16-Under Standouts at Pioneer Region Tournament
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The three NKYVC teams won all three bids to the national tournament in Las Vegas dominating the field. NKYVC 16-1 Tsunami finished undefeated to take the National Bid with 16-2 Tide and 16-3 Typhoon finishing second and third to take…
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Continue ReadingThe three NKYVC teams won all three bids to the national tournament in Las Vegas dominating the field.
NKYVC 16-1 Tsunami finished undefeated to take the National Bid with 16-2 Tide and 16-3 Typhoon finishing second and third to take the American and Freedom Bids, respectively.
Here are some of the players that stood out Feb. 25 at Town and Country in Wilder.
Portwood took big steps forward this past fall emerging as a hitting threat on a deep Notre Dame squad. Portwood can hit off blockers and can smack the ball from the pins to the middle back row away from defenders. She can also mix things up tipping to open spots on the other side of the court. Portwood moves her feet well on defense to make great dives on balls including ones to the far corner. Portwood finished with 303 kills and 122 digs this past fall for Notre Dame helping the Pandas to a 33-6 record, 35th and 9th Region championships and a state runner-up finish.
Highlights
Dyas is a force at the net using her hands and feet to time up hitters and land solid blocks. She also has a powerful swing, often coming out of nowhere to land kills. The coaching staff at Notre Dame likes to see players learn all the positions so Dyas is developing a nice jump serve. Dyas finished with 62 assisted blocks, eight solo blocks and 200 kills helping Notre Dame to a state runner-up finish.
Highlights
Katie Zwick
Katie Zwick
Zwick showed great signs Feb 25. She puts herself in excellent position to block balls. Zwick finishes strong off quick sets. Zwick can hit from one shallow end to the opposite shallow side and takes zip off her hits to get the ball over and around blockers and to the floor.
Madi Demler showed she has the tools to become an all-around solid player for St. Henry this past fall, but could fill in the setter role this year. Demler can set and smack the ball many places. Demler is also a force at the net and serving the ball. Demler is particularly solid from the left side hitting the ball down the line or to the opposite side of the court.
Highlights
Gessner continues to improve at the libero position during club season. Gessner gives everything she has to dig up balls. That includes using one hand when necessary. Off the court, Gessner has a wonderful personality making her a great communicator. Gessner also continues to make strides at positioning herself to dig up blocked balls and tips and her jump serve is continuing to get better. Gessner is primed to better her team-high 474 digs and second-best 41 aces that helped Highlands finish 20-16 and earn a seventh straight 36th District championship this past fall.
Frietch is coming off an nice season for St. Ursula as a defensive specialist in her first season on varsity. Frietch is playing that same role with 16-1 Tsunami in addition to playing some outside hitter and setter. Frietch has a nice hard set putting hitters in good position and makes nice crisp passes on serve receiving. Freitch finished eighth in the Girls Greater Catholic League with 274 digs as a sophomore this past fall helping St. Ursula to an 18-8 overall record and 4-4 in GCL action with a postseason run to the Division I region title game.
Highlights
Bianchini is coming off a big fall for the Mason Comets as a hitter. Bianchini is tough to defend because she can hit the ball all over the place including the pin shot to the opposite shallow line and to the shallow middle. Bianchini has that role for the 16-1 Tsunami and set. She may be asked to set more this fall for Mason with the graduation of the top setter. Bianchini had some nice sets near the pins on Feb. 25 putting hitters in good position to succeed. Bianchini landed a team-best and Greater Miami Conference third-best 236 kills this past fall helping Mason to a 13-10 overall and a GMC crown with a spotless 9-0 conference record.