Durango Fall ClassicSep 15, 2016 by Megan Kaplon
Top 8 Players at the Durango Fall Classic
Top 8 Players at the Durango Fall Classic
With six of the top 10 high school teams in the country slated to compete in this week's Durango Fall Classic (14 of the top 50!), every match is going to b
With six of the top 10 high school teams in the country slated to compete in this week's Durango Fall Classic (14 of the top 50!), every match is going to be a showdown.
While you're watching LIVE matches right here on FloVolleyball starting at 1 p.m. PT. on Friday, here are some players you're going to want to keep an eye out for.
Paige Hammons, Sacred Heart Academy
Florida recruit Hammons is a leader on the top-10 nationally ranked Sacred Heart squad. A member of the 2015 Youth National Team that won silver at the U18 World Championship in Peru and the 2016 Junior National Team that took silver at the U20 NORCECA Championships, Hammons is by all accounts one of the top players in her class.
[tweet url="https://twitter.com/usavolleyball/status/759543104378642432" hide_media="0" hide_thread="1"]
Until a little over a month ago, Meghan McClure was one of the best unsigned high school seniors in the nation. Now officially committed to Stanford, the 6-1 outside hitter can get back to focusing on her Santa Margarita squad, for which she is the primary offensive weapon. Expect McClure to be set no matter where she is on the court.
Sara Hamson is one of the biggest blocks in girls' high school volleyball. Standing 6-7, the senior middle blockers/opposite has committed to BYU, following in the footsteps of her older sister, All-American opposite Jennifer Hamson. With the elder Hamson leading the Cougars to the national championship match in 2014, expectations will be high for Sara, both in her final year of high school ball and as she makes the transition to college.
Alexis Hamilton, Assumption
Libero Alexis Hamilton is adding to the legacy of incredible defensive players to come out of Louisville, and she's staying local for college after graduating, choosing to continue her career at the University of Louisville. In Assumption's 16 matches so far this year, Hamilton leads the team with 163 digs, an impressive 3.9/set.
Uber-athletic middle blocker Brennan Wilhite suffered from a foot injury during her junior year, but now the USC recruit is healthy and ready to make a statement in the her final high school season. The Cathedral Catholic squad is 2-2 so far this season, with its tough preseason schedule continuing at the Durango Fall Classic, and if Wilhite's .415 hitting percentage continues, we can only expect the Dons to excel in Vegas.
Arizona-bound Candice Denny has mastered the slide attack. With a quick arm swing and even quicker feet, Denny is a top-notch middle and has improved her ball control the last couple summers playing beach. With her contributions, Archbishop Mitty could do some serious damage at the Durango Fall Classic.
Middle blocker Makena Patterson helped her Xavier squad finish as runners-up in the Arizona state tournament. She'll have to step up even more this year due to the graduation of Gatorade National Volleyball Player of the Year Khalia Lanier, but the 6-4 senior seems up to the challenge.
Outside hitter Katie Smoot led Notre Dame Belmont its first state title in any sport, and she's won a GJNC bronze medal with her club squad, Encore. The 6-1 Arizona recruit can absolutely bomb a ball from almost anywhere on the court.
More from the Durango Fall Classic:
While you're watching LIVE matches right here on FloVolleyball starting at 1 p.m. PT. on Friday, here are some players you're going to want to keep an eye out for.
Paige Hammons, Sacred Heart Academy
Florida recruit Hammons is a leader on the top-10 nationally ranked Sacred Heart squad. A member of the 2015 Youth National Team that won silver at the U18 World Championship in Peru and the 2016 Junior National Team that took silver at the U20 NORCECA Championships, Hammons is by all accounts one of the top players in her class.
[tweet url="https://twitter.com/usavolleyball/status/759543104378642432" hide_media="0" hide_thread="1"]
Meghan McClure, Santa Margarita
Until a little over a month ago, Meghan McClure was one of the best unsigned high school seniors in the nation. Now officially committed to Stanford, the 6-1 outside hitter can get back to focusing on her Santa Margarita squad, for which she is the primary offensive weapon. Expect McClure to be set no matter where she is on the court.
Sara Hamson, Pleasant Grove
Sara Hamson is one of the biggest blocks in girls' high school volleyball. Standing 6-7, the senior middle blockers/opposite has committed to BYU, following in the footsteps of her older sister, All-American opposite Jennifer Hamson. With the elder Hamson leading the Cougars to the national championship match in 2014, expectations will be high for Sara, both in her final year of high school ball and as she makes the transition to college.
Alexis Hamilton, Assumption
Libero Alexis Hamilton is adding to the legacy of incredible defensive players to come out of Louisville, and she's staying local for college after graduating, choosing to continue her career at the University of Louisville. In Assumption's 16 matches so far this year, Hamilton leads the team with 163 digs, an impressive 3.9/set.
Brennan Wilhite, Cathedral Catholic
Uber-athletic middle blocker Brennan Wilhite suffered from a foot injury during her junior year, but now the USC recruit is healthy and ready to make a statement in the her final high school season. The Cathedral Catholic squad is 2-2 so far this season, with its tough preseason schedule continuing at the Durango Fall Classic, and if Wilhite's .415 hitting percentage continues, we can only expect the Dons to excel in Vegas.
Candice Denny, Archbishop Mitty
Arizona-bound Candice Denny has mastered the slide attack. With a quick arm swing and even quicker feet, Denny is a top-notch middle and has improved her ball control the last couple summers playing beach. With her contributions, Archbishop Mitty could do some serious damage at the Durango Fall Classic.
Makena Patterson, Xavier College Prep
Middle blocker Makena Patterson helped her Xavier squad finish as runners-up in the Arizona state tournament. She'll have to step up even more this year due to the graduation of Gatorade National Volleyball Player of the Year Khalia Lanier, but the 6-4 senior seems up to the challenge.
Katie Smoot, Notre Dame Belmont
Outside hitter Katie Smoot led Notre Dame Belmont its first state title in any sport, and she's won a GJNC bronze medal with her club squad, Encore. The 6-1 Arizona recruit can absolutely bomb a ball from almost anywhere on the court.
More from the Durango Fall Classic: