#PDTheOpen All-Tournament Team
Here we go. In the wake of all the excellent volleyball we saw throughout the weekend, we’re starting out post-event coverage with an all-tournament team. The depth of talent we saw at The Open will not make this an easy…
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Continue ReadingHere we go. In the wake of all the excellent volleyball we saw throughout the weekend, we’re starting out post-event coverage with an all-tournament team. The depth of talent we saw at The Open will not make this an easy task.
I feel confident in getting a good variety of 17s, 16s, and 15s on this feature, though. Rather than limiting the all-tournament team to a simple starting lineup, we’re expanding our reach by building a full-fledged roster. If this were a college team, we might have a few more than the 12 scholarships allowed by the NCAA. Oh well. I’m still going for it.
So, here’s my take on the all-tournament team from #PDTheOpen.
OH: Harper Murray, Legacy 17-1 Adidas
Murray is perhaps the MVP of the entire event. The Nebraska commit continues to show why she’s one of the top overall players in the 2023 class, and she helped lead Legacy to another tournament championship despite 17-1 Adidas having an atypical lineup throughout the weekend.
Flying high in the early points of Championship Sunday here at #PDTheOpen.
That Harper Murray 2-ball from @LegacyLvc 17-1 Adidas is always tough to stop. #Huskers pic.twitter.com/7TmcYymrcm
— Austin Kingsley (@KingsleyATK) May 1, 2022
OH: Ava Gummer, Mintonette m.61
I’ve seen a lot from this Mintonette team through its gauntlet of April qualifiers, and Gummer has consistently improved with more experience. She’s the kind of outside hitter who doesn’t mind taking a large volume of tough swings, and she will still find a way to terminate under almost any circumstances.
OH: Finley Sparks, A2 15 Green
This is probably the basis for an upcoming feature, but, as a Nebraska-based outsider, I was excited to scout so many Ohio Valley clubs and teams that I had not seen before. Sparks embodies the great potential that many of A2’s squads have, as she presents a high-flying style that matched up incredibly well with other 15s competitors. This outside hitter is clearly poised for countless more standout performances in her prep career.
OH: Ava Jurevicius, AVC CLE Rox 15 Red
Indeed, there’s another Jurvevicius coming through the AVC pipeline. This latest Jurevicius iteration boasts some impressive six-rotation abilities that are very well-developed for the 15s age group. She also brings the fire and intensity that you’d want to see from an on-court leader.
OH: Layne Graffice, NOVA Juniors 16s Navy
Graffice is the lightning rod that sparked a 16 Club title for NOVA at the I-X Center. If you’re a fan of twitchy athletes with quick arms, this was the outside hitter to watch at The Open. Aside from her skills on the left pin, Graffice also had the energy and swagger that NOVA could feed off of en route to the championship.
Layne Graffice is having herself quite an afternoon for NOVA Juniors 16s Navy! #PDTheOpen pic.twitter.com/rwNpuL2pzb
— Austin Kingsley (@KingsleyATK) April 30, 2022
RS: Sydney Wake, AVC CLE Rox 17 Red
Here’s 17 Red’s do-it-all opposite. Wake made a very quick impression in pool play with her range on the right pin. You also have to consider that Wake can also hit on the left or even set if the situation requires it.
@avcvolleyball 17 Red wins a three-set battle on Court 4! So much great volleyball in the 17s group.
Sydney Wake puts away match point on the right. #PDTheOpen pic.twitter.com/sZuh8x3uuD
— Austin Kingsley (@KingsleyATK) April 30, 2022
RS: Olivia Wyma, MKE Sting 16 Gold
Of all the standouts that 16 Gold has in its frontcourt, Wyma is the player that seemed to take the biggest step forward at the I-X Center. She shouldered a crucial role as a go-to attacker on the right pin and was frequently an anchor to that massive Sting block. You can add a 16 Open title to Wyma’s ever-growing list of accomplishments with this outstanding squad.
S: Campbell Flynn, Legacy 15-1 Adidas
Length, finesse, and foot speed are just a few of the traits that Flynn has going for her at the setter spot. After seeing her at Triple Crown NIT and now on the Prep Dig Circuit, Flynn is clearly emerging as one of the country’s best setters in the Class of 2025. Her development is only just getting started, too, which is a scary thought for any team facing off against our 15 Open champs.
A quick look at what Campbell Flynn brings to the setter spot for @LegacyLvc 15-1.
Outstanding rhythm on her jump sets, and she can feed the middles from just about anywhere. #PDTheOpen pic.twitter.com/tRyd4UM3fK
— Austin Kingsley (@KingsleyATK) April 30, 2022
S: Zoe Behrendt, MKE Sting 17 Gold
This future North Carolina Tarheel has separated herself as one of the most athletic setters in the 2023 class. Behrendt’s extensive experience playing as an opposite helps in that regard, too, as she can bring a whip of an arm to the right pin whenever needed.
A three-set win pushes @stingvb1988 17 Gold to the next round!
Zoe Behrendt closes it out with the block. #PDTheOpen pic.twitter.com/CXfc5BO9G7
— Austin Kingsley (@KingsleyATK) May 1, 2022
S: Hannah Pattie, Maverick 16 Elite
There is something so thrilling about watching a dynamic, gunslinging setter take over a match. Pattie does this time after time. She jump sets everything, has spectacular rhythm, and is a perfect fit for the fast offense that Maverick 16 Elite likes to run. The ball just zips out of Pattie’s hands, and she will continue to be a surefire standout for a Maverick team that’s on the rise.
Such an awesome first look at this weekend.
This duo of Hannah Pattie at setter and Ava Kanj in the middle is rolling! #PDTheOpen pic.twitter.com/bG5wDKjKmd
— Austin Kingsley (@KingsleyATK) April 30, 2022
MB: Mallory Bohl, Legacy 16-1 Adidas
Middle blockers who can consistently terminate off of one foot always deserve a little extra credit. Bohl is a reliable slide hitter for 16-1 Adidas who can also just hammer away in front of the setter. And, in those clutch moments, Bohl always seems to put herself in the right spot to make a huge stuff block.
MB: Myla Glaser, MKE Sting 17 Black
Glaser is one of the many hard-hitting frontcourt players that lifted MKE Sting to a 17 Club championship in Cleveland. She gets off the floor quickly and packs a heavy arm that proved difficult for opposing teams to stop.
MB: Eloise Brandewie, Mintonette m.71
Like Murray from Legacy, Brandewie brings a wealth of Team USA experience to the Mintonette gym and uses that to her advantage in club competitions. This talented middle blocker will bring her rare combination of physicality and quickness to Ohio State in the fall of 2023.
L: Claire Luoma, MKE Sting 16 Gold
16 Gold doesn’t just have one of the grooviest libero jerseys in the club scene (see photo). The team also just has an outstanding leader at the libero position. Luoma regularly makes the big crosscourt digs that keep her team in rallies, and that was a big factor in 16 Gold’s championship run in Cleveland.
L: Keira Steininger, Mintonette m.51
Steininger was identified as a player to watch in our event previews, and she certainly delivered on that promise once the teams actually took the court. She does all the little things you hope to see from a libero, including putting up some very hittable balls when taking the second contact.