Bluegrass Preview: 18U Power Pools

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With only a handful of weekends left before the 18U USA GJNC event, Bluegrass will feature some of the best teams and athletes. Here are some of those among the two 18U power pools.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Power Pool 1</em></strong><br>Munciana 18 Samurai opens the event as the top overall seed. They are loaded with talent at all positions and have a deep roster. Outside hitter <strong>Lauren Evans </strong>is committed to Michigan and has a cannon of an arm to support her ball control skills as a true six-rotation pin. <strong>Breonna Goss</strong> (Duke) is a physical and athletic middle that has quickness and makes a big impact on both sides of the ball. DS/L <strong>Lola Schumacher</strong> is committed to Wisconsin and is dynamite defensively. Be sure to get a look at this squad.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Representing the Cincy area is [program_tooltip program_id='430852' first='Tri-State' last='Elite'] 18 Blue and a large roster of some of the top 2023 prospects from the tri-state area. The ball control and defensive areas are well in tact for this team as they have a corps of highly capable prospects including a pair headed off to Louisville in <strong>Kamden Schrand</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='141711' first='Jessica' last='Drapp']</strong>. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='114525' first='Courtney' last='Fitzgerald'] </strong>will go to Morehead State as <strong>Kate Oates </strong>will take her talents to Hope College. On the left pin is <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='114519' first='Ally' last='Cordes'] </strong>(Samford), a prolific scorer during her high school career.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Union 18-1 UA is also in this pool and features the setting and court leadership of <strong>Grace Purichia</strong> (Jacksonville State). She is athletic and deceptive and a big reason for this team's success. <strong>Meredith Brown</strong> (North Alabama) will be one of the tallest in the field at 6'4 and she has continued to assert her arm in their offense this club season in the middle. On the pins is <strong>Maddie Hagan</strong> (Bellarmine) has a big arm and should see a fair amount of opportunities to swing. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The fourth team in this pool is Sports Performance 18 Elite and they will certainly bring size and great fundamentals to Louisville.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Power Pool 2</em></strong><br>Circle City 18 Purple is the top seed in this pool and although they lost a significant element from their team a year ago due to early departure to college, this squad is still formidable. At 6'1, <strong>Avery Hobson</strong> (Duquesne) is producing a lot of offense with her athleticism and power. On the right side is <strong>Quinci Thomas</strong> (Xavier) and her [program_tooltip program_id='431827' first='[program_tooltip program_id='431827' first='Elevation' last='']' last=''] as a member of the 10'0 club. Setter <strong>Macy</strong> <strong>Hinshaw </strong>(Santa Clara) is playing up a year but has great court presence, composure and savvy. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>KIVA 18 Red has some of the top recruits in the country on this team, including Prep Dig Kentucky's top prospect in 6'5 <strong>Nya Bunton</strong>. She will be heading off to recent NCAA DI national champion Texas. The state's player of the year at the end of the high school season, Bunton can play well above the net. Fellow middle <strong>Gabby Dean</strong> (Illinois) will be heading off to the Big10. She has great length at 6'4 and can get the ball onto the defense in a hurry offensively with her arm. <strong>Olivia Fish</strong> (Wake Forest) can bring offense at both pins and gets good opportunities given the heavy offensive presence this team can develop.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[program_tooltip program_id='431827' first='[program_tooltip program_id='431827' first='Elevation' last='']' last=''] 18 is also in this pool. Middle <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='114516' first='Brooke' last='Bultema']</strong> (Kentucky) is the premier prospect from this squad and has the tools to battle the best middles at this event on both sides of the ball. It will be fun to see the experience and skill of these top teams' setters including [program_tooltip program_id='431827' first='[program_tooltip program_id='431827' first='Elevation' last='']' last='']'s <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='141725' first='Lindsey' last='Green']</strong> (Ball State) given the complete skills she and her counterparts bring to the floor in their distribution, tempo, and competitiveness. On the defensive side is <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='197515' first='Sydney' last='Breissinger']</strong>, a Creighton commit. She is a key factor for this group to help get them in system so their middles can get quality opportunities and the tempo for their pin action is sustained.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The final team in this pool is Far Out 18 Black.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->