AVA College Camp: Eight Top Performers Raise Recruiting Stock

It's camp season and we are there evaluating talent! No better place to be than in the gym and the Arkansas Volleyball Academy provided a great setting for UCA, UALR, Missouri State and Harding University to put tomorrow's stars through their paces. The camp featured players from all corners of Arkansas and covered multiple graduating classes. Here are eight players that consistently stood out through their athleticism, versatility and overall impact on the court.    Perhaps no younger player generated more excitement and attention than Emma. The 5'10" middle was one of the breakout performers at the camp. Thompson showed off her incredible leaping ability, strong sense of timing, and the power to finish attacks consistently. What was particularly impressive was her versatility across the front row.   During the 4 on 4 speedball competition, she showed quality passing skills and even showed off her ability to set effectively when needed. While she has primarily played the middle, Thompson proved that she can attack from the pins as well. She is extremely fluid in her movement and play comes off as effortless yet dominating. The rising sophomore is going to be a major weapon at Nationals this year as well as in the fall High School season.   For a player her age, the combination of athleticism, skill, and positional flexibility projects an extremely high ceiling for Emma.     [player_tooltip player_id='828346' first='Rachel' last='Settle'] of Ft Smith Jrs delivered a strong showing at the camp. The 2027 pin built on her solid Jr season at Southside with a great showing on the club circuit. Playing 6 rotations on a Freedom Division National title contender, Settle shows that a position switch from middle to six rotation outside can just be what a player needs.   The 5'9" OH quietly built a strong resume over two varsity seasons with the Mavericks. Settle recorded 321 kills, 86 blocks, 80 digs and 188 serve receptions. Her junior year alone she produced 244 kills. She is primed for a strong senior season for the Mavericks.   At camp, her all-around skills were evident. Settle contributed in every phase of the game and brought a steady presence to the court.   Perhaps most importantly, her leadership consistently shows during competitive sessions. Teammates respond to her energy and communication, making her an important piece for all the teams she plays for.   She has the skill at the net of a middle, the quick arm and shot selection of an outside, the back row defense of a DS, and the leadership that teams dream of!     Another class of 2027 stand out performance of the camp came from 5'8" OH/DS from Brookland and the Arkansas Jrs Storm 17-1, [player_tooltip player_id='806194' first='Kinley' last='Hammett'].   Hammett enters her senior season with an impressive resume. During her high school career, she has accumulated 140 sets played, 311 kills, 418 digs, and 48 aces with a majority of that production coming in a breakout junior campaign.   At camp, Kinley showcased exactly why she has been so productive. Her quickness and explosive leaping ability immediately stood out. Offensively, she showed the ability to score in many ways, tooling the blocks, attacking sharp angles and mixing power with finesse shots.   Her all-around game was evident throughout the afternoon session, making her one of the most complete players in attendance. Her upbeat attitude and obvious love of the game came out as well.     Beebe High School and Arkansas Volleyball Academy 17 National middle showed why versatility remains one of the most valuable traits in volleyball.   The 5'10" middle/pin hitter showed that she can contribute from anywhere along the front row. Whether working through middle drills or attacking during competitive sessions, Elmore looked comfortable and effective at all three front row positions.   Her ability to play multiple positions gives coaches lineup flexibility and creates matchup advantages. Players who seamlessly transition between roles are increasingly valuable in today's volleyball landscape. Abby displayed those qualities throughout the camp and bodes well for Beebe heading into her senior season.     [player_tooltip player_id='958727' first='Bella' last='Dubose'] was another 2027 that stood out. The 5'10" Searcy Lion is poised for a breakout senior season after a solid club season with Arkansas Metro.   Throughout the camp, Dubose showed offensive tools that make her a difficult matchup at the net. What stood out was the heaviness of her swing. She attacked aggressively and repeatedly powered balls through the block, showing the kind of offense coaches expect to see from their middles and right sides.   Defensively, she is an imposing sight for attackers. She moves well to assist the pins and holds up well with one-on-one matchups. She has good mobility and functionally reads the attack well. She is an intense player who can fire up those around her.     Energy and excitement are what Arkansas Volleyball Academy 14.1 setter Olivia Russell brings to the table. Her coach describes her as a very coachable player, and that was evident at the camp. She is always ready for extra reps. Liv was ready to go on every drill and had no problem stepping up against older competition.   While primarily a setter, she worked as a DS as well during the camp. Her platform was solid and in the 4 on 4 fastball session she set well and held her own on the back row. She managed tempo well and consistently put hitters in an advantageous position. Russell showed the leadership skills coaches want to see from their setter.   Russell showed improvement throughout the day and according to her coach that has been the theme for Liv since last season. This youngster has a lot of good volleyball ahead of her. Liv proved that volleyball skill and IQ often can outweigh size.     If you are looking for a player with a lot of upside, you need to check out [player_tooltip player_id='775399' first='Riley' last='Kaminshine'] from Greenwood. The Club Velocity RS/Setter possesses the size and versatility that coaches are looking for in setters today.   Riley can run the offense with precision and timing but can also terminate from the back row or either pin position. With her size, she can run a 5-1 or a 6-2, which will be an asset to her in recruiting. She displayed quickness and a solid volleyball IQ in drills and in the competitive portions of the camp.   As he continues to develop physically and gain experience, her ceiling will be extremely high. Players who combine size, court awareness, and multi-positional value are always worth keeping an eye on. Kaminshine appears to have all three.   She plays with great energy and enthusiasm when she is on the court. She is early in her volleyball journey, but Riley is a player who is on the rise and the best is yet to come.     Another 2029 Standout, [player_tooltip player_id='994942' first='Addison' last='Hadaway'] turned some heads at the camp.   Defensive specialists and liberos are often described as "scrappy," especially when they don't possess imposing size, while that term certainly applies to Hadaway's willingness to compete, a more accurate description is SMART.   Throughout the camp, Hadaway consistently demonstrated a strong volleyball IQ and an advanced understanding of the defensive side of the game. She read hitters well, anticipated attacks, and routinely put herself in position before the ball was hit.   Addison also displayed soft hands when called on to set. She could easily slide into that role if needed. She is an efficient player who always seems to be in the right spot. Her platform is sound, and she commands her role on the court.   As she continues to develop, you will see her name more and more. Addison has the ability to stabilize serve-receive, direct the defense, and call out shots for the offense. Certainly, a player to watch in the class of 2029.

It's camp season and we are there evaluating talent! No better place to be than in the gym and the Arkansas Volleyball Academy provided a great setting for UCA, UALR, Missouri State and Harding University to put tomorrow's stars through their paces. The camp featured players from all corners of Arkansas and covered multiple graduating classes. Here are eight players that consistently stood out through their athleticism, versatility and overall impact on the court.