PJVBC 15 National- Nationals Preview: Player Takeover!

<h2 class="wp-block-heading">2027 OH [player_tooltip player_id='544291' first='Emery' last='Stevenson'] swings away in this Nationals Preview!</h2>   Thank you to Michelle Bamford from PrepDig California and Emma Adams from PrepDig Oregon for inspiring this player takeover!   We kick off a two-week run of Nationals team previews with a new format- a player from each squad has taken the reigns and provides insight into their teammates and the season. Our tenth team is Puyallup Juniors 15 National, out of the Puget Sound Region. The team earned a bid to USAV Nationals with a first-place finish at the U15 PSR Regional Tournament. The squad will compete in the National Division and start bracket play against teams from Texas, Illinois, Arizona, and Iowa. The team had the American Division dialed in at two separate qualifiers this season. They finished with an overall record of 8-1 at the PNQ and an 8-1 record at the Salt Lake City Showdown.   2027 OH [player_tooltip player_id='544291' first='Emery' last='Stevenson'] will introduce the team, and we asked Emery to answer our questions for an in-depth look at the rising sophomore from White River High School.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/06/PJVBC-15-1.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-558775" style="width:645px;height:auto" /></figure>     <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/06/PJVBC-154.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-558705" style="width:959px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">PJVBC 15 National at The Emerald City Classic.</figcaption></figure>    From Emery: "Nevaeh is a fantastic middle! She is athletic and can read the game extremely well. Her ability to fly makes her a great hitter and effective blocker. It is so much fun watching her game improve every day. Nevaeh is the kindest and sweetest person out there, she is a great teammate."     From Emery: "Ava is another amazing middle! We call her “the wall” because she is a great, consistent blocker and hitter. Ava is a kind girl and always has a smile on her face. I have seen her progress so much over the years as she works to improve continually."   "     From Emery: "Addison is an athletic player who has played every single position on the court this season. She was willing to play wherever the team needed her as we worked through finding the best lineup. She has a great attitude and is always ready to be the best teammate."   ."     From Emery: "Georgia's role over the years has changed, originally playing middle in our 12s year and now a DS. Georgia has always strived for improvement, and it has really shown over the season. Georgia pours everything she has into this team and gives her best effort. She has always had this fun side you would never have guessed from her quiet and stoic demeanor. "   "       From Emery: "Taylor came onto this team as the supporting setter but has been a successful DS. She has done a great job with defense and serving. She also has the most fun and enjoyable personality to be around, which is great to have in a teammate."     From Emery: "Olivia is our amazing setter.  She is a fantastic player to watch as she runs the offense making smart setting choices. Her defense continues to improve and she is a force at the net blocking along with her sneaky setter dumps.  I have had the best time this season playing with her. She helps lead the team with her skills and her funny personality. "   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://youtu.be/SRJemmdLqFI?si=Lf0jwCuIxapfJTKm </div></figure>     From Emery: "Brynn is definitely the rookie of the year.  This was her first year of club volleyball, and she has progressed the most on the team. She is super athletic and continues to surprise us. At first, Brynn was mostly quiet, but as the season went on, she started showing more of her personality. Now I know her as this awesome, tall, funny, sweet friend.   "   "     From Emery: "Katie is a very hard worker. She is also a dynamic pin hitter, playing multiple positions this season. She has stepped up when and where the team needs her. Katie also has a great personality and loves this team. She is an ideal teammate."     From Emery: "Samantha is an incredibly dynamic player.  She stepped into a new role as a libero this season and has done a fantastic job. She is a gamer who wants to win and will do anything to achieve that. Sam has a fun, competitive personality that is extremely fun to be around and play with. I sincerely treasure getting to play with her."    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/06/PJVBC-13.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-558768" style="width:1013px;height:auto" /></figure>    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/06/Stevenson-PJVBC-15-3.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-558719" style="width:443px;height:auto" /></figure>    <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/06/Stevenson-PJVBC.jpg?w=731" alt="" class="wp-image-558706" style="width:369px;height:auto" /></figure>   Volleyball Honors and Accomplishments   <blockquote class="wp-block-quote"> White River High School: (position: OH)  ****   <ul> <li>Team:  District (2&3) Champions, State Tournament lost second round</li>   <li>Defensive Player of the Year (365 digs, 332 receptions, 11 blocks)</li>   <li>Digs Leader (365 digs)</li>   <li>Kills Runner Up (204 kills) </li>   <li></li> </ul>   South Puget Sound League   <ul> <li>First Team All League (only freshman, normally reserved for upper classmen)</li> </ul>   Washington State 2A Division   ****   <ul> <li>Digs 365 | #2 Overall #1 Freshman</li>   <li>Kills 204 | #10 Overall #1 Freshman</li> </ul>   Club Tournaments   <ul> <li>2023 Emerald City Classic:  MVP & All-Tournament. (Team finished 1st 14 Open)</li>   <li>2024 Emerald City Classic: All-Tournament. (Team finished 2nd 15 Open)</li>   <li>2024 PNQ 15 American: 3rd Place</li> </ul>   **** Stats from MaxPreps </blockquote>   Puyallup Juniors 15 National 2024 Season at a glance:   Silver Division Champions 17th of 126 at Salt Lake City Showdown- American Division. 3rd at Pacific Northwest Qualifier- American Division. 1st at Regionals, earning a 15 National Bid. 2nd in the Emerald City Classic 15 Open Division     <figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/06/PJVBC-15-5.jpeg?w=960" alt="" class="wp-image-558707" style="width:924px;height:auto" /></figure>     Please tell us your GPA and any college majors you are considering. What is important to you in a college?   Freshman Year -3.84 GPA   "I am currently considering Aviation as my major. We live on a private grass airport and have many neighbors, family, and friends who are commercial pilots. I want to travel and explore new places.   I want something relatively close to home for college, but I'm not afraid to go a little farther for class sizes, as I would prefer them a little smaller. Going to a larger school would be nice for making friends and connecting with a wider network of people. Growing up in a fairly isolated town, I wouldn't want a school where everyone knows everyone; I've had plenty of experience. I am looking forward to meeting new people and having new experiences."   <blockquote class="wp-block-quote"> How did you get started in volleyball? Do you play other sports? </blockquote>   <blockquote class="wp-block-quote"> Coming from an athletic family, I have always been involved in sports since I was young including soccer, basketball, tennis. When my mom coached my older brother's volleyball team, I was able to watch and participate in practices. I found that I loved the game and knew that volleyball would be my main sport. </blockquote>   What do you like to do outside of volleyball?   <blockquote class="wp-block-quote"> As we all know, the volleyball life is very time consuming. However, I do enjoy a variety of things outside of volleyball. I just finished my Drivers Ed requirements and am working towards getting my private pilot license. Being a teenage girl, of course, I like hanging out with my friends and playing beach volleyball for fun. I enjoy reading books and listening to music. I appreciate all sorts of genres. I love finding record stores with old vinyls to realize how much music is really out there, the beauty of it, discovering it all. </blockquote>   What has been the best moment with the team this season(s)? "   <blockquote class="wp-block-quote"> It may be predictable but getting the bid in Centralia was huge and definitely most memorable. As a team, we have been through a lot of highs and lows. We lost two key players at the beginning and spent the season working through different lineups. Playing together, the adrenaline pumping, giving everything that you have to win each point, for it to all come together at the bid tournament, all the trial and error was worth it. I wouldn't want to do that with any other team. </blockquote>   "   <figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/06/PJVBC-15-6.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-558708" style="width:739px;height:auto" /></figure>   What are your strengths as a teammate and player?   "As a teammate, I believe that my core qualities are that I am encouraging, supportive, and a leader. I do my best to lift others up on my team. And I love to have fun and laugh a lot."   "As a player, my strengths include all technical skills, speed and agility, and court IQ. The unique quality have is that I am a playmaker. Through my competitive drive, I make plays on balls that might seem impossible to dig up. I am frequently asked if I play beach due to my strategic style of play. I enjoy playing the outside position now for club and high school but am looking to focus as a defensive specialist/libero in college, maybe playing beach, too."   <blockquote class="wp-block-quote"> <ul></ul> </blockquote>     <figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-large"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/06/Stevenson-PJVB-2-crop-960x631-1719790996.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-558710" /></figure>   PrepDig Washington on Stevenson:   The 2027 OH from White River High School was slicing and dicing at the Emerald City Classic in the matches we saw live. Viewing a match from Regionals online was one experience; seeing Stevenson play in person, you pick up on the winning plays she makes throughout a match. She can take a big swing and put heat on the ball, then come back with a perfect chip to the corner end line that has the defense flat-footed. Stevenson has quick feet and great speed as a defender; her anticipation is at the next level, and she makes plays that can change the momentum of a match. She is giving up size on the pin, but her creativity and competitiveness allow her to score and help her team win. Stevenson has a deep bag she dips into when attacking; every tip, chip, and roll available will find its way to the floor when she is on the pin. Make sure to check out this competitive, creative 2027 prospect when you have the chance.   <figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/06/PJVBC-Final-Team.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-558744" style="width:816px;height:auto" /></figure>   Best of luck to Puyallup Juniors Volleyball Club 15 National, and thank you, Emery, for participating in our Nationals Preview series!