Meet the Athletes Chasing Durango's Biggest Stage

Use code Coachable247 for 30% off. Subscribe to read about the biggest volleyball weekends of September.   Las Vegas is about to host one of the biggest volleyball weekends of September, and it's not just about one tournament.   High school volleyball takes center stage first. <a href="https://durangofallclassic.com/" data-type="link" data-id="https://durangofallclassic.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Durango Fall Classic </a>returns September 18th and 19th, bringing eight of the nation's top ten teams and thirteen of the top twenty-five, including Sierra Canyon, Mater Dei, Assumption, Prestonwood Christian, Cornerstone Christian, Cathedral Catholic, and more. It's the kind of field that turns a regular pool play weekend into a measuring stick for programs across the country.   College volleyball joins the mix with the <a href="https://orleans.boydgaming.com/entertain/entertainment-calendar/2026-september-lucky-aces-volleyball-invitational" data-type="link" data-id="https://orleans.boydgaming.com/entertain/entertainment-calendar/2026-september-lucky-aces-volleyball-invitational" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Lucky Aces Women's Volleyball Invitational</a> at Orleans Arena, September 18th through 20th. University of Hawai'i, UCLA, Iowa State, and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi will all be on the floor, giving athletes and families a chance to watch the next level up close.   Then pro volleyball closes out the weekend. <a href="https://provolleyball.com/teams/vegas-thrill" data-type="link" data-id="https://provolleyball.com/teams/vegas-thrill" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Vegas Thrill </a>is partnering with PrepDig to bring a Player Experience to the <a href="https://events.prepdig.com/e/2436/register/prep-dig-vegas-showcase" data-type="link" data-id="https://events.prepdig.com/e/2436/register/prep-dig-vegas-showcase" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">PrepDig Vegas Showcase on Sunday, September 20th</a>, connecting the athletes chasing their college opportunity with exposure to the professional ranks. Durango athletes can register for the Showcase with code Durango26 for 30% off.   High school talent, college programs, and professional volleyball, all in the same city, on the same weekend. That's the kind of connection across the sport I live for. Let's meet some of the athletes who are ready to ball.    Ava Burgess Committed to Stanford   For Ava, this weekend comes with zero recruiting pressure attached. She's already locked in her future, and that means she gets to spend Durango exactly how a senior season should feel: playing loose, playing for her team, and enjoying every rep.   What she's looking forward to most is simple. "I'm excited to see and play against my friends," she said.   Ask anyone what she brings to the court and the answer doesn't change. She's known for getting kills, and that's not going to slow down just because the pressure's off.   Off the court, Ava is just as likely to be found with a book in her hands. "I love to read," she said. But once Lone Peak's matches wrap for the day, don't be surprised to see her trade the books for a seat with her teammates at the Orleans Arena, catching some of the Lucky Aces college volleyball action.   Her sights are already set beyond Stanford. Ava wants to play professionally, and with Vegas Thrill making its home in this city, there's a fun full circle possibility sitting out there. Ava, watching college volleyball this weekend, could be back on a Vegas court herself one day, this time as a pro.   ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247     Daycee has one wish list item for the Durango Weekend. "I really hope we play O'Connor again for a rematch!" Her anticipation has us all ready to see the fire in that rematch.   Daycee's game is built on effort that never lets up. "My defense and all out effort for balls is something my teammates can always rely on," she said, and that relentlessness is exactly why college coaches keep calling her.   She's already fielded interest and offers from college programs and is working through the process of finding the right fit to keep her volleyball career going.   Outside the gym, Daycee keeps it simple. She loves listening to music, and it's become part of how she resets between matches.   ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247     Ciara is coming into Durango hungry for the level of competition it brings. "I am looking forward to playing competitive volleyball and to compete with the top teams," she said.   Her game lives on the defensive end, and her hitters know it. "My best skill is my defense and my serves. I am a very reliable and tough server. My team can count on me when I am serving. I'm also very reliable on defense. My hitters can trust me to get anything behind them and cover them," she said.   College volleyball is the goal, and Ciara is already deep into building relationships with programs and fielding interest from coaches.   What might surprise people is everything she carries outside the gym. She's a 4.5 AP and Dual Enrollment student working toward becoming a pediatric doctor, serves as ASB secretary, leads as a Christian ministry leader at school, has worked as a junior referee through the SCSN program, is an older sister, and loves to cook and bake in whatever time is left.   ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247     Lauren is a senior, heading into Durango with her focus on the team. "Im looking forward to team bonding and improving my energy during games," she said.   On the court, her serve is the skill teammates and coaches know they can count on. "My serving is aggressive," she said, and that aggression has become one of the calling cards of her game.   Recruiting is already in motion. Lauren is currently talking with college programs and has received offers, but she has her sights set on a particular college.   Away from volleyball, there's a side to Lauren most people wouldn't guess. She's played piano for eleven years, enough that she could enter college as a music major if she wanted to. Can't wait to see her play.   ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247     Marlei is chasing more than just a trophy at Durango. "I am hoping to win the tournament with my team, create new opportunities for myself and my future, and see my teammates succeed," she said.   Ask Long Beach Poly's staff what Marlei brings and communication tops the list. "One of my strengths that no coach or teammate has to remind me to do is communicate. This is my strength because communicating helps win games and helps your teammates understand you better," she said.   She's aiming to play at the collegiate level while pursuing a degree in Kinesiology, and she's already fielding interest as she works through her list of schools.   Off the court, Marlei's personality is just as much a part of her game. She's known for being welcoming to everyone, and that friendliness is part of what makes her easy to play alongside. Can't wait to see Marlei on the court!   ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247     Deborah is looking forward to being tested by California's best. "Im looking foward to competing against some of the best teams in the nation. I love to be in competitive environments where everyone wants to play their best volleyball," she said.   Her hitting is what stands out first. "I think im best known for my hitting. I always try and use my whole tool box of hitting options," she said.   She's set her sights on playing in college, with a strong interest in beach volleyball as she builds her list and starts reaching out to coaches.   Beyond the court, Deborah keeps a growing book collection and gravitates toward fantasy novels whenever she gets the chance to dive into one.   ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247     Kinnley is ready for the jump in competition Durango brings. "Playing at such a high level against some of the other top teams in the country!" she said, is what she's most looking forward to.   Her game is built on presence and precision. "Being loud and good serve receive," is what she's best known for, and it's the kind of steady communication that keeps a defense organized against elite competition.   She's aiming for D1 or D2 volleyball and is already fielding interest as she works through conversations with college programs.   Outside the gym, Kinnley stays just as busy. She's enrolled in all advanced classes, reads and writes in her free time, and balances it all while working three jobs.   ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247     Even as one of the youngest in the field, Paetyn is embracing the challenge ahead. "The level of playing/challenge with the opponent," is what she's most excited for at Durango.   Her serving and finishing at the net are what makes her a stand out. Serving and kills are the two skills she's building her game around early.   Paetyn's just beginning to learn the ins and outs of recruiting, starting to build her college list, and reaching out to coaches as she takes her first steps toward playing at the next level.   Away from the court, Paetyn's creative side shows up in fashion and drawing.   ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247     Kendall and her Casteel teammates have a clear target for Durango. "We want to place top 5 in the tournament," she said.   At the net, her hands and instincts set her apart. "Being able to set with my hands from anywhere even on my knees. I also am strong at faking the block," she said, describing the skill set that makes her a matchup problem for opposing blockers.   Her goal is to earn a scholarship to play in college, and she's already building her list, reaching out to coaches, and fielding early interest.   Outside of volleyball, Kendall's a self-described animal lover who spends her downtime reading and relaxing in the sun.   ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">If You Enjoyed This Article, Help Us Keep the Momentum Going</h2>   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">🔥 Athletes</h3>   Every athlete featured here already knows what makes her count on the court, and that self-awareness is what separates a player who's building an identity from one who's just putting up numbers. PrepDig gives you three ways to build on that identity: showcases like the PrepDig Las Vegas Showcase put you in front of real evaluators outside of regular season play, our social media turns performances like these into content coaches and clubs actually see, and our articles start building your name around the habits that matter most at your position.   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">📣 Club Coaches & Directors</h3>   The athletes featured here play different positions and different roles, but each one shows what it looks like when a habit, communication, defense, tempo, effort, is being developed with real intention. Showcases like the PrepDig Las Vegas Showcase give your athletes a chance to be evaluated for exactly those habits, outside of pool play pressure. PrepDig works as an extension of your program at every position, whether that means getting your hitters seen or building recognition for the players who run your defense. Keep your club updated with the <a href="https://prepdig.com/california/clubs/club-programs/">California Club Program Database</a> and stay connected to every opportunity we create for exposure.   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">🎯 College Coaches</h3>   This group represents athletes across the class of 2027 through 2029 whose habits, communication, defensive reliability, aggressive serving, hitting versatility, already stand out ahead of their class. PrepDig exists to make long-range evaluation easier, combining live scouted events, consistent coverage, and detailed athlete profiles so you can start tracking the players who separate themselves early, long before they reach your radar the traditional way. <a href="https://prepdig.com/college-subscribe/">Use a Premium College Subscription</a> to start building a book on this class as their games continue to develop.   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">🙏 Parents & Supporters</h3>   An athlete's growth is not always easy to see from the stands, but the habits behind it, trusting her training, communicating under pressure, showing up for her teammates, are exactly what will carry her into the next level and beyond. PrepDig helps you understand that value through events that put her in front of real evaluators and articles that tell her story as a competitor in the making.   🚀 <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"/>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><a href="https://prepdig.com/events" data-type="link" data-id="prepdig.com/events">Need More Exposure? Attend a PrepDig Showcase</a></h2>   Use Code: MichelleBamford10 for $10 off on all Showcases   Our showcases are 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 is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2026/09/image_b75a6d.png?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1038979" style="aspect-ratio:3.8832056326361566;width:509px;height:auto"/></figure>   Thank you for making today's wins matter — one article, one player, one memory at a time.   ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247

Use code Coachable247 for 30% off. Subscribe to read about the biggest volleyball weekends of September.