OTVA Tampa wins the 17U AAU Nationals, second time in three years

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The championship match between OTVA Tampa Aaron and Top Select Elite featured some of the best volleyball players in the state. It was a who's who in the state of Florida in the three-set thriller won by OTVA, 25-15, 22-25, 15-12, that culminated with a resounding kill by Olivia Hart. This marks the second time in the past three years that OTVA Tampa has won the 17U AAU Nationals. Here is a breakdown of the OTVA team that was a dominant force throughout the 2023 season and won several tournaments:&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":403783,"width":337,"height":221,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/06/IMG_4378-rotated-crop-3009x1976-1687812028.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-403783" width="337" height="221" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Maria Happ","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'3u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"32924","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Shorecrest Preparatory School","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"OTVA","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Happ's technical position is middle blocker but quite frankly, she simply is a netminder and attacker from side to side, offensively and defensively. The Shorecrest Prep standout, who ranked in the top 25 for kills during the 2021-22 Florida High School Athletic Association prep campaign, had timely blocks and impressive finishes throughout the match. It seemed every time that OTVA needed a point, they went to Happ, who demonstrated an ability to approach off both feet on the outside or the right side while also showcasing the skill set to finish with a running kill. Her blocking ability might outshine her hitting prowess, though, as she either stopped hits from Top Select by herself or with a teammate. Her kill at the end of the first set","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"Olivia Hart","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"6'0u0022","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"32564","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"Tampa Preparatory School","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"OTVA","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_1_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"Hart's last kill of the night defined who she is as a player. Her timing was on display the whole match but most definitely on the last point when she traced her steps backwards after a perfect pass from defensive specialist Lola Buck-Taylor in the middle back. The set from [player_tooltip player_id='359348' first='Taylor' last='Parks'] was as perfect a set as you're going to get and Hart slammed it off the two blockers for the win. Hart is next level and it's one of the reasons she'll be taking her talents to near South Beach (Florida Atlantic University) after she finishes her high school career at Tampa Prep next year. Her footwork really shines when she receives the ball on the left side and sets up for a kill at the net or when she shuffles back into a position off a pass from the middle back. She had several looks off long passes from the opposite side during the championship match that showcased her timing, too.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["188289"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"If you've ever wanted to see how a tall setter can dictate a match and be a difference maker in a win, look no further than [player_tooltip player_id='359348' first='Taylor' last='Parks']. There's a reason the Florida Gators came calling early in her high school career for a commitment to the SEC school; Parks just knows how to play the game better than most. Whether it's her cross court sets or jump sets or back sets or straight line sets or dump offs or perfectly timed low sets to her hitters going off one foot, Parks demonstrated it all during the championship match. She'll definitely be fun to watch during her last season at Calvary Christian School in Clearwater before heading to Gainesville.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["344867"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"Lee's court sense is next level. She positions herself before the other team hits as if she has a Spiderman outfit on. Whether it was on diagonal hits or line shots, Lee was there. The Florida-commit already plays like she's in college and her skill set was instrumental in helping OTVA capture the championship, adding to the Class 7A title she earned at Plant High School. What's probably more impressive about Lee than her array of digs at the floor is her ability to set from the back row. She put on a clinic on how to bump set or hand set to her hitters on the outside and right side. Of course, her passing skills are top notch with seemingly every bump to her future Gator teammate exactly where Parks needed it.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='444418' first='Taylor' last='Bedinghaus']","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"5'11u0022","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"32564","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"Clearwater Central Catholic","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"OTVA","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_4_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"Bedinghaus prides herself on being a multisport athlete, having competed in basketball, tennis, softball, and track and field at Clearwater Central Catholic. As she stated on one of her recruiting profiles, volleyball (both beach and indoor) is her true passion. She helped CCC win a state title this past preps season and she added to it with a club nationals win with her superb play at the back as a defensive specialist and on the left side as a hitter. She showcased her athletic prowess by digging several ground shots and moved into position to pass off deflections. I was really impressed with her ability to pass with her hands from the back row off hard hits while also setting up to hit with top spin from the back. She also had some impressive hits on the outside. Definitely a player to watch for Division I coaches.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_5_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_5_player_details_player_name":"Lola Buck-Taylor","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_5_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_5_player_details_height":"5'8u0022","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_5_player_details_position":"32926","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_5_player_details_school":"Bishop McLaughlin","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_5_player_details_club_team":"OTVA","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_5_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_5_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"Buck-Taylor plays both libero and defensive specialist at Bishop McLaughlin High School but she was placed as the specialist during most of the AAU Nationals. That didn't stop her from showcasing her ability to get low on hard hits or deflections and make pinpoint passes to Parks at the net. Perhaps her best moment of the championship match came after OTVA had lost an opportunity to seal the win on serve. Buck-Taylor comforted her teammates with a few hand claps towards each player as motivation and said, “No worries. We got this.” Playing middle back, she received a hard line drive serve and easily gathered it with her forearms to make a soft pass to her setter, who was able to make a perfect set to Olivia Hart for the kill.","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_6_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_6_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='490523' first='Natalie' last='Aniol']","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_6_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_6_player_details_height":"5'11u0022","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_6_player_details_position":"32924","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_6_player_details_school":"East Lake High School","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_6_player_details_club_team":"OTVA","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_6_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_6_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"Aniol is an amazing blocker and hitter from the right side. She teamed up several times with her other blockers to stop kill attempts but also thwarted opportunities on her own. I was probably most impressed with the ability to set during Parks' tuo serve. It's an underrated part of her game and it will suit her just fine when she begins playing at Division II Eckerd College next year after she finishes at East Lake High School.","_player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_7_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_7_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_7_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_7_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_7_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='444443' first='Michaela' last='Clayton']","_player_evaluations_7_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_7_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_7_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_7_player_details_height":"5'9u0022","_player_evaluations_7_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_7_player_details_position":"32926","_player_evaluations_7_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_7_player_details_school":"Academy of the Holy Names","_player_evaluations_7_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_7_player_details_club_team":"OTVA","_player_evaluations_7_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_7_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_7_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_7_evaluation":"Clayton's ability to track down loose balls at the back while also digging several hard hit shots was huge during this tournament. She also demonstrated an ability to hit from the middle back and left back. Her defensive ability was instrumental, definitely during the first set win. She has yet to commit to a college and is a player to watch as she heads into her senior season at the Academy of the Holy Names in Tampa.","_player_evaluations_7_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_8_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_8_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_8_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_8_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_8_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='200393' first='Anna' last='Adcock']","_player_evaluations_8_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_8_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_8_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_8_player_details_height":"5'11u0022","_player_evaluations_8_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_8_player_details_position":"32924","_player_evaluations_8_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_8_player_details_school":"Steinbrenner High School","_player_evaluations_8_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_8_player_details_club_team":"OTVA","_player_evaluations_8_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_8_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_8_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_8_evaluation":"When Adcock teams up with her hitters at the middle, it's almost unfair for other teams. The 5-foot-11 blocker has incredible timing and angle on her blocks and makes things very difficult for the opposing team. During the championship match, she showcased her ability to block on her own while partnering up with her teammates on several crucial points. Still unsigned, she's definitely a player to keep your eye on as she heads into her final season at Steinbrenner High in Tampa.","_player_evaluations_8_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_9_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_9_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_9_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_9_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_9_player_details_player_name":"Madison Loiselle","_player_evaluations_9_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_9_player_details_graduating_class":"2023","_player_evaluations_9_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_9_player_details_height":"6'3u0022","_player_evaluations_9_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_9_player_details_position":"32925","_player_evaluations_9_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_9_player_details_school":"Carrollwood Day School","_player_evaluations_9_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_9_player_details_club_team":"OTVA","_player_evaluations_9_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_9_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_9_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_9_evaluation":"Loiselle was simply dominant throughout the tournament and in the final match of her club career. The multisport athlete who played volleyball, flag football, basketball, soccer and softball at Carrollwood Day School in Tampa had several huge kills and was tough to stop at the net. Her defensive skill set at the net was just as impressive, stopping attempts with huge blocks. She's on a completely different level and it's obvious why she's headed to Seton Hall to play Division I volleyball this upcoming season.","_player_evaluations_9_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":10,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-649b1d7702257"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->