidence, moves the ball to multiple locations, and remains aggressive from the service line. What impressed me was how quickly she transitioned from offense to defense, allowing her to impact rallies beyond her attacking opportunities. Kate plays with the confidence to score.   ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247    <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Reagan Carlin Souza - WAVE 14-Juliana</h3>   Reagan has a knack for finding solutions when the rally demands it. She attacks aggressively through the block, but she also recognizes when to adjust, using the line effectively after reading the defense in front of her. That ability to make in-rally decisions separates attackers who simply swing hard from those who score efficiently. In serve receive, her platform remains disciplined, giving her team quality first contacts that keep the offense in system. I also appreciated the way she communicates with her setter, providing feedback between points while continuing to establish a strong press at the net. Reagan impacts the match through both her physical tools and her understanding of the game. ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Makayla Tukua - WAVE 14-Juliana</h3>   Makayla generates tremendous momentum through her approach, using her entire body to create an explosive attack at contact. She stays aggressive from the service line, consistently attacking her target instead of simply putting the ball in play. Defensively, she plays with relentless effort, moving quickly to every ball and staying engaged throughout the rally. One detail I particularly liked was her soft touch when delivering the second contact, allowing the offense to stay organized even when plays broke down. Her hustle is contagious, and the energy she brings to every point lifts the players around her. ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Olivia Bill - Vision 14 Gold </h3>   Olivia's footwork is one of the first things that caught my attention. She consistently works herself into balanced positions, allowing her to push the ball cleanly and deliver with confidence to every area of the court. Rather than becoming predictable, she does an excellent job of mixing up her hitters and keeping blockers from settling into a rhythm. Young setters who already understand how to distribute the offense instead of simply setting the ball are fun to watch, and Olivia continues to show those instincts every time she takes the floor. ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Fiona Sweeney - COAST 14-1 Said</h3>   Fiona plays with an offensive confidence that allows her to score in multiple ways. She is effective at the net because she doesn't become predictable, consistently using the line when defenders commit to taking away her cross-court attack. Defensively, she stays locked into every rally, working hard to put herself in position before the ball arrives instead of reacting late. I also appreciated how coachable she was throughout the match. She listened closely to instruction, immediately applied adjustments, and continued competing with confidence. Athletes who combine production with coachability continue to separate themselves as they develop. ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Angela Rizo - COAST 14-1 Said</h3>   Angela runs her offense with confidence and never hesitates to take ownership of her court. She delivers the ball with a soft, controlled touch that allows her hitters to stay in rhythm while consistently making quality decisions throughout the match. Her defensive discipline allows her to transition efficiently, keeping herself available to run the offense regardless of the previous contact. One of the qualities I appreciated most was her coachability. She listens, processes feedback quickly, and applies those adjustments with confidence, making her the type of setter coaches enjoy developing. ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Scarlett McGuyre - [program_tooltip program_id='876208' first='SC' last='Rockstar'] 14- Libby</h3>   Scarlett provides stability on the right side with an offensive game built on smart decisions. She understands when to attack aggressively and when to use the shots available to her, making her much more difficult to defend than a hitter who relies on one swing. Her ability to vary her attack while remaining a dependable offensive option gives her team another consistent scoring threat throughout the match. She plays with the confidence and composure that every offense values. ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/>   🔥 Athletes   One of the biggest takeaways from watching the 14 Open Gold Pool is how quickly this class is learning the game.   The athletes featured throughout this article are already building the habits that separate high-level players over time. Disciplined footwork. Efficient transitions. Quality first contact. Smart decision-making. Strong communication. Competitive composure. Those details may not always make the highlight reel, but they are often the foundation of long-term success.   Study this group closely. Every athlete earned recognition for a different reason, but they all showed a willingness to learn, compete, and make adjustments throughout the match. Those are the qualities that continue to accelerate development and eventually position athletes for opportunities at the next level.   📣 Club Coaches & Directors   Thank you for teaching the details that matter.   Throughout the tournament, I watched athletes who understood transition footwork, blocking discipline, offensive vision, defensive positioning, and the importance of communication. Those habits are developed long before athletes step onto a championship court. They come from coaches who are willing to teach the game, challenge their athletes, and reinforce the little details every day in practice.   If one of your athletes is featured, celebrate them. Share this article, tag @PrepDigCA, and continue recognizing the work that is helping prepare the next generation of high-level volleyball players.   🎯 College Coaches   The recruiting process for this class may still be in its early stages, but the indicators are already beginning to emerge.   The athletes featured here earned recognition because of the habits that project well over time. Volleyball IQ, coachability, communication, decision-making, body control, and competitive consistency often become the traits that separate athletes as they move through high school. While physical development will continue, these foundational habits are already taking shape.   This is a class worth following closely. Many of these athletes are only beginning to scratch the surface of what they will become over the next several years.   🙏 Parents & Supporters   Thank you for believing in the process.   The athletes featured here are learning lessons that extend well beyond volleyball. Every practice, tournament, lesson, and conversation is helping shape not only better players, but more confident competitors and resilient young people. The growth happening today will continue opening doors for years to come.   Thank you for supporting the journey, celebrating the progress, and creating opportunities for these athletes to compete, learn, and chase big goals.   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/>   Want More Exposure in front of the California Ranker? Michael Deleon will be scouting the California PrepDig Showcase Series. This is designed for athletes who want to take ownership of their recruiting journey and better understand how visibility, evaluation, and opportunity work together. These events offer more than competition. They provide athletes with a chance to learn how exposure works, compete in front of evaluators, build confidence, and gain valuable insight into what coaches are looking for at each stage of development.   Whether your goal is to improve communication, showcase your skills, earn recognition, receive meaningful evaluation, or simply learn how to stand out in a competitive environment, each showcase is built to help athletes grow both on and off the court. If you're ready to invest in your development, tell your story, and put yourself on the radar, <a href="https://prepdig.com/all-events/?type=Showcase">registration is open</a>.   <figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2026/05/image_7a4b01.png?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-991561"/></figure>   Thank you for making today's wins matter — one article, one player, one memory at a time.   ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247

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