AAU Championships 17 Open Final Four Dream Team

<!-- wp:heading {"level":6} --> <h6 class="wp-block-heading"><em>Be sure to follow&nbsp;<strong>@lshotvb&nbsp;</strong>on Instagram and Twitter for all things volleyball!</em></h6> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":6} --> <h6 class="wp-block-heading">Use code&nbsp;<strong>LSHOTVBUSAV&nbsp;</strong>and get $10 off your registration for Prep Dig's USAV Showcases,&nbsp;<a href="https://events.prepdig.com/info?website_id=3&event_id=765">Session 1</a>&nbsp;&amp;&nbsp;<a href="https://events.prepdig.com/info?website_id=3&event_id=766">Session 2</a>!</h6> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":6} --> <h6 class="wp-block-heading">–</h6> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Session 3 has come to a conclusion and capped off yet another exciting wave of volleyball through Orlando.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>62 teams entered the 17 Open tournament and only one could stand amongst the rest at the top. It was an all Florida championship with Top Select versus OTVA Tampa in the final. OTVA Tampa took the crown behind the play of a pair of future Florida Gators.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here's a look at the standout players from the 17 Open Final Four.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='110295' first='Elana' last='Erickson'] - 5'11 OH - FaR Out</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Erickson has been spot on from first serve to final drop of the ball in this tournament. The six rotation outside hitter doubles as a second libero on the court meanwhile striking as the scoring leader for this FaR Out squad. She's equipped with nearly all the shots in the book and no piece of court is left uncovered. Erickson was pivotal in the final rounds of FaR Out's run.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='110305' first='Kendall' last='Hopewell'] - 6'0 MB - FaR Out</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>You will find no middle more powerful, more dominating than Hopewell with 17 Black. Hopewell may have spent the majority of the season on the right pin, but she comes into the national tournament as one of the divisions top players in the middle. Her versatility came up clutch many times, but particularly during championship Sunday.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">Emma Duffield - 6'1 OH - A5</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>All tournament long, this outside has been plugging away points after points. She's been used in a variety of roles throughout and yet found ways to succeed in them. Day 4 saw A5's run fall short of last year's run, but much to the credit of Duffield's for making it as far as they did. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='359345' first='Grace' last='Agolli'] - 6'2 OPP - A5</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>While committed to Cal as a setter, this player was bombing away opponents left and right on the right side all weekend long. Arguably one of the most consistent pieces on the court from start to finish for A5, Agolli knows how to score and makes immediate impact on the court.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='411370' first='Nayelis' last='Cabello'] - 6'1 S/OPP - Top Select&nbsp;</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Oh, man! Louisville got themselves a real big time player with this one. Fresh off of an invitation to partake in the Under Armour All-American games this December, Cabello was crucial to an epic 17 Open Runner-Up finish for Top Select. As an attacker, you can't touch her, as a setter, you can't keep up with her. Cabello was the ultimate 1-2 punch.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">Jayda Reed - 6'0 OH - Top Select</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This team's got some pretty mighty hitters across the board. Putting away some of the big points at the biggest moments was Reed. Time and time again, Reed was finding the spots to score and propelling Select on major scoring runs. Her vertical was impressive and seemingly too high to touch with some of the toughest of blockers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='344867' first='Isabella' last='Lee'] - 5'5 L - OTVA</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There was not a single ball that this girl could not pick up. I'd argue Lee was the true MVP of the entire tournament, particularly with her play on Day 4. With a title on the line, there was not a single ball this 'bro was letting drop. Seeing Lee play with such range and ownership of the court, there's no doubt this player is the next big 'bro in the Florida Gator program.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='359348' first='Taylor' last='Parks'] - 6'0 S - OTVA</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>From one Gator to the next, Mary Wise may have herself the perfect 1-2 punch to bring home a championship to Gainesville with Lee and Parks. This tournament cemented Parks as one of the top dogs in the 2024 class and a total threat to look out for in the coming years at Florida. Parks had the midas touch on the ball on championship Sunday and lead OTVA to another National title.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='444418' first='Taylor' last='Bedinghaus'] - 6'0 OH - OTVA</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Man, can this girl get UP! Get up and bring the hammer DOWN! That was the name of Bedinghaus' game tonight and that was exactly what the doctor ordered en route to a national championship in the 17 Open. With the 1-2 punch from the setting and defensive side of things, Bedinghaus completed OTVA's trifecta perfectly.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>PrepDig is putting on the Stock Up Showcase series across the country for Class of 2024-26 prospects AND Freshmen Showcase Series for 2027s throughout the month of July.&nbsp;</em><a href="https://prepdig.com/stock-up-showcases/?type=Showcase&amp;state=&amp;start_date="><strong><em>Click here</em></strong></a><em>&nbsp;to sign up for YOUR event. You can use promo code “LshotDig2023” for $10 off your registration.</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->