GJNC Previews: DaKine Warriors 15 Surf
What has been a shortened club volleyball season is coming to an end in Seattle but the best was arguably saved for the last with the USA Volleyball Girls Junior National Championship set to take place at the Las Vegas…
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Continue ReadingWhat has been a shortened club volleyball season is coming to an end in Seattle but the best was arguably saved for the last with the USA Volleyball Girls Junior National Championship set to take place at the Las Vegas Convention Center from June 26-July 5.
The event is expected to attract more than 700 teams in the 15 divisions for clubs from 15s to 17s and the state of Washington will be among the participants with at least 16 teams entered to appear in the event.
Between now the starting serve on June 26, we’ll take a look at each of those teams, recapping their club season and pointing out the players you would want to follow in the tournament.
DaKine Warriors 15 Surf
The top 15s team of the DaKine Volleyball Club out of Tacoma, Warriors 15 Surf will represent the state of Washington in the 15 National division. With head coach Kim Lok at the helm, the squad has already secured 29 wins and embittered just nine losses so far in the season. Among their most important accomplishments are their victory at the PSR Junior Regionals and their fifth-place finish at the Pacific Northwest Qualifier.
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Players to Watch
Danielle Brown – Middle Blocker – HS: Puyallup – 2024
It’s hard to resist the temptation of starting this list with Danielle Brown. A 6’2” middle blocker, she has so much upside and is already a key player for DaKine Warriors 15 Surf. Brown is extremely physical and her presence in the middle of the net is nearly unmatched in the age group. She has a lot of power on offense and can hit in any direction, which makes it even more difficult to stop her at the net. Brown also plays beach volleyball, something that already immensely helps her with ball control and movement. She ended her freshman high school campaign with a strong Puyallup team with 84 kills and 33 blocks.
Hannah Byers – Outside Hitter/Right Sider – HS: Olympia – 2024
Hannah Byers has a natural ability and great physical tools to play volleyball. She’s a six-footer but moves like a five-footer on the court and has developed a large set of skills that she uses to the benefit of her team, including the ability to set. Byers has can hit on both sides of the net as she’s always fearless, even when she knows there’s a double block waiting across the net. She was an important player for her strong high school program Olympia last season, registering 144 kills and 82 passes. As with Brown, she also plays in the sand.
Kaitlyn Nguyen – Libero – 2026
A 2026 prospect, Kaitlyn Nguyen plays older than her age. The 5’3” defender is extraordinarily calm on the ball and carries her duties as the team libero with such a high level of confidence that influences her teammates. Nguyen is a very good passer, but is an even better defender with her outstanding ball control. She’s super focused and is always in the right place when it comes to covering her hitters.