Club Team Spotlight: Athena 18-2 Black
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The Athena 18-2 Black team is playing steadily this season in the Open division, where they are currently ranked 12th out of 28 teams. The team’s strong play among 18s teams earned them a spot in the recent CEVA GJNC…
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Continue ReadingThe Athena 18-2 Black team is playing steadily this season in the Open division, where they are currently ranked 12th out of 28 teams. The team’s strong play among 18s teams earned them a spot in the recent CEVA GJNC Bid Tournament, and although they did not get a bid, the fact that they were one of only 8 teams in the tournament is indicative of the 18-2’s talent. The 18-2 Black team is coached by Chris Hynes, who is the Multnomah University head coach and the former Pomona/Pitzer assistant coach. Chris is assisted by Hannah Tregoning, who has coached at Athena for a few seasons.
Jasmine Broberg
Jasmine Broberg
Broberg, who previously played for OJVA and made the recent move over to Athena, is a powerhouse from the pins. Broberg has a super quick arm swing, which she pairs with an explosive approach and an impressive vertical to put the ball away. From the baseline, Broberg has a tough float serve that proves hard for opponents to pass. And defensively, Broberg is fast, making it hard for opponents to sneak balls past her.
Davies is currently ranked #1 in her position for the class of 2024, and it’s no surprise why. Davies is powerful and fast, two attributes that she uses successfully from both the outside and right side. She is also a strong defensive player and makes plays on serve receive and defense that are impressive. At the net, Davies is a steady blocker, making her an all-around solid athlete.
Standing at 6’2”, Engel is quite the weapon as one of the two main middle hitters for this team. Engel puts up a massive block that really challenges the offense of other teams. She is also quick to get up and hit overpasses, and she reads the court well to make smart plays and switch up her own offense.
Emma Frye
Emma Frye
COMMITTED: Schreiner University
Like Engel, Frye is also solid from the middle. Frye is tactful offensively and has excellent court vision, which she uses to make various shots to either put the ball away or place it away from opponents. She also has a tough jump float serve, making Frye a weapon from the baseline. Frye has recently committed to Schreiner University in Texas.
Emily Jwayad
Emily Jwayad
Stepping in for the libero position, Jwayad is doing a great job anchoring her team’s back row. While libero Tiana Takayama Tiana Takayama 5’0″ | DS/L Jesuit | 2024 State OR is out recovering from a concussion, Jwayad’s role in making sure her team’s serve receive and defense stay steady has become more important than ever. Jwayad is a controlled passer on serve receive, and she is quite quick on defense. She also puts up well-placed sets when she needs to take the second contact.
McDonald, who runs a 6-2 alongside Maddie Bigelow, is a fast, athletic, and smart setter. She gets to nearly every ball and makes excellent plays, giving her attackers well-placed sets and running her offense smoothly. McDonald is also a strong defensive player, and from the baseline she has a tough serve.
Hitting from the outside is O’Connell, who has a quick and powerful arm swing. O’Connell is skilled at utilizing and tooling the opposing block to her advantage to create point scoring opportunities for herself. Defensively, O’Connell moves seamlessly in the back row to pick up tough balls, and at the net she is a strong blocker.
Although Takayama is currently out while she recovers from a concussion, she will nevertheless undoubtedly be an impact player for the 18-2 Black team once she is able to get back onto the court. Takayama is a skilled defensive player, with a quick reaction to the ball and the ability to pick up nearly everything that comes her way. She is also controlled and disciplined on serve receive. Takayama’s steadiness in the back row makes her a dominant defensive player.
Olivia Van Austen
Olivia Van Austen
As one of the 18-2 Black right side hitters, Van Austen is dominant. Van Austen practically floats in the air when attacking the ball, using her impressive vertical to either put the ball away or make a play to open court. Defensively, Van Austen puts up a big block, shutting down opponents’ outside hitters.