Hardware Earned by Black Swamp 161 at USAV GJNC

<p>This team wrapped up their club season playing some of their best volleyball, which was good enough for a podium finish at the 2026 USAV GJNC. Black Swamp 161 finished the event with an overall record of 9-2. After opening final bracket play with consecutive 2-1 wins, they dropped a heartbreaker in semifinal action to the eventual champion by a 15-13 third set score. For their effort, this group earned the bronze medal and some bragging rights in bring home some hardware.</p>   <p>As 2029 setter [player_tooltip player_id='961036' first='Maggie' last='Crates'] was recently highlighted during the event as their athletic setter and floor leader, others contributed to their full team effort that featured good skill and precision at times in different facets of the game. Here are a few individuals to highlight.</p>    <p class="text-gray-700">Miller is a crafty pin with a full toolkit in what she can do on the court. Where her I.Q. shines is in how she competes at the net as she can swing aggressively while also playing a short off speed game to keep the defense off balance. From the back row, she saw offensive opportunities when needed but she also displayed how she can pass and defend with good reaction and range while also capable of igniting her team with a big top spin jump serve.</p>     <p class="text-gray-700">Redman, a 2029 prospect, contributed a more tangible effort given her ability to jump high and hit hard for terminal results, outcomes that get a lot of attention. Her progress has been steady as she started to find her rhythm earlier in the club season after transitioning in coming off of injury to start her return to Black Swamp. She performed well throughout this tournament and through a high volume of swings as a key pin arm for this group and competing primarily through the front row as she provided important offense especially later in the even to keep them among the top teams.</p>     <p class="text-gray-700">Waire is an experienced middle that knows well how to maximize her physical tools as a fundamentally sound threat at the net. As a key piece for Calvert last fall during their unbeaten season, what she brings to the court is an understanding of how to compete in high pressure moments and on the biggest stage. Her competitive maturity was key for a 16U team and in her success on both sides of the ball, which included smart offense and good pressure as a defender.</p>     <p class="text-gray-700">Mussell (*pictured) was the primary libero for this team, filling a role that resulted in some big moments throughout the event. Her ability to read and get into space around her team's block defensively led to her success by using her quick reaction and ability to extend to keep hard driven balls off the floor in creating more offensive opportunities for her team. She is also skilled in the first-touch passing phase as her serve receive leadership helped create in-system offense to use their capable arms across the net.</p>     <p class="text-gray-700">Bagent arrived on the radar this club season competing with this team. She is a noticeable factor as she has good length and 6'2 and can swing effectively as a lefty. Her setter's decisions included optioning her through different attack points and tempos including quicker middle situations and extending her overhead on the right pin as well. When on time and with space to swing aggressively, she can approach and attack with good force of contact.</p>    <p><strong>Other contributing members:</strong></p>   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='831387' first='Davinee' last='Harris']</strong> - 2028 | OH/DS</li> </ul>   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li><strong>Alexis Rettig</strong> - 2027 | MH/OH</li> </ul>   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='815816' first='Lexi' last='Them']</strong> - 2028 | DS/L</li> </ul>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * </h2>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>SUMMER PROMO!</strong></h2>   <h4 class="wp-block-heading"><em>Your first billing cycle of all annual Prep Network subscriptions are 50% when using our summer sale code: Fourth50</em></h4>

This team wrapped up their club season playing some of their best volleyball, which was good enough for a podium finish at the 2026 USAV GJNC. Black Swamp 161 finished the event with an overall record of 9-2. After opening final bracket play with consecutive 2-1 wins, they dropped a heartbreaker in semifinal action to the eventual champion by a 15-13 third set score. For their effort, this group earned the bronze medal and some bragging rights in bring home some hardware.