A look back at Nationals: The unsung heros that stepped up.

Club coaches are finally taking a break, and High School coaches are kicking into high gear (unless you do both!). But I am going to take a couple looks back at an amazing Nationals run for Arkansas teams this week. We had two different National Champions in ages 15 and up, deep runs in top divisions and MVPs named. Today we are going to look back at some of the players that you don't regularly hear about, who stepped up big at Nationals.   Congratulations the Arkansas Select 17 Elite on their AAU Spirit Division National Championship and to the [program_tooltip program_id='581540' first='501' last='Volley'] 16.1 Nationals USAV Liberty Division National Championship! Way to represent Arkansas!!    Every team needs a player like Catherine. On a star studded, National Champion team that runs a nine-player roster, you need a Swiss army knife player. Anderson is just that, she can step in at every position if needed.   A setter by trade, Catherine is also an established offensive weapon from the right-side. Anderson led the Mount St Mary's Belles to a 5A undefeated conference season. In club, against top competition, she shined on the court at any position she was asked to play. Setter, pin-hitter, middle, defensive specialist, or libero...Anderson can fill the role. And not just fill the space, she's productive. She is a special player on a special team. You don't win a National Championship, especially in a division as tough as the Liberty division, without a player like Catherine.   With roster limits and new eligibility rules in college, the value of players that are versatile is rising. As always, expect Catherine to meet the challenge and rise to the occasion.     Having a good setter should never be overlooked, but a setter that can lead your team in hitting percentage and led in digs, now that is another story. NWJ Storm Adidas 17's got that performance from Emory.   Competing in the American division, Bertrand and her team faced tough competition throughout. Emory showed her versatility on both offense and defense. As a setter, she delivers a great ball to her attackers. Always giving them the pace needed to get the ball down. She's very smart on the court and reads the defense to put her hitters in the best position to score. As a hitter, she displays the strong-arm speed needed to power through a block and the finesse to go off hands, or around the block. Her passing is solid and keeps the offense in system when she has to dig one out. All around talent and able to help a team out in multiple ways.     Defense wins championships. You hear in every sport, every year. That is the mindset preached in every locker room. One player that lived that out during Nationals, was [player_tooltip player_id='774267' first='Aubrey' last='Stricklin'].   Playing in the challenging Liberty Division, the EVA 16 Elite had many hard fought-battles. " Aubrey made a big impact on games with comebacks that started with her blocking parties," said EVA Director Tanja Eckart. Stricklin led defensive charges in several matches that sparked the team. Her timing and anticipation allowed her to close the seams or just one on one stifle attackers. She is not just a defensive player; she has the ability to get the ball down on offense as well. As she heads into the high school season, the Benton Panthers can expect to see a fierce warrior at the net!     When the EVA 17 Elite lost their amazing setter [player_tooltip player_id='763428' first='Mia' last='Adams'] to injury, they had a huge hole to fill. According to EVA Director Tanja Eckart, "She (Mia) was playing at such a high level, it was sad to see it happen." Enter [player_tooltip player_id='992443' first='Jayden' last='Wise']. She stepped in and put her head down and went to work.   Eckart describes her as a great kid to work with, coachable, hard-working and a team player. "She made a big leap from start to end of the season, probably the most improved player over the season. Stepping up from the EVA 17 Navy team, Wise's grit made a difference. She has very good instincts and this season provided her with an opportunity to learn from an extremely talented and established 17 Elite group. She has the ability and the size to be an offensive weapon as well. She has a strong swing and plays fearlessly at the net. Experience as a hitter shows in her setting as she displays solid ball placement.   Keep a close eye when the rankings come out. She's rising in the 2028 class.     Playing for the Storm 15 Adidas, Maya was a beast all weekend. As one of the more advanced players in the class of 2030, Sargent has proven she can play with the best.   According to her coach, Stacie Johnson, " Maya was a beast all weekend. She read the game really well and took over the passing game, taking pressure off of the other players." Sargent has a high volleyball IQ and reads hitters well. Having watched her in person, she has great lateral movement and well-developed platform that allows her to deliver pinpoint passes. Maya generally stays on her feet well but can track down errant balls to keep rallies alive. She is going to a fun one to watch as she continues to grow in the game.    There are many more stars that represented Arkansas at Nationals this week and they will be covered in my next article. If you know a player that deserved to be highlighted, I'd love to hear about them. Reach out to me at <a href="mailto:bdsrecruiting10@gmail.com">bdsrecruiting10@gmail.com</a> or connect with me on X (predigRob) and Instagram(@prepdigarrob). Let's continue showcasing the incredible talent Arkansas volleyball has to offer.

Club coaches are finally taking a break, and High School coaches are kicking into high gear (unless you do both!). But I am going to take a couple looks back at an amazing Nationals run for Arkansas teams this week. We had two different National Champions in ages 15 and up, deep runs in top divisions and MVPs named. Today we are going to look back at some of the players that you don't regularly hear about, who stepped up big at Nationals.