Oregon Bid Tracker: NPJ 18 Forefront Secures the National Bid

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The ticket to USAV Nationals in April has been punched! </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>NPJ Forefront went undefeated at the GJNC CEVA Bid tournament to secure the top bid awarded from our region: the National bid.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image --> <figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXcNPDHqzNLBkfCP86Gkr_ZUpN1cjfU7DT4EszgjypWTWsK50RAU30gXE-xUdXIFEC3Kah8d5UDmLY6ccArGuMXBTSJ6WqvclMV6e4de_U8VGp7wU13999Cm1ev9cImgCulaeYyL?key=lRhpwLqRNsDY1Viq75htwfpu" alt="" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Forefront battled against Athena 18 Gold in the finals of the bid tournament, securing the National bid—the highest bid allotted in the CEVA region.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Powerhouse outside hitters [player_tooltip player_id='161159' first='Paige' last='Thies'] (University of Arizona) and [player_tooltip player_id='231549' first='Laura' last='Eichert'] (University of San Diego) led the offensive charge. Thies, a key contributor since her sophomore year, was dominant on both offense and defense. Meanwhile, Eichert, a newcomer to NPJ who commutes from Seattle, quickly made her presence known, consistently finding seams in Athena's block to put the ball away.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In the middle, the trio of [player_tooltip player_id='161826' first='Taelyn' last='Bentley'] (University of South Florida), [player_tooltip player_id='161841' first='Giana' last='Elgarico'] (University of Oregon beach), and [player_tooltip player_id='184440' first='Ziah' last='Sneva'] (Washington State University) proved nearly unstoppable. Their aggressiveness in transition and tireless work effort to make themselves a consistently available option made them an offensive threat. Their disciplined blocking at the pins was also a game-changer.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Running a 5-1 offense, junior setter [player_tooltip player_id='267157' first='Lily' last='Mae Buerkle'] (University of Washington) showcased her elite skill set. Her precise set placement and standout defense in right back have solidified her as one of the top setters in the 2026 class. Also in the setter rotation, [player_tooltip player_id='161158' first='Kamden' last='Mitchell'] (University of Oregon) displayed her exceptional athleticism and versatility. While primarily used as a right-side hitter, her ability to seamlessly take over setting duties in out-of-system situations demonstrated her well-rounded game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Anchoring the backcourt, [player_tooltip player_id='220494' first='Reese' last='Sheppard']—another Seattle-area standout—stepped into the libero role with remarkable ease. Originally trained as a setter, she has quickly adapted, showing outstanding ball control in both serve receive and defense, staying composed under pressure against powerful swings and serves. Also utilized as a defensive specialist, Jackie Carle (Washington State University), typically goes in to anchor right back when Buerkle is setting in the front row.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With a dynamic lineup and relentless execution, Forefront delivered a commanding performance to secure their well-earned National bid.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->