7 Stud Standouts in 14 Open at the Gauntlet

The 14 Open Division was outstanding. The volleyball was so fun to watch, especially as some of the top teams in the country went head-to-head. Rockwood Thunder and Circle City are both qualified to Open at USAV Nationals. 1st Alliance 14-1, Circle City 14 Black, [program_tooltip program_id='428591' first='FC' last='Elite'] 14 Navy, Sting 14 Gold, and Northern Lights 14-1 all qualified in the National division at USAV Nationals. And Dunes 14 Black and Iowa Rockets 14R will compete in the Open Division at AAU Nationals.   These athletes compete at a high level and have proven that in every match. Here are some stud standouts from the 14 Open Division at the Gauntlet.    Chyla is an absolute powerhouse middle. She can make huge plays in front of and behind her setter and is hungry for the ball. What sets her apart is her discipline - the way she moves across the net in block and transition is some of the best I've seen at this age. It seems no matter the situation, Chyla knows precisely where she needs to be and how she can make herself available to earn points.     Kiersten has all the attributes of a great setter. She is gritty, scrappy, and talented on defense. Kiersten moves the ball around with confidence and has a great connection with her hitters. She was so impressive throughout the tournament, consistently playing at a high level and as a leader for her team.     Caroline's impact on the court cannot be understated. From her lethal serve to her massive vertical, Caroline contributes to nearly every point. She has big vertical and a lightning-fast arm swing that helps her power through blocks. She can consistently earn points on the pin and from the back line for her team.     Pacyn is a player to watch in this class. She was playing 6-rotations this weekend and was a huge contributor for [program_tooltip program_id='428591' first='FC' last='Elite'] 14 Navy. Pacyn is an engaged leader and has a high-volleyball IQ. It impressed me how Pacyn contributed just as much in the back row as on offense. Her platform is clean and consistent, and she is a powerhouse 6-rotation pin with incredible potential.     Adalyn caused a lot of problems for opponents at the Gauntlet. She was nearly unstoppable. Her height, speed, and high-level court vision all played a part. She also had great connections with her setters and could find great shots off of nearly any set. Adalyn absolutely wowed throughout the Gauntlet and was a key point earner for this very talented [program_tooltip program_id='557038' first='Milwaukee' last='Juniors'] squad.     Karis played at the libero position the entire weekend for Sting 14 Gold, and she absolutely rocked it. She was an energizer and a key piece of her team's championship run. Karis played gritty defense, was scrappy in coverage, and played clean serve receive. She played tough, brushing off errors, setting her team up for success, and always having her team's back and covering large areas of the court in defense.     Nora was hands down one of the most powerful hitters in the tournament. Some of her swings made my jaw drop. Her connection with her setter was superb. Nora ran some of the fastest tempo balls I've seen at this age, right out of the setter's hands. It was truly impressive to watch. Nora also put up a massive block and was disciplined and explosive in her play. She was a key point earner and leader on her team.

The 14 Open Division was outstanding. The volleyball was so fun to watch, especially as some of the top teams in the country went head-to-head. Rockwood Thunder and Circle City are both qualified to Open at USAV Nationals. 1st Alliance 14-1, Circle City 14 Black, FC Elite 14 Navy, Sting 14 Gold, and Northern Lights 14-1 all qualified in the National division at USAV Nationals. And Dunes 14 Black and Iowa Rockets 14R will compete in the Open Division at AAU Nationals.