GJNC Scouting Report: 16 Open’s Standout Pin Hitters

<p>You can never really run out of standout pin hitters to cover at a big event like USAV Nationals. We’ll find out that this is especially true in 16 Open.</p> <p>Yesterday, our GJNC scouting reports began with a look at a few middle blockers who stood out in 2022’s final outing in Indianapolis. Our focus now turns to the pins, where several more athletes showed off their best stuff in the season finale.</p> <p>Keep tabs on these pin hitters as we transition to the fall and make a (way too early) assessment of next year’s club season.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="142201" first="Jadyn" last="Livings"] - 6’1 OH - TAV 16 Black</strong></p> <p>Livings’ dominance at GJNC was impossible to ignore. She was one of 16 Open’s most efficient attackers at the event and impressed us even more by scoring in a variety of ways. Not many left-side hitters could crush a two-ball as Livings did, and she clearly has the traits needed to thrive at the next level.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> [caption id="attachment_207848" align="alignright" width="400"]<img class="wp-image-207848" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2022/07/IMG_9504-crop-3726x2447-1657426330-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="400" height="263" /> Mooney (12) assists on the block for AJV.[/caption] <p><strong>Mora Mooney - 5’11 OH - AJV 16 Adidas</strong></p> <p>AJV has firmly cemented its standing as a Texas club to watch, and players like Mooney are a key reason for that. Mooney is one of several players on the 16 Adidas roster whose six-rotation prowess stood out in Indy. Prep Dig’s Texas site ought to have a great time sorting out all the 16 Open happenings from GJNC’s Lone Star participants.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Gracie Rose - 6’2 OH - A5 Mizuno 16-Gabe</strong></p> <p>A5 seemingly has an infinite number of frontcourt hitters who can take over a match at any time, and Rose did that on several occasions at GJNC. She is particularly adept at hammering seams between the block and not giving back-row defenders an opportunity to make a play. A runner-up finish in Indy suggests that Rose and 16-Gabe will not slow down anytime soon.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Grace Mar Lopez - 5’11 RS - Capitanas 16-1</strong></p> <p>Mark this down as my first-ever feature on a player from Puerto Rico. That’s one way to cover every corner of the map. Capitanas made a lot of headlines with its top-five finish at Windy City during this year’s qualifier season. Now, the Puerto Rican team impressed once again with Lopez leading the way at opposite. Six-rotation right-side hitters are quite a commodity at the club level, but Lopez’s persistent on-court impact makes her inclusion in the backcourt an easy decision.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> [caption id="attachment_207843" align="alignright" width="400"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2022/07/IMG_9449-crop-3671x2411-1657425937.jpg"><img class="wp-image-207843" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2022/07/IMG_9449-crop-3671x2411-1657425937-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="400" height="263" /></a> Gubbins (12) puts up the block for Mizuno Long Beach.[/caption] <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="159534" first="Babi" last="Gubbins"] - 6’3 OH - Mizuno Long Beach Rockstar 16 T</strong></p> <p>Gubbins made an appearance in the first release of our national 2024 rankings, and she has backed up that distinction ever since. Her power on the left pin is nearly unmatched in this age group, and Gubbins also brings the kind of backcourt savvy that you’d expect from a SoCal volleyball athlete.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Jaidyn Jager - 6’1 OH - COAST 16-1</strong></p> <p>I previously featured Jager in one of our “playing up” features, and this 2025 outside hitter has not slowed down since then. In addition to her terminal arm on the outside, Jager was also one of the most formidable left-side blockers in 16 Open at GJNC. Not bad for a player climbing the age group ladder.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Clutch from <a href="https://x.com/CoastVBC?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CoastVBC</a>!<br /> <br /> Jaidyn Jager puts up a huge block to give COAST 16-1 a three-set win over TAV. <a href="https://x.com/hashtag/GJNC?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GJNC</a> <a href="https://t.co/UCaaGSNhS0">pic.x.com/UCaaGSNhS0</a></p> — Austin Kingsley (@KingsleyATK) <a href="https://x.com/KingsleyATK/status/1543584844743168001?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 3, 2022</a></blockquote> <p><script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Michaela Clayton - 5’10 OH/RS - OT 16 T Jason</strong></p> <p>OT 16 T Jason’s strong 2022 season was defined by players like Clayton stepping up in big moments. I saw Clayton really hit her stride in Round 2 of GJNC when she lifted her squad to a breakthrough victory over Metro. This pin hitter is versatile enough to hit from anywhere and has the kind of showstopping athleticism that you can’t miss.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Kiarrah Horne - 6’1 OH - Triangle 16 Black</strong></p> <p>Horne keeps raising her stock with every appearance Triangle makes at these important events. 16 Black leaned on Horne to terminate on some tough swings in Indy, and this North Carolina product has a knack for making the most out of every set she gets.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="153929" first="Maya" last="Witherspoon"] - 5’11 OH/MB - Rockwood Thunder 16 Elite</strong></p> <p>If anything, this is a chance to elaborate on Witherspoon’s ever-evolving role with Rockwood Thunder. The last time I featured this Class of 2025 athlete, I talked about the contributions that Witherspoon can make a middle blocker. Since then, Witherspoon has taken on a steady six-rotation outside hitter role and has been dominant on the left pin for her team. Clearly, this multi-talented player will find any way possible to elevate her squad.</p>