What Setters Stood Out At NLQ 16 Open?
Finishing up coverage from the Northern Lights Qualifier for 16 Open, I am still in disbelief of the amount of talent we saw where there were nine teams already qualified for USAV 16 Open and by the end of the…
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Continue ReadingFinishing up coverage from the Northern Lights Qualifier for 16 Open, I am still in disbelief of the amount of talent we saw where there were nine teams already qualified for USAV 16 Open and by the end of the week there were 12 total who would be competing at the highest level. This brings some of the top individual talent in the entire country to the tournament. Here are the setters who really stood out from the Northern Lights Qualifier.
The KC Setters
Kansas City brought some of the best teams and individuals in the nation where many of these athletes will be high on the list of 2023 recruits that will officially start the recruiting process come June 15. However, they all have their own style with how they are effective on the court. Ella Swindle of KC Power is long, athletic, gets her hands to the ball and can throw down when the opportunity is there in the front row. Ashley Mullen of Dynasty 16 Black moves so well of the court, there aren’t many balls where she has to bump set. She is so good off the scramble and finding a way to keep the other side off balance while giving her hitters an opportunity to terminate. Logan Jones is the smash mouth type setter, she is ready to take you head on and compete. She’s 5’9, tough as nails and has such a high IQ of the game. She can really spread the defense thin going to both pins and being extremely physical at the net. Renee Liou of PVA is so smooth. She is steady in every rotation and is extremely efficient with how she moves and releases.
Stella Swenson – Northern Lights 16-1
Swenson still has another year before she can officially start talking to college coaches, but the 2024 prospect will be one of the tops in her class. She has the length, athleticism, and skill to do it all. Extremely tough to read, she knows how to set the tempo and connect with all of her attackers. Her back set to Sydney Schnichels is the perfect pace and near impossible to stop. She has a full lineup to set to, but when the time calls, she can find the open court to score points herself.
Juliette Myrick – Rockwood Thunder 16 Elite
Myrick led her squad to an open bid with a big day on Sunday, defeating Northern Lights to clinch a spot in Vegas to compete in 16 Open. She runs the middle extremely well where she can go in front of back on the slide. There is a savvy gamer disposition about her where she’s going to find a way to beat you, its just a matter of how. This is a well balanced team and she is the one who drives the car.
Ava Sarafa – Michigan Elite 16 Mizuno
This team brings plenty of energy and a ton of grit into each match. After a tough start to the day on Friday, Mi Elite would finish the day defeating Iowa Power Plex in two and scoring a huge win over 1st Alliance who has been a top finisher in every qualifier. Sarafa is just under six feet tall and brings the level of intensity up on her side of the net. She’s a winner. She was the setter on her high school state championship team and has the winning intangibles that brings the level up for everyone on the court.
Ava Blascziek – MN Select 16-1
I’ve seen this squad play a few times this season and they continue to improve each time they get on the court, as does setter Ava Blascziek. At 5’10, Blascziek brings plenty of physicality to the net where she can block and attack, being one teams have to recognize each time she jump sets. She anticipates well to get after the ball with efficient footwork. The first contact does not have to be perfect in order for Blascziek to run the show. She can get beyond the ten foot line to put up a set for her attackers to make the most out of and also finds the match up to get everyone a favorable chance to score.
Morgan Burke – Nebraska Elite 16 Top Gun
Extremely physical at the net. Burke has plenty of strength and IQ to joust and score points on her own where she is always a threat when she jumps for Top Gun who has already punched their ticket to USAV 16 Open. Burke knows how to feed her outsides in Destiny Ndam-Simpson and Samantha Laird, but she can set the tempos to her middles in front or on the slide. Her athleticism stands out among other top setters.
Rachel Koss – FC Elite 16 Navy
I’ve seen Koss play plenty of times since she was going into her 15s year, but was mostly in a 6-2 setting. This past weekend Koss was running a 5-1 and really showed what she could do in the front row. A solid blocker and offensive threat where she can tip to the corner or throw it down, she was a game changer. She plays with a smile and positive court intangibles that are refreshing for everyone who is on her court. While running a 5-1, she was able to feed her middles Olivia Lasee and Autumn Flynn who were dangerous running the slide.