Big South 16 Open Dream Team

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Be sure to follow&nbsp;@lshotvb&nbsp;on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/lshotvb/">Instagram</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@lshotvb?is_from_webapp=1&amp;sender_device=pc">Tik Tok&nbsp;</a>and&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/LineShotVBall">Twitter</a>&nbsp;for all things volleyball!</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>–</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>No better way to cap off the month of March than in Atlanta for the Big South Qualifier.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 16 Open in this division was full of serious heavyweights. With NC Academy 16 Diamond taking home the 16 Open crown, they will be heading to Vegas in July in the open division. Alongside NC Academy, NKYVC and Winter Park will join them in Vegas as they placed runner-up and third respectively. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The talent down the stretch was on full display and offered up some of the most fun matches I think I have watched all season long. My personal favorite came at the semifinals with NC Academy and Winter Park going blow for blow to advance to the 'ship. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With so much talent on display, let's break down who would be on my Big South Dream Team this weekend in the 16 Open.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">MVP Genevieve Harris - NC Academy</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Genevieve Harris is the indisputable MVP of the weekend when it comes to 16 Open. Intelligent, aggressive and a straight up dawg when she steps onto the court. Many times it was the play of Harris that propelled NC Academy into pushing ahead of their opponents. After a monument win in the semifinals, Harris was all business in the championship match.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">OH: Natalie Langston - NC Academy</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>When Natalie Langston gets on top of the ball, it is nearly impossible to stop her, let alone slow her down. The connection she has with Harris is impeccable. In or out of system, Langston has all of the shots and always brings it with a lot of heat.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">OH: Sidney Sprada - Elevation</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This Elevation team is stacked with high end attackers. Sidney Sprada is up there with some of the best outside hitters in the country for this class. She plays the complete game and is always a threat offensively. Given her reach and ability to put some serious muscle on the ball, defenders were having a tough time. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">MB: Audrey Dyas - NKYVC</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It didn't seem to matter where she was on the court, if Audrey Dyas got the ball, it's going down! Put her up there in the top middle blocker conversation for this 2026 class! A scoring machine, as an intense of an attacker, she's just as intense in her blocking! Behind Dyas, NKYVC was able to grab their bid and a runner-up finish this weekend.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">MB: Laney Blevins - NC Academy</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There's some serious pin to pin action that goes on with this team. But don't count out their middles. Laney Blevins heads up a two-headed beast in the middle, and they're dangerous. Blevins was a true game changer in the title match. Upon subbing in midway through the first set, a 3 point deficit turned quickly into a 4 point lead for Academy. This was based off of a string of points by Blevins. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">OPP: Isa Umpierre - Winter Park</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This lefty opposite is one of the most exciting players there was to watch in Atlanta. She's Explosive, fiery and plays with a lot of heart! Both at the net, the back row and the service line; she's a constant scoring threat. Isa Umpierre is a kid that takes over matches. She did so quite often throughout WPVC's bid earning weekend.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">L: Emma Frietch - NKYVC</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There were quite a bit of incredible ‘bros on display at Big South. None quite really caught the eye like Emma Frietch did. Scrappy, relentless and a leader; Frietch may be a point scorer but she's a difference maker for NKYVC. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Honorable Mention: </h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Ella Grimes</strong>, Elevation</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Elle Mottola</strong>, Winter Park</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Taylor Bruce</strong>, Academy</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Gracison Saylors</strong>, A5</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->