Chris

It’s that time of year where club volleyball season might be officially over in terms of competition, but it’s not quite finished for us. Over the next two weeks we’ll be wrapping up our coverage of the 2021-2022 season in releasing our Club All-Americans and final National Rankings. We’ve already put out our 18s Club All-Americans. Next in line is the 17s divisions, which you can find below. First, let’s discuss what goes into compiling our All-American awards. While everything is subjective, the factors we weighed in determining the list – which features 24 First Team All-Americans plus Honorable Mentions – include individual talent, impact on the team and overall team success throughout the club season. Future potential or eventual collegiate impact have no bearing on the award. We only factored in what happened during the most recent club season. With so many talented players scattered across the nation, finalizing an award list like this has its challenges. Everyone who deserves recognition cannot be included and our awards are certainly not an end-all, be-all list. Unfortunately, even with 24 First Team All Americans plus Honorable Mentions, deserving players will be left off. Ultimately, we recognize who we felt were most deserving based on the factors discussed above. vballrecruiter.com 17s Club All-Americans OUTSIDE HITTER Jurnee Robinson, A5 Mizuno 17 Jing Torrey Stafford, Sunshine 17 LA Harper Murray, Legacy 17-1 Adidas Chloe Chicoine, Circle City 17 Purple Jordyn Harvey, Club V 17 Ren Reed Julia Blyashov, Wave 17 Juliana MIDDLE BLOCKER Calissa Minatee, Dynasty 17 Black Reese Robins, Drive Nation 17 Red Eloise Brandewie, Mintonette m.71 Brooke Bultema, Elevation 17 Goller Jordyn Dailey, CHAVC 17 Black Nya Bunton, Asics KiVA 17 Red RIGHT SIDE Sydney Schnichels, MN Select 17-1 Olivia Babcock, Sunshine 17 LA Noemie Glover, Coast 17-1 Nayelis Cabello, Top Select 17 Elite (S/RS) SETTER Ella Swindle, KC Power 17-1 Ava Sarafa, Mich Elite 17 Mizuno Stella Swenson, MN Select 17-1 Ashley Mullen, Dynasty 17 Black LIBERO Laney Choboy, Academy 17 Diamond Olivia Mauch, Premier Nebraska 17 Gold Gigi Navarrete, 1st Alliance 17 Gold Alyssa Manitzas, Alamo 17 Premier *** HONORABLE MENTION OH – Claire Little, Coast 17-1 OH – Kyndal Stowers, TAV 17 Black OH – Blaire Bayless, Madfrog 17 Green OH – Destiny Ndam-Simpson, Premier Nebraska 17 Gold  OH – Kendal Murphy, AZ Rev 17 Premier OH – Grace Egan, 1st Alliance 17 Gold MB – Kaia Caffee, MN Select 17-1  MB – Kamryn Lee-Caracci, 1st Alliance 17 Gold MB – Leah Ford, Drive Nation 17 Red  MB – Laurece Abraham, Legacy 17-1 Adidas  MB – Taylor Harvey, Club V 17 Ren Reed  MB – Mia Lee, Club V 17 Ren Reed  MB – Eva Rohrbach, Wave 17 Juliana MB – Hannah Pfiffner, TAV 17 Black RS – Grace Heaney, Premier Nebraska 17 Gold  RS – Lauryn Bowie, Mintonette m.71  RS – Allison Cavanaugh, OT 17 J John S – Audrey Clark, TAV 17 Black S – Erin Kline, Legacy 17-1 Adidas S – Kalia Kohler, Club V 17 Ren Reed  L – Kate Thibault, MN Select 17-1 L – Koko Kirsch, Wave 17 Juliana L – Heidi Devers, Dynasty 17 Black L – Melie Vaioleti, Ku’ikahi Wahine 17 RSB

The 2021-2022 club season officially wrapped up last week with the conclusion of the USA Volleyball Girls Junior National Championships in Indianapolis. We’ll have our final national rankings for the 14-18s age groups out next week. In the meantime, we want to reveal our 2022 Club All-Americans, starting first with the 18s division. First off, let’s discuss what goes into compiling our All-American awards. While everything is subjective, the factors we weighed in determining the list – which features 24 First Team All-Americans plus Honorable Mentions – include individual talent, impact on the team and overall team success throughout the club season. Future potential or eventual collegiate impact have no bearing on the award. We only factored in what happened during the most recent club season. With so many talented players scattered across the nation, finalizing an award list like this has its challenges. Everyone who deserves recognition cannot be included and our awards are certainly not an end-all, be-all list. Unfortunately, even with 24 First Team All Americans plus Honorable Mentions, deserving players will be left off. Ultimately, we recognize who we felt were most deserving based on the factors discussed above. (17s Club All-Americans) vballrecruiter.com 2022 18s FIRST TEAM ALL-AMERICANS OUTSIDE HITTERS Elia Rubin, Sunshine 18 LA Eva Hudson, Munciana 18 Samurai Cheridyn Leverette, A5 Mizuno 18 Marc Devin Kahahawai, Spike and Serve 18 Emily Hellmuth, Skyline 18 Royal Jordan Middleton, Arizona Storm 18 Thunder MIDDLE BLOCKERS Marianna Singletary, A5 Mizuno 18 Marc Serena Nyambio, Legacy 18-1 Adidas Amaya Thomas, OT 18 Felix Carter Mogridge, OT 18 Chad Vanessa Polk, Rockwood Thunder 18 Elite RIGHT SIDES Kerry Keefe, Sunshine 18 LA Logan Lednicky, Hou Skyline 18 Royal Alexa Markley, A5 Mizuno 18 Marc Harmony Sample, Madfrog 18 Green (S/RS) SETTERS Katie Hurta, Adversity 18 Adidas (S/RS) Kelly Belardi, Sunshine 18 LA Bergen Reilly, Kairos 18 Adidas Rosemary Archer, Skyline 18 Royal LIBEROS Ramsey Gary, Munciana 18 Samurai Saige Damrow, FC Elite 18 Elite Emma Farrell, A5 Mizuno 18 Marc Emma Halter, Team Indiana 181 Gala Trubint, Coast 18-1 *** HONORABLE MENTION OH – Adonia Faumuina, Mizuno Long Beach 18 Rockstar OH – Kathryn Randorf, AVC Cle Rox 18 Red OH – Caroline Jurevicius, AVC Cle Rox 18 Red OH – Maya Duckworth, Madfrog 18 Green   OH – Ava Martin, PVA 18 Elite OH – Courtney Jones, Circle City 18 Purple OH – Laila Ivey, Metro 18 Travel MB – Ifenna Cos-Okpalla, Madfrog 18 Green MB – Grace Wuischpard, Absolute Black 18-1 MB – Kennedy Hill, Sunshine 18 LA MB – Hannah Sherman, Metro 18 Travel RS – Kennedy Martin, FC Elite 18 Elite RS – Avry Tatum, Wave 18 Kevin RS – Madison Scheer, Rockwood Thunder 18 Elite S – Maddie Waak, Hou Skyline 18 Royal   S – Natalia Hagopian, Mizuno Long Beach 18 Rockstar S – Cameron Berger, Vital 18-1 Gold S – Katie Dalton, FRVBC 18-1 Black S – Havannah Hoeft, Rage 18 Westside L – Tatum Thomas, Arizona Storm 18 Thunder   L – Emily Canaan, Skyline 18 Royal   L – Naylani Feliciano, Skyline 18 Royal   L –Zoria Heard, Madfrog 18 Green L – Skylar McCune, Premier Nebraska 18 Gold

Throughout the season, the strength and depth of the 17 Open division was something to marvel at. Everywhere we traveled coaches spoke about all the teams which could possibly be in the running for a gold medal at season’s end. Simply put, there was no way the four days in Indianapolis for the USAV GJNC could disappoint. All season long 1st Alliance 17 Gold proved itself as a serious threat, winning both the Northern Lights and Windy City national qualifiers, taking fifth at the Sunshine Classic and third at Triple Crown. There was no arguing 1st Alliance was worthy of the No. 1 seed it received in 17 Open. The only question mark was could 1st Alliance hold it throughout the four-day gauntlet it was about to enter? “I think the competition is so even in this division,” 1st Alliance coach Danielle Mikos said. “I have so much respect for so many of these teams. I didn’t really know if we could do it. It comes down to matchups and who was more mentally confident. I think our team is very confident and they woke up ready to win today. We beat some very good teams. I don’t think the score reflects how good those teams were who we beat.” There were a few moments of doubt, as 1st Alliance did drop two matches along the way. However, when it mattered most and 1st Alliance could not afford to lose is when the club shined brightest, ending with a convincing sweep over MN Select 17-1, 25-20, 25-20, in the championship match. “This is the culmination of what this team has been about all season,” Mikos said. “We don’t have one all-star and that’s what makes it so special about them. They take turns getting everyone their moment to shine. They relish and support each other. This match was no different.” Downing MN Select in straight sets capped an impressive final day. 1st Alliance was all business, first sweeping Premier Nebraksa 17 Gold, 25-21, 25-14, in the quarterfinals, then stopping Coast 17-1, 25-23, 25-15, in the semifinals. 1st Alliance was so unstoppable on Day 4 it seemed like lightyears ago the gold medalist was fighting just to stay in contention. It was a rocky start to Day 3 for 1st Alliance, which was surprised by AZ Rev 17 Premier, 17-25, 25-19, 15-13, in its first outing in its three-team pool. The loss left 1st Alliance in a must-win position against a Legacy 17-1 Adidas squad that was 6-0 after winning its pool and defeating AZ Rev already on Day 3. It turned out to be a statement match for 1st Alliance, which swept handily 25-16, 25-14, to not only advance, but surprisingly knock Legacy out of contention on top of it. “Our mantra we’ve had all season is one play, one point, one set and one match,” Mikos said. “We lost a couple matches in pool play over the first three days. All that mattered is doing enough to stay alive up to the elimination matches.” The only other time 1st Alliance lost was on Day 1. It also came in a three-set nail biter as OT 17 John prevailed, 25-23, 22-25, 15-13. It just so happened the only times 1st Alliance lost was went it went to three. Other than that, 1st Alliance earned all sweeps in finishing 9-2 overall. 1st Alliance’s run was a classic lesson in volleyball 101. There were bigger teams. There were stronger teams. There were teams which brought the wow factor. Yet, the passing and serving of 1st Alliance was the backbone of its success and no one was better at it than the eventual champs. “Our ball control, defensively and our serve and pass might have been arguably the best in the gym,” Mikos said. “That helped. If we got into trouble we could cover it back up. We had the confidence if the other team made a big play, we get to pass again and we get to reset again. “I want to say how much I love this team. How unselfish they are. If you see them in the gym at practice you would think they were ranked No. 200 in the nation. They have so much confidence when they play but they are the most humble individuals when you watch them train.” *** With its size, physicality and setting, the pieces were there for MN Select. Really, the only question mark was passing. When MN Select took second at the Show Me Qualifier in April, the club flashed its potential and showed what’s possible when it can take care of the ball. MN Select tuned up for Indy by first participating in 17 Open at AAU, where it took fifth after losing to OT 17 John in the quarterfinals. No doubt the field and competition in Indy was going to take a huge step upward and it was difficult gauging where MN Select would ultimately wind up. The first sign MN Select was poised to make a run came on Day 1. MN Select edged Drive Nation 17 Red, 21-25, 25-21, 15-13. MN Select went on to win its pool, despite losing to Tstreet 17 Naseri in its last outing. By that point though, MN Select already had first place locked up so the result was irrelevant. MN Select didn’t lose again until running into 1st Alliance in the championship clash. MN Select took care of KC Power 17-1 and Dynasty 17 Black in its three-team pool on Day 3 before sweeping Mintonette m.71 in challenge play. AZ Rev was a bit of surprise quarterfinalist for MN Select to start Day 4 but there was no looking back in that one as MN Select swept handily. Up next was Club V 17 Ren Reed in the semis. Club V was playing as well as any team and seemed to have the advantage, but MN Select held firm, staying in system and playing strong defense to overcome Club V in straight

Just like that the 16s and 17s divisions at the USAV GJNC are over. What a ride! Incredibly, Madfrog 16 Green rose up unexpectedly to take home the 16 Open gold medal. Just as remarkably, 1st Alliance 17 Gold held its No. 1 overall seed to earn the 17 Open gold medal. We’ll have more on all of that in the next couple of days in separate articles. For now, we present our Day 4 Show Stoppers. Avery Jackson, OH, Madfrog 16 Green – Jackson was phenomenal in helping Madfrog to the 16 Open gold medal. She’s an all-around stud, with strong passing and back row skills to go with incredible smarts with her attacking abilities. Lainee Pyles, OH, Madfrog 16 Green – Pyles brings stability to the outside position. She has a big arm and assures Madfrog always has someone front row who can score and keep opponents from reeling off long streaks. Avery Baughman, L, Madfrog 16 Green – Baughman was holding down the back row with her steady play. Her passing out of serve receive was consistent and she was making scrappy hustle plays throughout the day. Gabriela Cornier, L, A5 Mizuno 16 Gabe – The more we watch Cornier, the more there is to like. She makes tremendous plays keeping rallies alive and bringing a defensive tenacity to the floor. Hannah Benjamin, OH, A5 Mizuno 16 Gabe – A wirey outside, Benjamin gets up and unleashes with the best of them. She’s the team’s go-to hitter and who A5 leans on when it needs a key point. Ryan McAleer, L, Dynasty 16 Black – Dynasty tied for the bronze medal in 16 Open, with McAleer doing her part on the defensive side. She’s an accurate, reliable passer out of serve receive and she flies around the court covering tips and touches well. Grace Nelson, OH, 1st Alliance 16 Gold – Nelson powers the offense along. The dynamic changes every time she comes across the front row with her strong arm and knack for getting points. Ella Vogel, L, Co Jrs 16 Sherri – Vogel was strong in the back court. She has good range and does well tracking down balls to keep plays alive. Izzy Starck, S/RS, Co Jrs 16 Sherri – Starck is the heartbeat of the lineup. She’s a fierce competitor with the ability to impact the match in so many ways, from her setting to hitting and blocking. Mia Tvrdy, MB, Premier Nebraska 16 Gold – A strong presence in the middle, Tvrdy moves side to side well and gets up on the block to cause problems for attackers. She’s also a scoring threat and someone defenses have to track. Faith Frame, L, Premier Nebraska 16 Gold – Frame does such an incredible job in everything she does. She’s a high-level passer and defender who reads very well and is typically in position to make the plays she needs to. Mayte Camacho, L, Top Select 16 Elite – Camacho is a quick libero who gets around the court in a hurry. She’s able to chase down loose balls and does well covering. Samantha Bowron, OH, Top Select 16 Elite – Bowron is a strong outside who jumps and swings well. She’s a six-rotation mainstay and gives Top Select a reliable option who defenses have to plan around. Grace Egan, OH, 1st Alliance 17 Gold – 1st Alliance powered its way to the gold medal, with Egan part of a strong outside duo holding it down. She can get up and crush balls at times. She can also take pace of her shots and go off-speed to the gaps to give defenses fits. Kennedy Wagner, OH, 1st Alliance 17 Gold – Wagner is the other half of the outside duo and is as steady and reliable as they come. She’s a smart attacker who knows how to score consistently against bigger blockers. Gigi Navarrete, L, 1st Alliance 17 Gold – Navarrete is an energetic and upbeat libero who is fun to watch take care of the back row duties. She is steady with her serve receive and does a good job digging. Sydney Schnichels, RS, MN Select 17-1 – Schnichels is such a weapon on the right. She’s long with a big arm. She can go right over blocks or she can tool them. Either way, she has the ability to frustrate defenses. Stella Swenson, S, MN Select 17-1 – Playing up an age group, Swenson is a high IQ setter who is in full command and control of the offense. She has a great touch and connects well with all her hitters. Kate Thibault, L, MN Select 17-1 – Thibault was a back row force. She made a ton of plays to keep her team in points and was rarely off her mark putting the ball on target. Jordyn Harvey, OH, Club V 17 Ren Reed – Club V leans heavily on Harvey. She’s a six-rotation outside who defenses have to give a lot of attention to because she’s an equal scoring threat whether front or back row. Taylor Harvey, MB, Club V 17 Ren Reed – Harvey has so much upside its scary. She’s playing up two age groups and is one of the best middles in the division. She’s virtually unstoppable the way she gets up and can see the court to exploit defenses. Zoe Rachow, S, Coast 17-1 – Rachow can move the ball around with the best of them. She has strong hands and is consistent with her location. Sydney Bold, L, Coast 17-1 – Bold is a steadying presence in the back row. She’s unflappable and is part of strong ball control unit for Coast. Chloe Chicoine, OH, Circle City 17 Purple – Chicoine is a marvel to watch play. She does everything at a high level, from a big jump and arm to her speed and hustle on the defensive side.

The way the USAV GJNC has been playing out, no one knew what Day 3 of the 16 and 17s divisions would bring. Sunday started off with three-team pools and ended with challenge rounds to determine the top eight. The action did not disappoint, as drama ensued throughout the day. We’ll get to that stuff if you keep scrolling down. First, as usual, we begin with our Day 3 Show Stoppers. Hannah Hankerson, OH, OT 16 Jason – A bit undersized, but Hankerson was playing big on the outside. She can get up in the air well and was taking aggressive swings and unloading on a few balls in a loud way. Taylor Williams, OH, Vision 16 Gold – A key component on offense, Williams has a nice arm and has a good knack for tooling the block. She can power along the offense in stretches. Cleo Hardin, RS, Vision 16 Gold – Hardin also can help carry the offense in spurts with her scoring touch. She’s long with a good arm and can go over or through blocks consistently. Jadyn Livings, OH, TAV 16 Black – There were moments when Livings was flashing unbelievable potential that could make her a next-level star. She has a big arm and can really connect at time. Gabriela Cornier, L, A5 Mizuno 16 Gabe – Cornier brings a defensive presence and attitude to the lineup. She’s steady out of serve receive and has no issues hitting the floor to keep balls in play. Janelle Green, S, KC Power 16-1 – An upbeat, energetic disher, Green is fun to watch do her thing. She has a smooth touch and hits her spots regularly. Fallon Stewart, OH, OT 16 Roberto – Stewart – with her length – can spell trouble for smaller blockers. She can go right over them but she was also making plays in the back row defensively to extend rallies. Juleigh Urbina, S, OT 16 Roberto – Urbina has nice hands and a consistent release. She’s accurate and puts her hitters in good spots. Samantha Bowron, Top Select 16 Elite – When Bowron has it going, she’s difficult to slow down or cool off. She jumps well and isn’t afraid of challenging the block. Carlie Cisneros, OH, Dynasty 16 Black – Cisneros has a great scoring touch. She has a fluid swing and can rip kills down or go off-speed and find open spots on the court to exploit. Skylar Pierce, OH, Dynasty 16 Black – Pierce glides on the attacks. She’s smooth, sees the court well and is relentless in keeping the pressure on the defense. Reese Messer, S, Dynasty 16 Black – Messer – a freshman playing up – has great touch and feel when it comes to dishing the rock. She sets a clean ball and is adept at going behind her and keeping defenses guessing. Tanith Roush, RS, Premier Nebraska 16 Gold – A lefty, Roush was helping open up the attack with her scoring ability on the right side. She also delivered key blocks to slow down opposing attackers. Lauryn Lambert, OH, Skyline 16 Royal – With her jump and arm, Lambert produced wow moments on offense. She pounded down a few balls that would attention grabbers. Izzy Starck, S/RS, Co Jrs 16 Sherri – Starck brings so much to the court, from her skills to her competitive fire. She’s strong at everything she does, setting on point and delivering reliable and consistent offense across the front. Ashley Repetti, OH, Seal Beach 16 Black – Seal Beach relies a lot on its outside duo, which includes Repetti. She’s a smart attacker who does well tooling blocks and finding empty space to take advantage. Haylee LaFontaine, OH, Seal Beach 16 Black – LaFontaine is another heady scorer who does well taking what the defense gives. She can also connect and unleash at times as well for impressive winners. Julia Hunt, MB, NKYVC 16-1 Tsunami – Hunt is a force on both sides of the ball. She changes the dynamic of the offense across the front with her ability to lineup and hit at different spots, as well as running the slide. She moves well too, helping her form a strong block. Ryla Jones, MB, Metro 16 Travel – Jones is a difficult cover no matter who is on the other side of the net. She’s an athletic attacker who gets up and swings very well. Amanda Saeger, S, Wave 16 Brennan – Wave is not going to overpower anybody and relies on Saeger to get hitters favorable matchups they can take advantage of. She connects well with her middles and does well spreading the ball around. Brooklyn Briscoe, MB, Coast 17-1 – Briscoe was virtually unstoppable as Coast reached the top eight. She puts up a big block, but is most dangerous getting out on the slide and tormenting defenses with her big arm. Koko Kirsch, L, Wave 17 Juliana – Kirsch was holding down the back row, passing well out of serve receive when challenged. She’s scrappy too, making hustle plays chasing down balls and keeping rallies alive. Chloe Chicoine, OH, Circle City 17 Purple – We could write about Chicoine every single match. There’s not an area she doesn’t make a significant impact. She’s as competitive as they come and has so many shots she can throw at defenses. Elizabeth Goodenow, RS, MAVS KC 17-1 – MAVS is still in the hunt, in part to the play of Goodenow. The lefty has a quick arm and can generate plenty of pace. She’s a threat both front and back row and draws a lot of attention from defenses. Drew Wright, L, Sunshine 17 LA – Wright brings stability to the position for Sunshine. She’s a steady passer with strong ball control skills. Sarah Gooch, OH, Top Select 17 Elite – Gooch was trying to lift Top Select into the final eight as the at-large team flirted with the quarterfinals. She has a nice swing and brings

Reality set in for a group of teams as the 16s and 17s divisions continued on at Day 2 of the USAV GJNC in Indy. That’s because with the first round of pool play completed not everyone remains in contention any longer. The flip side to that is there are still plenty of clubs with a shot of hoisting the championship trophy and get to continue that quest when play resumes on Day 3. We’ll get to the news and notes of the day if you keep scrolling downward. But first, we introduce our Day 2 Show Stoppers highlighting the players who we noticed the most Saturday. Ellie White, S/RS, 1st Alliance 16 Gold – White fills a valuable role hitting and setting and also having a tough serve. She was showing off her arm with big kills on occasion to go along with her steady ball handling. Grace Nelson, OH, 1st Alliance 16 Gold – A go-to on the left, Nelson carries a large offensive load. She has a good arm and a strong knack for scoring to help pace the offense. Elizabeth Tabeling, L, NKYVC 16-1 Tsunami – Tabeling is a defensive stalwart, bringing a steadying and calming presence to the back row. She’s a consistent passer who doesn’t miss her target often. Jadyn Wilgus, MB, AJV 16 Adidas – An explosive middle, defenses better not lose track of Wilgus or they’ll pay the price. She gets up in a hurry and can send it down with authority. Madison Quest, OH, MKE Sting 16 Gold – Quest is a lanky outside with a whippy swing. She was taking aggressive cuts and putting pressure on defenses to make plays. Charlie Fuerbringer, S/RS, Mizuno Long Beach 16 Rockstar – Fuerbringer can do it all, running a 5-1 or hitting and setting depending on what matchup Long Beach prefers. She’s an incredible setter with tremendous hands and shows a high-level IQ when attacking. Isabella Lee, L, OT 16 Jason – Lee was putting in work and helping to keep OT in rallies. She hit the ground a few times in hopes of getting balls ups. Jaidyn Jager, OH, Coast 16-1 – A freshman playing up, Jager is a six-rotation glue piece. She has great ball skills in the back row and lots of smarts when it comes to scoring. Kierstin Remensperger, S, Coast 16-1 – Remensperger is a fun setter to watch do her thing. She’s quick with a smooth and accurate delivery and can fling the ball around with the best of them. Suli Davis, OH, Drive Nation 16 Red – Another freshman playing up, Davis is a flat-out stud. She’s a powerful and physical hitter with a booming arm making her tough to keep in check. Macaria Spears, OH, Metro 16 Travel – Spears is also a freshman playing up and has unbelievable upside. She’s another strong, physical hitter whose power can overwhelm defenders. Maya Evens, L, Wave 16 Brennan – Evens helps give Wave its defensive identity. She seems to be everywhere at once controlling the back row and causing attackers headaches. Jenna Hanes, MB, Wave 16 Brennan – Defenses have to lock in on Hanes. She’s a terrific scorer who excels at finding the gaps. She’s also a capable blocker who can score points in that capacity as well. Grace Carroll, RS, Alamo 16 Premier – Carroll is a game-changer across the front row. Her height changes the dynamic of the offense with her scoring prowess and ability to go over blocks and provide key offense. Emily Bobbitt, S, Triangle 16 Black – Bobbitt has nice hands and sets a clean ball. She’s accurate and does well moving the ball around and keeping defenses on their toes. Samantha Blackett, OH, Club V 16 Ren Wayne – Blackett is an athletic, wirey outside who gets off the ground quick. She has a fast swing and can generate real heat on her shots. Zoey Burgess, MB, Club V 16 Ren Wayne – Burgess is a game-changing middle with her ability to control both sides of the net. She’s a phenomenal attacker with a big arm. And with her size, she can put up a wall of a block. Nayeli Gonzalez, OH, Alamo 17 Premier – Gonzalez is a crucial piece to the puzzle for Alamo. She’s the team’s most consistent, reliable scoring threat who can score front and back row. Ella Swindle, S, KC Power 17-1 – Swindle has such control and command of the offense she’s a marvel to watch. She has a clean, consistent release and is difficult to read when in system. Noemie Glover, RS, Coast 17-1 – Glover is an explosive attacker. There are times when she gets up and unleashes sharp angles with such force it defies logic. Julia Blyashov, OH, Wave 17 Juliana – There are things Blyashov does that very few can do. With her length and swing she can blast balls tight inside the line or simply go over blockers and attack the deep cross court corner. Harper Murray, OH, Legacy 17-1 Adidas – We wrote about Murray during Legacy’s time at AAU. It’s more of the same, with her high-level IQ and ability to impact a match from anywhere on the floor. Sarah Vellucci, L, Legacy 17-1 Adidas – Vellucci helps hold down serve receive with her consistent and sharp passing. She also does well making tough digs and keeping her team in points. Tehani Ulufatu, L, Absolute Black 17 – Opponents don’t target Ulufatu in serve receive too often. She’s nails in that department and case pass half the court at times. Ava Sarafa, S, Mich Elite 17 Mizuno – A smooth setter who is deceptive and tough to read, Sarafa gets her hitters good matchups and is among the best at exploiting blockers. Cristin Cline, S, CUVC 17 Premier – Cline has a quick release and can run tempo with the best of them. She’s strong at setting against the flow and catching defenses off guard. Stella

The final gold medal quests of the season kicked off in the 16s and 17s as those divisions began play Friday at the USAV GJNC in Indy. With such a collection of talented teams, there was no easing into the four-day tournament. It was all business from the first serve. Below, we highlight our Day 1 Show Stoppers featuring players who caught our attention as we moved court to court. Emma Parker, MB, Rockwood Thunder 16 Elite – Parker was giving Rockwood Thunder a reliable scoring presence. She was connecting on big kills on 1s and slides and helping to open up the attack. Olivia Hasbrook, L, Rockwood Thunder 16 Elite – When challenged in serve receive, Hasbrook was rarely off target. She was putting her passes on targeting and doing well keeping RT in system. Jillian Huckabey, RS, KC Power 16-1 – Huckabey can simply unload when she really connects with one. She had her share of authoritative kills that get on defenders in a hurry. Elisabeth Levick, S, OJVA 16 Gold – Levick’s improved all season and continues to flash her upside. She has good hands and was hitting spots with regularity. Mykayla McMillian, L, Hou Skyline 16 Royal – McMillian is quick and was flying around the court. She was doing well covering and chasing down errant passes. Emilee Prochaska, L, Flyers 16 Prentice – Prochaska was making plenty of contributions. She was diming passes out of serve receive and was doing well covering tips and touches. Hannah Benjamin, OH, A5 Mizuno 16 Gabe – Benjamin and her cannon for an arm were on full display. She gets up very well and has a fluid swing, which leads to impressive winners. Abigail Mullen, RS, Dynasty 16 Black – A big presence on the right side, Mullen adds physicality across the front row. She has a powerful arm and is capable of pounding down resounding kills. Favor Anyanwu, MB, TAV 16 Black – A physical middle, Anyanwu has a powerful arm. When the set is there, watch out as she crushes the ball with the best of them. Faith Frame, L, Premier Nebraska 16 Gold – Frame does everything at a high level. She passes, defends, covers and has a great range. Paityn Chapman, OH, Co Jrs 16 Sherri – Defenses have to keep tabs on Chapman. She’s a big, strong hitter who can over blocks or use her strength to blow them up. Gia McGrew, OH, Gainesville 16 Black – It was a great start for Gainesville, which upset both Cirlce City and Wave. McGrew was showing off her big arm. She hits a heavy ball with plenty of pace, making her difficult to dig. Madeline Stucky, S, Norco 16 Black – Stucky has great command of the offense. She sets a clean ball, goes behind her well and rarely misses her location. Lilly Wagner, S, MKE Sting 16 Gold – Wagner was another setter we were impressed with. She showed a nice touch and an ability to move the ball around and get her various hitters involved on a consistent basis. Maya Baker, S, Vision 16 Gold – Baker is a smooth setter with great poise. She runs the offense well, putting up a very hittable ball and getting her hitters good looks. Avery Jackson, OH, Madfrog 16 Green – A six-rotation contributor, Jackson is the glue piece in the lineup. She passes, she defends and she scores all at a high level. Akila Hardie, MB, CHAVC 17 Black – Hardie was running the slide effectively. When in system, defenses have to pay her attention as she gets up well and can make them pay. Kamille Gibson, RS, TAV 17 Black – Defenses are in trouble when Gibson is able to set up and connect. She has a giant arm and can unload with power. Kennedy Wagner, OH, 1st Alliance 17 Black – Wagner is a key part of the attack. She can score front and back row and has a wide variety of shots to keep defenses honest. Symone Sims, L, Skyline 17 Royal – Sims is quick and was showcasing her speed as a defender. She can hustle down balls and help extend rallies well. Brielle Kemavor, MB, Metro 17 Travel – Kemavor makes her presence known in the middle. She’s physical and strong. She causes problems on both sides with her scoring and blocking. Sydney Lewis, L, OT 17 John – Lewis is sturdy defender. She’s solid out of serve receive, hit her mark consistently and doing well picking off big swings at times. Calissa Minatee, MB, Dynasty 17 Black – When Minatee gets out on the slide, it feels like defenses are hopeless unless she misses the court altogether. She’s a major weapon who is quick with a really good arm. Lauren Murphy, OH, AJV 17 Adidas – Murphy’s height is a big advantage. AJV looks to her to provide a lot of offense and runs different looks to get her involved in favorable matchups. Reagan Barth, OH, MAVS KC 17-1 – Barth gives plenty to the lineup hitting and defending. She was making plays in the back row and showing off her smarts attacking with tips and tools. Nayelis Cabello, S/RS, Top Select 17 Elite – Cabello plays a vital role as a setter and hitter. She has a nice touch and doesn’t miss her spots very often. She’s also a reliable scorer with a good arm to beat defenses with. Destiny Ndam-Simpson, OH, Premier Nebraska 17 Gold – At times Ndam-Simpson was proving unstoppable. She can blast winners from the front or back row and carry the offense in stretches. Olivia Mauch, L, Premier Nebraska 17 Gold – Mauch is a steadying presence and defensive anchor. She passes and defends at a high level and makes few errors.

At-large gold medalist. Alamo 15 Premier provided a fairytale ending to 15 Open at the USAV Girls Junior National Championships that nobody saw coming in Indianapolis. MVP Megan Fitch went up on the left side and for the final time in 2022 delivered a kill that set off a frenzied celebration. It was not last year’s 14 Open champ going back-to-back, as it was not meant to be for top-seeded and national No. 1 Arizona Storm 15 Thunder. Instead, Alamo wrote a script that only comes from the wildest imagination. “It feels like a dream,” Alamo 15 coach Debra Gonzalez said. “Everyone wants to be in gold. Everyone wants to come in first. There’s always a little doubt if we could do it or not do it. Everybody coming in wants the same thing. Everybody is fighting for everything. The girls did it. I’m so proud of them.” Long before arriving in Indy, Alamo had already accomplished a mini-miracle. Not in receiving the lone at-large bid into 15 Open. But rather building such a sound case that there was no real debate as to which club it should have been awarded to. Alamo was that much of a clear-cut choice. A month later, the decision was further backed up at every stage of the four-day tournament. Alamo – seeded No. 28 to begin with – opened Day 1 going 3-0. It broke pool on Day 2 in second place at 4-1. On Day 3, Alamo made it through the second round of pool play then topped Mich Elite 15 Mizuno in challenge play. Then there was Day 4, Alamo defeating 1st Alliance 15 Gold in the quarterfinals, Drive Nation 15 Red in the semis and ending Storm’s reign and undefeated run in the final, 25-18, 25-22. “They came in so excited to be here,” Gonzalez said. “They’ve never been in the Open division. They came in with a lot of energy and perseverance. They didn’t know how far they would get but they were going to give it their best shot.” That Alamo was even in contention on the final day was already a headline in the making even if the Lone Star club hadn’t won another contest. Earning a medal by outlasting 1st Alliance – the original No. 3 seed – in three games was unthinkable only days earlier. If any opponent could relate it was Alamo’s semifinal partner in Drive Nation, which started as the No. 18 overall seed and barely survived the first round of pool play before eventually upsetting Hou Skyline 15 Royal in the quarterfinals and earning at least a bronze. Between Alamo and Drive Nation, one was going to make the final and that in itself was enough of a head-scratcher to figure out. When Alamo prevailed in three games to reach the championship match that’s when reality figured to set in for sure. Storm came into the gold medal match without a loss, including sweeping OT 15 Randy in the quarters and TAV 15 Black in the semifinals. However, Alamo could do no wrong, jumping on Storm and never letting up. “It’s amazing,” Gonzalez said. “We played them in Utah and lost. This was unbelievable. Everything was working. Everything we told them to do just worked.” To Alamo, there was no guarantee of receiving the lone at-large bid. The girls and coaches were sweating the process, unsure of if they would be selected or not. It led to tense times until it became official. “I was kind of leery,” Gonzalez said. “We knew there was a chance we would get it but anything can happen because it’s not in our control.” *** Getting to some closing thoughts on 15 Open. It was just the fourth loss of the season in its own age group for Arizona Storm. The first came to Dynasty 15 Black in February at Triple Crown. Another came to Aspire 15 Premier in Arizona regional play. Then Storm fell to Seal Beach 15 Black at the JVA West Coast Cup in Long Beach over Memorial Day weekend. And then of course to Alamo in the 15 Open final. It’s a tough ending to a terrific season. A loss like this one should sting, but not overshadow the fact that Storm remains one of the best teams in the country. As for TAV, there was no question the North Texas club was good enough to not only contend but possibly win it all. TAV was surprised on Day 1, falling to Absolute Black 15 in its last outing but still managed to win its pool the next day after knocking off Alamo to earn the head-to-head tiebreaker. TAV reached the top eight by stopping AAU 15 Open champion Legacy 15-1 Adidas in the challenge round. TAV opened up the final day by ending the run of surprise quarterfinalist Coast 15-1 to reach the semis. TAV and Storm played each other in the 14 Open final last summer but met a round earlier this go around as TAV tied for the bronze. Drive Nation came on at the right moments. Drive Nation finished the first round of pool at 2-3 and advanced with some tiebreaker luck. Northern Lights 15-1 and HPSTL 15 Royal were 2-3 as well. Northern Lights beat both head-to-head and took third in the pool. Since Drive Nation defeated HPSTL head-to-head, Drive Nation took fourth despite having a lower set percentage than HPSTL. Drive Nation took advantage. A victory over Dynast in its three-pool on Day 3 allowed Drive Nation to reach the challenge round. There, Drive Nation swept GP 15 Rox. Drawing Hou Skyline in the quarterfinals was a tall task, as Drive Nation was a heavy underdog. But Drive Nation pulled off the shocker in three to earn its bronze medal.   *** In 15 National, Rockwood Thunder 15 Elite defeated FC Elite 15 Navy in three, 17-25, 25-21, 15-8, for gold. Aspire 15 Premier and Club V 15 Ren Adam tied for the bronze medals.

Throw predictability to the wind. There was no way of calling shots as the 14s and 15s divisions reached their pinnacles Thursday at the USAV GJNC in Indy. The unpredictable and unbelievable conclusions to those divisions was something remarkable to witness. The lone at-large team in 15 Open in Alamo 15 Premier caught a wave and didn’t stop riding it until the championship trophy and gold medal were in hand. It was one of the more memorable performances in a very long time, as Alamo knocked off top-seeded Arizona Storm 15 Thunder in the final. In 14 Open, Mintonette Sports m.41 dug the deepest and wasn’t going to be denied the top spot on the podium. The Ohio club capped its storybook day by downing Flyers 14 Anthony in the championship match. We’ll have separate articles on both winners, as well as recaps on other division winners in the next day or two. For now, we present our final Show Stoppers from the two divisions featuring the players who stood out the most on Day 4. Kylie Parker, OH, SG Elite 14 Rosh – Parker helped anchor an unbelievable run to the 14 Open semis. Her fierce attacking, stringent defense and accurate passing were all on display during the team’s final-day effort. Aberdeen Callaway, OH, SG Elite 14 Rosh – Also a six-rotation outside, Callaway was a key piece in the offensive puzzle. She’s a smart attacker who doesn’t do too much and can use tip and tools as part of her arsenal. Kathleen Hollingsworth, MB, SG Elite 14 Rosh – Hollingsworth isn’t a flashy middle and that’s fine. She doesn’t need to be to be effective. She has a good scoring knack and a tendancy to deliver timely blocks. Layla Austin, OH, Madfrog 14 Green – Austin has a lively arm and can bring real heat with her swings. She puts tons of pressure on defenses to make plays and slow her down. Paisley Pavliska, OH, Alamo 14 Premier – One of Alamo’s most consistent point scorers, Pavliska has a variety of shots she uses to keep the defense off guard. Rayna Christianson, S/RS, Northern Lights 14-1 – Christianson has tremendous upside and potential in her 6-2 frame. She has a strong, consistent delivery as a setter. And with her height, she can easily go over blockers and is a scoring threat all across the front row. Karys Campos, L, Actyve 14 Black – Campos was on fire defensively when we caught her. She was diming every attack and serve coming her way, not to mention she was covering tips and touches with ease too. Addison Haberthy, S, Circle City 14 Purple – Haberthy does a solid job at the setting position. She has nice hands, sets a clean ball and doesn’t miss her window very often. Skylar Jackson, OH, Flyers 14 Anthony – A six-rotation mainstay in the lineup, Jackson is a key contributor toward Flyers’ success. She’s active in the back row and is a reliable scorer in the front. Keoni Williams, MB, Flyers 14 Anthony – You’ll be hearing Williams’ name for years to come. At 6-3, she’s a serious presence in the middle. At this age group, she’s virtually impossible to stop when the set is there and she’s able to get extended. Hannah Lee, MB, Flyers 14 Anthony – Lee is a high-octane middle who never lets up. She runs an effective slide and possesses a strong arm that generate plenty of pop. Layla Hoying, OH, Mintonette m.41 – An all-around contributor, Hoying did her part as Mintonette brought home the 14 Open gold medal. She’s a strong attacker with a nice arm who is adept at finding gaps and seams. Sara Snowbarger, OH, Mintonette m.41 – Snowbarger gives Mintonette one of the most formidable 1-2 punches on the left in the division. She has a nice extension and does well tooling blockers. Emma Cugino, L, Mintonette m.41 – Cugino was off the charts good as Mintonette chased gold on Day 4. She was picking up cross court shots at left back with her eyes closed. Mallory Matheny, S, Mintonette m.41 – Matheny is in command of the offense. She has a nice touch and can be tough to read when in system. It allows her to get all her hitters involved and get them good looks as well. Ella Grimes, L, Elevation 14 Molly – Grimes was a defensive stalwart in anchoring the back row. She was consistently on point in serve receive and made scrappy plays to keep rallies going. Makenna Kirlin, S, Elevation 14 Molly – Kirlin is steady and has a great demeanor for a setter. She has a soft touch and puts up a very hittable ball with consistent location. Danielle Whitmire, S/RS, TAV 14 Black – A two-way contributor, Whitmire flashed her future potential as a star. She’s a terrific setter with a great touch and strong accuracy. With her height, she’s also a capable scorer and helps spread out the attack being a threat on the right side. Mandy Lawson, L, Rockwood Thunder 15 Elite – Lawson was doing a solid job defending and providing her team defensive support. She was passing well out of serve receive too. Erika Sayer, MB, Co Jrs 15 Shannon – Defenses have to pay attention and mark Sayer – a three-star star recruit. She’s a wonderful offensive option who can run the slide effectively and deliver big kills with her powerful arm. Alyssa Aguayo, OH, Aspire 15 Premier – A lanky outside, Aguayo is a three-star recruit who carries a big load on offense. She has a great arm and hits with plenty of pace. BreAnna McMillan, S/RS, Triangle 15 Black – McMillan is a dangerous attacker. She can get up and absolutely unleash with authority. Emma Koceja, OH, MKE Sting 15 Gold – A three-star recruit, Koceja is a six-rotation outside who Sting relies on to provide an offensive punch. She’s capable of hammering impressive kills when she catches

How did we already arrive at the gold bracket? Time flies when you’re volleyballing it up with the best the country has to offer. Trust us, it was coming from everywhere on Day 3 of the 14s and 15s of the USAV GJNC in Indy. There’s plenty to tell and share. But we aren’t quite there yet. Keep scrolling downward for that info. First, we would be remiss not to share our Day 3 Show Stoppers highlighting the players who were impossible to ignore during Wednesday’s action. Riley Malloy, OH, Austin Skyline 14 Royal – Malloy is a name you’ll be hearing plenty about in the coming years. She’s 6-3 with unbelievable potential. She’s only going to continue to add power and strength. She’s already hitting over blocks with ease and scoring on sharp angles. Lexi Shondell, S, Boiler Jrs 14 Gold – Boiler Jrs’ hopes of doubling-up on gold medals ended in challenge play, but Shondell was her usual calming, steadying presence. She has one of the smoothest deliveries in the division and one of the best commands of her offense. Cali Foster, OH, Boiler Jrs 14 Gold – Boiler Jrs lost for only the fourth time this season since Foster returned from her earlier injury. She’s a six-rotation, five-tool talent who impacts the game in every facet. Sydney Geselbracht, MB, Elevation 14 Molly – Defenses need to be on guard when Elevation is in system and Geselbracht is up front. She’s a major scoring threat with her arm and ability to find the gaps in the defense. Makenna Kirlin, S, Elevation 14 Molly – The offense is in good hands with Kirlin at the helm. She’s smooth and consistent. She goes behind her well with accuracy and rarely misses her mark. Kennedy Crayton, OH, Flyers 14 Anthony – The attack can come from just about everywhere when it comes to Flyers, including Crayton. She gets up well and whips it down with ease. Taylor Clarke, RS, Flyers 14 Anthony – Clarke is similar to Crayton, only a lefty and attacking on the right side. She’s an easy jumper with a whippy swing to menace defenders with. Mya Capistrano, L, Forza1 North 14 UA – Capistrano was holding down the back row with authority. Her passing and defending were sharp and she was stepping in front of taking balls overhead with confidence. Westley Matavao, OH, Forza1 North 14 UA – A seventh-grader playing up, Matavao has a bright future in front of her. She’s a physical hitter who brings power to the lineup and is capable of overwhelming blockers and defenders. Addyson Bianchini, S/RS, NKYVC 14-1 Tsunami – A two-way contributor for NKYVC, Bianchini plays a vital role setting and hitting. She’s able to locate consistently when setting. She also has a knack for scoring to help balance out the offense. Kirsten Kemper, S, NKYVC 14-1 Tsunami – Kemper can set and hit too, though she was mainly used as a back row setter on Day 3. She has good hands and a consistent deliver. Shayne Zammiello, L, Alamo 14 Premier – Zammiello was showing her defensive skills. She was defending and covering well, keeping Alamo in rallies. Kinsley Young, MB, TAV 14 Black – Young is a physical presence. She has a big arm and was pounding winners and proving hard to dig. Finley Krystkowiak, OH, Wave 14 Brennan – A 6-2 outside, Krystkowiak has a great arm and can punish defenses over and over. She goes over the block and hits with plenty of pace. Alicia Beers, MB, MKE Sting 14 Gold – Beers commands a defense’s attention. When she gets out on the slide she was virtually impossible to stop as Sting went to her over and over. Dawn Moore, RS, Madfrog 14 Green – A wirey, springy right side, Moore is just one piece of the attack that makes Madfrog so dangerous. She can get up and put it down on a regular basis. Mary Schirpik, L, AJV 15 Adidas – A three-star recruit, Schirpik’s passing was on point. She was also picking off cross court shots without much effort and putting the ball on target. Morgan Madison, L, Hou Skyline 15 Royal – Madison – a four-star recruit – is a smooth back row defender. She is nails and hardly ever misses her mark. Elena Fisher, OH, Absolute Black 15 – You can see Fisher’s beach skills on display with her attacking. A three-star recruit, has a wide variety of shots in her bag and carries a significant load on offense. Sarah Mendoza, L, Drive Nation 15 Red – A four-star recruit, Mendoza is a back row anchor for Drive Nation. She doesn’t rattle easy and is strong out of serve receive. Lauren Lopez, OH, Dynasty 15 Black – Lopez – a three-star recruit – is a difficult attacker to time up and block. She gets up quickly and punishes blocks that set up late. Hadley Porter, L, Dynasty 15 Black – Porter – also a three-star recruit – is a scrappy defender. She makes lots of hustle plays and is steady out of serve receive. Natalie Wardlow, MB, Nebraska One 15 Synergy – The 6-4 Wardlow impacts both sides of the ball. A four-star recruit, she’s a tough cover offensively with her height. Defensively, she gets her hands on plenty of shots coming her way. Sydnee Peterson, OH, TAV 15 Black – Peterson – a four-star recruit – jumps well. She swings hard and she comes with it over and over putting tons of pressure on defenses to make plays. Taryn Morris, MB, TAV 15 Black – Defenses cannot take their attention off of Morris. She’s a huge threat when TAV is in system with her arm. She can also deliver her fair share of blocks to score points that way. Mae Kordas, OH, Wave 15 Scott – Kordas is the go-to hitter in the lineup. She’s 6-2, which makes her a difficult cover no matter the opponent. She’s capable of unleashing