GJNC Previews: TAV 16 Black
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The most important moment of the season is just around the corner for teams from the 15s, 16s and 17s age group from around the country as the USA Volleyball Girls Junior National Championship will take place at the Las…
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Continue ReadingThe most important moment of the season is just around the corner for teams from the 15s, 16s and 17s age group from around the country as the USA Volleyball Girls Junior National Championship will take place at the Las Vegas Convention Center from June 26-July 5.
As many as 728 teams are expected to compete in the 15 divisions for these three age groups and the state of Texas will, of course, be well-represented in the tournament with more than 50 teams expected to make the trip to Nevada.
During the next few weeks, we’ll use this space to present the Lone Star state representatives in the tournament, recapping their performances during the club season and highlighting some of their top prospects.
TAV 16 Black
Coming out of the storied Texas Advantage club from the Dallas area, TAV 16 Black is one of the strongest teams in the country in their age group and will contend for gold in the 16 Open division in Las Vegas. The squad arrives in Nevada with an impressive 55-9 win record under the guidance of head coach Jonathan Nasgowitz. Among the highlights of their very successful season are their victories at the Northern Lights Qualifier, the Northeast Qualifier and the Tour of Texas Pre-Qualifier, their second-place finish at the Texas President’s Day Invitational and their fourth-place at the Adidas Lone Star Classic.
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Players to Watch
Stephanie Gutierrez Stephanie Gutierrez 6'1" | OH Boswell | 2023 State #157 Nation TX – Middle Blocker/Right Sider – HS: Boswell – 2023
A standout middle blocker, Stephanie Gutierrez Stephanie Gutierrez 6'1" | OH Boswell | 2023 State #157 Nation TX was moved to the right side during this club season and responded really well to the challenge, further improving and developing new elements to her game. On either position, the 6’1” hitter brings a lot of power to TAV 16 Black’s offense and is lethal when hitting the slide set. She was also a force for her high school Boswell during the season, registering 126 kills and 54 blocks and ranks 13th on our 2023 Prep Dig State Rankings.
Here are some of my highlights from the 2021 Northern Lights Qualifier- TAV 16 Black NLQ Champs! @PrepVolleyball @PrepDigTX @BOS_Volleyball @Gosset41 @TAVVolleyball pic.twitter.com/i8CDdKGwAJ
— Stephanie Gutierrez Stephanie Gutierrez 6'1" | OH Boswell | 2023 State #157 Nation TX 🏐 (@stephanieg2023) May 19, 2021
Kate Hansen Kate Hansen 6'3" | MB Weatherford | 2023 State #67 Nation TX – Middle Blocker – HS: Weatherford – 2023
Kate Hansen Kate Hansen 6'3" | MB Weatherford | 2023 State #67 Nation TX is a powerful middle blocker who brings a lot of physicality to TAV 16 Black’s game. The 6’3” player has one of the heaviest arms in the entire state and what’s more impressive about her is that her power level doesn’t drop even when she’s hitting in transition. Hansen is also an exceptional blocker due to her ability of moving well at the net and placing her long arms in front of opponents. A good example of the impact she has in the game was her last high season, in which she had 237 kills and 86 blocks for Weatherford. Hansen ranks 14th on our 2023 Prep Dig State Rankings.
Hannah Pfiffner Hannah Pfiffner 6'2" | RS Wakeland | 2023 State #78 Nation TX – Middle Blocker – HS: Wakeland – 2023
The middle blocker combo of Hansen and Hannah Pfiffner Hannah Pfiffner 6'2" | RS Wakeland | 2023 State #78 Nation TX is certainly one of the things that make this TAV 16 Black team special. Pfiffner is also a towering presence at the net with her 6’2” frame but her most impressive skills is probably her athleticism. She moves around the court with speed and power and carries that level of energy to her actions, be it hitting or blocking. That certainly comes from her being a fantastic track and field student-athlete too as she’s the reigning high jump state champion. Pfiffer had a strong sophomore high school season with Wakeland, tallying 210 kills and 43 blocks and currently ranks 27th on our 2023 Prep Dig State Rankings.
Boom 💥 #TAV16Black #GoTAV pic.twitter.com/3Lyfp7n6Gs
— TX Advantage VB (@TAVVolleyball) May 19, 2021