Legacy, Northern Lights Big Favorites Heading Into 18 Open AAU Nationals
This really is the last time as the 18s head to their final tournament to close down the club season and for most, the final tournament before heading off to join their college programs. AAU Nationals will be where it…
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Continue ReadingThis really is the last time as the 18s head to their final tournament to close down the club season and for most, the final tournament before heading off to join their college programs. AAU Nationals will be where it all started for most of these athletes with experiencing the national tournament in the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando.
The Favorites
The top four teams, the top seed in their pools are Legacy (MI), Northern Lights 18-1 (MN), Sports Performance 18 Elite (IL), and KIVA (KY). All of these programs have experienced national glory, have played on the biggest stage, and will have some athletes heading to some of the top collegiate programs in the nation.
Legacy 18 Elite
The resume that this squad has is glowing with major tournament wins, going 6 for 6 this club season with big wins at Triple Crown and MEQ in Indy. Legacy finished 9th at the USAV 18 Open Championships held in Dallas at the end of April, but will be a heavy favorite heading into this weekend in Orlando. A roster full of Big Ten commits along with other top tier programs across the nation. Jessica Robinson, the top recruit as a middle blocker out of the Class of 2019 in Michigan will be heading to Michigan along with setter, Madison Dowd, and outside hitter Jessica Mruzik who is actually from the Class of 2020. Michigan State will be getting a pair from this team with libero, Hannah Grant and Class of 2020 setter Celia Cullen.
Northern Lights 18-1
The reigning 2018 17 Open national champions are back for one last hurrah. The Northern Lights 18-1 team went on a European trip to Italy during the time of USAV 18s Nationals and will have a chance to leave as champions this upcoming weekend. Their roster is loaded with athletes who are going to powerhouse programs from coast to coast such as Kyndra Hansen going to Iowa, Mari Hinkle to UCLA, and Peyton Seuss to Wake Forest. Ellie Husemann and Rachel Kilkelly will be staying close to home and attending Minnesota. As for their setter, Kennedi Orr, safe to say she is the top recruit in the Class of 2021. She will still has two years of high school volleyball before heading to Nebraska.
Sports Performance 18 Elite
Sports Performance has banner upon banner of national titles and this 18 Elite team is no different. Many of these athletes are from the Class of 2020, led by Taylor Landfair, one of the top players in the country. The outside hitter has committed to Minnesota. Hattie Monson, one of the top liberos in the country is from the Class of 2020 as well, heading to Notre Dame. Heading to the ACC is Mckenna Slavik who is one of their setters and will be attending Clemson University.
Mizuno M1
M1 having a quick sendoff with the 12s team.M1 out of the South Metro area of Minneapolis may be a wildcard heading into the weekend. An Open team at USAV 18 Nationals last month, they have scored some big wins over top programs. A high IQ, and also high academic team, one of their big attackers on the pin is Elizabeth Juhnke who is committed to South Dakota. With a cannon for an arm she is one of the top outside hitters in the Class of 2019 from Minnesota. Alena Moldan commands the backrow, she will be continuing her volleyball career at New Mexico who got another commit from Kali Wolf, one of the top outside hitters in Minnesota from the Class of 2020 who plays for Northern Lights 17-1. For some of these athletes, they will be heading to some of the top Division 3 schools in the country academically and for volleyball with Nicole Banitt going to St. Olaf in Northfield, MN, Alaina Bohrer going to WashU in St. Louis, Ella Haugen to Bowdoin College in Maine, and Grace Legris to Tufts University in Boston area.