Line Shot’s AAU National 17 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>And just like that, your AAU 17 Open National Champions have been crowned. And that marks the end of the 51st annual AAU Girls' National Championships in Orlando.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>First, and foremost, congratulations to Tribe 17 Elite on an amazing run to the championship. A 13-0 sprint from start to finish, going undefeated in sets throughout the first three days. Despite dropping the opening sets to each of their last three opponents, Tribe prevails and finally nabs their national champinship.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This division's championship bracket was chock full of big time moments on the biggest of stages. With so many great performances throughout the day, I am narrowing it down to seven players of who would be on Line Shot's Dream Team at AAU Nationals.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='455001' first='Tekoa' last='Barnes'] - Tribe</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This is a player that I would argue to be not only the MVP of the championship match, but the MVP of the entire tournament. When [player_tooltip player_id='455001' first='Tekoa' last='Barnes'] is coming in full speed, there is absolutely nobody that can stop her. From start to finish, she was the IT Girl for Tribe. In the finals, Barnes was particularly extraordinary as the point-scoring leader.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Bella Bullington - Sports Performance</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>If you weren't hearing Barnes' name being called out on the mic, it was Bella Bullington's name for Sports Performance. This future Northwestern Wildcat was one to take down. She had seemingly all of the shots in her artillery and not a single defender could get a grasp on her. When Bullington got the ball, it was going down. Her performance throughout the final day of play was excellent and lead SP to a runner-up finish.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Keira Schmidt - Northern Lights</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In an impressive run to a 17 Open Final Four, the mighty giant of Keira Schmidt in the middle was on point today for Northern Lights. With her blocking at the net to her offensive prowess, Schmidt at times was unstoppable. Northern Lights went on a remarkable 11-0 run up until the semifinal.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Manaia Ogbechie - Sports Academy</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>While Sports Academy may not have cut to the Final Four, there is certainly something to be said about this do-it-all middle blocker. Manaia Ogbechie may have been one of the most impressive players to set eyes on in Orlando. While her size proposes a lot of potential physicality, she then elevates to a WHOLE other level and can be so dangerous. On the pins, in the middle, three blockers up or not, Ogbechie clears them all and scores with utter ease.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='455014' first='Mija' last='Bendziute'] - Tribe</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>If there was an opposite that made a bigger impact on Championship Day, let me know! Bendziute had her hand in just about every cookie jar on the court. Whether she was attcking, blocking, passing or defending, this player was doing it all at an extremely high level. What impressed me most about this player was her timely block. There were times today that hitters could not find their way around Bendziute.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='184108' first='Charlotte' last='Glass'] - Tribe</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A long time star in this 2025 class, [player_tooltip player_id='184108' first='Charlotte' last='Glass'] has finally gotten her natty! There's not much to say about Glass' game that hasn't been said or seen already. This player brings such a poise and demeanor to the court that it is hard become rattle as a teammate. She delivers an excellent ball time and time again and is an utter beast when it comes to her net play.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='397437' first='Lily' last='Hayes'] - OTVA </h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This libero is one of the top in her class and this is yet another showcase as to why that is. This future Florida Gator was everywhere today. From her pass to her defense to her second ball, Hayes is always so locked in and precise it is an absolute treat to watch her in action. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->