2023 GJNC Top Middle Blockers - 16 Open

<h6 class="wp-block-heading"><em>Be sure to follow <strong>@lshotvb </strong>on Instagram and Twitter for all things volleyball!</em></h6>   <h6 class="wp-block-heading">–</h6>   <p>No better way to end the club season than with the illustrious USA Girls Junior National Championships every year. </p>   <p>With some of the best talents from across the country on tap, the gym is red hot with top notch competition. This year was no different for the championships, upsets galore, heavy weights falling and fresh faces atop the podium. </p>   <p>Let's take a look at some of the best of the best throughout the field. The middle blockers in 16 Open were a deep group, plenty of highlights to see here!</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='397441' first='Kenna' last='Cogill'] - AZ Storm</h2>   <p>There's simply no surprise that this team stormed their way to a national title. With these duo of middles, the story writes itself. This Oregon Ducks commit left it all on the table. Her presence at the net is intense. The way this player can get her hands on about every ball and stay so involved in the play is commendable.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Makena Rumple - AZ Storm</h2>   <p>Out goes one big force in the middle, in comes another. Rumple comes in leaves no breathing room for other teams. She's another big time blocker for Storm and an incredible attacker off of one foot. She brings the heat on and off the court with her infectious energy. </p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='288646' first='Gabriele' last='Stasys'] - 1st Alliance</h2>   <p>While the pins for 1st Alliance get a lot of the attention, Stasys utilizes the most of her open window to put the ball down. Fast off the ground and quick on top of the ball, Stasys is terminal. Stasys is the definition of clutch time, seemingly every time Alliance needed a boost or an exclamation point, Stasys was the one doing the work.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='189320' first='Natalie' last='Wardlow'] - Nebraska One</h2>   <p>With a team full of smaller statured players with great ball control, Wardlow's dominating presence gives this team a well-needed balance. A natural leader on the court, she makes the most of her three rotations throughout the front and a hard driving serve in the back. Her blocking is always on point and causing fits for opponents.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='179965' first='Zoe' last='Gillen-Malveaux'] - Drive Nation</h2>   <p>If I were to compare this player to any current NCAA'er, it would be <strong>Jess Robinson</strong> (Michigan/Duke). Malveaux jumps out of the gym, blocks well and has a hammer for an arm. Drive Nation rides and dies off of the production of Malveaux - the more ball Malveaux can see, the better they will do.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='288945' first='Victoria' last='Gray'] - Michigan Elite</h2>   <p>Victoria Gray's entry to this 16 Mizuno team has really done wonders. Creating a trio of top notch middles who can score on the block and swing, it gives them plenty of opportunities and scenarios to play with. Gray was in peak form in Chicago, blocking the ball left and right and always up for the big blow.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='156307' first='Shelby' last='Ignash'] - Michigan Elite</h2>   <p>The queen off of one foot, Ignash showcased a lot of growth at the Girls Junior Championships. From the start of the season to now, she's a much more defined attacker with an enhanced IQ for the block and open court. Her blocking showed much more promise in this tournament as well. </p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='156309' first='Lauren' last='Johnson'] - Michigan Elite</h2>   <p>With this trio of middle blockers, Elite had their hands full with the things they could do. In typical Johnson fashion, she's a blocking machine. Her block, as it always is, was on point. Her attacking and serving was a real revelation for Elite throughout the USAV tournament, Johnson showed a lot poise and growth in these areas.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Ava Brickner - Idaho [program_tooltip program_id='429106' first='[program_tooltip program_id='429106' first='[program_tooltip program_id='429106' first='Crush' last='']' last='']' last='']</h2>   <p>The veteran leader for this Idaho [program_tooltip program_id='429106' first='[program_tooltip program_id='429106' first='Crush' last='']' last=''] squad, Brickner not only leads the court emotionally, but physically as well. One stout blocker and quick off the ground to put the ball away, Brickner knows how to enter the game and make impact.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='156299' first='Olivia' last='Grenadier'] - Legacy</h2>   <p>Just prior to committing to Colorado, Grenadier was showing off her PAC12 bound chops on the courts of McCormick. You can't find a middle doing more for her squad than this one - she is just asked to do so much, and does it so well! Whether her setter is on the net or 20 feet off, Grenadier is always ready to put the ball away.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='179916' first='Olivia' last='Wayne'] - Madfrog </h2>   <p>This is a great impact player for Madfrog's 16 National Green. A mighty presence at the net with her block, she's another middle that is crucial to the winning ways of her team. The more involved Madfrog could keep Wayne in the offense, the more success they had. </p>