Six Teams To Watch At SLC Showdown 16 Open
New event, big expectations. Salt Lake City is hosting a new USA National Qualifier with the “Salt Lake City Showdown” bringing some of the top clubs across the entire country into SLC. The 16s will be loaded with teams ranging from California to Florida, some of the top players out of the Class of 2024 and beyond. Play will start Friday morning. Here is a quick look at six teams and some of their top players who will be competing in 16 Open this weekend.
Arizona Storm 16 Thunder
Storm is always one of the top clubs on the West Coast and this 16s team is no different. They had an elite eight finish at Triple crown and know how to compete against the best in the country. Setter Myah Sharfner is really dynamic and can make a lot of plays happen. Outside hitter Mikayla Shepston is a pure point scorer and knows how to score based on what’s on the other side of the net. They are the top seed heading into this tournament and will be looking to snag an early open bid.
Rev 16-1 Fury
Rev is out of the Indianapolis area and will bring a high powered offense and one of the top outside hitters in the Class of 2024. Lauren Harden is 6’3, long, and strong for this squad and is one of the top players in her class out of Indiana. She is a threat in the front and backrow. Being in the heart of Big Ten country, she is on the radar of plenty of coaches in the Midwest and will now be seen by plenty on the West Coast. Kamryn Utley is a scrappy setter for this team where she can always get her hands to the ball. Another athlete to have on the radar who can play on the left or ride side is Madison Evett. At 6’2 and touching nearly 10 feet she has the vision and athleticism to do a lot of special things and it’s her offensive attack and block that can be an X-factor.
Mizuno Long Beach 16 Rockstar T
This is an exciting team to watch as they play with the California swag with plenty of athletes who can do a little bit of everything. Setter/right side combo Charlie Fuerbringer definitely gets her side of the net rolling where she is extremely dynamic. A total all around player who can dish with every tempo to any attacker, extremely smooth. She is their Swiss Army knife. Babi Gubbins is a physical pin on the outside with plenty of strength and can also handle taking a bulk of serve receive. Out of the middle is is Jade Dudley-Epps who is flat out electric. She is a fast twitch scorer who can find plenty of ways to put the ball away.
Rockwood Thunder 16 Elite
This team can do some damage in multiple ways. Their front line attackers can score from anywhere in the front row and many of their players can step back in serve receive giving them plenty of options. Rockwood finished second at Central Zone in late January and will be in the hunt among the 16s this season. This St. Louis area squad has one of the top 2025s in the Midwest with Maya Witherspoon who is extremely physical from pin or out of the middle. Jordan Smith is also a major presence for Rockwood at 6’3, long, and athletic. She is a matchup nightmare where she can attack from both pins and set up her block on the left or right side. Rockwood is also very solid with ball control with Libero Olivia Hasbrook and backrow setter Alyssa Nelson who controls the tempo of this high powered offense and defends very well.
Madfrog 16 N Green
Madfrog is coming out of Texas and bringing a very physical and athletic lineup. Playing in Texas is no joke with plenty of power, especially from the Dallas/Ft. Worth area. This squad dropped some close matches to top teams at Triple Crown, but will be back with a vengeance heading into Salt Lake. Teams playing Madfrog will get a healthy dose from their outsides in Brianna Watson and Avery Jackson. Jackson is the top ranked player by Prep Dig out od the Class of 2024 from Texas while Brianna Watson is ranked 8th. They approach with authority and have a violent arm swing. With these two on the court there is always a chance for a heavy swing, even when out of system.
CoJrs 16 Sherri
There won’t be many teams who will outsize this Colorado Juniors team where they have a full cupboard of athletes six feet or taller. Avah Armour is a 6’4 pin who can pass, serve receive and get up to score. She is a 2023 and is committed to UCF. There were plenty of big time college coaches on their court at Triple Crown. Two more pins to watch are Paityn Chapman and Addie Kanouff who are at 6’3 and 6’5, touching over ten feet. Chapman can play on both pins while Kanouff can swing out of the middle or the pins as well. Mara Reilly is a 6’5 middle who adds to the physicality of the lineup. With all the frontline power, CoJrs needs someone to run the show which would be Izzy Starck, extremely athletic and dynamic. She receives the ball high and can find the open matchup for her attackers. She’s touching 10’3 and provides a big block as well. An all around player, Starck can set or swing, making her the ultimate weapon for her team.