Pin Hitters Making Moves after the GPR Bid Tournament
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Time to fill in that last missing link. We’ve covered setters, middle blockers, and liberos throughout our post-GPR Bid Tournament coverage. That leaves pin hitters on our list, and you know we have some big names for this one. Let’s…
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Continue ReadingTime to fill in that last missing link.
We’ve covered setters, middle blockers, and liberos throughout our post-GPR Bid Tournament coverage. That leaves pin hitters on our list, and you know we have some big names for this one.
Let’s bring them out.
Addie Kleis
Addie Kleis
Kleis is an unsung hero in the MVP United 17 Red frontcourt. She is a terrific wing blocker who has a knack for squaring up against opposing left sides. 17 Red is known for its variety of crossing patterns and routes, and Kleis is a willing participant in that effort. Pin-to-pin balance will be key for 17 Red’s GJNC title aspirations.
Hannah Ehrenberg
Hannah Ehrenberg
Ehrenberg is a name that needs to be added to our 2026 list. She plays up a year with Premier 17 Red and bolsters the team’s multi-athlete presence on the right side. The Bid Tournament revealed Ehrenberg’s full arsenal of shots, including a cut shot that scored at will. Once Ehrenberg makes her entrance in the 2026 watch list, she’s bound to quickly rise the hierarchy. GJNC offers a chance to keep climbing.
What haven’t we said about Rogokos? She is an indispensable part of Premier 16 Black’s efforts and can be a true six-rotation threat at the right-side hitter spot. Few teams figured out how to stop her quick arm as Rogokos and 16 Black roared to a 16 National bid. We’re ready to watch this summer’s championship pursuit.
Highlights
MVP United 16 Red can show so many different left-side hitter lineups. It all starts with players like Jackson who can do anything. She’s listed as an outside hitter and a defensive specialist, which is an apt description of Jackson’s abilities. 16 Red’s outside hitters will contribute in any phase imaginable.
We’ll always jump at the opportunity to talk about a lefty playing on the left side. It’s a rare feat that Bellamy has mastered in 2024. It’s hard to say whether this niche is by necessity or if Bellamy prefers this unusual role. Either way, she put up big numbers last weekend and helped VCNebraska 16 Elite make an extraordinary Sunday comeback. We won’t soon forget that effort.
Ella Waters
Ella Waters
Waters is another can’t-miss opposite from the 16s bracket. Similar to other athletes we’ve discussed this week, Waters can swap between the right-side hitter and middle blocker positions depending on the frontcourt personnel around her. She is just as comfortable hitting in front of the setter as she is behind. Tracking this dynamic athlete is a unique challenge.
Dickerson’s role keeps evolving with Premier 16 Red. We already knew what this well-rounded athlete could do as a middle-back defender, but Dickerson is not just a defensive specialist. She has seen plenty of frontcourt reps lately and is turning into one of 16 Red’s leading scorers on the outside. This team’s late-season success has been spurned by its wealth of options on the pins.
Hope Preston
Hope Preston
Preston falls into our Iowa camp based on her high school location, but she crosses the river to compete with Premier 16 Silver on the club side. 16 Silver is surely glad to have this natural opposite who can terminate in any situation. She makes the most of high out-of-system sets and sees the block well to find the open space. Last weekend’s event was a big step forward for many of this squad’s 2026s.
Add another one to the lefty camp. Van Buren is a talented multi-sport athlete whose left-handedness makes her an ideal fit for the right-side hitter spot. She can get on top of the ball quickly, helping her adapt to MVP 15 Red’s quick tempo to the pins. Rotation 1 is also a good spot for Van Buren, as she’s surprisingly effective when swinging on the left. Keep this versatility in mind as we get closer to Vegas.
Cayle Grossart
Cayle Grossart
This South Central star gave us even more than we expected. We highlighted Grossart as a player to watch heading into the tournament, but we had a very limited understanding of what she could do. She promptly took the floor for 15 Black and command the net with her crosscourt power. This outside hitter belongs on the GJNC stage alongside her small-town crew from South Central.
Schnabel has become an essential “glue” player for Premier 15 Red. Her six-rotation skills frequently offer a boost for the team, even when Schnabel is not the one terminating in the front row. She has progressed as a primary passer and delivered some clutch first contacts at the Bid Tournament. More quality reps are on the way this summer.
Highlights
Maddie Mann
Maddie Mann
Mann is a new addition to our radar after last weekend’s event. She got a lot of reps at the left-side hitter spot and showed a crafty touch that we’d expect from a Nebraska ONE attacker. Tooling off hands is certainly a skill in Mann’s arsenal, and she will keep building off of a successful 2024 campaign for 15 Lime.