17U Teams to See at GJNC
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The last week of the GJNC will feature the 17U age group. Ohio and northern Kentucky have several top prospects and high performing teams set to complete. Here are some of them to keep an eye on. 17 Open Mintonette…
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Continue ReadingThe last week of the GJNC will feature the 17U age group. Ohio and northern Kentucky have several top prospects and high performing teams set to complete. Here are some of them to keep an eye on.
17 Open
Mintonette m.71 is the lone representative from the Ohio Valley Region to this age division having qualified earlier in the year in Kansas City. Uncommitted setter Kayla Dulgar Kayla Dulgar 5'9" | S River View | 2023 State OH runs a good offense and can distribute the full range of the court with good location. She has a lot of offensive options including big-time middle and future Ohio State Buckeye Eloise Brandewie Eloise Brandewie 6'2" | MB Bishop Hartley | 2023 State #11 Nation OH (pictured). Mercedes Motton Mercedes Motton 5'8" | MB Bishop Watterson | 2023 State OH is explosive in the middle as well and can score when in rhythm and with good spacing. On the left pin is Ava Hoying Ava Hoying 6'0" | OH Bishop Watterson | 2023 State OH , Ella Durham Ella Durham 6'3" | OH Dublin Coffman | 2023 State #177 Nation OH , and Brenna K Palmer Brenna K Palmer 6'3" | RS Wapakoneta | 2023 State OH , all with impressive terminating ability and good size. This is a big team and they can put a lot of pressure on teams with their length that also features opposite Lauryn Bowie Lauryn Bowie 6'2" | RS Westerville South | 2023 State OH and Emma Beretich Emma Beretich 6'2" | MB Pickerington Central | 2023 State OH , who adds depth to the middle. This team has potential to win matches in this elite field. Staying efficient and low error, along with establishing good ball controle that helps create balance, will be keys to their success.
17 National
OPVC 17 Day gets contributions from a full range of their roster. Abby Healy shares the setting role with Ava Mirande Ava Mirande S Sycamore | 2023 State OH as they maximize their offensive action with three attackers avaiable in the front row the majority of the time. Mirande’s high school teammate Ashley Walker Ashley Walker 5'10" | OH Sycamore | 2023 State OH is one of their biggest arms as she can bring good power and movement from both sides of the floor. Henley Krause is another primary option on the left side and brings good size and presence to the net with her arm and defensively. Sydney Lawrence Sydney Lawrence 5'6" | DS/L Wyoming | 2023 State OH is the libero and she does a great job of creating in-system opportunities with her footwork and platform control in serve receive.
With really good depth at all positions, Elevation 17 Goller has the ability to utilize several athletes in different roles. They have good size and physicality, led by Kentucky commit Brooke Bultema Brooke Bultema 6'3" | MB Ursuline | 2023 State #36 Nation OH , as she can take care of her job on both sides of the ball very effectively. Lindsey Green Lindsey Green 5'11" | S Ursuline | 2023 State OH is a terrific setter and is complemented well by the versatility of setter/opposite Audrey Armbruster Audrey Armbruster 5'11" | S MND | 2023 State OH . If they can manage to get good balance by establishing multiple point scorers throughout the week then they could have a shot at finishing among the upper tier of teams.
17 American
The top-seeded team in this division is NOVA 17 Navy. Outside hitter Jocelyn Jourdan Jocelyn Jourdan 6'2" | OH Austintown-Fitch | 2023 State OH recently climbed our 2023 prospect rankings as she is a big factor with her arm and point scoring ability. Fellow pin hitter Natalie Stephanovich is also a big part of their offense as she has good size, elevates well and can hit a heavy ball. Brooke Mirka Brooke Mirka 5'11" | OH Coventry | 2023 State OH also adds depth on the pins. Kaylee Evans provides a physical presence in the middle as she can score when on time and balance and can put up a good block as well. As a tandem, Ronnie Meinen Ronnie Meinen 5'10" | MB Coventry | 2023 State OH and Mallory Meinen Mallory Meinen 5'9" | S Coventry | 2023 State OH provide ball control, point scoring, and distribution, which contributes to their depth around the court. This team has competed well all season and will be among the favorites to get on the podium on July 4th.
Seeded #2 overall in this division, NKYVC 17-1 Tsunami has potential to reach the podium. They have been playing some of their best ball late in the season including a top-three finish at the recent JVA SummerFest event that included multiple wins over open-level qualified teams. Additionally, they took care of business against Elevation at the recent Circle City pre-nationals event to add to a list of quality outcomes against some of the nation’s toughest competitiion over the course of the club season. This team relies a lot on their defense to make things happen and are led by the range of Kayla Hostetler Kayla Hostetler DS/L Notre Dame | 2023 State KY and Chloe Fortner Chloe Fortner 5'5" | DS/L Cooper | 2023 State KY . Setter Maya Hunt Maya Hunt S Holy Cross (Covington) | 2023 State KY has improved her distribution and tempo through both pins that have proven to be the bulk of their scoring. There are three very capable arms in Syndey Nolan, Ava Siefke Ava Siefke 6'1" | OH St. Ursula | 2023 State OH , and lefty Peyton Mast Peyton Mast RS Notre Dame | 2023 State KY that shoulder a lot of attacking opportunities. We will see if their late season momentum carries over to the biggest and final stage of their season.
Other teams competing:
17 American
– AVC CLE Rox 17 White
– Toledo 17 Black
17 USA
– Mintonette m.72
– Southwest 17N TJ
17 Freedom
–
Elevation
17 GT
– Ignite 17 Black Elite