Names to know atop the 2024 CA Watchlist
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The Class of 2024 California Watchlist features talented players throughout the state. From time to time, we’ll check in on the list and showcase a handful of the standouts from it. In this article, we take a look at five…
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Continue ReadingThe Class of 2024 California Watchlist features talented players throughout the state. From time to time, we’ll check in on the list and showcase a handful of the standouts from it. In this article, we take a look at five of the top sophomores who impressed during their high school seasons.
Babi Gubbins Babi Gubbins 6'3" | OH Mater Dei | 2024 State #18 Nation CA , 6-3 Outside, Mater Dei HS, Tstreet – The lanky outside hitter led Mater Dei with 271 kills during the regular season despite playing in 83 of the team’s 104 sets. She hit .317 to go with 239 digs, 51 blocks and 25 aces. She had a dominating performance in a best-of-three outing against Bishop Gorman during the Nike TOC in Phoenix, registering 19 kills and hitting .471 in the Monarchs’ 2-1 victory.
Sade Ilawole Sade Ilawole 5'3" | S Sierra Canyon | 2024 State CA , 6-1 Setter, Sierra Canyon HS, Mizuno Long Beach – A standout setter for one of the top teams in the state, Ilawole has been dishing out the assists of late. She ended the regular season with 730 dimes, including a season-high 58 in a five-set victory over Campbell Hall on Oct. 12. Ilawole nearly matched the mark with 56 assists as Sierra Canyon held off San Clemente in five sets to open the CIF Southern Section Division 1 playoffs. During the regular season, she also had 104 digs and 26 aces.
Ximena Cordero Ximena Cordero 5'10" | OH Otay Ranch | 2024 State CA , 5-10 Outside, Otay Ranch HS, Coast – There’s no doubt Cordero is the go-to hitter for the Mustangs. The sophomore led all underclassmen in kills in the state, compiling 418 during the regular season. She also had 217 digs and 68 aces. She closed the regular season with one of her best matches of the year, recording 20 kills and 14 digs while hitting .514 in a sweep of Mater Dei (Chula Vista).
Julia Tolstova Julia Tolstova 5'11" | OH Redlands | 2024 State CA , 5-11 Outside, Redlands, Rancho Valley – Tolstova settled into a groove over the last six weeks. She reached double-digit kills in eight consecutive matches and 11 of the past 12, including the first two rounds of the CIF Southern Section playoffs. She put up a season-high 27 kills in back-to-back matches against Yucaipa and Beaumont during that stretch. She finished the regular season with 332 kills, 227 digs, 57 aces and 22 blocks.
Haley Clark Haley Clark 5'11" | RS La Canada | 2024 State #177 Nation CA , 5-11 Right Side, La Canada, SG Elite – We won’t be seeing Clark in action for the Spartans until next fall as La Canada’s season came to an end with a first-round loss to Chaparral in the CIF Southern Section Division 2 playoffs. Regardless, it was a remarkable year for the sophomore, who put up 306 kills and hit .316 with 201 digs, 85 blocks and 57 aces in 96 sets.
*email chris.tobolski@prepdig.com with any updates, corrections or relevant information