2022 Middle Blockers at CEVA Regionals

Over the weekend of June 12-13, CEVA held its Regionals tournament where the top 18U, 16U, 14U, and 12U teams from the region competed. For the 18U age bracket, the top five finishers were… #1 NPJ 18 Forefront #2 OJVA 17-1 National #3 OJVA 18-1 National #4 NPJ 17 National #5 Chaos 17 National For the first time this season, I had the opportunity to go watch these teams compete in person. I will be spotlighting the athletes from 2022, 2023, and 2024, who were an impact in their position and made an impression when watching. 2022 MIDDLE BLOCKERS [caption id="attachment_146296" align="alignleft" width="150"]<a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/13951829/Mackenzie-Berger"><img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-146296" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2021/06/AQ7A3071-e1624301201770-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" /></a> Photo: Jennifer Barnes[/caption] [player_tooltip player_id="91215" first="MacKenzie" last="Berger"], 6'3", MB, Gaston High School, Oregon Juniors Volleyball Academy Berger stepped up big time this weekend with one of the middles on OJVA 17-1 National out<img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-146303 alignright" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2021/06/IMG-6741-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" /> with a knee injury. She put away the ball with her explosive approach and fast arm swing. She also puts up an impressive block, taking up a lot of space with her hands. Watching her play it is easy to see her athleticism shine through. She is also the main serving middle and brings a sneaky jump float to the service line. Berger is a three-year varsity starter for Gaston High School, helping them become a powerhouse 2A volleyball program. Berger is currently not committed to a school for the fall of 2022. [caption id="attachment_124994" align="alignleft" width="150"]<a href="https://www.connectvolleyball.com/profile/GracieB10"><img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-124994" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2021/01/gracie-boeder-headshot-150x150.png" alt="" width="150" height="150" /></a> Photo: OSAA[/caption] [player_tooltip player_id="91239" first="Gracie" last="Boeder"], 5'11", MB, West Albany High School, North Pacific Juniors Boeder was a difference-maker in the middle for the NPJ 17-1 National team at Regionals. She is dynamic and moves well on the court. She does an exceptional job turning the ball to right back on the quick and hits the slide with veracity. Blocking, she moves well laterally to get to the pins and close the block. Boeder has been a varsity starter for West Albany High School since her freshman year, helping them earn a first-place finish for the second season in a row in the Mid-Willamette Conference. She was awarded Mid-Willamette Second Team All-League as a sophomore and on the 5A All-Star team by PrepDig. Boeder is currently not committed to a school for the fall of 2022. [player_tooltip player_id="91227" first="Emma" last="Burlingame"], 6'0", MB, Mountainside High School, Athena Volleyball Academy Burlingame is a beast in the middle for the Athena 17-1 National team, racking up kills, blocks, and aces. She has an insanely fast arm swing and a great snap on the ball when attacking. On the service line, she brings the heat with a tough jump float serve. She has an<img class="alignright wp-image-146302 size-thumbnail" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2021/06/IMG-6739-e1624302286182-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" /> infectious positive presence on the court, always hyping up her teammates. Burlingame has been a varsity starter since her freshman year at Mountainside High School. Emma is currently not committed to a school for the fall of 2022. [caption id="attachment_127615" align="alignleft" width="150"]<a href="https://www.connectvolleyball.com/profile/MarleyH12"><img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-127615" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2021/01/marley-h-150x150.png" alt="" width="150" height="150" /></a> Photo: NPJ[/caption] [player_tooltip player_id="91226" first="Marley" last="Hardgrave"], 6'4", MB, Bend High School, North Pacific Juniors, Seattle University Hardgrave is a physical and vocal presence on the court for the NPJ Bend 18-1 National team as their middle blocker. She has a powerful attack with a hammer of an arm. Quite impressive is her blocking, she moves to the pins well and takes up a lot of space with her hands. It is a substantial wall she puts up for the opponents to work around. Hardgrave has been the starting middle blocker for Bend High School since her sophomore year. This past season she was awarded Mountain Valley First Team All-League by PrepDig. Hardgrave recently committed to play Division 1 volleyball at Seattle University for the fall of 2022. [caption id="attachment_108682" align="alignleft" width="150"]<a href="https://www.ncsasports.org/womens-volleyball-recruiting/oregon/lake-oswego/lake-oswego-senior-high-school/morghn-monahan"><img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-108682" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2020/09/Morghn-Monahan-Headshot-e1600037630502-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" /></a> Photo: Cole Petters[/caption] [player_tooltip player_id="91273" first="Morghn" last="Monahan"], 6'3", MB, Lake Oswego High School, Oregon Juniors Volleyball Academy Monahan, due to her birthday, plays for the OJVA 16-1 National team and is a commanding presence in the middle for the team. From watching her compete a year ago to now, she has made substantial improvements to her game but is still the same energetic team player she was. She has a hammer of an arm and when she connects with the ball is unstoppable. Monahan is a three-year varsity starter for Lake Oswego High School. She was awarded Three Rivers Honorable Mention as a sophomore and Three Rivers First Team All-League this past season. She was also named to the 6A Second Team by PrepDig. Monahan is currently not committed to a school for the fall of 2022. [caption id="attachment_146298" align="alignleft" width="150"]<a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/14159691/Ella-Nordquist"><img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-146298" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2021/06/AQ7A3074-e1624301708754-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" /></a> Photo: Jennifer Barnes[/caption] [player_tooltip player_id="116493" first="Ella" last="Nordquist"], 6'0", MB/RS, West Linn High School, Oregon Juniors Volleyball Academy New to the club volleyball scene in Oregon, Nordquist moved here from California in the summer of 2020 and has already begun to make a name for herself as a top attacker in her class. She is versatile and can play, and does alternate, on the right side and middle for the OJVA 17-1 National team. When in the middle, she is quick in transition and makes herself available to her setters consistently. She also puts up an intimidating and athletic block. This was Nordquist's first season with West Linn High School's varsity team. She was primarily a right-side attacker for the team. Nordquist is currently not committed to a school for the fall of 2022. [caption id="attachment_146299" align="alignleft" width="150"]<a href="https://www.ncsasports.org/womens-volleyball-recruiting/oregon/salem/west-salem-high-school2/isabella-snyder2"><img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-146299" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2021/06/isabella-snyder-e1624301898667-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" /></a> Photo: NPJ[/caption] [player_tooltip player_id="91228" first="Isabella" last="Snyder"], 5'11", MB, North Salem High School, North Pacific Juniors Snyder is an explosive middle blocker for the NPJ 18 Forefront, who finished #1 in CEVA. She was one of three non-2021 athletes on the roster. She is incredibly athletic and moves with ease on the court. She is bouncy and jumps really well. She has a fast arm swing and is lethal on the quick. She also puts up a very dominating block and moves well laterally. Snyder has been a varsity starter for North Salem High School playing both middle and outside, most recently. She is a six rotation threat for the Titans. As a freshman she was awarded Mid-Willamette Honorable Mention, and as a sophomore made Mid-Willamette Second Team All-League as an outside hitter. This past season she was awarded 5A All-Star All-State team by PrepDig. Snyder is currently not committed to a school for the fall of 2022.