Salt Lake City Showdown: Washington Players and Teams to Watch

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Salt Lake City Showdown is in its second year as a USAV National Qualifier, and the 16 and 17-year-old age divisions start pool play tomorrow at the Salt Palace. Washington is sending several excellent teams and athletes to compete and challenge for bids to the GJNC in Chicago this summer. Here are some of the prospects and teams we will be watching this weekend. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>17 OPEN</strong> </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The <strong>Dakine 17 Surf</strong> team is the lone Washington entry in the 17 Open division. Dakine posted a 17th-place finish in the Open two weeks ago at the PNQ, playing well after a tough first day of pool play that included two close three-set losses. This team is very talented and could challenge for a Gold bracket finish. Six rotation outsides <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='259675' first='Ivy' last='Brown']</strong> and <strong>Grace Wesenberg </strong>compliment a tall front line and setter <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='259676' first='Lydia' last='Ward']</strong> is precise in running the offense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://youtu.be/BXJjH8s1S60","type":"video","providerNameSlug":"youtube","responsive":true,"className":"wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://youtu.be/BXJjH8s1S60 </div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">GRACE WESENBERG DAKINE 17</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>16 USA</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>No Washington teams are competing in the 16 Open Division, making the 16 USA the most competitive division for teams from across the state. <br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>CRU 16</strong> out of Central Washington has height and power on the front line with <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='250508' first='Alana' last='Marrs']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='266201' first='Hazel' last='Murphy']</strong>, and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='250406' first='Kailey' last='Willsey']</strong>. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>NPJ Seattle 16 National </strong>is highly seeded and finished 9th in the Open at the PNQ. This squad has a chance to finish in the medals and the team is loaded with talent across the board. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='253253' first='Alani' last='Taliloa']</strong> is powerful and skilled on the outside, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='268223' first='Maiya' last='Lester']</strong> and <strong>Adrianna Moilanen</strong> bolster the pin hitter spots, and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='253254' first='Annika' last='Wright']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='553658' first='Carissa' last='Zwiefelhofer']</strong> are both talented setters.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>PSVBA 16 Legacy </strong>is another PSR team to keep a close eye on. The team finished 4th at PNQ, and they start by having a terminal outside in [player_tooltip player_id='250418' first='Layne' last='Dent']. Middles [player_tooltip player_id='467299' first='Lauren' last='Hutchinson'], [player_tooltip player_id='279918' first='Kianna' last='Rohner'] and [player_tooltip player_id='361549' first='Ishna' last='Tickoo'] all provide athleticism at the net. [player_tooltip player_id='220494' first='Reese' last='Sheppard'] and [player_tooltip player_id='250424' first='Maddie' last='Taitano'] handle the setting and are all-around talented players.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Dakine 16 Surf</strong> matched up with PSVBA Legacy at the PNQ and dropped a close contest 12-15 in the third set. [player_tooltip player_id='249381' first='Peyton' last='Ensign'] is the floor general at setter, [player_tooltip player_id='266198' first='Asia' last='Williams'] and [player_tooltip player_id='468573' first='Hannah' last='Peschel'] are outstanding defenders, and look for contributions on the pin from <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='233837' first='Ella' last='Neubauer']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='268245' first='Olivia' last='Miller']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='249383' first='Ava' last='Chambers']</strong> among others. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>CPA 16 Drew</strong> out of Spokane is working through injuries and will rely on do everything setter/attacker <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='250413' first='Emma' last='Sandberg']</strong>, six-rotation outside <strong>Jane Holley</strong>, Mead standout pin [player_tooltip player_id='268057' first='Romy' last='Tyler'] and middle <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='250412' first='Makenzie' last='Ray']</strong> to keep the team on track. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='554774' first='Lexi' last='Norisada']</strong> from Post Falls, Idaho will help at the libero spot after rehabbing an injury of her own earlier this year. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2JRwxU">http://www.hudl.com/v/2JRwxU</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>17 USA</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>CPA Drew 17</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The teamwill be looking to surpass a Silver bracket USA win at PNQ and finish in the Gold. Pin hitters [player_tooltip player_id='251539' first='Ellie' last='DeAndre'], [player_tooltip player_id='230149' first='Payton' last='Davis'] and RS [player_tooltip player_id='246353' first='Jordyn' last='Williams'] provide punch on offense. Middles [player_tooltip player_id='230150' first='Abbey' last='Flerchinger'] and Katherine Michelbook have been working hard closing the block all season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>NPJ Seattle 17 National</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Depth is a strength for this NPJ Seattle team. Both NPJ liberos are talented and athletic, and the same can be said for setters [player_tooltip player_id='251774' first='Isabel' last='Cai'] and [player_tooltip player_id='254818' first='Kayleigh-Shay' last='Chang']. [player_tooltip player_id='222799' first='Quincy' last='Moran'] is a high flying pin who anchors a front line that includes Rebecca Wilbur, Simone Greiser and [player_tooltip player_id='251547' first='Hedia' last='Lewis'].&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Shockwave 17</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Splitting two matches with CPA at PNQ, Shockwave is a dangerous team. Setter's [player_tooltip player_id='250019' first='Rylie' last='Dolven'] and Peyton Cox play excellent defense and run a steady offensive attack. The team is gritty overall, and OH [player_tooltip player_id='233565' first='McCall' last='Callaway'] and libero Mailina Burke work hard to get to every ball.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Club Gold 17</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Club Gold worked hard playing in the Open at PNQ. [player_tooltip player_id='250021' first='Jule' last='Whitley'] is a 2024 middle who continues to impress, libero [player_tooltip player_id='359934' first='Malia' last='Haynes'] sparks the defense, and both Sofia Glaus and [player_tooltip player_id='250024' first='Eden' last='Glaus'] show high volleyball IQ on the court.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>16 American</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>NW Jrs. 16 UA Grey</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The NW Junior team competed hard in the American Division at PNQ, dropping two three set matches and finishing in the Bronze bracket. <strong>Anna Lombardi </strong>and <strong>Jenna Quist</strong> set the offense and attackers<strong> Keely Walker</strong>, <strong>Samatha Wagoner</strong> and <strong>Lily Goodmanson</strong> take big swings when the team needs a kill, </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>NPJ Seattle 16 Elite</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Vanessa Roberts</strong> is an excellent defender in the libero spot and has a tough serve. <strong>Dakota Deuz</strong> is a dynamic attacker from either pin position. <strong>Jayden Coffee</strong> plays big along the net, she is an intimidating force as a blocker. This NPJ squad battled with the NW Jrs at PNQ and the two may see each other for a rematch in Salt Lake. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->