One of the standout aspects that brought immense enjoyment during the last few days of the USAV Girls National Championships for ages 14-15 was the level of competition. The 14 and 15 Open divisions featured loaded fields, but the same could be said for the 14-15 National-Patriot divisions and numerous other teams in attendance. It was truly impressive to witness the incredible talent and skill exhibited by so many young girls who were absolutely dominating the court. Their passion and determination to excel in the sport of volleyball was inspiring and it was a testament to the bright future of the game.
Among the teams that caught my attention every time I walked by was Mauloa 15 Green. They stood out with their scrappy and powerful style of play. Their determination and tenacity on the court demanded attention, making them a captivating team to watch.
One match that I truly enjoyed watching was the championship match between 1st Alliance 15 Gold and MKE Sting 15 Gold in the 15 National Division. It was awesome to witness the fierce competition on both sides, as the pins swung with fiery intensity. The liberos’ relentless defense and the relentless offensive attacks from both teams added to the excitement. With both teams employing a 5-1 system and their setters playing all the way around, the match offered a unique dynamic that showcased the versatility and skill of the players. The presence of dominant middle blockers creating impactful plays added an extra layer of excitement to the game.
Throughout the day, there were a few players who truly stood out and left a lasting impression. One such player was Olivia Henry, an exceptional outside hitter from ASEVC 15 Premier. Her ability to effortlessly hit over the block showcased her incredible power and skill. Another athlete who caught my attention was Marlee Sivak from MKE Sting 15 Gold. Her fierce swings on the outside were relentless. Two more remarkable athletes that come to mind from the 14s are Corina Barrera, a six-rotation outside hitter from STVA 14 Mizuno, and Kristen Sheehy, a formidable middle blocker from AZ REV 14 Premier. Barrera’s versatility and skills as an outside hitter were truly impressive, as she consistently showcased her ability to contribute in all areas of the game. On the other hand, Sheehy’s imposing presence at the net with her massive blocks made her a force to be reckoned with.
DAY 4 SHOW STOPPERS
Lundin Leitch S Surfside 14 Loriann: One word, SPITFIRE. Everytime I watched this squad Leitch was running down balls off the court. She was running a 5-1 and was undersized. That didn’t stop her.
Lillie Duitsman OH Club One AZ 14Platinum: Duitsman is a six-rotation outside who was providing great offense but it was her defense that caught my attention.
Hope Erdman MB Tejas 14 Black Marco: Erdman was taking big swings in the middle and on the right. She brought a ton of fire to her squad.
Corina Barrera OH STVA 14 Mizuno: Barrera, like I mentioned above, was doing it all well. She has a no-fear attitude on the court.
Saniya Reynolds MB HJV 14 ELITE: Reynolds showed so much upside and is someone to keep tabs on as she continues to develop. She was making herself known by getting her hands on lots of balls.
Korynn Mayo OH UNITED 14’s Evren: Mayo plays with lots of energy and a high spirit. She has a good arm and is fearless, as she keeps coming at defenses time and time again.
Aleigha Zollicoffee MB KC Power 14 Black: While Zollicoffee might not be as tall as some middles, she brings a level of physicality to the court that is impressive.
Alexa Espin MB/RS Miami Hype 14N Nekane: Espin is quick off the ground with a quick arm swing that beats defenses on the reg.
Kristen Sheehy MB AZ REV 14 Premier: Sheehy is both a offensive and defensive threat on the court. She can pound balls in the middle.
Lara Matta OH Tampa North 15 Black: Matta is a wirey outside with a nice bounce and swing. She’s a six-rotation threat.
Olivia Henry OH ASEVC 15 Premier: Henry was literally hitting over blocks. And what is truly scary is she is playing up a division.
Piper Batie OH Ozark Juniors 15 Elite: Batie has a big arm and hits with a heavy hand. She smacked a few balls down with authority.
Kaia Ciszewski OH Tstreet 15-Curtis: Ciszewski is a six-rotation outside with strong ball control skills. She sees the court well and has a variety of shots to throw at defenses.
Ashlyn Seay OH Drive Nation 15-Red: Seay was letting loose on balls for impressive kills. She was also steady in serve receive.
Macy McAmis L Jupiter Elite 15E: McAmis is a gritty libero who owns the back row. She’s a sound passer and scrappy on defense.
Frankie Jones MB Sunshine 15 Westside: Jones is an athletic middle who moves well. She has a quick leap and nice arm that makes her a scoring threat on in-system passes.
Chloe Garcia S/RS 305 15 Alan: Garcia is an up-and-coming prospect and someone to keep tabs on. She’s an athletic setter who gets to the ball and sets with consistency and accuracy. She also a strong attacker with a solid arm.
Kiana Johnson L OJVA 15-1 Gold: Johnson helps hold down serve receive with her consistent passing. She also does well making tough defensive plays.
Sadie Snyder OH AZ REV 15 Premier: A go-to on the left, Synder carries a large offensive load. She has a good arm and a strong knack for scoring to help pace the offense.
Kelly Valdez L Mauloa 15’s Green Mauloa: Valdez literally was “nails” for passing. She is also quick on her feet and scrappy to boot.
Ava McBride OH/RS Actyve 15-Black JD: McBride is a dynamic attacker. She scores well from the pins. And her line shot is quite impressive.
Simone Searles OH A5 15 Bob: Searles brings a bit of physicality to the lineup. She’s a strong hitter who can unleash big kills at times.
Mia Crowley OH/RS TAV Houston 15 Adidas: Crowley is another smart scorer who does well taking what the defense gives. She can also connect and unleash at times as well for impressive winners.
Cali Reece L TAV Houston 15 Adidas: Reece was another defensive presence. She was sound in serve receive and putting passes on digs right on target consistently.
Cydnee Bryant MB Pipeline 15-Magic: Bryant was a presence on both sides of the ball. She delivered a few resounding blocks and was scoring well when her number was called.
Sadie Kroeger OH MIDTN 15 BLACK: Kroeger is an explosive hitter. She has a quick jump and fast arm and is difficult to time up.
LK LaMonica S A5 15-2 Victor: LaMonica is smooth and does a great job of distributing the ball to her various hitters.
Marlee Sivak OH MKE Sting 15 Gold: Sivak is a six-rotation outside with the ability to end points in impressive fashion. She was putting away big swings at times to be sure.
Carolyn Tarnow MB 1st Alliance 15 Gold: Tarnow is such a factor in the middle with her length and athleticism and it’s virtually impossible for opponents to prepare for her.
Sydney Frazier MB M2 Volleyball 15-1: Frazier had moments of greatness in the middle. She’s capable of both connecting offensively and being a strong line of defense at the net.
Katelyn Pahl RS TVC 15-Black: Pahl is a lefty six-rotation right side who gets after it when attacking.
