GJNC 18 Open Preview: Missouri and KC Metro
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Baltimore is the scene. The 18s season is coming to an end but not before these ladies experience one final national with the USAV Girls Championships taking place this upcoming weekend. Though my focus has shifted to Missouri in the…
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Continue ReadingBaltimore is the scene. The 18s season is coming to an end but not before these ladies experience one final national with the USAV Girls Championships taking place this upcoming weekend. Though my focus has shifted to Missouri in the last couple of months, I can’t leave out the teams on the Kansas side in the Kansas City Metro that have players on the Missouri side of the state line. Here are the teams who qualified in the open division.
KC Power 18 Black
Dave Johnson and his KC Power 18 Black team wasted little time getting their bid, winning the MLK Qualifier in January. They weren’t a one-hit wonder, following that up with a strong showing and a title at Northern Lights. Triple Crown showed they are more than capable of competing with the top teams across the country after a 5th-place finish. Power had a front-heavy schedule so they should be well rested and ready to compete. They aren’t the biggest team in the 18 Open division but they do many things well starting with ball control with Mya Bolton, which allows setter Janelle Green to utilize her weapons in Alea Goolsby, Rachel Van Gorp, and Jillian Huckabey on the pins.
Rockwood Thunder 18 Elite
Like KC Power , Rockwood took the suspense out of the air by finishing in second at MLK and getting their bid out of the way. They ended up being another team to “qualify” multiple times with top finishes at additional qualifiers. To prepare for nationals, they participated recently in the Under Armour 18U Championships in Kentucky and finished 9th, going 6-2. Rockwood is an experienced team, with players who have been playing together for years. Olivia Hasbrook Olivia Hasbrook 5'9" | DS/L Eureka | 2024 State #56 Nation MO has been a staple in the back row. The team has many viable options for scoring with Allison Risley Allison Risley 5'11" | OH Lafayette | 2024 State #187 Nation MO , Jordan Smith Jordan Smith 6'4" | OH Francis Howell Central | 2025 State #59 Nation MO , Claire Morrisey, and Maya Witherspoon Maya Witherspoon 5'11" | OH Lafayette | 2025 State #44 Nation MO . The two-setter offense features mainstay Alyssa Nelson Alyssa Nelson 5'8" | S Wildwood | 2024 State MO and new addition this season Sammi Bergjans Sammi Bergjans 5'9" | S Incarnate Word Academy | 2024 State MO .
Mavs KC 18-1
Mavs KC 18-1 captured their bid at the Southeast Qualifier in February. They were hungry after just missing out on a bid in January in Kansas City. They also boast another top-10 finish at Lone Star. The team mixed new players this year but you wouldn’t know from the production on the court. Kelsey Schenck has been a top-performing setter for years and has a high volleyball IQ on the court. She can go to the middle and find players like Tatum Grimes or shoot to the pin for Mikalah Davis Mikalah Davis 5'9" | OH St. Michael The Archangel | 2024 State MO , Seeane Brewer, and Keliah Rivers. In the back row, Remi Nuss, Sydney Wiliams, and Emmy Sher are all players capable of making defensive highlight plays.
Pohaku 18-1
Boston was good for Pohaku, as they traveled to the Northeast and came back with an open bid. They also showed they are capable of making some noise this weekend after an 11th-place finish at Triple Crown President’s Day Weekend. Like most teams, they are a team that can be dangerous when they can stay in system. This starts in the middle with the ability to feed Jada Ingram and Alexis Alexander the ball. Both bring Power behind their swings and if they get going they can open things up for their pins. Setter Ava Martin has been a top setter in Kansas City and will look to run a balanced offense by getting Ava Spachek and Mary Burke going. This team features an abundance of high-quality defenders with many to choose from in Sylvia Bunde, Riley Ourth, Claire Jones, and Sophia Bond.