Gateway League: Rockwood 18 Elite Top Dawg

Vernon Birmingham January 31, 2024 @ 12:44 PM

The [program_tooltip program_id='428799' first='Rockwood' last='Thunder'] 18 Elite squad used the Gateway League to rev up for the qualifier season, capturing the title after an 11-1 run over the two weekends of action. Their lone loss came to little sister, Rockwood 17 Elite. On the first weekend, Jan. 6th and 7th, they were perfect winning all of their matches while not dropping a set. The St. Louis squad took that momentum into the ASICS MLK Qualfier and left with an open bid. On the second weekend of league play, they dropped the match to Rockwood but navigated bracket play beating [program_tooltip program_id='428820' first='Team' last='Momentum'] 18 Navy in the championship. [player_tooltip player_id='124215' first='Olivia' last='Hasbrook'] was her typical self defensively. [player_tooltip player_id='153933' first='Jordan' last='Smith'] and the deep pin depth took turns putting the ball down while the middles were solid in the blocking department led by Hailey Yount, [player_tooltip player_id='207284' first='Jacey' last='Young'], and [player_tooltip player_id='150050' first='Shae' last='Pearson'].   [program_tooltip program_id='428820' first='Team' last='Momentum'] 18 Navy is a team that's turned some heads in the last couple of seasons. They went 9-3 over the two weekends with all three losses coming to the same team, [program_tooltip program_id='428799' first='Rockwood' last='Thunder'] 18 Elite. Along the way, they defeated two strong 17-year-old teams in Rockwood and HPSTL 17 Royal. Kylie Surrant and [player_tooltip player_id='170035' first='Maya' last='Griggs'] stepped up their play en route to a second-place finish.   The Gateway League will continue with bid week on February 10th and 11th.   Rounding out the top 8:   3rd: HP Illinois 18 Select and HPSTL 17 Royal   5th: HPSTL 18 Royal and [program_tooltip program_id='428799' first='Rockwood' last='Thunder'] 17 Elite   7th: [program_tooltip program_id='428797' first='Pursuit' last=''] 18 National   8th: [program_tooltip program_id='428799' first='Rockwood' last='Thunder'] 18 Navy

The Rockwood Thunder 18 Elite squad used the Gateway League to rev up for the qualifier season, capturing the title after an 11-1 run over the two weekends of action. Their lone loss came to little sister, Rockwood 17 Elite. On the first weekend, Jan. 6th and 7th, they were perfect winning all of their matches while not dropping a set. The St. Louis squad took that momentum into the ASICS MLK Qualfier and left with an open bid. On the second weekend of league play, they dropped the match to Rockwood but navigated bracket play beating Team Momentum 18 Navy in the championship. Olivia Hasbrook Olivia Hasbrook 5'9" | DS/L Eureka | 2024 State #56 Nation MO was her typical self defensively. Jordan Smith Jordan Smith 6'4" | OH Francis Howell Central | 2025 State #61 Nation MO and the deep pin depth took turns putting the ball down while the middles were solid in the blocking department led by Hailey Yount, Jacey Young Jacey Young 6'2" | MB Marquette | 2024 State MO , and Shae Pearson Shae Pearson 6'0" | RS Francis Howell | 2024 State MO .