GJNC Update: NKYVC’s Open Bid Trifecta

<p>The Northeast Qualifier took place this past weekend with competition in several divisions. NKYVC was a huge winner with a trio of open-level bids earned at U15, U16, and U17. The club had already earned an open qualification at U13. To date, the club has earned a total of 11 bids to GJNC events later this season. Here are standouts from this past weekend.</p> <p><strong>17-1 Tsunami</strong></p> <p>With a 6-3 record overall, 17 Tsunami captured third-place to earn their open bid to the GJNC event in Vegas later this summer. Their tournament was not without some drama though as they finished tied on day two with a 1-2 record but claimed the second position based upon set percentage. Then, in their gold pool play on the final day, it was their first match versus Metro that helped catapult them as they claimed the three-set win with a 16-14 third-set victory. Additionally, the team’s lone setter, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="156617" first="Cora" last="Taylor"]</strong> (committed to Butler) played the majority of the tournament with an injured and heavily taped thumb and managed to keep their offense rolling while also applying a lot of pressure from the service line. </p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="137174" first="Lizzie" last="McCluskey"]</strong>  - 5’7 | DS | St. Ursula Academy<br /> McCluskey entered the third set of the Metro match with the score tied a 14-14 and delivered two critical serves that applied the right amount of disruption to the opponent to help her team win the match. She is a steady contributor in the back row and helps provide good relief in the areas of defense and serve receive when called upon. </p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="114464" first="Elena" last="Dubuc"]</strong> - 5’11 | RS/OH | Turpin<br /> Dubuc has next-level potential with her athleticism and versatility to score from both pins. She elevates well and can swing with aggressive pace on both sides of the court. She continues to improve in other areas of her game, including at the net with her eyework and blocking mechanics. She had a great tournament and contributed well as a steady offensive option with good control and effectiveness. </p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="137098" first="Brooklyne" last="Darby"]</strong> - 5’9 | OH | Mason<br /> Darby continues to be an intriguing athlete to watch given her athleticism and potential as an elite volleyball player. It is in the moments of brilliance that we see what she is capable of doing. Her biggest challenge is to develop consistency as a six-rotation attacker. She has the tools and this past weekend was evidence that she is getting better and closer to the consistent talent her team needs her to be and in what will help her at the next level. She jumps well and can create an extremely fast arm. With some time to continue improving over the next several weeks it will be fun to see what she does in Vegas.</p> <p><strong>16-1 Tsunami</strong></p> <p>Like their club counterparts in the 17s division, 16 Tsunami finished the tournament in 3rd place. With a 6-2 record they needed multiple come-from-behind set wins to claim their entry into the top division at the national tournament this summer. With two wins over Tribe 16-Elite, they competed very well among fellow qualifiers in Sunshine 16 LA (losing 26-24 in the third set) and 1st Alliance 16 Silver.</p> <p><strong>Calah Jackson</strong> - 6’2 | MH | Covington Latin<br /> According to her coach, Jackson was a force at the net on the defensive side. Her progress in her eyework and patience is paying dividends in her ability to close down attackers. She has good length and moves well laterally and continues to develop good first-step reaction to the opponent’s offense. Offensively, she has versatility to pass when needed as well as swing on quicker tempos in the middle and on the pins. Her stock certainly continues to rise with each tournament. </p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="106679" first="Sidney" last="Arstingstall"]</strong> - 5’9 | OH | St. Henry<br /> With good offensive capability, Arstingstall stepped up this weekend in other areas. Defensively, she made great adjustments to help counter opponent strategies in their offense to make big plays and create a lot of opportunities for her team. Additionally, she found good rhythm and movement at the service line to disrupt opponents and put the advantage on their defensive side throughout the weekend.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="141698" first="Courtney" last="Stava"]</strong> - 5’11 | MH | Centerville<br /> Stava saw her role increase this past weekend and she delivered well as a reliable defender and offensive option when needed. She was a big part of Centerville’s offense last high school season as she has good versatility as a middle to score on quick options in front of the setter as well as overhead off one foot where she seems to be the most comfortable and effective with her arm.</p> <p><strong>15-1 Tsunami</strong></p> <p>Nearly claiming the tournament title, 15 Tsunami lost in the championship final 25-23, 25-23 to national power TAV. They earned their spot in the finals with a gritty gold pool match versus previously qualified Triangle 15 Black that saw Tsunami drop the first set 25-7 only to come roaring back to win the next two sets 25-23 and 16-14. This team has high potential, continues to improve, and could do some serious damage at the GJNC this summer.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="107399" first="Julia" last="Hunt"]</strong> - 6’1 | MH/OH | Holy Cross<br /> We cannot say enough about Hunt’s athleticism and rising stock as potentially one of the biggest impact attackers at a national level. She plays with ease given her quickness and big lift off the floor. Also a basketball standout, she plays well above the net with her arm and in her ability to get up and over to shut down attackers. Hunt is a huge factor on both sides of the ball and should garner a lot of attention in Vegas.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="107423" first="Alivia" last="Skidmore"]</strong> - 5’10 | OH | St. Henry<br /> Another emerging star is Skidmore as she has elevation combined with a terrific arm in the air. Her ability to contact well above the net and with open position to the ball allows her to generate great pace while swinging with good range through the opponent’s court. She comprises the other half of a tandem of high flying attackers that scores a lot of points for this team and is difficult to slow down. </p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="107434" first="Lilly" last="Hamburg"]</strong> - 5’11 | MH | Conner<br /> Hamburg is one of those athletes that understands her role well and just gets her job done. She is highly effective on the defensive side as she continues to improve her balance and patience to react to the opponent’s offense as a blocker. She can slow down attackers well, which allows for more opportunities for this offense to do its thing in transition. She also continues to make progress on the offensive side to add increased balance of arms as needed around the setter. </p>