A club can’t win both AAU and USAV national championships without accomplishing the first leg in Orlando. That’s the position Mintonette Sports m.51 finds itself in after capturing the 15 Open gold medal Wednesday after outlasting top-ranked Skyline 15 Royal in the final. Both teams are headed to Chicago to compete for another national championship next week, when Mintonette will not only look to double-up on the gold medals, but will be looking to go back-to-back after raising the 14 Open trophy a year ago in Indianapolis. Needless to say, there are players from both Mintonette and Skyline featured on our Day 4 Show Stoppers below, along with many more standout players from Wednesday’s gold-bracket action.
DAY 4 SHOW STOPPERS
Gabby Semona MB Tri-State Elite 15 Blue: If you love middle play, then the gold bracket was the place to be on the final day of competition. Semona, a 6-3 force, was just one in a bunch of middles holding it down and delivering booming kills and rally-ending stuffs.
Grace Jones L/DS Tri-State Elite 15 Blue: Jones had her hands full having to pick off all the fastballs being thrown her way from the Boiler Jrs offense. The attack comes from everywhere but Jones did a solid job getting balls up and keeping her team in the point.
Gwenyth Berry OH Top Select 15 Elite: Berry is a bit undersized but she has a powerful arm and hits a heavy ball. She was doing a good job of hitting off or around blocks.
Kaleigh Langmo OH Top Select 15 Elite: Langmo filled out the other half of the Top Select outside duo. She’s a heady attacker who excelled at going high hands.
Isabelle Masten L/DS Rev 15-1 Fuego: Masten was among the standout defenders with her back row presence and effort. She’s a smooth and accurate passer and covers the court well.
Karen Dutro MB Rev 15-1 Fuego: Dutro is a lanky middle who can let it fly when she connects. She’s definitely a threat and a target when Rev is in system and defenses must keep track of her.
Kalyssa Taggart S/RS A5 15 Bob: Taggart starred in a two-way role. She’s another smart hitter who is low error and scores in a variety of ways. She’s also a steady setter who locates consistently.
Ryan Sadler OH A5 15 Bob: Sadler continues to make us take notice. She’s hard to miss on the attack. She’s the one still hanging in the air and swinging as the blockers are coming down.
Elle Mottola S WPVC 15 Armour Black: Mottola was a bright spot at the setting position and big reason WPVC was still in contention on the final day. She dishes well from anywhere on the court and puts her hitters in winnable positions.
Sophia Stallworth MB WPVC 15 Armour Black: Like we said, middles were the name of the game with Stallworth’s name being called a lot whenever she’s across the front. She has a whip for an arm combined with hops and it makes her a difficult cover.
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Victoria Belfort L/DS Tribe 15 Elite Cardinal: Belfort was passing well out of serve receive. She also was digging and making plays to keep the rally alive.
Mia Gold Tribe 15 Elite Cardinal: Gold was arguably the most lights-out outside in a gym full of big swingers. She was on fire for Tribe, slinging shots left and right with authority.
Gigi Artiles OH Tribe 15 Elite Cardinal: Artiles, like Gold, has been mentioned previously for her standout play. The problem for her opponent is her big arm doesn’t go away. She can hit as hard as anyone there and it made for loud kills at times.
Jenness Orcutt RS GP 15 Rox: Orcutt filled her role on the right side well. She came up with timely blocks and key kills, including a stuff and winner late to help GP close out its victory over Top Select.
Alana Bailey MB Far Out 15 Black: Bailey flies under the radar compared to the other middles in the gym but she shouldn’t. She has tons of potential with her quickness and jumping ability.
Meredith Martin L/DS Legacy 15-1 Adidas: Martin is a defensive rock, as she does not crack. She’s a steady passer and defender and makes unbelievable saves at times.
Gabby DiVita OH Legacy 15-1 Adidas: DiVita’s highlights were many. She’s a free-swinging outside who gets up, extends and ricochets shots down in a hurry.
Kayla Nwabueze MB Legacy 15-1 Adidas: Nwabueze owns the net at times on both sides of the ball. She can power balls through, over or around blocks or frustrate with a well-placed tip. She can then turn around and cram a ball back in an attacker’s face on the block.
Ella Andrews MB Legacy 15-1 Adidas: Andrews is also major weapon on both sides of the ball. She’s another strong blocker but she really excels on the attack. She has a next-level arm with her power and swing.
Eva Long S Legacy 15-1 Adidas: I mentioned it before but the way Long competes is a joy to watch. She has a no-nonsense approach and dishes well to all spots as she knows how to get all her hitters involved.
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Ellie Hepler L/DS Boiler Jrs 15 Gold: Hepler covers and moves very well around the court. She’s also an above-average passer and defender who brings a lot of passion to the lineup.
Cali Foster OH Boiler Jrs 15 Gold: Foster’s all-around game makes her a joy to watch. She does it all above average and she goes all out doing it, from laying out for a ball to getting off the ground and bashing balls.
Madison Miles OH Boiler Jrs 15 Gold: With Miles, it can come front and back row equally well. She extends really well and has a loose arm to explode on balls with.
Keoni Williams MB Skyline 15 Royal: The 6-4 Williams is at the head of the class for the middles here. Her impact can’t be overstated enough. With her length and reach, she interferes with so many shots where other middles can’t. Then add that she can simply go right over the top of blocks with ease and pound balls straight down and it just isn’t fair!
LeVariya Pinder MB Skyline 15 Royal: On other teams, Pinder would be getting all the press on her middle play. She happens to play with Williams but she’s hardly overshadowed because she makes you take notice with her athleticism and ability to sky and score.
Layla Austin RS Skyline 15 Royal: Austin was lining up on the right side and giving Skyline a different look with it. She has a lively arm and when she connects hits with tons of pace.
Skylar Jackson OH Skyline 15 Royal: Jackson is a six-rotation stalwart who only comes off the court during timeouts or in between sets. She’s also a smart hitter who does well keeping defenses off balanced.
Layla Hoying OH Mintonette Sports m.51: We really liked the grit and determination shown by Hoying. Truthfully, we’ve seen her play better overall but she was money when it counted. She really brought it in the final set to help Mintonette claim the gold medal.
Sara Snowbarger OH Mintonette Sports m.51: Snowbarger was solid and steady throughout the day. She did well tooling blocks against Skyline and frustrating the block as they had a tough time slowing her.
Lyla Stewart RS Mintonette Sports m.51: Stewart does not hold back. She’s an aggressive attacker who takes big swings and with it Mintonette is not afraid to go to her in big moments.
Mallory Matheny S Mintoette Sports m.51: Matheny ran a 5-1 the entire day. She does a nice job of connecting with all her hitters and mixing her sets up. She’s also an above-average defender.
