GJNC 15’s Preview: Middles to Watch
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The 15 Divisions at the USAV Girls Junior National Championships play out this week in Chicago. Washington players traveled with six teams to battle it out in the 15’s Age Bracket, including Athena and OJVA from the CE Region. We…
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Continue ReadingThe 15 Divisions at the USAV Girls Junior National Championships play out this week in Chicago. Washington players traveled with six teams to battle it out in the 15’s Age Bracket, including Athena and OJVA from the CE Region. We detailed setters earlier, but the hard-working middles get their due today. Here are several middles who will be shining in Chicago this week!
A rising sophomore who plays for Gig Harbor during the school season, Karjala has pushed her offensive game to a new level battling for Dakine 15 Surf during the long club season. She will turn the ball left and right around the block, and she is especially dangerous pounding it down wrist away when she is flowing to the right. The defenders move with her, then Karjala will hammer it near the 10 foot line for the kill.
Wilson is a long, athletic 2026 prospect, the Olympia High School player has strong hands and outstanding press on the block. She works hard to close the block and can cover up an opposing attacker completely when a set is tight. Her offensive game is developing, she has started to attack overpasses and contested balls at the net, she also has a hard push tip that she will use to score when a set might be in a tough spot.
Coleman is extremely bouncy, the high flyer from Lakeside is the winner of the “most likely to blow up an unlucky libero” who hangs in against a Coleman strike. She showed flashes during the school season as the Lions ran away with the 3A title, now she is pouring it on as Sudden Impact rolls into Chicago. Coleman can deliver a momentum-changing block, and she is beginning to run a hard-to-stop slide in transition. The class of 2026 is deep in Middles in the Puget Sound Region, Coleman has been staking her claim as the leader of the group.
Highlights
Young is always moving in transition, giving the defense another attacker to defend and opening up seams for herself and her teammates. A 2026 prospect from Peninsula, she has a consistent arm swing and good ball skills, she can play the ball overhand cleanly and still get herself into transition. A multi-sport athlete, as a freshman this spring Young finished second in the state in the high jump, look for her to crank it up a notch for PJVBC 15 this week.
Menghini is an incredibly talented athlete, and at 5’9″most likely an outside down the road. This season she has jumped into the middle for PJVBC and delivered the goods. She is passing in the back row as a six-rotation middle while stuff blocking balls upfront. She is a dynamic attacker and the team moves her around to take advantage of her skill set. If you have a chance to see Menghini do everything for this Puyallup Juniors you will not regret it!
The Gig Harbor 2026 middle is long and lean, with a high contact point that is difficult to stop. Dakine 15 sets her high and quick, and Artman keeps the ball in front to maximize her options. Watching the rising sophomore’s footwork, she is well trained and fundamentally sound, keeping the ball in her vision and following her setter to stay in the action.