GJNC 16s Recap

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Let's look and see how the Kansas teams handled business in Indianapolis at the 2022 Girls Junior National Championships. Going into the week, we knew there were teams capable of making deep runs and we weren't disappointed. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[program_tooltip program_id='428889' first='[program_tooltip program_id='428889' first='Dynasty' last='']' last=''] 16 Black: Open</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I have to admit, after all the hype I was nervous after day 1. When I checked the results and saw them sitting at 1-2 I almost deleted my preview (just kidding). In all seriousness, I figured they would regroup on day 2 and they did grabbing two hard-fought wins. Those wins gave them back their mojo and they didn't lose again until the semifinals, where they were beaten by A5 Mizuno 16 Gabe in two close sets. Their deep run earned them a bronze medal to put them on the podium in consecutive years. [player_tooltip player_id='119226' first='Carlie' last='Cisneros'] earned her way onto the All-Tournament team. [player_tooltip player_id='201027' first='Jada' last='Ingram'] had a breakout week and joined Cisneros on the team. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[program_tooltip program_id='430200' first='KC' last='[program_tooltip program_id='428794' first='[program_tooltip program_id='428794' first='Power' last='']' last='']'] 16-1: Open</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[program_tooltip program_id='428794' first='[program_tooltip program_id='428794' first='Power' last='']' last=''] finished 21st with a 5-5 record. They fought their way to a 3-2 record in pool play to keep them in the hunt but a tough day 3 eliminated them from title dreams after losing both pool matches and their crossover. They didn't hang their heads and took both Flight matches. [player_tooltip player_id='119693' first='Janelle' last='Green'] and [player_tooltip player_id='153937' first='Alea' last='Goolsby'] were two of many who played well over the four days. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Mavs KC 16-1: National</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We expected Mavs to make a deep run in this division since they are an open-caliber team. They lived up to those expectations with a 9th-place finish. In pool action, a 4-1 record was good to keep them in the top group for re-pool on day 3. Their lone defeat came to Team Pineapple. Pineapple proved to be this team's Achilles heel, as they were dropped by them again in the crossover match. This loss sent Mavs to the Silver bracket, which they won defeating Club V and Upward Stars. [player_tooltip player_id='119705' first='Lauren' last='Roediger'] and [player_tooltip player_id='119692' first='Sophia' last='Bond'] were a couple of players we saw making plays in some of the film we watched. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[program_tooltip program_id='430200' first='KC' last='[program_tooltip program_id='428794' first='[program_tooltip program_id='428794' first='Power' last='']' last='']'] 16-2: National</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[program_tooltip program_id='428794' first='[program_tooltip program_id='428794' first='Power' last='']' last=''] 16-2 had a memorable season that ended with a 26th place finish in the next to the highest division. Pool play was tough for them as they only managed to get one win. They came back strong on day 3 to go 2-1 and were a 16-14 third-set away from going undefeated. That loss delegated them to Flight 2 where they won the first match before going down in the second. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[program_tooltip program_id='428892' first='[program_tooltip program_id='428892' first='PVA' last='']' last=''] 16 Elite: Liberty</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[program_tooltip program_id='428892' first='[program_tooltip program_id='428892' first='PVA' last='']' last=''] had a setback going 2-3 in opening pool play to be sent to the second grouping of teams on the third day. They would go on to split those matches before getting a big crossover match win in 3 sets. That win would send them to Flight 2 where they would get two more wins to finish their tournament. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[program_tooltip program_id='428889' first='[program_tooltip program_id='428889' first='Dynasty' last='']' last=''] 16 Gray: Liberty</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>16 Gray started strong going 3-2 and staying alive for a title after the first two days. They had a hiccup after pools were reshuffled dropping both matches and then their crossover match. They managed to snatch up one more win in Flight 1 before being taken down by San Clemente in 3. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Kansas Networks 16-1: American</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kansas Networks went 4-3 in pool play including their final two matches which gave them the momentum to win their crossover match. That fifth win was good enough to send them to Flight 1 where they ran into a touch Iowa Select team who would sweep the contest. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Mavs KC 16-2: Freedom</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A 7-3 finish was good for 11th place for the team out of Kansas in the Freedom division. They were perfect through pool action to start their tournament. They were in a good position but were sent to the Silver bracket after going 1-1 in their day 3 pools and then later dropping their crossover match. They did get win number 7 in bracket play before losing to Upward Stars. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->