AAUs in Orlando features stiff competition in the 13 Open division. Day 1 showcased 27 teams. All the top seeds proved dominant in pool play. It has all the makings for exciting pool play moving forward as the cream is rising to the top. Plenty of individuals stood out as well. Here are our Show Stoppers from the first day of action.
13s
SETTERS
Addison Hurley, Adidas KIVA 13 Red – Hurley has a solid serve which resulted in long serving runs. Additionally, the location of her sets were consistent.
Marissa Jones, A5 Mizuno 13 Karen – Jones’ hands are strong and the release is smooth. She was able to set a “3” going backwards showing her athleticism.
Zamari Christensen, Club V 13 AR Jess – Christensen’s trust in her middles in evident in the fact that she sets them frequently and they reward her with kills.
Kenna Robinson, Asics Munciana Stingrays – Robinson was very effective running combination plays with two quick attacks or two players crossing, giving her hitters no blockers.
Caitlin Crino, Tribe 13 Elite Hector – Crino was very good at getting her feet to the ball with a nice release making her sets consistent.
LIBERO
Lyndsey Robinson, Asics Munciana Stingrays – Robinson has a consistent and strong serve.
Peyton Beatty, Lexington United 13 Adidas – Beatty displayed good touches in serve receive and is confident in her out of system setting.
Addison Traina, GP 13 Rox – Traina is an energetic and active libero who also moves well and covers the backrow.
Paige Lee, Top Select 13 Elite – Lee likes to move the serve around. She also flashed strong serve receive and played good middle back defense.
MIDDLES
Cynthia Ockerman, Legacy 13-1 Adidas – Ockerman was the only middle who ran a slide and it was effective.
Milana Mays, Asics Munciana Stingrays – Mays runs a very quick “1” attack in serve receive and in transition.
Sitoafa Tausinga, Club V 13 AR Jess – Tausinga’s “3” attack is hard to dig because it is so quick.
Emily Poteraj, Adidas KIVA 13 Red – Poteraj’s presence at the net was felt during tight balls as she had quite a few stuff blocks.
Ava Mineer, Adidas KIVA 13 Red – Mineer possesses a heavy arm swing resulting in many big kills.
RIGHT SIDES
Kaitlyn Wohl, Adidas KIVA 13 Red – Wohl has a lot of range on her swing including the sharp cross court.
Ava Gould, Asics Muncian Stingrays – Gould is a lefty with a sound swing. She does get kills in row 1 on the outside.
Jenny Glushakov, Top Select 13 Elite – Glushakov has a good, high contact that allows her to hit line consistently.
Bradee Boyd, Tribe 13 Elite Hector – Boyd was engaging with her teammates, bringing smiles from everyone.
OUTSIDES
Brooke Codey, Adidas KIVA 13 Red – Codey has a high wrist snap on her swing giving it a lot of topspin.
Darby Felts, K2 13 Adidas – Felts is a fearless hitter who swings hard with or without a block.
Abbie Stewart, Asics Munciana Stingrays – Stewart has good court sense as she moves the ball around and tips to open spots for points.
Jada Cripe, Boiler Juniors 13 Gold – Cripe not only can move the ball around but also put some monster blocks on tight sets and passes.
12s
The 12 Open division at AAU is not as big as others with 19 total teams. The top seeds mostly dominated with four out of the five pool winners not dropping a set. We present our Day 1 Show Stoppers featuring the standouts who caught our attention the most.
SETTERS
Mila Zujovic, OT 12 T Kesha – Zujovic has nice, strong hands and very consistent location.
Kaelyn Easton, Legacy 12-1 Adidas – Easton is very athletic as she will jump set consistently.
Paislee Terry, Asics Muncian Peppers – Terry has a great touch and shows confidence in setting slides regularly.
Marian Rolon, Borinquen 12-1 Juan – Rolon has a hard serve that is also accurate.
LIBERO
Danica Waterman, OT 12 T Kesha – Waterman has a consistently accurate serve that frustrates passers.
Stella Smith, Legacy 12-1 Adidas – Smith is an energetic and talkative teammate. She’s very quick on hustle plays.
Brooke Neale, Asics Munciana 12 Peppers – Neale was solid in serve receive and such a good passer she plays defense in middle back.
Arianys Salgado, Borinquen 12-1 Juan – Salgado is very quick and can set out of system wherever the setter passes the ball.
MIDDLES
Adriana Hernandez, Borinquen 12-1 Juan – Hernandez hits a hard quick attack that defenders don’t expect to come so fast.
Haili Winkle, Asics Munciana 12 Peppers – Winkle was the only middle to run a slide attack in her age group, showing her athleticism.
Lexi Coleman, Legacy 12-1 Adidas – Coleman can hit a variety of hard shots, including quick attacks as well as a “2” out of transition.
McKenzie Andrews, Legacy 12-1 Adidas – Andrews is a tall and very athletic middle. She will run “3s” consistently.
RIGHT SIDES
Mikaella Fontanez, Borinquen 12-1 Juan – Fontanez is a strong attacker constantly tooling the block and will hit a quick set out of serve receive.
Arya Ozel, OT 12 T Kesha – Ozel was very good at the net blocking many outside attackers.
Isabel Penrose, OT 12 T Kesha – Penrose is very dynamic. She can hit on the right side and out of serve receive. She will hit a middle set effectively too.
OUTSIDES
Anabella Valentin, Borinquen 12-1 Juan – Valentin is her team’s lifeline as at any signs of trouble she will get set for a big swing.
Itzamar Martinez, Borinquen 12-1 Juan – Martinez is physical on offense with her hard swings and at the net with her blocking.
Sofia Rivera, GVA 12 Jayson – Rivera has such a quick swing. Line diggers have a tough time reacting to how fast it comes.
Lia Ray, Tribe 12 Elite Altone – Ray shines in the back row with her hard serves and sound serve receive and defense.
Leilani Lamar, OT 12 T Kesha – Lamar’s contact point is high on her swing and she sees the court well by tipping for points in open spots.
11s
The 11 Open division, with 15 teams, is a small one. Regardless, we were impressed with how good the offense was for this age group. Below are the Show Stoppers who stood out to us.
SETTERS
Ella Franklin, Boiler Juniors 11 Gold – Franklin showed great hustle with the ability to run down and save many errant passes.
Gabriela Marrero, Vaqueras Wes – Marrero’s sets were so consistent. She showed strong hands with a high contact making it easy to trust the set.
Sophie Holt, A5 Mizuno 11 Lori – Holt’s serves as a lefty got some good results. She gets her feet to the ball and finds her hitters consistently.
Isabelle Alexander, Adidas KIVA 11 Red – Alexander is very good on defense digging most balls hit at her and will hustle for tips and loose balls as well.
LIBERO
Valentina Berlinski, Vaqueras Wes – Berlinski has a good and consistent touch to her pass making it easy for her setters to do their job.
Valeria Rosario, Vaqueras Wes – A defensive specialist who serves nails, Rosario was throwing her body all over the back row.
Layla Hillerich, Adidas KIVA 11 Red – Hillerich was the energy that helped propel her teammates. Very quick with good feel for tips.
Brooklyn Howard, A5 Mizuno 11 Lori – Howard is one of the quickest in her position. She will chase down tips and roll shots.
MIDDLES
Reese Canada, Boiler Juniors 11 Gold – Canada will hit the corner shots consistently making it tough to pick up.
Kari Knotts, A5 Mizuno 11 Lori – Knotts has the hardest hit in this age group. I actually feared the defenders would not be able to get their hands up to protect themselves on time.
Madison Middleton, A5 Mizuno 11 Lori – Middleton can control the ball and hit corners, frustrating defenders on where to go.
Ava Smolinski, Adidas KIVA 11 Red – Smolinski is a tall, athletic middle that will hit the quick attack and block the attack on the same play.
RIGHT SIDES
Angelique Rosario, Vaqueras Wes – Rosario is a good athlete who can hit on both sides with scoring consistency.
Elle Walker, A5 Mizuno 11 Lori – Walker is tall and athletic, perfect for the right side as she blocks well and can hit for power.
Mackenzie Carter, Top Select 11 Elite – Carter is athletic, helping the occasional tight set by either tipping or getting an impressive swing.
OUTSIDES
Kohen Kazmierczak, Top Select 11 Elite – Kazmierczak is tall and moves well in serve receive and on defense. Offensively, she has a good and reliable swing.
Hyla Petkovic, Adidas KIVA 11 Red – Petkovic had a long serving run to start the game and put the other team in a hole. Defensively she was all over and has a good passing touch.
Macurdy Harden, A5 Mizuno 11 Lori – Harden has a good feel for the court, hitting many different sets and not making errors.
Mattea Capozzi, Boiler Juniors 11 Gold – Capozzi’s strong serving and aggressive defense set the tone for her team.
Natalia Colon, Vaqueras Wes – Colon has a good swing with range and that equals hitting any set outside for a kill.
