2023 USAV GJNC 18’s Preview: CPA 18 Nicole
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CPA 18 Nicole captured the National Bid for the 2023 USAV GJNC that kicks off in Columbus Ohio this weekend. The team captured the Evergreen Region Regional title as well and has a great mix of Washington and Idaho standouts…
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Continue ReadingCPA 18 Nicole captured the National Bid for the 2023 USAV GJNC that kicks off in Columbus Ohio this weekend. The team captured the Evergreen Region Regional title as well and has a great mix of Washington and Idaho standouts that have contributed to a successful season. Head Coach Nicole Rayborn and assistant Jamie Lee have guided the team to an excellent overall record, including a 2nd place finish in the 18 Open at the Las Vegas Classic. We take a closer look at several of the standouts in our first preview of Washington 18U teams headed to Nationals.
CPA 18 Nicole – College Prep Academy (Spokane/Idaho)
Season Record (on AES): 20-11
Harrell has been starring on Washington volleyball courts across the state since she burst on the scene as a ninth grader at Ellensburg High School. An outside hitter with a great defensive presence and terrific athleticism, the six-rotation player’s signature is her booming swing. She has a strong frame that creates incredible hand contact when she attacks, racking up points for this CPA group from the pin and the pipe. Harrell will play at Villanova next season.
Headed to play at Central Washington next season, Westby has continued to increase the variety and velocity of her attacks from the middle. She has developed an excellent feel for the block in front of her and can see it and scorch a terminal swing around it to score. Westby is fun to watch as a middle who has a tough serve and then plays defense behind it. CPA can count on her to better a ball when she is in the back row, and hang in against a big swing when the team needs a defensive play.
A strong blocker on the right side, Moeller uses her length and strong hands to give opposing outside hitters trouble. A multi-sport athlete, the Mead standout has continued her high school’s long tradition of excellent track and field performers excelling in the throws this season. the javelin is her strongest event, and that translates to a terrific strong swing as a right-side attacker. Moeller will play her college volleyball at Western Washington, setting up a friendly GNAC rivalry with her long-time club volleyball teammate Corrine Westby Corrine Westby 6’0″ | MB Ridgeline | 2023 State WA at CWU.
A junior who plays as a six-rotation outside for CPA, Dandridge is smart and dependable on defense and is an offensive threat who isn’t afraid to challenge blockers. She has been a focus of opposing teams’ service pressure this season with Harrell and senior libero Ellie Carlson both excellent passers, and Dandridge has made teams pay with her accuracy and focus. Her passing in serve-receive has helped power a smooth offensive game allowing CPA to feed their powerful front line. The 2024 has not made a college commitment, and is going to be an awesome addition to the lucky program that snags her!
A Swiss army knife for CPA, Palelek is a setter with quick feet who can pass as a DS or step in and play the libero position if needed. At Regionals she passed in several rotations and was on the ground poking up gritty digs for her squad when she wasn’t setting in a 6-2 with Westmont commit Ella Hosfeld. Palelek is committed to playing indoor and sand next season at Bushnell in Oregon, and the Gonzaga Prep senior was a four-year starter who helped lead the Bullpups to consecutive state tournament appearances after a decade+ long absence.
Middle Katy Wessels, a Lewiston, Idaho native headed to play at the University of Washington brings as physical a presence as any blocker on the West Coast. Her ceiling is incredibly high, and the Huskies will enjoy developing her overall game.
http://www.hudl.com/v/2HC4Ht Wessels Highlights
Ellie Carlson from Lakeland, Idaho is the libero and has committed to the University of Providence in Montana. Carlson has great movement and has raided her game this season facing a steady diet of huge swings. She made the jaw-dropping plays you love to see from a high-level back-row defender this weekend at ERVA Regionals, no one outworks her on and off the court. Maggie Degenhart Maggie Degenhart 5'11" | OH Mt. Spokane | 2023 State WA is a smart and athletic attacker who has played every position along the front line this season. The Mt. Spokane senior has been a huge winner at every level in during club and high school, she will work the lines as a pin and has excellent timing and fundamentals as a blocker.