Club Team Spotlight: NPJ Bend 18 National
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The NPJ Bend 18 National team has had a strong season so far. Although they recently moved down in the 18U Power League rankings from 4th to 9th, the Bend 18 National team nevertheless has a strong 19-9 national record…
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Continue ReadingThe NPJ Bend 18 National team has had a strong season so far. Although they recently moved down in the 18U Power League rankings from 4th to 9th, the Bend 18 National team nevertheless has a strong 19-9 national record and a 10-5 regional record. The team also became the 2023 Orlando Prez Day Invitational 17-18 Club Champions after an 8-0 run, showing that they can contend with teams across the country. The Bend 18 National team is head coached by Colton Naill, the NPJ Bend Assistant Club Director and Director of Beach Volleyball and former Multnomah University Head Coach. He is assisted by Suzi Davison, a new NPJ Bend coach, and Jason Myhre, who formerly directed the Outlaw Volleyball Club.
Middle hitter Becerril is quick and big at the net, where she uses her height of 6’0” to put up a massive and effective block. Becerril is a powerful attacker with a fast arm swing, and she does an excellent job of hitting deep into the corners. She can attack successfully from anywhere in the front row and absolutely dominates offensively, but her bread and butter is hitting a gap and a quick set.
Highlights
Ezell, who runs a 6-2 alongside Abby Toolan Abby Toolan S Summit | 2024 State OR , is a dynamic setter and all-around talented athlete. Ezell does an exceptional job of reading the court and setting against the grain to throw off opposing blockers and defenders. Her quick footwork and strong hands also help Ezell with placing the ball nearly perfectly with each set. On defense, Ezell is fast and disciplined, able to pick up tricky plays and tough hits, and she is an offensive weapon from the right side.
As the Bend 18 National team’s primary libero, Monaghan shoulders a big defensive load in the back row. Monaghan is steady and controlled on serve receive, passing easy-to-set balls consistently. On defense, Monaghan is not afraid to fly around the court and pick up everything that she can. She is also quick to cover her hitters on defense, and she does an excellent job of putting up sets to the pins when she needs to take the second touch. Monaghan’s strong defense has helped Ezell and Toolan run a dominant offense this season.
Myhre is an athletic and impressive six-rotation outside hitter. Her approach and arm swing are quick and explosive, and when Myhre connects with the ball, she unloads on it. Myhre is also skilled at utilizing and tooling the opposing block to her advantage to create point scoring opportunities for her team. Defensively and on serve receive, Myhre is solid and consistent, and she attacks well from the back row, making her a weapon from anywhere on the court.
As the other setter opposite Ezell in this team’s 6-2 offense, Toolan is talented all-around. In the front row, Toolan showcases her powerful swing, putting the ball away consistently from the right side and making smart offensive shots. Toolan is also an athletic and strong setter, getting her hands on nearly every ball and using her strong court vision to mix up her sets between her middles and pins.