GJNC Texas Preview : Arete 16 Navy Telos

In this series of articles, we are going to take a closer look at teams who have punched their ticket to the GJNC's in Chicago. Arete 16 Navy Telos earned their American bid with a strong 3rd place finish at the North Texas Regionals. They immediately followed up that stellar showing with an impressive 3rd Place finish in the Open Division at the West Coast Cup in California. This team has proven that they have what it takes to compete against the best in the country and look to be peaking at just the right time. Having competed in the Open Division all season long in one of the toughest regions in the country is bound to give this team the boost of confidence they need next month. They have strong floor leaders and weapons at every position that give them a shot to be a strong contender to win it all at Nationals in July. Let's look at the players who are sure to impress in Chicago.   [player_tooltip player_id='751909' first='Keelea' last='Alexander'] - Libero/DS -2025   Keelea is a steady and impressive presence in the back row at the libero position. When you watch her, you can see how consistent her footwork and defensive technique is. She routinely gives her setters an advantage with perfectly passed balls. What sets her apart from most liberos is her elite level athleticism. She is able to keep plays alive and get to balls that most players can't. She utilizes a combination of great lateral speed and an intuitive ability to track the ball to make plays and keep her team in rallies. Her quick reaction time makes it very difficult for opposing teams to score points when she is on the floor. Keelea is a great communicator from the back row and that gives both her setters and hitters the opportunity to find holes and score points efficiently.    [player_tooltip player_id='399357' first='Jaleah' last='Bauss'] - Setter - 2025   Jaleah gives her team everything they need from the position and more. Her quickness allows her to get to every ball and she uses fantastic body control and soft hands to perfectly place balls for her hitter's time and time again.  She's a great floor leader and communicates effectively allowing for seamless connections with her attackers. She is outstanding defensively picking up both line and angle shots with ease. She has been very capable throughout the season when the team has run a 5-1 offensive scheme. Utilizing her ability to block at the net and quickly transition to offense, allows her to regularly push the offensive tempo and catch the defense off guard. One of the most impressive parts of her game is at the service line. Her jump serve gives other teams fits in serve receive. Using a perfect combination of power and ball placement she is able to score points in a hurry and shift the momentum from behind the line. There is a special class of setters that are capable of making all their hitters look good. Jaleah is one of them.    [player_tooltip player_id='178262' first='Mackenzi' last='Davis'] - Outside Hitter - 2025   When you watch Mackenzi play her vertical and explosiveness are the first things you notice about her game. She has the ability to rise above most blockers and put balls down with undeniable power. She uses a combination of shots that keep the defense guessing and her ability to hang in the air gives her the advantage of placing the ball exactly where she wants it to go. Her presence in the front row allows her to team to run a high-powered and aggressive offense. When she gets in the zone from the left pin, she racks up points quickly and relentlessly. Unfortunately for her opponents she is just as efficient when swinging from the back row.    [player_tooltip player_id='315565' first='Bella' last='Wood'] - Opposite/Outside Hitter - 2025   Bella has proven herself as a lethal weapon at both pin positions this season. Her versatility allows her to attack and score points from anywhere on the front row. She is a smart hitter and uses ball placement to score points for her team. She hits both line and angle with precision whether she is on the left or right side. She is also impressive in her ability to place the ball in the deep corner, making it almost impossible for the defense to make plays and get a touch on the ball. Bella's impressive ability to both vary her shots and play multiple positions makes her a viable threat every time she steps on the court.    Arete 16 Navy Telos has all the pieces necessary to make a strong run in the American Division in Chicago. They are well coached and have a deep roster that allows for a very balanced attack. Look for them to utilize their arsenal of weapons, fast-paced offense and consistent defense to be a contender to take it all.    Stay tuned for more articles on the Texas teams looking to make a big splash at the GJNC. If there are any players or teams you think should be on our radar don't hesitate to reach out to me at ttalbert33@hotmail.com. Thank you for reading and sharing our PrepDig content on Twitter and Facebook!   <figure class="wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped"></figure>

In this series of articles, we are going to take a closer look at teams who have punched their ticket to the GJNC's in Chicago. Arete 16 Navy Telos earned their American bid with a strong 3^rd place finish at the North Texas Regionals. They immediately followed up that stellar showing with an impressive 3^rd Place finish in the Open Division at the West Coast Cup in California. This team has proven that they have what it takes to compete against the best in the country and look to be peaking at just the right time. Having competed in the Open Division all season long in one of the toughest regions in the country is bound to give this team the boost of confidence they need next month. They have strong floor leaders and weapons at every position that give them a shot to be a strong contender to win it all at Nationals in July. Let's look at the players who are sure to impress in Chicago.