Prep Dig Rachel's Live Eye: Breakout Stars at the Champions Cup

<p>The Champions Cup is one of my favorite events of the season - I couldn't even give a reason why, but it is an event I prioritize every year in my schedule. This year, there was so much joy on the court. Coaches and athletes were competing with huge intensity, yet still finding the fun in the sport. I was so impressed with athletes across divisions from 15s through 17s/18s. This article will focus on some breakout stars from the Champions Cup.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='758958' first='McKenna' last='Mileski'] - Spiketown 17.2</h2>   <p>McKenna played all 6 rotations for Spiketown 17.2, who earned 2nd place in the 17/18 open division. She first caught my eye with her aggressive choices and execution on offense. She wasn't afraid to take tough shots and made great adjustments with her swings on broken plays. Throughout the day, though, I was continually impressed with her consistency and all-around high level of play. She was solid in serve receive, quick in defense, and had a reliable and competitive serve. </p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='726019' first='Piper' last='Willenbucher'] - Madtown 171 Select</h2>   <p>Piper ran the court like a seasoned pro at the Champions Cup. Her fundamentals initially caught my eye with clean footwork and no hesitation when exploding to the ball. She did a good job keeping all of her hitters involved while keeping her hot hitters going. She balanced the different aspects of her role as a setter and the areas of the game very well. </p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='376300' first='Katelyn' last='Nowak'] - Hartford 18-1</h2>   <p>Hartford won the Champions Cup 17/18 Open Division, and Katelyn was a key piece of their offense. She did a really solid job on the right side. In the championship match, she also played as a 6-rotation right side in the last set. Her cross-court shot was tough to defend, but she also utilized a variety of different swings and speeds to earn points. I was impressed with her all-around play and ability to make out-of-system plays work to her advantage. </p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='726841' first='Claire' last='Theunis'] - [program_tooltip program_id='428591' first='FC' last='Elite'] 17 Blue</h2>   <p>Claire was just so solid. She was all over the court. As a libero for [program_tooltip program_id='428591' first='FC' last='Elite'], she was not letting a single ball drop. Her volleyball IQ was very hight and she used it on every play. Claire's hustle and athleticism, combined with her knowledge of the game, made her a huge threat to every opponent they came across. She was constantly on. the move and picking up a lot of balls that many players would miss. </p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Malia Volesky - I AM 17 White</h2>   <p>Malia showed incredible grit. Even though she is a setter, her defense was what first caught my eye. I saw her playing setter and right side, and she was just relentless, never giving up, even in tough matches. She trusted her hitters to do their job and was always working to get them the best possible set. On offense, she was aggressive and smart. </p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='789940' first='Estelle' last='Schleis']- [program_tooltip program_id='428591' first='FC' last='Elite'] 16 Black </h2>   <p>Estelle did a wonderful job running the court as a setter for [program_tooltip program_id='428591' first='FC' last='Elite']. She was a setter who played amazing defense, made aggressive decisions, and wasn't afraid to push the pace of the ball to keep the game fast. Estelle also played on the right side and showed consistent 6-rotation leadership on the court for her team. She was athletic and highly engaged mentally throughout each match. </p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Rayna Brelage - [program_tooltip program_id='428591' first='FC' last='Elite'] 16 Adidas </h2>   <p>Rayna was a dynamic middle and one with huge potential. She has a lot of length at the net and found massive success with her block. Not only did she get great stuff blocks, but she also consistently got good touches that slowed the ball down for her defense to pick up. Rayna worked hard in transition and utilized every set she got to work to earn points. </p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Ruby Jones - Madtown 162 Select</h2>   <p>Ruby was a go-to hitter for Madtown throughout the weekend. This talented Madtown team took 2nd place in the tournament, and Ruby played a key role. I saw Ruby really hit her stride on the first day of the tournament, and she never slowed down. She was a go-to hitter and did a great job mixing up the speed of her shots throughout matches. She showed her power and her ability to make smart shots in every match I saw her play. </p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='522950' first='Aleah' last='Van Groll'] - Spiketown 16.3</h2>   <p>Aleah was a rock for Spiketown in the back row from start to finish. Every aspect of her game was an asset to the team, from her serving to her out-of-system sets and, of course, her defense and serve receive. As a libero, Aleah checked every box, and she stepped up when her team needed it most. She helped her team win the championship and was a confident leader in the back court. </p>   <p></p>

The Champions Cup is one of my favorite events of the season - I couldn't even give a reason why, but it is an event I prioritize every year in my schedule. This year, there was so much joy on the court. Coaches and athletes were competing with huge intensity, yet still finding the fun in the sport. I was so impressed with athletes across divisions from 15s through 17s/18s. This article will focus on some breakout stars from the Champions Cup.