NJC Preview: Top Committed D1 Athletes in 16 Open

The National Junior Classic is always one of the top volleyball tournaments in the Midwest over Memorial Day weekend and is a clash between the top clubs in Wisconsin, Illinois, and Michigan meeting the top clubs out of the Mideast in Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana.  This is also a prelude to the the AAU National Tournament in Orlando is just over a month where many of these teams will face each other again with high stake matches to be played. Here are some of the committed athletes who have already given their verbal to play Division 1 college volleyball at the next level.  Stay tuned for our top prospects available at NJC’s this weekend on Thursday!

Jordyn Gates – Michigan Volleyball Academy 16 National – Setter

Committed To Arkansas – Class of 2020

Gates is a 5’11 setter that is extremely dynamic and physical.  MVA is one of the top clubs in Michigan out of the Grand Rapids area.  She will be heading to Arkansas in the SEC which is also bringing in Maggie Cartwright, a top Class of 2019 outside from Kimberly (WI).  Gates is a fast tempo setter and can be very offensive. MVA will be heading to AAUs in Orlando for their nationals and will be a contender with an extremely balanced and athletic all around team.

Kiara Reinhardt – Milwaukee Sting 16 Gold – Middle Blocker

Committed To Creighton – Class of 2020

The top middle to be coming out of the Class of 2020 in Wisconsin not only does Reinhardt possess the skill, but also has all the intangibles to be successful with some of the best in the nation.  Positive body language, great communicator, and can read the offense extremely well. Sting 16 Gold will have some of the top players in the tournament this weekend, but to get to the Monday afternoon matches they will need their role players to play big. 

Aubrey Hamilton – Milwaukee Sting 16 Gold – Outside Hitter

Committed To Notre Dame – Class of 2020

Hamilton makes hitting various shots look extremely easy.  The 6’0 outside from Arrowhead High School outside of Milwaukee is taking her game to Notre Dame.  Hamilton is able to play six rotations, but is still developing the serve receive and passing game to be among the elites.  When it comes down to crunch time for Sting 16 Gold Reinhardt and Hamilton are the go to players that they depend on. With experience playing against KIVA And Sports Performance it will come down to who can step up in the big points.

Cate Long – Sports Performance 16 Elite – Outside Hitter

Committed To Clemson – Class of 2020

Long has an extremely long list of accolades from her high school at Aurora Christian as well as playing for Sports Performance.  She was recently named to the All-Tournament team by Illinois Prep Volleyball for the Great Lakes Power League hosted by Sports Performance with the top teams in the Chicago area and Midwest.  Coach Michaela Franklin has been building a pipeline from Chicago area to Clemson, with Long being one of multiple recruits that are heading to play for the Tigers in the ACC.

Hattie Monson – Sports Performance 16 Elite – Libero

Committed to Notre Dame – Class of 2020

Sports Performance is known for producing some of the top defensive players year in and year out, not only in the Chicago area, but in the country.  Monson will be playing against her future teammate in Hamilton this weekend and will join force at Notre Dame in 2020. Monson was actually named the MVP of the Great Lakes Power League by Illinois Prep Volleyball, a rare feat for a libero, but shows how large her impact is on the court.  She is also a top start for Benet Academy in the Chicago area.

Elise Goetzinger – Milwaukee Sting 16 Gold – Middle Blocker

Committed to Kentucky – Class of 2020

Goetzinger is relatively new to the national club scene, but her recruiting process took off in a flurry with her landing with her verbal commitment to Coach Skinner and Kentucky.  Goetzinger is long, physical, and athletic – and she’s 6’4. Goetzinger is a solid player now, but with continued training at Milwaukee Sting and being surrounded by top players she will improve and be among the best in the region.  

Allie Trame – Illini Elite 16 Cardinal – Middle Blocker

Committed To Alabama – Class of 2020

Trame is a middle out of Illini Elite 16 Cardinal and is heading to play in the SEC for Alabama.  Trame is touching over ten feet and is quick laterally pin to pin with her blocking and high reach.  Illini Elite out of Bloomington, Illinois is always producing top tier talent with the 17 Cardinal team winning AAU 17 Open in 2017.  Trame and fellow middle blocker Mira Chopra are the go to players for 16 Cardinal who is always a competitive team. Illini Elite and MN Select 16-1 have had a couple battles already this year going into

Ali Hinze – MN Select 16-1 – Outside Hitter

Committed To North Dakota State – Class of 2020

Elizabeth Helmich – MN Select 16-1 – Middle Blocker

Committed To James Madison – Class of 2020

Hinze and Helmich are part of the MN Select 16-1 team that has been so close to knocking off the top tier teams in the region.  MN Select is out of the Minneapolis/St. Paul area and is one of the premier clubs along with Northern Lights and Kokoro (which has had an extremely strong season at the 16s level).  North Dakota State has a solid pipeline of players from Minnesota and Wisconsin while James Madison is in Harrisonburg, Virginia and is part of the Colonial Athletic Conference. MN Select has had solid showings at the Dells Mizuno Showcase as well as the JVA Jamboree in Milwaukee.

Addison Foote – PNK 16 – Outside Hitter

Committed to VCU – Class of 2020

Foote is an extremely strong and physical player on the outside for PNK which is out Louisville, Kentucky.  VCU most recently won the Atlantic 10 conference, dethroning Dayton to make it to the NCAA tournament. This club has faced a schedule similar to that of Milwaukee Sting competing at Central Time Zone and Showdown in the Smokies, they have also competed in the St. Louis Presidents Day Classic and JVA World Challenge.  They know what it’s like to go against some of the best in the nation. Chance are they will see some of these teams at the AAU National Championships a month from now in Orlando.

Leilani Dodson – 1st Alliance 16 Silver – Middle Blocker

Committed To BYU

Kati Kaburov – 1st Alliance 16 Silver – Outside Hitter

Committed To Boston College

1st Alliance is out of the Chicagoland area near Naperville and Joliet, producing some of the top prep volleyball in the country.  Dodson will be competing against some of the best middles in the Class of 2020 this weekend and has made her verbal commit to BYU, a consistent NCAA tournament power in the West Coast Conference.  Kaburov is a six rotation outside with the ability to score from all positions on the court. She will be heading to the ACC, playing for Boston College. 1st Alliance finished 18th in the Great Lakes Power League Super Open Division, playing up against some of the top teams in the at the 17s and 18s level in Illinois, Wisconsin, and Michigan.