Shut Down Blockers at MEQs: 15 Open
Bid hunting season is upon us!! Some of the biggest names from across the country were balling out at the Indiana Convention Center in the hopes of snagging a ticket to the 2022 national tournament. These players did not disappoint!…
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Continue ReadingBid hunting season is upon us!! Some of the biggest names from across the country were balling out at the Indiana Convention Center in the hopes of snagging a ticket to the 2022 national tournament. These players did not disappoint!
Shutting down the biggest of hitters and creating issues all weekend for other teams, the 15 Open had some of the most exciting names in the middle. Dynasty 15 Black came out victorious at the Mid-East Qualifiers, but not without a fight from these blockers. They’re big, they jump high and they’re some of the best blockers at MEQs.
Here are 7 Shut Down Blockers in the 15 Open at MEQs.
Olivia Grenadier (2025) | 6’1 MB | Legacy
With the hops to jump out of the gym, Olivia Grenadier was feeling extra springy this weekend as her and her Legacy team were on the hunt for an open bid. Grenadier had to have been one of the most efficient attackers in the middle and in large part due to not only how high she jumps, but how quick she can reach such altitude.
Olivia Grenadier – floats like a 🦋, STINGS like a 🐝 !!!! @oliviagrenadier #MEQs pic.twitter.com/FET2wwChOH
— Line Shot Volleyball (@LineShotVBall) March 25, 2022
Linden Radaszewski (2025) | 5’11 MB | Elevation
A little undersized in the middle, Linden Radaszewski has the speed to make up for it. Radaszewski has the hops it takes to elevate, but she has the speed to make a quick statement. She was impressive on her offense, throwing her opposing blockers off with a deceptive and hard cross body shot.
Ellen Zapp (2025) | 6’0 MB | Circle City
It was behind the power of Circle City’s dynamic duo in the middle that elevated the squad to a third place finish. Ellen Zapp was having a lot of success all weekend long. Zapp doesn’t only jump well, but she sees the court well. She found a lot of scoring opportunities through the weekend with her impressive shot selection.
Reese Dunkle (2025) | 6’2 MB | Circle City
As previewed, Reese Dunkle came to play and she exceeded expectations. No matter where, you’ll be able to find Dunkle. Always available in transition, she ensures herself as a constant threat for opponents. Getting it done in front of the setter, it was her slide play that got the eyes popping.
Sydney Bryant (2025) | 6’3 MB | Houston Juniors
Another squad with a HUGE duo in the middle is Houston Juniors. Sydney Bryant can play anywhere along the net but caught my eye with her time in the middle. She’s lengthy and can reach into the clouds when she jumps, terminating almost automatically. Bryant can also move very well laterally, creating an imposing block often.
Not much space to hit through with Sydney Bryant and Kirra Musgrove on the pin 🙌🏽 🙌🏽 @houstonjuniors #MEQs pic.twitter.com/PzyR76S4G1
— Line Shot Volleyball (@LineShotVBall) March 26, 2022
Jordan Taylor (2025) | 6’5 MB | Houston Juniors
Out goes Bryant and in comes Jordan Taylor, towering even higher than her partner in the middle. On pure size alone, Taylor is pretty damning to see across the net. Her movement is a work in progress, but when she was on, she was unstoppable. As Taylor develops further, it’s pretty scary to imagine what she could be capable of.
Tara Greenberry (2025) | 6’2 MB | High Performance
Walking court to court, I so happened to catch Tara Greenberry rip a 31 set and chose to watch further. A player and team not on my radar, Greenberry caught my eye and was a huge bright spot for High Performance. She has big hops, is quick off the ground and can run a variety of plays along the net. Her bread and butter is the exact play that caught my eye, quite unstoppable.