USAV GNJC 17s Open, National, & USA: MO and KS
The teams have been chomping at their bits to get their national tournament started and the day is finally here. We will kick our preview off with the teams ready to embark on a journey in the open, national, and…
Access all of Prep Dig
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingThe teams have been chomping at their bits to get their national tournament started and the day is finally here. We will kick our preview off with the teams ready to embark on a journey in the open, national, and USA divisions. The open is loaded with four premier teams we follow earning bids at the national qualifiers. Let’s dive in.
Open
Teams we know and expected we will find in the open division starting today in Mavs KC 17-1, Dynasty 17 Black, Power ‘] 17-1, and Rockwood Thunder 17 Elite. These teams all have the pieces to be playing on the final day in the championship rounds.
Dynasty is situated in pool 1 with the top overall seed. When clicking they are a dangerous team. Ball control will be crucial as they look to feed quality passed to Ashley Mullen Ashley Mullen 5'10" | S Liberty | 2023 State #9 Nation MO who likes to connect with Calissa Minatee Calissa Minatee 6'0" | MB North Kansas City | 2023 State #25 Nation MO . Mavs, who earned one of the earliest bids of the year can be found in the second pool as the 3rd seeded team. A 40-win season gives them the confidence to make noise on the first two days. Lily Dudley Lily Dudley 5'10" | OH Rock Bridge | 2023 State #192 Nation MO and Elizabeth Goodenow are difference makers on both pins.
In pool 4 look for Rockwood Thunder to outplay their seed and jump up a few slots after the first couple of days. After earning their bid at Show Me in April, they look to keep the winning ways moving entering July. Madison Smith Madison Smith 5'7" | DS/L St. Joseph’s Academy | 2023 State MO will anchor the back-row defense. Power ‘] 17-1 and their dynamic setter Ella Swindle Ella Swindle 6'2" | S Rock Bridge | 2023 State #6 Nation MO will battle it out in pool 5. When they are on they are a tough out with their height along the front row in Ava TeStrake Ava TeStrake 6'4" | OH Olathe Northwest | 2023 State #65 Nation KS and Sawyer Thomsen Sawyer Thomsen 6'2" | MB Free State | 2023 State #145 Nation KS .
National
Three really good teams who could have been competitive in the open will try to win a championship in the national in PVA 17 Elite, Topeka Impact 17-1, and HPSTL 17 Royal. Joining them will be a strong Rockwood Thunder 17 Navy team. The highest of these seeds with to 10th seed PVA 17 Elite. 43 wins on the year and a tough HOA Power league helped prepare them for a tough tournament. Jaya Johnson Jaya Johnson 6'2" | MB Olathe South | 2023 State #116 Nation KS is a dynamic player committed to playing at the next level. Topeka is led by the top 2023 player in the state of Kansas in Brooklyn DeLeye Brooklyn DeLeye 6'2" | OH Washburn Rural | 2023 State #30 Nation KS . The pin can fill it up at any moment and will get support from Taylor Russell Taylor Russell 6'0" | OH Washburn Rural | 2023 State KS at the net.
The St. Louis teams will be in the first two pools with Rockwood in one and HPSTL in two. 17 Navy has emerged as one of the better “two” teams in the country in this age group and will surely surprise some teams with their level of play. HPSTL has the 17th overall seed and will look to position themselves for a good third day. Elise Paul Elise Paul 6'0" | MB Lutheran South | 2023 State MO and Brianna Wortman Brianna Wortman 5'10" | OH Francis Howell | 2023 State MO are mainstays on this roster and will lead a talented team.
USA
Mavs 816 17-1 went to Show Me and grabbed their bid in April. Their strong season earned them the 8th overall seed in the tournament. Ashlyn Bellamy Ashlyn Bellamy 6'1" | OH Lee's Summit | 2023 State MO and Shaye Koski Shaye Koski 5'10" | OH Park Hill | 2023 State MO are a good pin combo capable of going on scoring runs. Mavs KC 17-2 earned a kickback bid from Northern Lights. Regardless, they are a team with a roster able to make some noise in the tournament.