California Athletes Raising Their Recruiting Stock in Hawaiʻi

<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 Hawaiian Island Volleyball Fest offered something many tournaments cannot.   Yes, there was volleyball.   But there was also time to experience Hawaiʻi.   In the middle of the event, athletes and families stepped away from the courts for a cultural day that celebrated the traditions, history, and community that make the islands so special. It created a different atmosphere than the typical tournament weekend and gave visiting teams an opportunity to experience more than just the competition.   Several California programs made the most of the trip. [program_tooltip program_id='876223' first='SG' last='Elite'] 14 Excel captured the 14s Championship, SCVB 15 Mike earned a second-place finish in the 16s division, and ECVBA 18-1 claimed the 18s Championship title after facing City 17 Blue in the championship match.   The results mattered, but what stayed with me most were the athletes.   After the event, I asked several players to reflect on their performance, what they learned, what comes next, and what they hope coaches understand about who they are beyond volleyball. Their responses revealed a group of athletes who value leadership, preparation, positivity, and the relationships that make this sport meaningful.   Here are a few California athletes who left a mark in Hawaiʻi.    Marli Richardson had a fantastic tournament.   Since I began following Marli, her vertical, reach, and positivity have always been at the forefront of my observations but the moment she chose to highlight from Hawaiʻi had little to do with physical tools and everything to do with making the right volleyball decision.   During City's match against East County Volleyball Academy, Marli found herself facing a large block. Instead of challenging it head-on, she recognized the opening and attacked a cut shot around the defense for a point. It was the type of play that reflects maturity as an attacker. Power is valuable, but understanding when to use touch, vision, and shot selection often creates opportunities that pure power alone cannot.   Away from the court, Marli shared something she has only recently started recognizing in herself. She naturally brings energy to the people around her. Whether through humor, positivity, or helping teammates stay engaged during difficult stretches, she has discovered that leadership can take many forms.   As summer continues, she is excited to attend college camps and continue building relationships with programs that have shown interest in her game.   ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247     [player_tooltip player_id='851958' first='Kaitlin' last='Nguyen']'s jump setting, consistency, and ability to control tempo were all on display throughout [program_tooltip program_id='876223' first='SG' last='Elite']'s championship run in Hawaiʻi.   Watching her play, it becomes clear that she takes pride in reading defenses, making adjustments, and creating the best possible opportunities for her hitters.   One of her favorite moments from Hawaiʻi came when she recognized a one-on-one opportunity and delivered a set that put her hitter in position to score. While the point mattered, the decision behind it may have been even more important. It reflected the court awareness and processing speed that allow setters to influence matches long before the ball reaches the floor.   Winning the championship and earning MVP honors served as validation for the work she continues to put into her game.   Beyond volleyball, Kaitlin carries a 4.0 GPA and participates in Girl Scouts and community service. She described herself as someone teammates can rely on for communication, energy, and composure, qualities that often become just as important as technical skill.   This summer, Kaitlin's focus shifts toward strength training while continuing to develop her defense and blocking. Already one of the more polished young setters in her class, she is working toward becoming an even more complete six-rotation player.   ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247     [player_tooltip player_id='997229' first='Amelia' last='Hu']'s energy is hard to miss.   Whether she is calling seams, helping hitters identify openings, or celebrating a teammate's big play, she approaches the libero position with a level of communication and enthusiasm that naturally draws people in. Watching her compete throughout the weekend, it became clear that leadership is one of the ways she impacts the match.   That leadership showed up during City's match against East County Volleyball Academy. After being sent back to the service line in the second set, Amelia delivered an ace and followed it with a five-point serving run that helped create momentum for her team. While the points mattered, what stayed with her afterward was the lesson behind the moment.   Amelia has learned that volleyball gives athletes plenty of things they cannot control. Officials, opponents, bad bounces, and momentum shifts are all part of the game. What she can control is her effort, her body language, and the way she approaches the next ball. Standing behind the service line during that run, she found herself thinking about exactly that. Serving aggressively, trusting her preparation, and focusing only on what was within her control allowed her to play freely and confidently.   As summer begins, Amelia plans to focus on recovery, stretching, meditation, and continued skill development. She understands that improvement is not always about doing more. Sometimes it is about taking care of your body and mind so you can continue performing at your best when the next opportunity arrives.   ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247     [player_tooltip player_id='727103' first='Zoe' last='Davis'] played with a level of passion that has always immediately grabbed my attention.   Every rally seems important to her, and that urgency shows up in the way she pursues the ball, communicates with teammates, and competes from the first point to the last. There is an intensity to her game that never feels forced. She genuinely wants to win every rally and help her team find momentum.   What I appreciate most about Zoe's game, however, is that the emotion is paired with strong volleyball instincts. She understands when it is time to take an aggressive swing and when a smarter shot creates a better scoring opportunity. Throughout the tournament, she consistently showed an ability to read the situation in front of her rather than forcing plays that were not there.   That combination of competitiveness and volleyball IQ is what continues to stand out. Zoe brings energy to the court, but she also understands how to channel that energy into productive touches that help her team succeed. Those qualities have always made her fun to watch and are a big reason she continues to leave an impression every time I see her compete.   ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247     [player_tooltip player_id='997053' first='Sienna' last='Burns'] arrived in Hawaiʻi determined to set a tone.   She remembers looking at her setter before the opening point of a match against 310 Volleyball Club and confidently asking for the ball. Moments later, she attacked a three-ball set into the seam for a kill.   The story says a lot about the way she approaches the game.   Sienna believes confidence can be contagious. She wants her teammates to feel it. She wants opponents to feel it. Most importantly, she wants her actions to encourage the people around her to compete with purpose.   When discussing what coaches notice first, Sienna focused less on statistics and more on impact. She believes an aggressive presence at the net, positive energy, and the willingness to push through adversity help create an environment where teammates trust one another and continue competing regardless of circumstances.   Off the court, she prides herself on being dependable. Whether in the classroom, with family, or among teammates, she works to bring consistency and accountability into every environment she enters.   This summer, she plans to continue building strength, improving her vertical jump, and investing in the small details that prepare her for future opportunities.   ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247    <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Zara Mayor | Encore 17 Navy Wolfpack</h3>   Zara Mayor consistently stood out because of her communication and ability to stay connected to every phase of the game. She transitioned seamlessly from serve receive to defense and remained engaged in every rally. What impressed me most was her team-first mentality. Every action appeared focused on helping her team achieve its goal, and that type of consistency rarely goes unnoticed. ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Kodie Roon | City 17 Blue</h3>   Kodie Roon did an excellent job moving the ball and creating opportunities for hitters. She kept her offense in rhythm and showed confidence making decisions under pressure. Defenses that became too comfortable quickly learned she was willing to become an offensive threat herself, using a well-timed setter dump to keep opponents honest. ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Natalie Eguiazarian | City 17 Blue</h3>   Natalie brought an aggressive mentality to the net throughout the tournament. She competed confidently in front of her blockers, worked hard to protect her zones, and consistently challenged attackers to earn every point. Her willingness to stay engaged and impose herself physically was noticeable throughout the weekend. ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">If You Enjoyed This Article, Help Us Keep the Momentum Going</h2>   🔥 Athletes   The athletes featured here all found different ways to impact the tournament.   Some did it through leadership and communication. Others through decision-making, confidence, defensive effort, or their ability to create opportunities for teammates. What stood out most was how clearly many of these athletes understand the role they play within their teams.   Study this group closely. Notice how they talk about preparation, accountability, energy, and making the people around them better. The athletes who continue earning attention are often the ones who understand that success is built through much more than statistics alone.   📣 Club Coaches & Directors   Thank you for helping develop the athletes highlighted throughout this article. The volleyball IQ, competitiveness, leadership, and composure displayed throughout the Hawaiian Island Volleyball Fest are the result of countless hours spent training, teaching, and creating environments where athletes are encouraged to grow.   California was well represented throughout the event, and the athletes featured here are a reflection of the work happening inside your gyms every day.   If one of your athletes is featured, celebrate them. Share this article, tag @PrepDigCA, and continue helping others recognize the development taking place within your program.   🎯 College Coaches   The athletes featured here provided insight into how they think about the game beyond the stat sheet. They spoke about creating opportunities for teammates, staying composed under pressure, making adjustments, leading through energy, and finding ways to contribute when the match required something different from them.   Their responses offered a glimpse into the habits that often translate as athletes continue developing. Technical skills will continue to evolve, but communication, coachability, competitiveness, and decision-making remain qualities that impact every level of the game.   🙏 Parents & Supporters   Behind every athlete featured in this article are families who invested their time, energy, and support to make opportunities like this possible. The flights, hotel stays, tournament weekends, practices, lessons, and countless hours spent encouraging athletes through both success and adversity all contribute to the player standing on the court today.   Thank you for continuing to support the journey. If one of these stories resonated with you, share this article and help celebrate the growth, commitment, and experiences that continue shaping these athletes both on and off the court.   🚀 <a href="https://prepdig.com/my-account/subscriptions/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Upgrade to a PrepDig+ Subscription</a> Access exclusive rankings, deeper analysis, and the full Prospect Index to follow every athlete's journey.   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/>   Want More Exposure? The PrepDig Showcase Series 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" id="https://prepdig.com/all-events/?type=Showcase">registration is open</a>.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><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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