AAU MLK Franklin Grand Prix 16s Stars
I attended the AAU MLK Franklin Grand Prix tournament in Franklin, TN, and I specifically paid attention to Court 3 which was the 16s division. There was a lot of talent in the division as a whole, but I especially…
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Continue ReadingI attended the AAU MLK Franklin Grand Prix tournament in Franklin, TN, and I specifically paid attention to Court 3 which was the 16s division. There was a lot of talent in the division as a whole, but I especially loved what I saw from this court because of the heart, energy, and athleticism. Here are four studs from each team in the pool that stood out!
Julia Hynes (Alliance 16-1 Ren)– This 5’9 pin hitter could hit from the left or right side and effectively with power which is why she made the list. Julia Hynes starts for Alliance as an outside attacker or opposite and becomes an integral part to Alliance’s success. Many 16 year olds, as you know, make many unforced errors, but what I loved about Julia is how she took care of the ball. You could tell that her presence helped the team overall, and the setters could rely on her to make the game winning point or simply keep the ball in play. Plus, she has a fast arm and hits every spot on the court. Hynes has a bright future ahead!
Jordyn Johnson (MIDTN 16 Blue)– A fiery middle hitter from MIDTN, Jordyn Johnson came into the game every time with passion and intensity. When she connects with the setter, her one balls and 31s in the middle are almost unstoppable. Jordyn wants to swing, and trust me, she wants to swing hard. Tooling the block was her forte today, and when she had a one on one, Jordyn made sure to get a kill. Johnson made a statement to her team when she was attacking, and that’s the type of middle hitter you want.
Alexandria Berry (XSV 16 Navy)– Arguably one of the best attackers on the court, Alexandria Berry was a force to be reckoned with. As a six rotation outside hitter, Berry impacted the team from every angle and was clearly the person to set. Whether she was in the back row or the front row, Berry swung at a high level with lots of top spin and made a living off tooling the block or swinging hard. Berry also played great defensively and severely helped the team from the service line. I think her effectiveness serving wise was the best I’ve seen in awhile because she took it so seriously and accurately pinpointed the ball where she wanted. Berry was for sure one of my favorites to watch today!
Alexis Conti (MOVA UA 16 Black)– Adding a defensive specialist to the list, Alexis Conti, flew around in the back court all day long. Conti might be considered “tiny” at first, but once you see her play, you immediately notice how she makes a big difference. I loved watching her push for balls because she made it so effortless. Her defensive pursuit was definitely one of the best in the gym, and she touched a lot of balls out of her range. Conti will only improve over the years as she grows her passing game!