Shockwave 16 competes well in Orlando
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It took us a minute but we didn’t forget! Shockwave 16 Sean traveled to Orlando and competed in the AAU Girls National Championships in the open division. We did touch in after day 1 in which they went 2-1, losing…
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Continue ReadingIt took us a minute but we didn’t forget! Shockwave 16 Sean traveled to Orlando and competed in the AAU Girls National Championships in the open division. We did touch in after day 1 in which they went 2-1, losing to A5 Mizuno 161 Gabe. The 16 points they scored in set 1 were the most given up by A5 on the opening day. The second-place pool finish pushed them through to the next pool featuring teams still in contention for the title.
Day 2 started off with a tough back and forth match with City 16 Gold, who would end up winning the pool going undefeated. The 15-13 third set win by City would have Shockwave start the day with a defeat and put them in what typically looks like a must-win-out situation. That wouldn’t be the case due to three teams finishing 1-2. 16 Sean would take down AVC 16 Red in two, which would prove to be crucial before dropping another tough three-set match to Academy 16 Diamond. Going three sets a couple of times and getting the sweep of AVC gave them a 50% set win percentage and awarded them a second-place finish to advance to the gold bracket. Jillian Gregory Jillian Gregory 6'0" | OH Maize South | 2025 State #66 Nation KS , Hope Duncan Hope Duncan 5'8" | DS/L Smoky Valley | 2024 State KS , and Sydney Lamb were strong through the first two days. Camdyn Stucky Camdyn Stucky 6'1" | S Maize South | 2024 State #97 Nation KS , Gracie Morrow Gracie Morrow 5'11" | OH Maize South | 2024 State KS , Avery Elofsson, and Cecilia Young also had moments where they contributed on day 3.
The final day saw Shockwave in another intense three-set match in the gold bracket against Mizuno Northern Lights 16-1. Like the previous matches, they dropped the first set 26-24 before taking the second going away, -16. The third set saw big plays on both sides of the net as the pins went to work behind a strong defensive effort from the back row led by libero Grace Hett Grace Hett 5'5" | DS/L Marion | 2024 State KS . The Wichita area team was able to seal the deal, getting the third 15-10.
This offered the opportunity for a redemption match against the same A5 team that defeated them on the first day. In one of their toughest sets of the week, A5 etched out a 30-28 first set win before taking home the second -17. A5 would go on to claim the national title and give Shockwave two of their five defeats on the way to a 5th place finish.