Viva Las Vegas: GJNC Preview for 15 USA and National Division
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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 some of the Missouri teams looking to leave their mark in the USA and National Divisions.
Rockwood Thunder 15 Navy
How did they get here? 3rd Place finish in the USA division at Northern Lights
Other notes: 2nd in Gateway League, 5th at MEQ, 5th at Show Me, 13th Windy City
This Rockwood team has the ability to make major noise next week in Las Vegas based on their body of work this season. As we stated throughout the year, this is one of the better “two teams” in the country and they will attempt to make us look like geniuses in the coming days. They took second in a tough Gateway League, a 3rd place bid earning weekend at Northern Lights, and two 5th place qualifier finishes. This team has plenty of options on the outside with players like Madison Swehla, Sydney Davis, Anna Wieman, and Jayden Wiese. Aaliyah Eliott is an athletic middle who can affect the game offensively and defensively. Both Sophia Gagnepain and Abbie Delong are capable of running the offense. Libero Lilliana Vonderheid is one of the high-energy playmakers we’ve seen navigate the back row this season. When they are clicking, they can be tough to beat.
HPSTL 15 Royal
How did they get here? 3rd Place in the Gateway League and earning the trickle-down
Other notes: 9th MEQ, 5th at Show Me, 13th at Windy City
15 Royal is a team more than capable of competing for a national title in the National division. They were competitive all season with a 9th place and 5th place finish in qualifiers. They are another team with a roster full of players who can bring it on any giving day. Like Rockwood above, they have an array of hitters on the pins who can take over games. Anna Moore Anna Moore 5'10" | OH Cor Jesu | 2024 State MO , Shae Pearson, Grace Killion, and Jordan Smith provide a good mix of scorers. Setter Sammi Bergjans Sammi Bergjans 5'9" | S Incarnate Word Academy | 2024 State MO is one of the top young setters in the state and has impressed us all year with her ability to run the offense. Riley Kortkamp in the middle caught our attention earlier this season. Defensively, DS Katie Moore Katie Moore 5'1" | DS/L Windsor | 2024 State MO and electric libero Audrey Small provide leadership and playmaking abilities.