Salt Lake City Showdown: Washington Players and Teams to Watch
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…
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Continue ReadingThe 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.
17 OPEN
The Dakine 17 Surf 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 Ivy Brown Ivy Brown 5'10" | OH Silas | 2024 State WA and Grace Wesenberg compliment a tall front line and setter Lydia Ward Lydia Ward 5'10" | S Gig Harbor | 2024 State WA is precise in running the offense.
16 USA
No Washington teams are competing in the 16 Open Division, making the 16 USA the most competitive division for teams from across the state.
CRU 16 out of Central Washington has height and power on the front line with Alana Marrs Alana Marrs 6'4" | MB Ellensburg | 2025 State WA , Hazel Murphy Hazel Murphy 6'2" | RS Ellensburg | 2025 State WA , and Kailey Willsey Kailey Willsey 6'0" | OH Davis | 2025 State WA .
NPJ Seattle 16 National 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. Alani Taliloa Alani Taliloa 5'10" | OH Mt. Rainier | 2025 State WA is powerful and skilled on the outside, Maiya Lester Maiya Lester 6'0" | OH Liberty | 2025 State WA and Adrianna Moilanen bolster the pin hitter spots, and Annika Wright Annika Wright 5'9" | S Tahoma | 2025 State WA and Carissa Zwiefelhofer are both talented setters.
PSVBA 16 Legacy 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 Layne Dent Layne Dent 6'2" | OH Cascade Christian | 2025 State WA . Middles Lauren Hutchinson Lauren Hutchinson 5'11" | MB Bellarmine Prep | 2025 State WA , Kianna Rohner Kianna Rohner 6'1" | MB White River | 2025 State WA and Ishna Tickoo Ishna Tickoo 6'0" | MB North Creek | 2025 WA all provide athleticism at the net. Reese Sheppard Reese Sheppard 5'9" | S Puyallup | 2025 State WA and Maddie Taitano Maddie Taitano 5'10" | S Bellarmine Prep | 2025 State WA handle the setting and are all-around talented players.
Dakine 16 Surf matched up with PSVBA Legacy at the PNQ and dropped a close contest 12-15 in the third set. Peyton Ensign Peyton Ensign 5'9" | S Curtis | 2025 State WA is the floor general at setter, Asia Williams Asia Williams 5'7" | DS/L Curtis | 2025 State WA and Hannah Peschel Hannah Peschel 5'2" | DS/L Tahoma | 2025 State WA are outstanding defenders, and look for contributions on the pin from Ella Neubauer Ella Neubauer 6'0" | OH Eastlake | 2025 State WA , Olivia Miller Olivia Miller 5'9" | OH Issaquah | 2024 State WA and Ava Chambers Ava Chambers 5'11" | MB Puyallup | 2025 State WA among others.
CPA 16 Drew out of Spokane is working through injuries and will rely on do everything setter/attacker Emma Sandberg Emma Sandberg 5'8" | DS/L Gonzaga Prep | 2025 State WA , six-rotation outside Jane Holley, Mead standout pin Romy Tyler Romy Tyler 5'10" | OH Mead | 2025 State WA and middle Mackenzie Ray Mackenzie Ray 6'1" | MB Gonzaga Prep | 2025 State WA to keep the team on track. Lexi Norisada from Post Falls, Idaho will help at the libero spot after rehabbing an injury of her own earlier this year.
17 USA
CPA Drew 17
The teamwill be looking to surpass a Silver bracket USA win at PNQ and finish in the Gold. Pin hitters Ellie DeAndre Ellie DeAndre 5'9" | OH Lewis and Clark | 2024 State WA , Payton Davis Payton Davis 5'10" | OH Oakesdale | 2024 State WA and RS Jordyn Williams Jordyn Williams 5'10" | RS Mt. Spokane | 2024 State WA provide punch on offense. Middles Abbey Flerchinger Abbey Flerchinger 5'11" | MB Shadle Park | 2024 State WA and Katherine Michelbook have been working hard closing the block all season.
NPJ Seattle 17 National
Depth is a strength for this NPJ Seattle team. Both NPJ liberos are talented and athletic, and the same can be said for setters Isabel Cai Isabel Cai 5'9" | S Bellevue | 2024 State WA and Kayleigh-Shay Chang Kayleigh-Shay Chang 5'6" | S Lake Washington | 2024 State WA . Quincy Moran Quincy Moran 6'0" | OH North Creek | 2024 State WA is a high flying pin who anchors a front line that includes Rebecca Wilbur, Simone Greiser and Hedia Lewis Hedia Lewis 5'10" | OH Bush | 2024 State WA .
Shockwave 17
Splitting two matches with CPA at PNQ, Shockwave is a dangerous team. Setter’s Rylie Dolven Rylie Dolven 5'7" | S Kamiakin | 2024 State WA and Peyton Cox play excellent defense and run a steady offensive attack. The team is gritty overall, and OH McCall Callaway McCall Callaway 5'8" | OH Chiawana | 2024 State WA and libero Mailina Burke work hard to get to every ball.
Club Gold 17
Club Gold worked hard playing in the Open at PNQ. Jule Whitley Jule Whitley 6'1" | MB Kamiakin | 2024 State WA is a 2024 middle who continues to impress, libero Malia Haynes Malia Haynes 5'6" | DS/L Richland | 2024 State WA sparks the defense, and both Sofia Glaus and Eden Glaus Eden Glaus 5'9" | OH Walla Walla | 2024 State WA show high volleyball IQ on the court.
16 American
NW Jrs. 16 UA Grey
The NW Junior team competed hard in the American Division at PNQ, dropping two three set matches and finishing in the Bronze bracket. Anna Lombardi and Jenna Quist set the offense and attackers Keely Walker, Samatha Wagoner and Lily Goodmanson take big swings when the team needs a kill,
NPJ Seattle 16 Elite
Vanessa Roberts is an excellent defender in the libero spot and has a tough serve. Dakota Deuz is a dynamic attacker from either pin position. Jayden Coffee 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.