Champions Crowned, Top 2021 Athletes Compete at AVP America Beach Event

<p>Title Photo: CIA Beach Program </p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400">On to the beach!  Recent volleyball!  For athletes who are unable to get in the gym, the sand is a great way to expand the all around skills and compete.  This past weekend in Cedar Rapids at the Oasis Sandbar, the AVP American Junior Season Opener kicked off with some of the top volleyball athletes in the area getting a chance to compete.  What comes as no surprise is the dominance of athletes from the Cedar Valley area and ties to CIA out of Waterloo. The winners of the event earned a bid to an AVP Event in New Jersey later this summer. </span></p> <p>Photo Cred: Oasis Sandbar and Anne Street</p> [caption id="attachment_95297" align="aligncenter" width="178"] <strong>Emmy Wedgbury and [player_tooltip player_id="41247" first="Halia" last="Mahi"]</strong>[/caption] <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>17s/18s</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400">[player_tooltip player_id="41247" first="Halia" last="Mahi"] and [player_tooltip player_id="17271" first="Emmersyn" last="Wedgbury"] took home the title in the 17s/18s division over [player_tooltip player_id="17239" first="Saari" last="Kuehl"] and Dani Johnson.  All four of these athletes are top players in the Class of 2021 and are still uncommitted, with plenty of schools of interest. </span></p> [caption id="attachment_95298" align="alignright" width="300"] [player_tooltip player_id="17239" first="Saari" last="Kuehl"] and Dani Johnson[/caption] <p><span style="font-weight: 400">Mahi and Wedgbury - The duo will be Seniors at Cedar Falls High School where Mahi has traditionally used the fall to train for the beach game which is her go-to.  She has all the tools and IQ to make an impact and will be a beach prospect at the next level.  She also sets for the CIA 18 Black squad.  Wedgbury is an all-around athlete where she can step in and do everything.  Watching her play the indoor game, you can see where her beach skills come in handy.  She is usually found in the libero spot, but played right side for Cedar Falls enroute to a state championship.  High IQ, high academic, and high character is what you will find in Wedgbury. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400">Johnson and Kuehl - Dani Johnson and [player_tooltip player_id="17239" first="Saari" last="Kuehl"] are two of the top available outside </span><span style="font-weight: 400">hitters in an incredibly loaded Class of 2021 outside hitter group in Iowa.  Both are playing for Six Pack which is always a top program regionally.  Johnson has been a standout on the volleyball court, basketball court, even on the golf course and now on the sand.  Kuehl is another top all-around athlete who has been a key force for Gladbrook-Reinbeck for basketball and a state high jumper.  Long and athletic, her upside is way up there. </span></p> [caption id="attachment_95299" align="aligncenter" width="225"] [player_tooltip player_id="79248" first="Meredith" last="Street"] and [player_tooltip player_id="42440" first="Kaebre" last="Sullivan"][/caption] <p><strong>15/16s</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400">The Sullivan/Street wrecking crew was at it again.  [player_tooltip player_id="42440" first="Kaebre" last="Sullivan"] and [player_tooltip player_id="79248" first="Meredith" last="Street"] of Osage and CIA have been quote the duo on the sand the past couple seasons.  Sullivan is a middle blocker who has the athleticism and all around skills to handle the ball as well.  Street is one of the more explosive jumpers you will find in the state.  For anyone who hasn’t played sand volleyball, it’s not like jumping off a hard floor, but Street does it with ease.  Sullivan and Street team up with Wedgbury for CIA 17 Black and also play with Dani Johnson at Osage High School. </span></p>