Oregon Bid Tracker: Athena 18 Gold Secures the American Bid

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The ticket to USAV National in April has been punched! Athena 18 Gold falls to NPJ Forefront in a competitive 3-sets to walk away with the second highest bid awarded in the reigon: the American bid.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image --> <figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXcgk8lQIzkKmeQHeEANKu9LwyUFMEe7XxmIo-mXYyYQ1bBmz1_BklZph6D4gRzl3FcBdoH1hY-7_P6M5N4uizh5SgOjZf5DPfSuH1fPXMPNlxZBC4lM-yScx1iku8QhuRhTTWsnTw?key=lRhpwLqRNsDY1Viq75htwfpu" alt="" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Falling to NPJ Forefront in the finals of the CEVA GJNC Bid Tournament, Athena 18 Gold secured the coveted American bid—the second-highest bid awarded in the CEVA region.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Six-rotation outside hitters [player_tooltip player_id='257561' first='Gabby' last='Hill'] and [player_tooltip player_id='249444' first='Sydney' last='Dreves'] (Boise State University) delivered dominant performances on the pins. Hill showcased her powerful arm and expanding shot range, effectively attacking the floor with a fast inside ball. Dreves, with her lightning-quick arm swing and dynamic attacking style, was equally effective. Both athletes excel all around, with Hill making significant strides in backcourt play and Dreves standing out as a ball-control machine, unfazed on serve receive and defense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In the middle, [player_tooltip player_id='248860' first='Katie' last='Brewer'] (Portland State University) and [player_tooltip player_id='257582' first='Steel' last='Sinai'] (Temple University) formed a formidable duo. Brewer has extended her reach on the ball and increased her aggression in transition. Her disciplined blocking and ability to close at the pins were also standout contributions against Forefront's fast offense. Sinai, meanwhile, was explosive on the quick set, using her high reach and aggressive snap to put the ball away.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Running Athena's 6-2 offense were setters [player_tooltip player_id='161833' first='Hayden' last='McGehee'] (Belmont University) and [player_tooltip player_id='249445' first='Kendall' last='Mairs'] (San Diego State University). McGehee's speed and neutral posture kept defenses guessing, making her an unpredictable playmaker. Mairs, a well-rounded setter, distributed effectively across the backcourt while also attacking from the right side. Her ability to set against the grain and deliver hittable quick sets out of system was particularly impressive.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With McGehee rotating out in the front row, right-side hitters [player_tooltip player_id='161835' first='Cecily' last='Wagstaff'] and [player_tooltip player_id='161836' first='Addie' last='Emerson'] (Vanguard University) shared time in the position. The left-handed duo brought heavy swings and imposing blocks, making it difficult for opposing outside hitters to find success.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Holding down the backcourt was [player_tooltip player_id='257559' first='Addy' last='Azavedo'] (University of Washington), one of the nation's top liberos in the class of 2025. With exceptional court vision and quick reflexes, she made sure almost nothing hit the floor. In serve receive, her consistency and ability to cover large areas of the court provided a steady foundation for Athena's offense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Athena 18 Gold's strong collective effort and high-level execution solidified their place among the region's best, setting the stage for an exciting run at nationals.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->