17 Open Standouts At Sunshine Classic

Be sure to follow @lshotvb on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/lshotvb/">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@lshotvb?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc">Tik Tok </a>and <a href="https://x.com/LineShotVBall">Twitter</a> for all things volleyball!   <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@lshotvb/video/7610188110449757471?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc&web_id=7597496589356025374"></a><a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@lshotvb/video/7614960491164732686?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc">Are these TWO teams, the BEST TEAMS in the COUNTRY?! </a>   --   Sunshine Classic officially kicked off the qualifier season! And there was simply no better way to kick it off than this!   The 17 Open Division brought in some of the heaviest weights the country had to offer. Some of the best performers from the recent Triple Crown were all on tap.   Championship Sunday saw the clash of the titans with TAV and Winter Park clashing yet again. The two squared off in the semifinals of the Triple Crown NIT and they did so again at the Sunshine Classic. Where TAV took the game and eventually the championship in Kansas City, results were flipped in Winter Park's home court. Austin Performance came in and seemingly shocked the world with their epic run to the championship while Legacy proved yet again, they are top dogs in the field.   The talent pool was deep and the road to the 'ship was epic. Let's take a look at some of the biggest standouts from this year's Sunshine Classic!   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Sophia Smith - Legacy </h2>   This opposite has become a game changer for this Legacy squad. She has really come alive throughout the 2025 club season and has shown no signs of slowing up now. Sophia Smith on the right pin brings you big swings, monster blocks and a whole lot of energy! Smith creates a perfect storm of pin to pin offense for setter Marlie Smith.   <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@lshotvb/video/7612737906289036574?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc&web_id=7597496589356025374">Look for yourself on ALL THAT HEAT and ALL THAT ENERGY from Sophia Smith... </a>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='762542' first='Ella' last='Gravlee'] - Winter Park</h2>   The addition of [player_tooltip player_id='762542' first='Ella' last='Gravlee'] to this already STRONG Winter Park has made them into one of the best in the country. There was no greater example of that than here at Sunshine. Gravlee packs one of the heaviest punches in the gym. On home turf, she was firing on all cylinders at the net and through the back court, bringing an extra layer of domination to WPVC.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='763489' first='Mollie' last='VanDeusen'] - Winter Park</h2>   Get you a player that can do it all. For this team, it seems as though, they can ALL do it ALL. But [player_tooltip player_id='763489' first='Mollie' last='VanDeusen'] being able to be one of the best setting prospects in the field and also muster up some jaw dropping swings is impressibe. VanDeusen, alongside Engler, create a damning 1-2 punch in WPVC's 6-2 system that we haven't seen in quite some time. We've become accustomed to the 6-2 of setters primarily, and almost only setting in the back court. But for these two, you cannot take either one off the court and they compliment each other SO WELL.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Lexi Martin - TAV</h2>   There is so much to love about this TAV squad and Lexi Martin is one of the big ones. She's also one that we aren't talking about quite enough. Martin is an electric presence on the court. From her offensive wows at the net and to her consistency in her ball control and defense, Martin is a complete package. At Sunshine, it looked like Martin was swinging with some extra oomph, terminating at a high efficincy.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Peyton Kubik - DYNASTY</h2>   When Peyton Kubik takes flight, it is all over for opponents. She's one of the most dynamic, heavy hitting players in the country for a reason. In Orlando, Kubik was up to Kubik things and was teeing off with ease against the competition. Dynasty found themselves placing fifth, behind the play of Kubik.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='827835' first='Sophia' last='Dostic'] - OTVA</h2>   This is one of the best setters in the country and if you needed any example of why, you should have been at the OCCC last weekend. [player_tooltip player_id='827835' first='Sophia' last='Dostic'] was causing chaos for teams all weekend long. Her ability to neutralize the defense opposite of her and allow her hitters wide open court to smash through is second to none. Dostic had OTVA on an undefeated record for the entirety of the weekend, just narrowly missing the bid to place fifth.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Mallory Schneider - KAIROS </h2>   There is nothing I love more than a really dominant left handed attacker. Mallory Schneider was exactly that. A hard, heavy swing, but also one that can crack up some really gnarly shots. Schneider has all of the makings to be an electric presence at the next level with her size and range as an opposite. This was an incredible introductory to this player.   <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@lshotvb/video/7612666950698683678?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc&web_id=7597496589356025374">Take a look for yourself on HOW DANGEROUS this KAIROS squad really is...</a>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Madelynn Henry - KAIROS</h2>   From one pin to the other, Kairos has the perfect 1-2 punch of the pins. Madelynn Henry out on the left pin and through the back row attack is a lethal dose! The future Oregon Duck can really cause a lot of hysteria with her prowess. But then she has the balance of being so sound in her first touch as well that makes her so hard to defend.   <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@lshotvb/video/7612666950698683678?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc&web_id=7597496589356025374">Take a look for yourself on HOW DANGEROUS this KAIROS squad really is...</a>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='521319' first='Trinity' last='McCormick'] - Tribe</h2>   There is something about those Wake Forest bound setters that I find myself a big fan of. [player_tooltip player_id='521319' first='Trinity' last='McCormick'] really brings a lot of fun to the court as a setter. She's equipped with a deep bench of strong attackers, but the way she utilizes each of them and when is what really makes this Tribe team one you don't want to mess with!   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='555202' first='Miranda' last='Knoll'] - Tribe</h2>   It is an all out slug fest from every aspect of her game. Whether you are getting [player_tooltip player_id='555202' first='Miranda' last='Knoll'] from the front row, the back row or EVEN behind the service line, she is sending MISSILES to her opponents. Contending for one of the strongest arms in the gym, Knoll can not only unleash the heat as an attacker, but she scores a lot of points from behind the line with her heavy top spin serve!   Don't believe me? Just take a look for yourself here -> <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@lshotvb/video/7612019430326848798?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc&web_id=7597496589356025374">[player_tooltip player_id='555202' first='Miranda' last='Knoll']'s Top Spin Serve</a>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='764464' first='Bradee' last='Boyd'] - Tribe </h2>   It is all gas and no brakes when it comes to this Tribe team. When you aren't fully keyed in on Knoll, you have to have eyes in on [player_tooltip player_id='764464' first='Bradee' last='Boyd']. The two are the ultimate left side duo. Both six rotation players, both very reliable, highly efficient from anywhere on the court and both have a wicked top spin serve. Boyd brings an extra layer of relentless attack for Tribe. She flies in the air and has a vast range of shots that create such a problem for opposing defenses.   <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@lshotvb/video/7614513683393187086?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc&web_id=7597496589356025374">Take a look for yourself of Boyd's game HERE</a>   --   <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@lshotvb/video/7614960491164732686?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc&web_id=7597496589356025374">Check out the latest video from Sunshine Classic on Line Shot!!</a>

Be sure to follow @lshotvb on Instagram, Tik Tok and Twitter for all things volleyball!