All Arizona Dream Team – Team Anthony

We wanted to do something a little different now that club season has officially come to a close. Marissa and I each drafted our own PrepDig AZ Dream Team, selecting the players we'd want leading our roster in a hypothetical showdown. After the draft, we broke down every selection, explaining why each player earned a spot on our team. These picks were all based off this years club season as a whole.   To keep things fair—and make the draft a little more challenging—we established a few ground rules before making our first pick:   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>Maximum of two players per club. Once a team had two players selected, that club was off the board for the remainder of the draft. This forced us to dig deeper into Arizona's incredible talent pool instead of stacking one or two powerhouse clubs.</li>   <li>Maximum of three players per graduating class. Each roster could include no more than three athletes from the same graduating class, creating a balanced mix of experience and future potential.</li>   <li>Build a realistic roster. This wasn't simply about selecting the best players available—we had to build a team capable of winning an actual match. That meant filling every position, including setters, middles, pin hitters, opposites, liberos, and defensive specialists. We couldn't just draft ten outside hitters, even if that would have made for an entertaining team.</li>   <li>Snake draft format. Marissa held the first overall pick. I followed with back-to-back selections, then Marissa picked twice, and the draft continued in traditional snake format until both rosters were complete.</li> </ul>   Here were the final reults of the draft:   <figure class="wp-block-table"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><tbody><tr><td>Marissa's Dream Team</td><td>Anthony's Dream Team</td></tr><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='888469' first='Amari' last='Frazier']<a href="https://prepdig.com/player/amari-frazier/"></a><a></a> (M, Storm, 2028)</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='774402' first='Tessa' last='Larkin']<a href="https://prepdig.com/player/tessa-larkin/"></a><a></a> (OH, Storm, 2027)</td></tr><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='603194' first='Pulelehua' last='Laikona']<a href="https://prepdig.com/player/pulelehua-laikona/"></a><a></a> (L, Storm, 2027)</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='888746' first='Joelle' last='Wasson']<a href="https://prepdig.com/player/joelle-wasson/"></a><a></a> (M, Omni, 2029)</td></tr><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='749268' first='Ashlyn' last='Quiri']<a href="https://prepdig.com/player/ashlyn-quiri/"></a><a></a> (OH, AZ Sky, 2027)</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='885187' first='Rylee' last='Asanovich']<a href="https://prepdig.com/player/rylee-asanovich/"></a><a></a> (S/RS, Aspire, 2029)</td></tr><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='787997' first='Jade' last='Smith']<a href="https://prepdig.com/player/jade-smith-2/"></a><a></a> (S, Aspire, 2028)</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='885089' first='Sophia' last='Gregg']<a href="https://prepdig.com/player/sophia-gregg/"></a><a></a> (S,/RS, Storm, 2029)</td></tr><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='523986' first='Isabella' last='Stojkovic']<a href="https://prepdig.com/player/isabella-stojkovic/"></a><a></a> (OH, Rev, 2027)</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='881802' first='Aubrey' last='Burns']<a href="https://prepdig.com/player/aubrey-burns/"></a><a></a> (L, AZ Sky, 2027)</td></tr><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='885082' first='K'Lei' last='Noah']<a href="https://prepdig.com/player/klei-noah/"></a><a></a> (RS, Omni, 2029)</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='826238' first='Gabriella' last='Nucci']<a href="https://prepdig.com/player/gabriella-nucci/"></a><a></a> (MB, AZ Sky, 2028)</td></tr><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='942065' first='Gloria' last='Bankston']<a href="https://prepdig.com/player/gloria-bankston/"></a><a></a> (M, Aspire, 2029)</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='888726' first='Carsen' last='Steinkamp']<a href="https://prepdig.com/player/carsen-steinkamp/"></a><a></a> (L, Livewire, 2028)</td></tr><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='833602' first='Kallie' last='George']<a href="https://prepdig.com/player/kallie-george/"></a><a></a> (OH, Club Cactus, 2028)</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='920122' first='Mia' last='Wells']<a href="https://prepdig.com/player/mia-wells/"></a> (Pin, Rev, 2030)</td></tr><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='787775' first='Kendall' last='Klingenberg']<a href="https://prepdig.com/player/kendall-klingenberg/"></a><a></a> (S, Omni, 2029)</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='778035' first='Kalista' last='Fuller']<a href="https://prepdig.com/player/kalista-fuller/"></a><a></a> (OH, Aspire, 2027)</td></tr><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='919648' first='Charlotte' last='Lilley']<a href="https://prepdig.com/player/charlotte-lilley/"></a><a></a> (OH, AZ Sky, 2030)</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='826371' first='Haylie' last='Johnston']<a href="https://prepdig.com/player/haylie-johnston/"></a> (Pin, Livewire 2028)</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">The Setters</h2>   I think this is where I have a huge advantage with my team right here. I have two setters who are both capable of running a 5-1 or both could be pure pin hitters leading our team in scoring if needed. This team will start with a 6-2 with these two playing all the way around as well and shouldn't need to come off the court at any point. They will facilitate, score, shut down pin hitters, and be our leaders on the floor. You think hitting a ball to them in right back will solve this? Nope, we will just have the other one set from the front row to keep us in system if needed or just let them wail away on the pin.    You mean to tell me I can have someone who set for team USA on my roster and was named best setter of the tournament? Yeah I will take that in a heartbeat. Sophia's game play is very vast and top level in so many areas. For starters she is someone who runs a very high level offense and is always in system even when she isn't getting the best passes. She is able to run her middles from all over the floor and can run tempo throughout the game from all over the floor. There really isn't a set she can't make and from any location.   Where she really adds value to this team is her ability to be a top end blocker and offensive force while being a top end setter. As a right side blocker, she is always going against the best hitters and will more times then not be a menace to those hitters and get a ton of blocks. She is going to get high above the net and take up a lot of space with her blocking ability. Hitting wise? Good luck, she is a weapon on the right side and can score through, around, and above you. Easy choice for me to have as a setter and right side hitter.     I stayed in the same class for my 2nd setter and had the same process as my first one I took. I was looking for someone who can contribute not just with their hands, but with their ability to block/score on their own and Rylee really fits that description to a T. She is going to be running a fast offense with some of the best hitters out there and similar to Sophia she can run the offense from anywhere on the floor. She has soft hands and seems to know the game very well and can hit the right hitters at the correct time.   On offensive front she is an powerhouse pin hitter who scores a ton of points for her team each and every game. She can hit a variety of sets and most importantly is a threat both in and out of system. She also has a long reach with her block and can contribute with her backrow defense and serving. She is a good server and doesn't let a ton of balls get by her in defense. She can do all part we are looking for in a setter and should complement Sophia in her game and be a dominate 1-2 punch.    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">The Liberos</h2>   I went with two liberos for a few reasons. First I could double libero and both these two would be capable of that, or one will be my libero and the other would DS for me but I want options on my team and both are capable of playing middle back, right back, left back, they can do it all from the back row. I also got two liberos who are high energy, and from winning teams. I want that winning mentality and a loud team and I think both of these liberos really bring that out on top of their leadership from the backrow.    I felt this was a pretty easy choice when it came to libero. After Pulelehua the next best libero in the state (if not 1A or 1B) would be Aubrey. She is a star when it comes to her game play and someone that can really anchor the backrow for us. As a defender she is all over the place and reads the game at a high level really demonstrating her court IQ. She gets a ton of high quality touches on the ball and seems to be moving on the floor with ease, both in transition and to defensive positions.   Now, where she excels is her serve receive. She tracks the ball exceptionally well, maintains excellent posture through contact, and delivers accurate passes that allow the offense to stay in system. The best part about her is that she shows a ton of confidence by taking a large portion of the court and makes life easy on the other girls in the backrow. She is a top level libero and an easy pick for this team, she has always played with top end talent and should make this team run on all fronts.     I was always going to take another libero on my team, I like having competition for spots and I like the fact I can double libero if needed as well. When looking at liberos you want proven winners who are high energy players that communicate extremely well and efficiently... you have all of that in Carsen. Her game play aside for a second, Carsen does all the little things coaches love to see in liberos and this makes her an easy selection for this team and she can fit in anywhere as a player.   Now her game play is all a bonus, and you get a libero that is going to take up half the court when it comes to serve receive as her range has no limit. She is going to contact the ball at a good angle every time and keep her team in system throughout a match. In defense she is a going to dig and touch almost every ball that comes near her, and do so cleanly to keep the team in system. She has that hustle and grit we love to see in a libero and she isn't' about to lose any match she is in. We love that mentality on this team and think she will help this team get that W.    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">The Pins</h2>   I got the superstar in Tessa with my first pick and then went with some versatility with my other pin hitters. My thought was I needed some options on the pin after Tessa depending on the match up and how things were looking. I wanted a few of them to be able to play both pins, I want some of them to be able to play all the way around (although I do have a DS option as well), I wanted some girls who can go through a block and be terminators and I got 4 of them right here. I have a ton of options with what to do here and girls who are all winners and can be leaders when called upon as well.    I was shocked when she didn't go to Marissa first but I jumped all over taking Tessa. I now have my OH-1 and a outside who can play all 6 rotations and score from all over the floor. She is going to be able to hit over some blocks, around some blocks, and run some tempo sets with our setters as well. She can also score from the backrow and be an option there which I think is an added bonus in this match up.   On the flip side she is also a great server and contributor from the backrow with her defense/serve receive so we will basically have another libero on the floor when she is in the backrow. She is great with her movement and court IQ to see a play as it is happening and get great touches on the ball when she does make contact. She is a steady presence in serve receive and should take up a ton of ground and keep our team in system throughout matches. She is going to be a weapon on this team and should be one of the top scorers in this hypothetical match up.     My youngest pick was Mia, and I got a future star who can contribute now if I need! She played all season on a top open level 15s team as a 14 year old so that really shows how talented she is. She is someone who already can score from multiple spots on the floor and do so at a high clip. She has the length and athletic ability to play both pins, and is athletic enough to do so all the way around. She can contribute with her offense, blocking, and defense depending on the situation, so having someone this versatility was an easy choice.   One thing that really makes this an easy pick was that she plays with confidence and never shy's away from a good match up. She isn't intimidated by a block, or isn't scared to go one on one with a top level pin, she plays well above her age and does so with a ton of talent. I am getting a hitter who the ability to score from multiple locations on the court, makes smart attacking decisions, and mixes shots effectively. She could very well end up leading our team in points in the right scenario, which makes this an easy choice for our team.     Kalista is a 6 rotation outside hitter who is one of the best all around players in her class. She can literally terminate a ball at will and seems to be able to score not only in system but out of system as well. Although we won't be out of system much, it is good to know that is going to be an option as well with her offense. She can also run with a ton of tempo and get a lot of one on one match ups which will be crucial in this match up.   Where she really stands out is her ability to play all 6 rotations and to a level that is considers extremely high. She could in theory be a third libero option for me if needed but can cover so much ground from middle back and will still be a treat with her offense as well. Having a pin hitter who can go all 6 rotations and score at a high clip made this an easy choice for this team.     Haylie is a gamer and someone who is very versatile and can do a lot for her team with her game play. I like the fact she can be a top level player from either pin if needed and can contribute with her game by not only scoring but playing exceptional in defense/serve receive as well. It doesn't matter if we end up starting her on either pin, she will find a way to contribute and that is what we need on this team.   Haylie is a force on offense and her explosive approach, quick arm, and ability to contact the ball at a high point make her a difficult matchup from either pin. She has a very powerful and fast arm swing that really makes it easy to go through, and over blockers. She also is a good defense as she covers the floor well, competes relentlessly, and transitions quickly from defense to attack which makes her a viable option on this team to be able to do multiple things for us and an easy pick for our team.    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">The Middles</h2>   Two stars in the making right here. I wanted my middles to be a physical presence both with their offense and with their defense and I think I got two really good ones right here. Both these middles are tremendous blockers who take up a ton of space on the pins with their ability to press over the net but most importantly they can win a lot of 1-1 battles in the middle which really is important against high level teams. They also are two middles who can score from all along the front row and in a variety of ways which is going to be extremely beneficial on this team.    I have to try to slow down some of the hitters on the other side of the net and I have a great option to do so here in Joelle. She is a super athletic and fast middle who gets laterally to the pin with such ease that should really help sealing and closing the block on the pin. More impressively is she gets well over the net and will take away a ton of space from the hitters and those angles my defenders won't be at.   On offense she shouldn't have much of an issue scoring especially getting the ball from the two top level setters we have. She is going to have a field day running all around the front row and getting one on one match ups throughout. She can run in front or behind the setter which will give us a lot of creativity with how we run our offense and where we score from. She was an easy inclusion on this team and really should be one of the best players on the floor regardless of class and position.     Gabriella is very similar to Joelle with her game play in the fact she is going to be a force on both sides of the net. I see Gabriella as one of the best offensive weapons in her class and that is going to add a lot of value to our team with her ability to score a lot from these two setter. She can run all the sets along the net and has the ability to hit from either pin in a free ball or serve receive situation as well if we are trying to fix up the offense. She is very vast with her offensive abilities and that makes her dangerous on this team.   On defense she is a good blocker who has a lot of reach and presses well over the net. She seems to read the game well and anticipates where a set is going before it is happening. We will need a lot of that in this match up trying to slow down the offense on the other side but I think Gabriella will do that throughout the match. She was an easy choice on this team and complements this team very well.    <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />   We know, plenty of amazing players still left on the board, but we had crazy limits which made these decisions nearly impossible.   Let us know which roster you think comes out on top. We'll also be sharing both teams on Instagram with a community poll, so be sure to cast your vote and settle the debate! We had way too much fun with this. Making games like this happen would truly be a dream.   Stay tunned, who knows, we might do this by class!

We wanted to do something a little different now that club season has officially come to a close. Marissa and I each drafted our own PrepDig AZ Dream Team, selecting the players we'd want leading our roster in a hypothetical showdown. After the draft, we broke down every selection, explaining why each player earned a spot on our team. These picks were all based off this years club season as a whole.