GJNC 16 American Players to Watch
Some exciting ball play went down today at the GJNC in Indiana. It was the starting day for the 16s and 17s age group. The first game I was able to watch was Vegas Aces coached by Melody Nua and…
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Continue ReadingSome exciting ball play went down today at the GJNC in Indiana. It was the starting day for the 16s and 17s age group. The first game I was able to watch was Vegas Aces coached by Melody Nua and Lillie Redmond versus Iowa Select coached by Gregory Cotton and Mark Lau. It was an exciting game to watch as both teams battled to score points. This was the third and final match of the day for each team. Vegas Aces and Iowa Select have some key players who should be on the radar.
Leilia Toailoa (2024) | 6’1 OH | Bishop Gorman HS/Vegas Aces 16
Leilia Suamili Toailoa is a powerful 6’1 outside hitter who is a six-rotation player. She is quick in transition and able to adjust when a set is misplaced, capitalizing on her height to score. Her vertical allows her to get on top of the ball, killing it straight down. Toailoa makes plays off the net and doesn’t hesitate to go after a ball. She makes it very difficult for an opponent to get through her block. She can place her serves in designated areas, making it hard to receive, resulting in aces. She has an high IQ for the game.
Olivia Cotton Olivia Cotton 5'8" | OH Pleasant Valley | 2024 State IA (2024) | 5’9 OH | Pleasant Valley HS/ Iowa Select VBC
Olivia Cotton Olivia Cotton 5'8" | OH Pleasant Valley | 2024 State IA has a quick approach and a hard hit that makes the ball fly with force. She was killing the perfect set and adjusted to off-the-net sets and was still able to score. She can jump high enough to execute a good block or place the ball with a tip. Cotton can also pass precise placement and serve with good accuracy.
Tatum Thompson (2024) |5’7 L | Bishop Gorman HS/ Vegas Aces 16
Tatum Thompson was all over the floor digging balls and making great defensive plays. Her hustle on the court was very impressive because she was quick on her feet. Thompson was able to serve receive and control the ball with perfect passes to the setter. Several times I witnessed Thompson diving on the floor and popping up a ball that would have touched the ground had she not been there.
Georgia Brunkan Georgia Brunkan 5'3" | DS/L North Scott | 2024 State IA (2024) | 5’3 L | North Scott HS/ Iowa Select
Georgia Brunkan Georgia Brunkan 5'3" | DS/L North Scott | 2024 State IA starts low and is ready to play the ball. She covers her hitters and is in place to receive the backup from a block. She is quick on the floor and makes the plays needed to score. Brunkan did not hesitate to dive or dig for a ball from a kill or a tip, popping it up with ease. She has great ball control and played her position well by protecting the backcourt.
Hannah Pemberton (2024) | 5’6 S/DS | Coronado HS/ Vegas Aces 16
Hanna Pemberton ran her team’s offense smoothly. She has a soft touch on the ball and can push it from anywhere on the court. Picking up the best attack options and knowing where to place the ball showed her intelligence on the court. She can set the ball at different heights and speeds which makes it difficult for an opponent to read.
Kaci Johnson (2024) |S| Iowa Select
Kaci Johnson was a leader in this game. She was able to get to the second ball and communicate with her teammates. She was able to place the ball in different positions so that her hitters could score. Johnson has a good vision of the court and ran her team’s offense by setting the hitters who would score. She provides her middle with a quick set making it easy to deliver a kill.
Ashley Duckworth | 6’2 MB | Bishop Gorman/ Vegas Aces 16
Ashley Duckworth uses her height to magnify her position on the court. She is good at blocking and delivering a quick kill to score. She has a fast and robust swing that can achieve on a short set and pounds the ball with force to hit the ground. Duckworth has the speed to position herself and helps the pin hitters with blocking the ball.
Amelia Tubbs (2024) | MB | Clinton HS/Iowa Select
Amelia Tubbs is a middle blocker who was able to block and hit the ball to different areas on the court. She could read the direction where the setter was setting and make fast movements to help with the side blocks. Tubbs creates a solid, firm wall with her hands making it very hard for an opponent to score. She is also an assest with block attempts by slowing the ball down with her fingertips or cutting off the cross-court hit.
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