’24 UNI-Dome Challenge 18s Division Roundup

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>CEDAR FALLS, Iowa - </strong>The Mizuno UNI-Dome Challenge here on the campus of the University of Northern Iowa featured fun matches. None of them carried more star power than Sunday's showdown between Six Packs 17U and 18U teams. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The older sisters claimed a straight-set victory in a semifinal matchup loaded with Division I players. Six Pack's 18U rolled to the title, winning al 12 sets its played. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>That squad was headlined by sisters [player_tooltip player_id='168149' first='Payton' last='Petersen'] (Louisville) and [player_tooltip player_id='168150' first='Jadyn' last='Petersen'] (UNI). They performed at the high level we've become accustomed to seeing. They received plenty of help from [player_tooltip player_id='251662' first='Maryn' last='Bixby'] (UNI), [player_tooltip player_id='168160' first='Gabby' last='Lombardi'] (Fresno State), [player_tooltip player_id='168176' first='Emma' last='Stammeyer'] (Fordham), [player_tooltip player_id='168172' first='Isabelle' last='Elliott'] (UNI) and others. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It will be interesting to monitor the college careers of the aforementioned standouts. [player_tooltip player_id='168149' first='Payton' last='Petersen'] is off to the highest level at Louisville. Watching her game mature through the years, including the latest look here, there's no doubt in my mind she's ready. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='168150' first='Jadyn' last='Petersen'] is intriguing because of her versatile skill set. She can play libero, as she did here, but her all-around skill set, including a mighty swing, likely will see her moving around the court in college. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jadyn will team up with Bixby and Elliott with the Panthers. They're both really rounding into form in terms of knowing what they can do and playing efficiently. Lombardi and Stammeyer are consistent setters with a chance to make noise on the next level. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Six Pack 17U certainly pushed the 18s at times. [player_tooltip player_id='215406' first='Abbey' last='Hayes'] (Creighton), [player_tooltip player_id='189864' first='Annalise' last='Grant'] (Iowa State), [player_tooltip player_id='215742' first='Carly' last='Wazac'] (Wichita State) and [player_tooltip player_id='215412' first='Ella' last='Rogers'] (uncommitted) led the way for this talented team that finished third playing up an age group. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It's great seeing ultra-talented juniors like Hayes, Grant and Wazac play free with their college decisions made. The head-scratcher here is that Rogers still is available. As a rock-solid setter with long arms, the ability to hit and block at the net, should be coveted on the recruiting trail. Some school will get a steal. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>JVA finished between the two Six Packs squads in second place. [player_tooltip player_id='251678' first='Brynn' last='Bishop'], [player_tooltip player_id='168158' first='Marissa' last='Gerleman'], [player_tooltip player_id='193202' first='Tori' last='Runyan'] and a sound group of players around them make this an interesting team. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Adrenaline 18 Deb/Brooke nailed down fifth place in the division. The entertaining team featured [player_tooltip player_id='168180' first='Natalee' last='Hartman'], [player_tooltip player_id='168177' first='Brooke' last='Ellyson'], [player_tooltip player_id='447490' first='Carlee' last='Webber'] and Sophia Paulsen. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>That foursome could help out programs on the next level. Hartman stands out in the back row, Ellyson can swing it from the outside, Webber and Paulsen shine across the front row. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->