Where We Stand After Two Days in 16s for KS and MO
Two days have come and gone in Las Vegas for the 16s age group. We had to stay up to watch games in the midwest but we are caught up. Here are the teams still battling to make the gold…
Access all of Prep Dig
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingTwo days have come and gone in Las Vegas for the 16s age group. We had to stay up to watch games in the midwest but we are caught up. Here are the teams still battling to make the gold brackets.
16 Open
Two local foes will again battle in pool play as KC Power 16-1 and Mavs KC 16-1 are teamed in a three-team pool. Both teams finished second in their pool play. Rockwood Thunder 16 Elite sneaks into pool play after a 4th place finish in their pool. The goal: finish in the top two and get to challenge match play on the third day.
16 America
The American Division still has a pool play match to go in the morning but there are some teams in a good position heading into day 3. 417 Juniors 16-1 are sitting pretty at 6-0 considering only two other teams have one loss. They have only dropped two sets thus far. Mavs KC 16-2 are looking to join their 16-1 counterparts in championship pool play. Going into the final match they will be 5-1. A team on the cut line hoping to sneak in is Invasion 16 Black. Currently, they are 3-2. Crossing over to the Gateway Region, HPSTL 16 Orange has put themselves in a good spot at 5-1.
16 National
Mavs 816 16-1 and PVA 16 Elite are on their way to Day 3 pools after finishing 2nd in their respective pools. HPSTL16 Royal just missed moving on after dropping their final match and ending up 4th.
16 USA
The two teams representing our coverage area, Dynasty 16 Blue and Rockwood Thunder 16 Navy battled but didn’t advance to the gold rounds for day 3.
Spotlight Players
MB Aliana Olson – KC Power 16-1: Olson has come on strong this season and continues to increase her stock.
S Ella Swindle Ella Swindle 6'2" | S Rock Bridge | 2023 State #6 Nation MO – KC Power 16-1: Hands are soft like butter. You also have to love a setter who thinks offensively.
OH Ava TeStrake Ava TeStrake 6'4" | OH Olathe Northwest | 2023 State #65 Nation KS – KC Power 16-1: Came up big in a few moments to carry her team.
S Logan Jones Logan Jones 5'10" | S Carl Junction | 2023 State #57 Nation MO – Mavs KC 16-1: Impresses us each time out. Poetry in motion.
OH Reagan Barth Reagan Barth 6'0" | OH Shawnee Mission West | 2023 State KS – Mavs KC 16-1: Six-rotation outside has been doing a little of everything; scoring, blocking, passing, and defense.
DS Lauren Brown – Mavs KC 16-1: Her passing has kept the team in systems and dangerous.
RS Elizabeth Goodenow – Mavs KC 16-1: Southpaw is a great weapon on the right side for the Mavs.
OH Claire Morrissey Claire Morrissey 6'0" | RS St Joseph’s Academy | 2024 State #22 Nation MO – Rockwood Thunder 16 Elite: Has been filling up the stat sheet with kills. Love her size and aggressiveness.
L Ava Roth Ava Roth 5'6" | DS/L Jefferson R-7 | 2023 State MO – Rockwood Thunder 16 Elite: Playmaker and saved many balls for her team.
OH Abby Chadwell Abby Chadwell 5'9" | S Strafford | 2023 State MO – 417 Juniors 16-1: Chadwell has been a difference-maker on the outside with her scoring and blocking ability.
MB Hillary Estes Hillary Estes 6'1" | MB Nixa | 2023 State MO – 417 Juniors 16-1: Great length and court awareness. Really great job of switching up shots.
MB Claire Esther Claire Esther 6'0" | MB Republic | 2023 State MO – 417 Juniors 16-1: Tremendous blocker and an asset offensively
S Lauren Tyler – 417 Juniors 16-1: Decision-making has been stellar between setting and going over on two.
OH Emma Kolich Emma Kolich 5'10" | OH St. James Academy | 2023 State KS – Mavs KC 16-2: Has been playing well in all six rotations. Kolich has passed well and has been an effective scorer.
S Victoria Creason – Mavs KC 16-2: Not only has her setting been great, but her defense and blocking have also been crucial so far in the tournament.
MB Katie McKnight – Mavs KC 16-2: McKnight has impressed with her ability to swing over blocks and find seams.
RS Avery Scheiner Avery Scheiner 6'1" | RS St. Joseph's | 2023 State MO – HPSTL 16 Orange: Scheiner has been able to contribute both offensively and defensively through the first two days.
OH Alexa Swaller Alexa Swaller 5'11" | OH Cor Jesu | 2023 State MO – HPSTL 16 Orange: Strong swing has been on display.
OH Nicole Wyatt – HPSTL 16 Orange: Her serving has caused problems for opponents through the first two days.
MB Aisha Aiono – Mavs 816 16-1: When in system, she is a dangerous weapon and showed that on multiple occasions.
OH Shaye Koski Shaye Koski 5'10" | OH Park Hill | 2023 State MO – Mavs 816 16-1: Koski had bright moments throughout the first two days from the pin.
OH Ashlyn Bellamy Ashlyn Bellamy 6'1" | OH Lee's Summit | 2023 State MO – Mavs 816 16-1: Strong showing so far for Bellamy. She is a weapon when she’s on your side.
MB Jaya Johnson Jaya Johnson 6'2" | MB Olathe South | 2023 State #116 Nation KS – PVA 16 Elite: Athletic and bouncy player. She can score from all front row positions.
OH Connelly Kilgore – PVA 16 Elite: First time seeing extended action of Kilgore and she was impressive from the pin with her ability to find the floor and score points.
RS Brianna Wortman Brianna Wortman 5'10" | OH Francis Howell | 2023 State MO – HPSTL 16 Royal: We hope we have the right player. Each match had 16 Royal on the opposite side but whoever was playing the right side was powerful and electric and we thought we saw 42.