17’s Unstoppable Forces: Look at Gateway League’s Opening Weekend

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This past weekend marked an exciting kickoff for the Gateway League, showcasing remarkable performances from several teams. [program_tooltip program_id='428760' first='Core' last='STL'] 17 Navy led the charge with an impressive sweep of all opponents, while other teams also demonstrated their strength and skill on the court. Here's a recap of the standout teams and players from the weekend.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[program_tooltip program_id='428760' first='Core' last='STL'] 17 Navy (6-0)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[program_tooltip program_id='428760' first='Core' last='STL'] 17 Navy came out strong, sweeping all opponents in their first weekend. Only two teams scored over 20 points against them, with Club Four 16-Boost and FC United 16 Black the exceptions. [player_tooltip player_id='915905' first='Charlotte' last='Bland'] fueled the offense with her exceptional setting, while libero <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='545799' first='Emily' last='Frazier']</strong> excelled in defense, dominating the passing lanes. Pin hitters <strong>Maria Nettler, [player_tooltip player_id='698699' first='Zoey' last='Hollander']</strong>, and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='877886' first='Anna' last='Denny']</strong> consistently delivered solid plays, and defensive specialists <strong>Gwyneth Bauer</strong> and <strong>Lily Esker</strong> contributed significantly to the team's defensive efforts.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>FC United 17 Black (5-1)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>FC United started the league with a thrilling match against [program_tooltip program_id='428760' first='Core' last='STL'] 16 Carolina, winning 25-23, 23-25, 15-12. They finished the weekend with a 5-1 record, losing only to [program_tooltip program_id='428799' first='Rockwood' last='Thunder'] 17 Carolina. Key players included <strong>Mya Riegel</strong> and <strong>Ava Maxey</strong> on defense, while pin hitters <strong>Ainsley Skubic</strong> and <strong>Audrey Hotz</strong> made significant impacts. Middle blockers [player_tooltip player_id='475348' first='Kylie' last='Barnard'] and <strong>Kathryn Figas</strong> also showcased their skills, contributing to the team's success.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>HPSTL 17 Royal (6-0)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>HPSTL 17 Royal demonstrated their dominance with a perfect 12-0 set record, solidifying their status as one of the top teams in the Gateway Region. Libero [player_tooltip player_id='801043' first='Aubrey' last='Dumstorff'] played a crucial role, while [player_tooltip player_id='828314' first='Marlee' last='Steiner'] and [player_tooltip player_id='489911' first='Emory' last='Freesmeier'] excelled in the middle with impressive hitting and blocking. [player_tooltip player_id='485570' first='Eden' last='Robart'] performed admirably on the right pin, and outside hitters [player_tooltip player_id='475322' first='Kate' last='Sherry'] and setter [player_tooltip player_id='544669' first='Gabriella' last='Schwoeppe'] had standout matches as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[program_tooltip program_id='428797' first='Pursuit' last=''] 17 National (6-0)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Another team that impressed was [program_tooltip program_id='428797' first='Pursuit' last=''] 17 National, who also went 12-0 in sets, allowing only one team to reach 20 points. With standout Class 1 setter Ashtyn Van de Ven leading the offense, tough libero [player_tooltip player_id='804199' first='Emme' last='Browne'], pin hitter [player_tooltip player_id='485590' first='Rylie' last='Schreiner'], and defenders [player_tooltip player_id='515744' first='Macyn' last='McCarthy'], [player_tooltip player_id='809612' first='Ella' last='Pierce'], and <strong>Mia Congiardo</strong> all played pivotal roles in the team's success. This team, primarily composed of players from rural Southeast regions, has shown great promise for the season ahead.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[program_tooltip program_id='428799' first='Rockwood' last='Thunder'] 17 Elite (6-0)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[program_tooltip program_id='428799' first='Rockwood' last='Thunder'] 17 Elite, the region's top team, showcased its depth and talent, led by standout [player_tooltip player_id='475339' first='Shaye' last='Witherspoon']. In a hard-fought match against HPSTL 18 Royal, they emerged victorious 25-20, 24-26, 15-8. Key contributions came from pin hitter [player_tooltip player_id='544668' first='Madelyn' last='Mannebach'] and middles [player_tooltip player_id='828251' first='Jayla' last='Williams'] and Livia Goebel, who delivered crucial kills. [player_tooltip player_id='475328' first='Audrey' last='Schaeffer']'s relentless defense kept the ball off the floor, setting the stage for an exciting matchup against HPSTL 17 Royal in the future league play.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->