Defensive Stalwarts at MEQs: 17 Open
The biggest names of the club scene across the country came head to head in one of the hottest tournaments of the year. The Mid-East Qualifiers saw the heaviest of heavy weights walk into the ring of the convention center…
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Continue ReadingThe biggest names of the club scene across the country came head to head in one of the hottest tournaments of the year. The Mid-East Qualifiers saw the heaviest of heavy weights walk into the ring of the convention center with one goal in mind. A bid to Junior Nationals in July.
Monster blocks, mega rallies, and bombs aplenty, they were all you could want here in Indianapolis. Texas Advantage Volleyball club took the ultimate crown at MEQs and walked away totally unscathed somehow, with a 10-0 record. But you had to get through some pretty stubborn defenders to score a point, let alone win a match.
Here were some of the best defenders in the 17 Open at the Mid-East Qualifiers.
Kate Thibault (2023) | 5’4 L | MN Select
She’s scrappy and nothing is off limits in this defender’s eyes. Kate Thibault put on a great showcase of her skills this weekend in Indianapolis. She’s a spitfire that can cover a lot of ground and take control of a match. Her defense is impressive, but I loved Thibault’s leadership. She’s vocal and can drive a team to great heights.
Laney Choboy (2023) | 5’3 L | NC Academy
All you need to hear is the name Laney Choboy and you already know what’s coming. She’s one of the biggest names in this 2023 class and for good reason. Her scrappy, relentless pursuit on any ball is a show I could rewatch over and over. Choboy plays with a “never say die” attitude and its the attitude anybody would want in a defender.
@NCAcademyVB and @circlecityvbc were battling in the gold medal pools!!!
Ava Smith was on her game though putting this rally away!!! #MEQs #BidDay pic.twitter.com/9a2uKdzpKM
— Line Shot Volleyball (@LineShotVBall) March 27, 2022
Kea Willock (2023) | 5’8 L | Drive Nation
Drive Nation is pretty stacked with some elite attackers, shut down blockers, but they got some stubborn back court defenders too! Kea Willock is the director of defense for Drive Nation and she does well in this role. If you manage to get a ball through this huge block, you still got Willock to worry about.
Allison Berent (2023) | 5’7 L | L2
A brand new club on the scene and able to snag a player like this deserves some praise. Allison Berent‘s star was shining bright all weekend for L2. Berent commands the court and seems to thrive off the hardest of blows her way. Send a missile her way, it only fires her up more. Good luck getting any ball down on her side of the court.
Special shout-out to @allisonberent for poppin’ up this Leah Ford 💣!!!!
@DriveNation_Dfw ends the rally with a stuff block 💪🏽! #MEQs pic.twitter.com/VQuVJHF1fR— Line Shot Volleyball (@LineShotVBall) March 25, 2022
Paige Miller (2023) | 5’10 L | FC Elite
She’s Big Ten bound and her play tells the whole story why. Paige Miller takes up a lot of court space for FC Elite and performs well in this position. Miller is a workhorse and will sacrifice her body to better a ball. Beyond her defense, the future Buckeye was solid in reception too!
Zoe Winford (2023) | 5’8 L | TAV
Zoe Winford is name to put on your radar, because the way she performed at MEQs, the skies the limit. Really, to go 10-0 in such a stacked field is a team effort, but Winford was in flow every single point. In TAV’s match against Circle City for the championship is where Winford shined brightest. She delivers on the biggest of stages.