Viva Las Vegas: GJNC 15 Open Preview
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The Girls Junior National Championships are less than a week away in Las Vegas, Nevada. After the 2020 championships were wiped out, teams are excited and eager to venture out west to stake their claim as one of the top…
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Continue ReadingThe Girls Junior National Championships are less than a week away in Las Vegas, Nevada. After the 2020 championships were wiped out, teams are excited and eager to venture out west to stake their claim as one of the top teams in America. The 15’s will be the first of the age groups we cover to kick things off June 27th-June 30th. Today we will take a look at the one Missouri team looking to leave its mark in the Open Division.
Rockwood Thunder 15 Elite
How did they get here? 3rd Place finish at MEQ
Other notes: Won Gateway League, 5th at Windy City, 2nd at Show Me, 5th at Northern Lights
The thing we have noticed about the Kansas and Missouri Open level teams is their team depth. We have seen numerous players step up in key moments throughout the season to become difference makers and contributors to their team’s success. Rockwood has had a phenomenal season, triple qualifying in the top division in GJNC. They have a roster full of playmakers led by MB Emma Parker Emma Parker 6'1" | MB Eureka | 2024 State MO . She is making her case as the top 2024 prospect in the country a year removed from an ACL injury. She can affect the game at all levels. Another standout making a case for the top player in the class is Libero Olivia Hasbrook Olivia Hasbrook 5'9" | DS/L Eureka | 2024 State #56 Nation MO . Her play on the court affects games and she is definitely worthy of consideration. Like Dynasty on the Kansas side, Rockwood has 2025 a player competing up an age group making noise in Maya Witherspoon. She is a high-flying pin who will be ranked high in the initial rankings this year. This team uses a platoon of setters in Morgan Dumm and Alyssa Nelson Alyssa Nelson 5'8" | S Wildwood | 2024 State MO . Both setters bring their A-game when stepping on the court and keep the ball moving. Allison Risley Allison Risley 5'11" | OH Lafayette | 2024 State #187 Nation MO , we’ve mentioned this season on the outside. She is a low error pin with a great mixture of shots. Mia Scanlon Mia Scanlon 5'10" | OH Marquette | 2024 State MO has contributed from the middle and does a good job of finding the floor around what are typically bigger players at the net. Laila Person Laila Person 5'10" | RS Kirkwood | 2024 State MO and Emma Hoing have split duties on the right side and had key moments this year. DS Amelia Moser and MB Ellie Emms Ellie Emms 5'11" | MB Lafayette | 2024 State MO round out this deep lineup of players who can make plays when called upon. This team has the pieces to be in contention on the last day.