PSR Power League – Top Teams – Seattle Jrs 18

<p>Every season, the Puget Sound Region Power League provides a great opportunity for us to follow the top club teams and the most interesting prospects in the state of Washington.</p> <p>The four-month tournament is typically the stage for some intriguing battles and is where players go beyond their limits to perform and chase victories.</p> <p>This year’s edition of the Power League has started in early January and over the course of the month and each division has played at least one stop (or the seeding day). The 18s Division, which combines 17s and 18s teams from the Evergreen State is one of the most advanced with two rounds already completed.</p> <p>This week, we’re highlighting some of the teams that had the best performances in the division so far and today we’ll feature <strong>Seattle Jrs 18</strong>, which have won five of their eight matches played.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Key Players</strong></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="97075" first="Emily" last="Mekelburg"] – Outside Hitter – HS: Arlington – 2022</strong></p> <p>A 6’1” outside hitter who has been a key player for her high school team Arlington over the last years, [player_tooltip player_id="97075" first="Emily" last="Mekelburg"] is just as important for Seattle Jrs 18. Very long, athletic and technical, she’s the type of player that can carry any team’s offense. She did just that with Arlington in the last high school season, easily leading the team’s offense with 364 kills, but also significantly contributed in other areas of the fame, ranking second in aces (70) and blocks (13), third passes (185) and fifth in digs (107). Mekelburg has committed to Abilene Christian after making it to the Washington Coaches Association All-State second team.</p> <p><iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/11711698/61af60dbff02740aa03ed0ea" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="97074" first="Taylor" last="Pederson"] – Setter – HS: Arlington - 2022</strong></p> <p>The chemistry developed between Mekelburg and her high school team setter [player_tooltip player_id="97074" first="Taylor" last="Pederson"] over the years certainly isn’t’ hurting Seattle Jrs 18 in this year’s club season. Just as with her top hitter, the 5’8” Pederson is also fresh from an outstanding high school season, in which she made it to the Washington Coaches Association All-State second team as well after producing 378 assists, 136 kills, 55 aces and 142 digs.</p> <p><iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/11711699/615b2f01478e3e0f6cd50092" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Lauren Riffe – Outside Hitter – HS: Interlake – 2022</strong></p> <p>One thing this Seattle Jrs 18 team certainly doesn’t lack is firepower at the pin. With Mekelburg and Lauren Riffe always in position, the team has a kill about to happen in every play. Riffe is shorter at 5’9” but just as explosive and prolific when it comes to scoring. The outside hitter had a stellar high school season with Interlake, tallying 504 kills, 37 aces, 197 digs and 633 passes. She also made it to the Washington Coaches Association All-State team, but as an honorable mention.</p> <p><iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/V3G5HLugZR0" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>