16s and 17s Nationals: Players Who Stood Out

No matter which division you competed in or where your team ultimately finished, earning a spot at USAV Nationals is an accomplishment in itself. It's a stage that countless teams and athletes work all season to reach, and simply competing here is a testament to the dedication, sacrifice, and talent required to get there.   Throughout the tournament, we were incredibly impressed by the level of volleyball Arizona brought to the national stage. Time and time again, athletes stepped up in big moments, showcasing the skill, grit, and competitive spirit that make Arizona volleyball so special. Here are 10 players who delivered standout performances throughout the tournament and left a lasting impression. We can't wait to see what they accomplish as they carry that momentum into the high school season.    [player_tooltip player_id='787997' first='Jade' last='Smith'] was absolutely on fire throughout the tournament. She competes with confidence, intensity, and a level of poise that elevates everyone around her. She's aggressive attacking overpasses, makes outstanding decisions as an offensive quarterback, and provides the steady presence her team needs to play at its best.   She's everything you look for in a setter. Defensively, she covers an incredible amount of court and refuses to let plays die. While her team is loaded with offensive weapons, she's the one orchestrating it all. She runs a fast-tempo offense with a neutral body position that keeps blockers guessing, making it nearly impossible to predict where the ball is going next. Jade consistently puts her hitters in positions to succeed, and her command of the floor was one of the biggest reasons for her team's success.     Competing in the Open division with a talented squad, Anabelle Cummings was everywhere on the floor and put together a dominant defensive performance throughout the tournament. She continues to prove why she's regarded as one of the top liberos in her class. Her defensive positioning is exceptional, consistently staying wide to take away the outside hitter's best angles. Her range is remarkable, and she seems to find a way to get a hand on everything.   Whether she's sprinting down a short tip, digging a hard-driven line attack, or extending for a ball that looks untouchable, Anabelle plays with confidence, fearlessness, and unwavering consistency. She anchors the backcourt and gives her team every opportunity to stay in system.     London Clark has been impressive all season, and her performance at Nationals only reinforced why she's one of the top setters to watch. Running a 5-1, she does an outstanding job controlling the offense while consistently putting her hitters in great positions to score. She establishes the block well, allowing her middles to close efficiently, and her quick release keeps opposing blockers guessing. In transition, she's composed, makes excellent decisions, and rarely misses an opportunity to capitalize on defensive stops.   What truly separates London, though, are the little things. She's committed on off-blocker defense, communicates constantly, and brings an infectious energy to every point. Her passion for the game is impossible to miss, and it shows in the way she competes from start to finish. She's the kind of setter who impacts the match far beyond the assist column, making everyone around her better.     Madison Nedeljkovic is one of the most versatile front-row players you'll find. Whether she's playing on the right side or in the middle, she makes a significant impact as both an attacker and a blocker. She's reliable in every front-row rotation, moves exceptionally well laterally, and displays excellent footwork when closing the block.   What stands out most is her intentionality at the net—she isn't simply trying to get her hands over the tape; she's blocking to score. Her disciplined press forces hitters to adjust their swings and search for different angles, making life difficult for opposing offenses. Offensively, she pairs that dominant net presence with a quick, explosive arm swing that allows her to terminate consistently. Madison is a true difference-maker in the front row, capable of changing the momentum of a match on both sides of the ball.     Hayes Haan is no stranger to the national stage, and she looked completely at home throughout the tournament. Playing on the right side, she worked relentlessly in transition, creating space to become a dynamic and reliable offensive option. Her ability to get off the net and attack with power made her a consistent threat, even in out-of-system situations. Defensively, she covered tremendous ground in off-blocker defense around the 10-foot line, extending rallies with her instincts and hustle.   At the net, Hayes established herself as a physical presence, putting up a disciplined, impactful block while matching up against some of the nation's top outside hitters. Her complete game and relentless effort made her one of the standout right sides we watched all week.       Skye Moore is the complete package on the outside. She provides a steady presence in serve receive, plays disciplined defense, and consistently finds ways to score when her team needs her most. One of her greatest strengths is her ability to terminate out of system. She stays composed in chaotic situations, maintaining a clean approach and efficient arm swing that make difficult swings look routine.   Just as impressive is her volleyball IQ—she doesn't rely solely on power, but mixes in smart shot selection and precise ball placement to keep defenders off balance. Skye was a key contributor to her team's impressive run in the 16 Freedom division and proved she can impact the match in every phase of the game.       Angelina Favela quickly put herself on our radar this weekend with an outstanding defensive performance that played a major role in her team's run to the championship match. She was the backbone of the backcourt, combining exceptional range with unwavering consistency from start to finish. Angelina is incredibly intentional in every phase of the game—whether she's organizing free-ball situations, positioning herself in coverage, or constantly communicating with her teammates.   She competes with relentless effort and never gives up on a play, routinely turning difficult balls into opportunities for her team. What stands out most is the composure she brings to the court. No matter the moment, she remains calm, under control, and provides a steadying presence that her teammates can rely on. She's the type of libero every coach wants anchoring the back row.     Allison Wong put together an outstanding performance in Indianapolis, consistently proving why she's such a valuable floor leader. She managed the offense with confidence, making smart decisions in clutch moments and consistently finding the right attacker when her team needed a point. Her ball location was precise, allowing her hitters to stay in rhythm and attack efficiently.   Beyond her setting, Allison made her presence felt defensively, covering a tremendous amount of court and extending rallies with her effort and instincts. She commanded the floor with confidence, communicated exceptionally well, and established a seamless connection with every hitter, creating an offensive rhythm that fueled her team's success throughout the tournament.     Monique Snell has been a commanding presence in the middle for Club Cactus all season, and she continued to showcase her impact at Nationals. She establishes herself well at the net, consistently pressing over the tape and creating a formidable blocking presence. Laterally, she moves efficiently along the net, closes blocks with excellent timing, and commits to every play with purpose.   Offensively, Monique is just as effective, attacking quick sets to both pins with confidence and precision. Her combination of physicality, footwork, and consistency makes her a true difference-maker in the front row and a player opponents must account for on every rally.     Lucy Solorzano is the definition of a competitor. She plays with relentless effort, refuses to give up on a rally, and brings a level of grit that every team values. In the back row, she's a steady anchor, making the middle back position look effortless with her range, instincts, and ability to make clutch defensive reads. Serve receive is another area where she shines, consistently delivering quality passes that keep her team in system.   In the front row, Lucy is just as effective. She attacks with purpose, mixing up her shots and making smart decisions based on the block and defensive positioning. Whether it's cutting the ball cross-court or confidently turning one down the line, she finds ways to score without forcing plays. Throughout Nationals, Lucy's competitive fire never wavered. She dug deep in every match, elevated her team's level of play, and proved to be one of the most dependable six-rotation players on the court.     Reagan Burgle was a force from the opening whistle to the final point, playing a pivotal role in her team's run through the 17 American Gold bracket. She continues to show why she's poised to make an immediate impact at the collegiate level. Reagan processes the game exceptionally well, making quick reads on defense and consistently putting herself in position to make difficult plays look routine. In serve receive, she's steady, reliable, and gives her offense every opportunity to stay in system.   Beyond her technical ability, Reagan commands the backcourt with confidence. She's constantly communicating, organizing the defense, and making life easier for both her setter and her fellow passers. No matter who's beside her, she brings a calm, organized presence that creates a natural rhythm across the entire back row. Reagan is the type of libero who elevates everyone around her, and her leadership and consistency were on full display throughout Nationals.     elia Suey was on fire on the pin for 16 Thunder throughout Nationals. She attacked with confidence, consistently taking smart, efficient approaches and finding ways to score against quality blocks. Whether she was tooling the block with high hands or making disciplined shot selections, she showed a high volleyball IQ and rarely wasted a swing. Her arm swing is especially impressive—quick, explosive, and whippy—allowing her to generate tremendous velocity over the top of the ball.   Beyond her offensive production, Celia impacted the match in every phase. She was intentional in off-blocker defense, reading the game well and covering plenty of court, while also establishing a strong, disciplined block against some of the tournament's most physical right-side attackers. Her complete game and relentless competitiveness made her one of the top pins we watched all week.    <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />   It was an incredible week watching Arizona compete on one of the biggest stages in club volleyball. Every athlete who stepped on the court represented the state with pride, toughness, and heart. Congratulations to all of the teams and players who made Nationals such a memorable event. We can't wait to see how these performances carry into the high school season. If you're looking to get on our radar, be sure to attend one of our Prep Dig Arizona showcases this August before school season begins. We can't wait to see you!   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-wp-embed is-provider-prep-dig wp-block-embed-prep-dig"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://prepdig.com/all-events/ </div></figure>

No matter which division you competed in or where your team ultimately finished, earning a spot at USAV Nationals is an accomplishment in itself. It's a stage that countless teams and athletes work all season to reach, and simply competing here is a testament to the dedication, sacrifice, and talent required to get there.