Emperors Cup 2024: Victory in Vegas!

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Several clubs from Washington traveled to Las Vegas on May 3rd, 4th, and 5th to participate in the Emperor's Cup tournament. The weekend was a resounding success for teams from the Evergreen State, with four championships won, two runner-up finishes, and two third-place medals to round out the honors. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The championships were captured in every Open Division from age 15-18, a dominant performance for clubs from the west side of the state at the 320-team tournament. The most impressive performance may have come from the 17 Open Champions, NPJ 17 Seattle. The 17 and 18 Open divisions were combined in pool play, and the North Pacific Juniors 17 squad knocked off the 18 Open champions WVBA 18 Adidas, along with both 3rd place 18's teams, Paradigm and Balboa Bay. NPJ finished with an unblemished 8-0 record for the tournament. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>NPJ 17 National Seattle 8-0, 1st 17 Open</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["220494"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Sheppard was lights out defensively from the setter spot, and incredibly tough from the service line. Operating in a 6-2, the 2025 from Puyallup made terrific decisions and was reading opposing attackers at a high level.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["266202"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"The libero from Mt. Rainier made a statement with her play over the weekend. Alefaio-Foifua is a tremendous setter from the back row, and that allows NPJ setters to aggressively take the first ball when needed. She has great hands, is quick and decisive making moves on swings and off-speed shots, and was aggressive in handling the seams in serve receive.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":2,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-664047c791943"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>WVBA 18 Adidas 8-1, 1st 18 Open</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["268474"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Fredrickson stays in constant motion, giving her WVBA setters options in transition and holding the opposing middle to open up seams on the pin. She was able to close the block as the match went on against a tough Paradigm team, using sound footwork to challenge swings from their talented pins. Fredrickson terminated three points on quick routes in front of her setter versus Paradigm in set one, including a rocket to the deep left corner off a one-handed set.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["250396"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"Mason is a match up problem, at 6'1u0022, the left-handed right side has a strong block and is able to hit around, over and through the block. She was able to score on sets that may not have been perfect, dropping a three-quarters shot just in front of the back line. Mason has the ability to hammer down a ball when the opportunity is there, but will also throw a perfect off-speed shot into the corner to score.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":2,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-664047c7919f7"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>WVBA 16 Adidas 8-1, 1st 16 Open</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The only loss on the weekend for 16 Adidas was avenged in the championship match. After dropping a three-set decision to Vegas United G16 Black, WVBA swept the final 27-25, 25-16 to leave no doubt.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["519075"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"The 2026 libero from Bishop Blanchet worked extremely hard defensively for her WVBA 16 Adidas team. Schneider has terrific reactions to tips and is always in the right spot to cover her hitters; she kept rallies alive poking up balls that otherwise would have been stuff blocks. She is decisive and confident in cutting off balls that she can handle, making sure her team is in position to succeed in transition.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["251050"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"Blockers had a difficult job reading where Chambers might go with a swing in Las Vegas. The 5'10u0022 six-rotation OH from Snohomish brought out a wicked hard angle swing, peppered the deep line and threw down a power tip when she needed another shot in her bag. Chambers was husting in the middle back defensively, and was on point in the serve receive game.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":2,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-664047c791a6c"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>WVBA 15 Adidas 9-0, 1st 15 Girls</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 15's Division was just one 32-team field, and the WVBA 15 Adidas squad dropped just one set to a familiar foe, NPJ Seattle 15 National.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["444381"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Ackimese was all over the court as a DS, covering her front line, stepping in to set the second contact and doing excellent work from the service line. She formed a great front row, back row combo with OH [player_tooltip player_id='544966' first='Sasha' last='Pound'], delivering the backline defense and rotating out with Pound who took solid swings. Ackimese essentially gave WVBA two skilled, athletic libero's when she was on the court.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["484156"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"Malley was setting in a 5-1, and she took advantage of her team's length and firepower to overpower most teams in the tournament. Her willingness to reverse the flow and find her right side paid dividends, and Malley plays solid defense before finding the second ball. Malley may not be the tallest 5-1 setter, but she makes things happen as a blocker and attacker in the front row.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":2,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-664047c791b29"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>NPJ Seattle 15 National, 8-1, 2nd Place, 15 Girls</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The only loss for NPJ was in the championship match, in three to WVBA 15 Adidas. Setter <strong>Adeline Pozzi</strong>, #11 is one to watch. Pozzi found her pin attackers in one-up situations and is an easy, smooth setter with good feet and athletic ability.<strong> [player_tooltip player_id='702559' first='Alexandra' last='Pelesasa']</strong> took aggressive swings in big moments and played with tremendous energy and fire. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>WVBA 17 Molten, 7-1, 2nd Place, 17 National</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='267682' first='Jayci' last='Scrivens']</strong> played confidently as a six-rotation outside, showing a wide array of shots from the pin and covering ground defensively in the middle back. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='395705' first='Lauren' last='Culala']</strong> was quick and challenging to tip on in the libero spot. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>WVBA 16 Molten, 7-1, 3rd Place, 16 National</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='251054' first='Mikayla' last='Liljenquist']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='486984' first='Kennedy' last='Horne']</strong> share the rotation as the setters and right sides for WVBA 16 Molten. Horne has excellent size, a strong block and a high release point on her sets. Liljenquist is a smooth athlete and setter who confidently runs the offense. The team dropped just one match in the semi-finals, 23-25, 23-25. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>PSVBA Elite 18, 6-1, 3rd Place, 18 Liberty</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Tamara Ducros</strong> is an explosive and fun-to-watch OH who takes huge swings for PSVBA Elite 18. She showed a nice pipe attack for the team when they needed an outlet for the offense. <strong>Sandra Losey</strong> has excellent size at the setter spot, played gritty defense, and is willing to attack out of the 5-1. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->