2023 GJNC Illinois Preview: 15s Division

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>USAV nationals are fast approaching. Teams are in their final preparations before heading to Chicago. Illinois has 22 teams attending across five divisions. Six of those teams earned qualifying bids. The teams in Illinois are incredibly talented, and these athletes are sure to impress against the best in the country. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Open Division</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Michio Chicago 15 National</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Michio is a team that plays lights out on every play. They have only played in open divisions at the top tournaments and qualifiers, and the lowest they have placed this season is 9th. [player_tooltip player_id='325503' first='Maggie' last='Simon'] is a setter who runs the show; she is a leader on the court and an athlete who shows great mental toughness as well as huge talent. Middle hitter [player_tooltip player_id='325496' first='Cassidy' last='Cage'] is an athlete to watch in this class. She is athletic and solid on both offense and defense. Elle Schara is another key player. She can play all six rotations and is unstoppable on serve receive. Whether she is on the outside or in the back row, Elle is adding value to her team. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">National Division</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>1st Alliance 15 Gold</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This team has some truly incredible potential. They have multiple athletes playing with the National Team Development Program and are incredibly well-rounded. [player_tooltip player_id='323928' first='Kate' last='Harvey'] is an energetic and high-level libero who is all over the court. She impressed me so much at the Prep Dig Gauntlet. Kate never gave up on a ball and was always where her team needed her, in coverage, on defense, and in serve receive. [player_tooltip player_id='323932' first='Carolyn' last='Tarnow'] is an absolute beast in the middle. She has a powerhouse swing and a massive block. [player_tooltip player_id='323925' first='Nikolija' last='Bulatovic'] runs a 5-1 for this talented squad. She has quick hands and moves the ball around well. [player_tooltip player_id='323926' first='Sophia' last='Chinetti'] is an impact right side who can be relied upon to manufacture points. This team will be looking for hardware at nationals this year. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>1st Alliance 15 Silver</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This is another team with absolutely massive potential. They have had a very successful season and will be out for some big wins at nationals. [player_tooltip player_id='323939' first='Skylar' last='Greene'] is a key piece of this offense. She is an explosive pin that makes smart shots, manufactures points, and is scrappy on defense. [player_tooltip player_id='323936' first='Elise' last='Bocanegra'] is a lights-out libero that is always pushing herself on the court. She is great in coverage and works to get a touch on every ball. Her hard work usually pays off with great touches and clean passes for her team. [player_tooltip player_id='323934' first='Gia' last='Burton'] is a lefty right side with a lightning-fast arm swing and takes a massive approach. She isn't afraid to take aggressive shots and is a go-to hitter and point earner on the court. [player_tooltip player_id='323941' first='Molly' last='Welge'] is a middle that puts up a massive and impenetrable block. She is a player to watch in this class. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Freedom Division</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>1st Alliance 15 White</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I have not had the chance to see this talented 1st Alliance team yet, but I will absolutely be finding them at Nationals! They got 2nd place at the Windy City Qualifier (American Division) and 3rd place at the Mideast Qualifier (American Division). They placed 1st in the Great Lakes Power League and have several other 1st place finishes to their name!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">American Division</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[program_tooltip program_id='431567' first='Adversity' last=''] G15 Adidas</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I had the opportunity to watch [program_tooltip program_id='431567' first='Adversity' last=''] play at the Prep Dig Gauntlet. They have had an incredibly challenging lineup of tournaments and have impressed at every single one. This team is gritty and works hard from the first point to the last. [player_tooltip player_id='326064' first='Bridget' last='Ferriter'] is a 6-rotation pin that caught my eye at the Gauntlet. She sometimes takes swings out of the middle and can be utilized across the net. Bridget is key on defense and serve receive as well. [player_tooltip player_id='326066' first='Morgan' last='Zibell'] is another 6-rotation outside hitter on this team. She is very disciplined in transition and quick in all her movements across the court. She reads the court well and adds a lot of value. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[program_tooltip program_id='432009' first='Sky' last='High'] Adidas 15 Elite</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This team is fun to watch. [player_tooltip player_id='323999' first='Avery' last='Albritton'] is a dominant lefty right-side hitter who takes a high volume of swings and earns a lot of points. She is explosive in everything she does and is always ready for her next set. [player_tooltip player_id='324000' first='Emily' last='Ernst'] is a setter that runs the court well. She has great ball control and a clean jump set. Madalane Meckl is a talented libero who keeps the team running from the back row. And [player_tooltip player_id='324001' first='Alexis' last='Hadeler'] is a smart and savvy 6-rotation pin hitter. She gets great touches on the ball on offense and defense and is very athletic in her play. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">15 Patriot</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[program_tooltip program_id='431567' first='Adversity' last=''] G15 Blk Adidas</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[program_tooltip program_id='431567' first='Adversity' last=''] G15 Prpl Adidas</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Chicago Elite 15 Elite</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Chicago Elite 15 United</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Chicago Sky 15 Black </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Epic United 15 Elite</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Michio Chicago 15 Premier</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mindset 15 Red</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>New Wave 15 Tsunami</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>New Wave 15 Hurricane</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[program_tooltip program_id='432009' first='Sky' last='High'] Adidas 15 Black </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[program_tooltip program_id='432009' first='Sky' last='High'] Adidas 15 White</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[program_tooltip program_id='432009' first='Sky' last='High'] Adidas 15-1</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Edge 15 Black </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ultimate Asics G15 Gold </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Uno Girls 15 Elite</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->