Early Observations from 14U, 15U USAV Nationals

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Get 30% off your first billing cycle with code: howe30 in the coupon code area</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>INDIANAPOLIS - </strong>The United States Volleyball Junior National Tournament for 14U and 15U age groups tipped off Thursday here at the Convention Center and Lucas Oil Stadium. Teams jockeyed for early positioning at an event that runs through Sunday's championships. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Iowa is well represented. Here's a closer look at what I observed Thursday for programs from the state:&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>15U</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-[program_tooltip program_id='431948' first='Iowa' last='Rockets'] won its two matches on Day 1 in the American Division. They beat Alpha Omega, 25-17, 25-18, and then took down Sideout 15N Matt, 25-21, 25-18.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The winners received strong play from middle hitter [player_tooltip player_id='890305' first='Johanna' last='Shaffer'], who ended points and threw up a strong block. [player_tooltip player_id='760983' first='Finley' last='Batchelder'] was effective at the opposite pin. [player_tooltip player_id='931274' first='Emerson' last='Ehrke'] and [player_tooltip player_id='917914' first='Maleah' last='Wedo'] stood out in switching positions they'd played during the season. All four of these players defended well at the net. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-Six Pack was hit with significant injuries before showing up here in the National Division. Mighty middle hitter [player_tooltip player_id='781517' first='Hadassah' last='Smith'] was knocked out of the competition after injuring her hand at a Texas A&amp;M camp. Prominent pin [player_tooltip player_id='893087' first='Kate' last='Limbaugh'] was sidelined with a lower leg injury.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Cedar Valley club battled hard behind stalwarts [player_tooltip player_id='776054' first='Espyn' last='Decker'], [player_tooltip player_id='889843' first='Paige' last='Davis'] and [player_tooltip player_id='785394' first='Hannah' last='Buhman']. [player_tooltip player_id='959503' first='Andie' last='Haun'] stepped up in the middle with Smith out, and [player_tooltip player_id='897159' first='Madison' last='Burkhardt'] lifted her play at the pin in Limbaugh's stead.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-RVA 15U Gladden split a pair of matches on opening day in the American Division. Its loss, which I watched, could have easily gone the other way with a few breaks here or there.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='959464' first='Jamison' last='Steinkamp'] has impressed me every time I've seen this team, and that was the case again on Thursday. The six-rotation lefty on the right side has proven to be skilled and powerful.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id='768896' first='Izabella' last='Skinner'] shines through six rotations, [player_tooltip player_id='945354' first='Addison' last='Schultz'] is an interesting two-way prospect at middle hitter and [player_tooltip player_id='959468' first='Harper' last='Markway'] is consistently solid at setter.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>14U</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I haven't watched a lot of 14U this season, but it was time to check in at the biggest tournament of the season. Many of these student-athletes were set to hit the prep scene as freshman in a few months.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-Iowa Select 14 Mizuno won the Iowa Regional and has been the state's top team in the age group throughout the season. It won two of three matches on Day 1 in the rough and tumble National Division.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I definitely will write more in-depth about the players on this team in the near future. It's an impressive group. [player_tooltip player_id='880999' first='Kinsley' last='Needham'] impresses at libero. The same can be said of six-rotation outsides [player_tooltip player_id='918791' first='Zoë' last='Cinadr'] and Madysen Strohbehn along with Grace Griswold (S) and [player_tooltip player_id='877691' first='Piper' last='Peterson'] (MH). &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-Rockets 14R finished runner-up to Select at the Iowa Regional. The Iowa City-based club posted a 2-1 record on Day 1 of play in the National Division.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='960234' first='Farrah' last='Coleman'] is an explosive six-rotation outside hitter. [player_tooltip player_id='790527' first='Kate' last='Pieper'] is a very versatile player that can impact matches at multiple positions. [player_tooltip player_id='993649' first='Abby' last='Roling'] is a formidable presence in the middle of the net, and Nora Ramler and [player_tooltip player_id='878434' first='Ashlee' last='Statler'] are two more pins of note.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-United 14-1 Elite has enjoyed a memorable season. The Iowa City-based program went 2-0 on Day 1 in the American Division.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Alexis Gaffey is a promising six-rotation outside hitter as is Malani Roach. Also packed with potential is [player_tooltip player_id='878926' first='Kathryn' last='Jones'], a tall, lefty setter. The squad is strong in the middle with [player_tooltip player_id='878889' first='Payson' last='Ellard'] and Tarissa Bollers. Libero Brooklyn Scheetz covers a lot of ground. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-DBQ Insanity is a team I watched in Milwaukee way back in January and left the gym impressed. It was good catching up with it on Thursday, when it went 2-1 in the Liberty Division.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Six-rotation outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id='936330' first='Mia' last='Walker'] and [player_tooltip player_id='780202' first='Mallory' last='Pfab'], an opposite pin, are two of the better 14s I've seen this season. [player_tooltip player_id='936342' first='Giana' last='Bishell'] can get it done as a two-way middle, and [player_tooltip player_id='936357' first='Jacey' last='Burkle'] locks it down in the back row as the libero.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->