2024 Finale: GJNC 18 Open Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Two teams featuring some of Ohio's top talent are set to compete at the GJNC 18 Open event to conclude the USAV club season for the 2024 class. Here are some reminder of those stacked teams and where they start their final weekend of play.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>[program_tooltip program_id='430852' first='Tri-State' last='Elite']: #10 Seed</em></strong><br>This team has been on a mission from day one of this season as they established early their competitive balance and prowess as a group. They are a squad that has had a core group together for a few years and it shows in their cohesive effort around the court given the skill and experience they bring at all positions. One of the best assets is [player_tooltip player_id='114590' first='Kelsey' last='Niesen'], the primary libero and stabilizer in the back row. The Xavier commit competed as a left side attacker for the bulk of her high school career but brings a lot of value as a passer and defender given her length for the position and her simple style of read and react movement. At the setter position if [player_tooltip player_id='114574' first='Maria' last='Drapp'] (Bradley commit), an individual that has led this team in this role for a long time. Her biggest contributions are in her ability to locate the ball for all of her attackers with accuracy, tempo, and at the right time during point flow. Her biggest arms include [player_tooltip player_id='139276' first='Sophia' last='Adkins'] on the right pin and [player_tooltip player_id='114600' first='Faith' last='Young'] on the left. Adkins, a high school teammate and fellow state champion of Drapp, is a Providence commit as Young, who can bring some of the team's biggest power, is headed to Western Kentucky. [player_tooltip player_id='114568' first='Addy' last='Brus'], a St. Louis commit, creates some of the biggest elevation and has a fast arm that can generate big pace. These pins are complemented by middles<strong> [player_tooltip player_id='208852' first='Anna' last='Guard']</strong> and [player_tooltip player_id='114573' first='Molly' last='Dorger']. Guard, headed to Eastern Michigan, has been a key asset this season that has helped to increase their offensive balance. Touching over 10', Guard has improved the quality of her offense through quick options while also helping to anchor their net defense. Other prospects that have made key contributions this season and in seasons past include defensive specialists [player_tooltip player_id='114578' first='Dakota' last='Henry'] (Rhode Island commit) and <strong>Alexis Woolf</strong> (Eastern Kentucky commit). As a tune up to the GJNC event, TSE recently finished third overall at the JVA 18U national tournament. Other top finishes include the gold medal at Central Zone, third place finishes at Bluegrass and Triple Crown, and a fifth place finish at MEQ at which they earned their open-level big. As the #10 seed overall at the GJNC, they are the #2 seed in Pool 8 and open up play on day one versus Top Select 18 Elite, City 18 Gold, and Norco 18 Black. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Mintonette m.81: #24 Seed</em></strong><br>This team qualified for the 18 Open national event early in the club season following a third place finish in Florida. One of the most tangible and noticeable qualities of this team is their length. From the setting, defense, and attacking roles, they have great size that creates advantages and can put a lot of pressure on opponents in all phases of the game. [player_tooltip player_id='139283' first='Kaylee' last='Musick'] has some of the best experience as a setter in this Ohio class and brings with her a 6'1 frame that allows a high contact point, ability to score at the second touch, and a big blocking presence. She is headed to FIU. [player_tooltip player_id='114571' first='Madison' last='Cugino'] is another high school pin playing her club career primarily as a libero. The Gonzaga commit can cover the floor with good range and brings presence and I.Q. that elevates her teammates throughout point flow. [player_tooltip player_id='139282' first='Lily' last='Barron'] (Houston commit) is 6'2 and rangy in her attacking presence at the net with her high contact ability and arm control to score through the full scope of the court. [player_tooltip player_id='139286' first='Becca' last='Wight'], at 6'4, bookends this team's pin action with similar tools offensively but also with her presence on the defensive side. [player_tooltip player_id='223241' first='Lexi' last='Grissett'] is committed to Ohio and is one of the more versatile athletes on this team as she can swing for points while also having tools to command an offense from the setting role given her impact for her high school team as she earned over 1,200 kills and nearly 700 assists for her career at Alexander. Others that can make an impact include additional arms in AnaCate Loftus (South Carolina Aiken), middles [player_tooltip player_id='213214' first='Hattie' last='Welker'] (Eastern Michigan) and [player_tooltip player_id='139284' first='Grace' last='Thomas'] (Central Michigan), ball control prospects in<strong> [player_tooltip player_id='494185' first='Brooke' last='Briscoe']</strong> (High Point), [player_tooltip player_id='192769' first='Faith' last='Grafton'] (West Virginia Wesleyan), and [player_tooltip player_id='435238' first='Paige' last='Jestadt'] (Lake Erie). With a recent 13th place finish at the JVA 18U national event, Mintonette is the #24 seed overall and the third seed overall in Pool 6. They begin play against Vision 18 Gold, AZ REV 18 Premier, and 1st Alliance 18 Gold. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->