Durango Fall Classic

4 Must-Watch Teams at the Durango Fall Classic

4 Must-Watch Teams at the Durango Fall Classic

The Durango Fall Classic might just be the best high school volleyball tournament in the country. Here are four of the best teams competing.

Sep 15, 2016 by Megan Kaplon
4 Must-Watch Teams at the Durango Fall Classic
The Durango Fall Classic might just be the best high school volleyball tournament in the country. Sixty-three teams, including six of the top-10 teams in the nation, will gather in Vegas this weekend, traveling from as far away as Georgia and Hawaii.

FloVolleyball will be broadcasting the four courts at Durango High School LIVE on Friday and Saturday.

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Here are four teams you will definitely want to see in action:

1. Mira Costa High School (Manhattan Beach, California)


They say defense wins championships and this year's Mira Costa squad has a pair of DI recruits anchoring its back row. Junior libero/DS Kelli Barry is committed to San Diego, while her fellow junior back-row mainstay Lea Ungar will continue her career at Cal Poly. The 6-6 block of sophomore middle Caroline McQuiggan completes the Mustangs' defense, but on the offensive side, keep an eye out for 6-1 senior Princeton recruit Alexa Underwood and 5-11 senior outside/opposite and Navy commit Amanda Montag.

Watch Mira Costa LIVE in pool play at the Durango Fall Classic in Pool 9 (Court 3 at Durango High School) on Friday, September 16, 2016.

2. Sacred Heart Academy (Louisville, Kentucky)


All six starters from the 2015 Sacred Heart squad return this year, but there's a different face leading the Valkyries from the bench. Former head coach Eric Garvey resigned after last season, and former Ohio State men's volleyball player Brett Versen has taken his place. Leading this powerhouse team from Louisville is University of Florida recruit Paige Hammons. Setter Nadia Dieudonne will be dishing out nectar to Hammons, as well as senior lefty opposite Lauryn Bennett, 5-9 junior setter/hitter Abigail Westenhofer, and senior middle blocker and Northern Kentucky recruit Kaelin Gentile.

Watch Sacred Heart LIVE in pool play at the Durango Fall Classic in Pool 1 (Court 1 at Durango High School) on Friday, September 16, 2016.

3. Torrey Pines High School (San Diego, California)


This strong Southern California squad takes the court with seven Division I commits. Setters Cal-bound Brynn Chandler and future Northwestern Wildcat Kiara McNulty will supply Pepperdine beach recruit opposite Alexis Filippone, middles Chiara Spain (Yale) and Dani Fornaciari (Louisville), and outside Jaden Whitmarsh. So far, the 2016 TP squad has two Ws under its belt, a sweep of Cathedral Catholic and a four-setter over Del Norte.

Watch Torrey Pines LIVE in pool play at the Durango Fall Classic in Pool 5 (Court 2 at Durango High School) on Friday, September 16, 2016.

4. Xavier College Prep


The star of this Phoenix-based team is 6-4 middle Makena Patterson, who leads with 47 kills hitting .298 so far this year. The A&M recruit is joined by her fellow seniors Kristen Klein and Grace Morrison and junior Lanie Wagner on the pins with sophomore Shannon Shields quarterbacking the offense. The biggest hurdle for this Xavier squad will be replacing the graduated Khalia Lanier, who was the 2016 Gatorade National Volleyball Player of the Year and now plays at USC.

Watch Xavier College Prep LIVE in pool play at the Durango Fall Classic in Pool 13 (Court 4 at Durango High School) on Friday, September 16, 2016.