USAV GJNC Preview: 2025 Top Passers

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The USAV Girls Junior National Championships are fast approaching, which will take place from July 3rd through the 11th in Las Vegas, Nevada. Top teams from across the country are currently preparing to compete in hopes of representing their club and region well. Many teams from the CEVA Region were awarded bids and are eager to show the country what volleyball from the Pacific Northwest looks like!&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Leading up to the tournament, PrepDig Oregon will highlight players to watch from each of the CEVA teams that received bids.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Up now, the top defensive specialists/liberos from the class of 2026 in attendance!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["268726"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-667b321a515a7"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Trees has anchored the backcourt of Aspire NW 16-1 Empire all season long and should fulfill the same role as the team competes in the 16 Freedom division at USAV Nationals. On serve receive, she has active feet and stays balanced on contact. She is an athletic and dynamic defender, with her quick reaction time on full display. From the service line, she brings a well-placed and aggressive jump float serve.  </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["449941"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-667b321a515fd"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Sanchez has played a pivotal role in the success of Athena 16-1 Gold, and her talents will be put to use as the team competes in the 16 American division at USAV Nationals. Her defensive game is top-notch, showcasing incredible range in which she covers a lot of space on the court. She makes opposing attacker's jobs difficult with her ability to sprawl out and fly all over the place to save a ball. Sanchez does not back down.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["267163"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-667b321a5163c"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Heinle has proved herself to be an asset this season with Athena 16-1 Gold and will be key to the team's success in the 16 American division at USAV Nationals. She is dominant on serve receive displaying clean, early angles and space between her platform and body. She also confidently steps in and takes an out-of-system ball with her hands. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Kendall Martinez","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'2u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"32926","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Crook County","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"[program_tooltip program_id='483806' first='Central' last='Oregon Volleyball Club'] ","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-667b321a516c2"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Martinez is one of two liberos in rotation for COVC 16-1 National and should take on this role as the team competes in the 16 Patriot division at USAV Nationals. As a defender, she displays the confidence to take up a lot of court and provides relief to her six rotation attackers, moving outside of her zone to play the ball. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["238094"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-667b321a51702"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Johnson has been primarily utilized as a defensive specialist this season for NPJ Salem 16-1 National and should take on that role as the team competes in the 16 National division at USAV Nationals. Her sheer athleticism and speed shines through on the court. This undoubtedly aids in her ability to make electric defensive plays, pursuing the ball with no fear or hesitation. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["503534"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-667b321a5173b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Elster has been a key factor in Spiketown 16-1 National's success as their primary libero and should be utilized as such as the team battles in the 16 Freedom division at USAV Nationals. She stays active and alert across the backcourt, exhibiting good court sense and communication skills. On defense, she reads the attack and tracks the ball well. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["268716"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-667b321a51772"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Ginter has been a critical piece of the NPJ Salem 16-1 National as one of their two primary liberos in rotation, and her skill will be needed as the team competes in the 16 National division at USAV Nationals. Typically utilized on serve receive, she displays a newfound confidence in owning her seams and taking up a lot of court. She passes a consistent ball off of hard-driven serves with ease, creating an early angle and staying balanced with her feet. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='573350' first='Tatum' last='Nelson']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'3u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"32926","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Seton Prep","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Excel NW ","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-667b321a517df"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Nelson has been a steady contributor as the primary libero for Excel 16-1 Lux and her skill will be utilized as the team battles in the 16 Patriot division at USAV Nationals. Defensively, she is quick on her feet and is especially adept at reading the tip and utilizing a dolphin dive to play the ball. Her communication and positive energy on the court are also apparent.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["267162"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-667b321a5181a"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Tuioti has seen court time as one of the two liberos in rotation for NPJ Salem 16-1 National and will be an instrumental piece of the team's lineup as they battle in the 16 National division at USAV Nationals. Typically utilized for her defensive capabilities, she is athletic, scrappy, and quick. Her ability to control a hard-driven attack with agile feet and a technically sound platform is noted. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>—</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We can support these amazing athletes by sharing articles with family, friends, fans, and coaches. To do this, subscribe to our site and share across your social media platforms.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Stay informed by following Prep Dig on its various social media platforms. Follow Prep Dig PNW on Instagram (<a href="https://www.instagram.com/prepdig_pnw/">@prepdigpnw</a>) for updates on Oregon and Washington athletes.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sometimes, unintentional errors happen. For corrections, please email prepdigpnw@gmail.com with“PrepDig Correction” in the subject line.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->