AAU National Championships: 15 Open Day 1 Standouts

<!-- 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>Onto the next one!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Session 2 of the 2023 AAU National Championships are underway and day 1 of the 15 Open did NOT disappoint! This is one fun field of athletes to hop court to court with. The stars of tomorrow, lighting it up today, we have some big time standouts.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Let's take a look at who were turning heads on Day 1 of AAU Nationals in the 15 Open Division.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='226909' first='Kayla' last='Nwabueze'] - 6'3 MB - Legacy</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>An absolute bully at the net, NOTHING gets past Nwabueze and its not coming back gentle. My time on her court was short lived today because Nwabueze went on a scoring frenzy of what seemed to be 10-12 points in one set. Between her blocking dominance and her monstrous arm swing, there was no stopping her.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='196506' first='Eva' last='Swenson'] - 6'2 S - MN Select</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This was my first time getting to watch the youngest Swenson sister quarter back an offense and needless to say I was impressed. Utilizing her height to her advantage, she runs a very clean and fast offense. Swenson is a very a big time presence at the net as a huge blocking threat to opponents. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='338394' first='Meaghan' last='Kreiser'] - 6'0 OH - MN Select</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here comes the boom! It makes the job look easy when you can put away the ball like this. Kreiser really caught my eye with her ability to fly off the court and bring down a popping swing. To go with a nice range of shots at her age and a steady passing presence, Kreiser is for sure the go-to!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">Alana Bailey - 6'0 MB - FaR Out</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>If Bailey can play like this all weekend, I think we're seeing 15 Black having a deep run into the gold medal rounds on Wednesday! A high flier out of the middle, she not only can get high but she gets up FAST! Her speed was seemingly second to none in her pool today and led to a plethora of points off of Bailey.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='226889' first='Madeline' last='Dettling'] - 6'0 OH - Michigan Elite</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A national title on the line and seems to get everyone to turn the dial up a bit. Dettling was coming out hot on day 1 and firing on all cylinders! I've seen this pin and her team play many times this season and never seen the kind of pop Dettling showed today. Clean passing, terminal attacking and strong service pressure.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">Ella Gravlee - 6'2 OPP - High Tide</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This player knows how to make a big time introduction to the game. Easily, one of the heaviest arms in the gym on day 1, you can't help but stop and watch her play. Gravlee plays with brute force on the right pin. If she's not finding the floor, she's probably knocking out bodies with her cannon ball.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">Carrygan Gunny Brock - 5'8 S - K2</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>She may be on the smaller side for a setter, but man can Brock run an offense! While this K2 team is equipped with some nice pieces on the offense, it was Brock's ability to manipulate the ball in the play that was really fun to watch. A high tempo offense and a nice deceptive touch, Brock could go toe-to-toe with the best setters.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='323945' first='Brooklyn' last='Brass'] - 6'0 OH - Sport Performance</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Leave her any sliver of open net, Brass will find it and completely destroy you on it! Don't ask me, ask OT when she was crushing kill after kill on the line shot today. Brass has a great vision for not only open net, but open court and her arm swing is so terminal in pursuit for the point.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='323948' first='Faith' last='Jordan'] - 6'1 MB - Sport Performance</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Right alongside Brass, watch out for Jordan in the middle. This player is one of the smoothest movers in the gym. Every movement she made, so sound and so precise. But don't let this fool you, Jordan is a terror to be messed with. An electric attacker and top notch blocker, its those little things in how smooth she moves that makes teams pay in the long run. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='333125' first='Adriana' last='Jeanpierre'] - 5'9 OH/S - OT</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I remember watching this player last year at the tail-end of the 14 Open tournament when she was with Jacksonville Juniors. Now with OT, not only has she added a couple inches to her insane vertical, but she can run an impressively steady offense too! A double edged sword for OT, Jeanpierre is an undeniable force.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='203434' first='Sarahbelle' last='Jameson'] &amp; Mollie Vandeusen- 6'0 OH &amp; 6'0 S - Jacksonville Juniors</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This team is going to be a scary one to run into later on in the tournament. With the outside and setting duo of Jameson and Vandeusen, i wouldn't want to mess with that. Jameson, a six rotation outside hitter, does a lot of really great things for JJVA. Her play reminds me a lot of another Florida native, Sarah Franklin at Wisconsin. Heavy arm, big range and great back court play. Vandeusen runs a really well-oiled machine. With a lot of weapons to her disposal, Vandeusen is unafraid to call on any hitter in any moment in a variety of plays. This leaves opponents struggling to keep up.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">Madelynne Henry - 5'10 OH - Kairos</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Don't let this player get on a roll. Once she's in her element, Henry is a beast! I think I saw a few of those moments today. In the match against Michigan Elite, after being down a set and trailing in the second, Henry turned on beast mode and was undeniable in the match. She'd turn the tide and the entire match for Kairos to pull out the 2-1 victory.</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 -->