18s GJNC Preview: TAV 18 Blue

<p>The most important tournament of the year for the class of 2021 players is just in front of us as the 2021 USAV Girls 18s Junior National Championship is set to happen from April 23-25 in Columbus, Ohio, and as many as 280 teams from the entire country are expected to compete in the five divisions.</p> <p>Texas will, of course, be represented in the event and we will take the time between now and the start of the tournament in Ohio to present the team what will carry the Lone Star State flag in Ohio, analyzing their campaigns in the club season so far and highlighting their most important players.</p> <p>As we continue with our previews of the 18 USA Division, here’s all the information you need about <strong>TAV 18 Blue</strong>:</p> <p><em>This team is part of arguably the top club program in the state at Texas Advantage, just north of Dallas. With head coach Jonathan Daclison at the helm, TAV 18 Blue has played in only 22 matches for far in the season, emerging victorious in 13 of them. The highlight of the season for them was the third-place finish at the AVC National Qualifier in February.</em></p> <p>Here are their key players:</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="118711" first="Katie" last="Le"] – Libero/Defensive Specialist – HS: Mansfield - 2021</strong></p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="118711" first="Katie" last="Le"] is a very dynamic defensive player who gives TAV 18 Blue a lot of stability in the backcourt. Few players are as good on defense as she is and her presence alone makes any team stronger. The 5’4” Le is very fast and has tremendous ball control, meaning there’s no such a thing as an impossible dig for her. Ranked 69^th on our 2021 Prep Dig State Rankings, she ended her high school career with nearly 2,000 digs and 1,700 passes and will continue doing great things at the collegiate level with the University of Central Oklahoma.</p> <p><iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/11358503/5fabbb93578ee802f8772d58" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Laura Brambilla – Middle-Blocker – HS: Southlake Carroll – 2021</strong></p> <p>Laura Brambilla provides a strong net presence for TAV 18 Blue. A six-footer, she’s very quick on her movement at the net and has great timing when up in the air. She’s very explosive on offense and has an interesting ability to not only make herself available but also to put a lot of power in her hits when in transition. Her blocking game is very solid too as she always gets where she needs to be with her quick steps and puts pressure on opponents with her smart hands placement. Brambilla will continue her career at Walsh University in St. Louis.</p> <p><iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/11312563/5fa4de6d578dac1100bac87b" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Damiana Bova-Ford – Setter – HS: Liberty – 2021</strong></p> <p>Damiana Bova-Ford has a central role in TAV 18 Blue’s playing system as the team’s setter. She has good size for the position at 5’9” and, most importantly, has a high volleyball IQ, something essential for a player who’s running the shots for her team. Bova-Ford has good hands and is innovative at times, not going with the most obvious option when the pass is not great. She’s also very aggressive and likes to dump the ball on the other side of the net. Another thing that makes her a very interesting prospect is her strong defensive game. George Mason University is where she’ll take the next steps of her career.</p> <p><iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/F-s0P3m-60U" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>