Last Day GJNC: Wave 16 Liberty

It was a fun-filled, exciting four days in Indiana for the 16s and 17s at the GJNC starting July 1st and ending July 4th. So much talent under one roof was amazing to watch. Seeing players in their element and the good energy they bring to the court is always exciting. Coached under the guidance of Nicholas Rubacky and Thiago Barbosa, Wave 16s had such great energy. [player_tooltip player_id="160991" first="Christina" last="Uebelhoer"] (2024) | 5’9 OH | Francis Parker HS/ Wave Volleyball 16 <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2022/07/Wave-16-Christina-Uebelhoer-crop-4148x2724-1657485129.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-207981" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2022/07/Wave-16-Christina-Uebelhoer-crop-4148x2724-1657485129-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a> [player_tooltip player_id="160991" first="Christina" last="Uebelhoer"] was the captain on the court and her leadership showed. She is an aggressive player who delivered a solid swing and hard-hit every time she attacked the ball. She communicated very well with her teammates and played all around. Uebelhoer is very quick on her feet and did not hesitate to go after a ball when she played back row. Her gameplay on the court shows that she is a leader through her communication, encouraging her teammates, and delivering kills to score. Nalani Muniz (2024) | 5’8 S | The Bishop’s School/ Wave Volleyball 16 <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2022/07/Wave-16-Nalani-Muniz-crop-4408x2894-1657485482.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-207984" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2022/07/Wave-16-Nalani-Muniz-crop-4408x2894-1657485482-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a> Nalani Muniz has the capabilities to set the ball in different areas on the court. Her hands are very smooth with setting the ball often without spin. She can push the ball crosscourt and it reaches the target area. Muniz is also quick and light on her feet being able to get to the second ball and deliver it to her pin hitters. She is a setter with confidence and it shows. Kiana Olalia (2024) | 5’6 L/DS | Del Norte HS/ Wave Volleyball 16 <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2022/07/Wave-16-Kiana-Olalia-crop-4148x2724-1657485904.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-207986" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2022/07/Wave-16-Kiana-Olalia-crop-4148x2724-1657485904-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a> Kiana Olalia is great at defending and protecting the backcourt. She is not afraid to get on the floor, dig a ball, or dive for a play. She would pass to her setter with little to no effort and the ball would find its spot. She is great at receiving a ball from a serve or an attack and steady with her platform. Olalia made the back-row play look easy. Mai Plsek (2024) |5’7 OH | Torrey Pines HS/ Wave Volleyball 16 <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2022/07/Wave-16-Mai-Plsek-crop-4149x2725-1657486180.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-207988" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2022/07/Wave-16-Mai-Plsek-crop-4149x2725-1657486180-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a> Mai Plsek can kill a ball from the back row pipe with force and speed. She is a good defender in the back row placing popped-up balls on target. She showed no hesitation when going for a ball and would dive to make sure a ball stayed in play. Plsek has a lot of power behind her hit that makes her balls difficult to defend. Audrey Hilliard (2024) | 5’11 MB/RS | Scripps Ranch HS/ Wave Volleyball 16 <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2022/07/Wave-16-Audrey-Hilliard1-crop-4532x2976-1657486420.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-207991" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2022/07/Wave-16-Audrey-Hilliard1-crop-4532x2976-1657486420-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a> Audrey Hilliard has a fast approach to the ball and her contact is solid. She can hit through the block or tip over it, placing the ball where she can score. Hilliard can serve receive and balance out both defense and offense when playing. Her jumping skills help with the execution of killing the ball or blocking the other team. Madisyn Okuna (2024) | 5’6 S| Cathedral Catholic HS/ Wave Volleyball 16 <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2022/07/Wave-16-Madisyn-Okuna-crop-4148x2724-1657486967.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-207994" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2022/07/Wave-16-Madisyn-Okuna-crop-4148x2724-1657486967-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a> Madisyn Okuna is a hustler on the court being able to get the second ball and deliver it with ease. She doesn’t hesitate and is quick on her feet. She would spread the ball around, so her sets were not predictable. Okuna has soft hands making her sets flow easily in the air. Avery Mersen (2024) | 5’11 MB | Wave Volleyball 16 <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2022/07/Wave-16-Avery-Mersen-crop-4148x2724-1657487206.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-207998" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2022/07/Wave-16-Avery-Mersen-crop-4148x2724-1657487206-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a> Avery Mersen stuffed the opponent on several occasions delivering a solid block by defending the net. She can successfully play the net close without touching it and do her job at blocking. Her reaction is quick, being in the air before the other team can execute a play made it easy to stop the ball. Mersen is a strong, aggressive blocker who can stop and shut down a hard hitter. Lilia Rosales (2024) | 6’0 MB | Mission Vista HS/ Wave Volleyball 16 <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-207999" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2022/07/Wave-16-Lilia-Rosales-e1657487753235-300x233.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="233" /> Lilia Rosales is a fast middle who was able to transition with speed and score from the quick, low sets given to her. She put up a wall making it hard for her opponents to get through the block or go over. She can pass the ball and easily transitions to help her pins with blocking. Rosales can read the sets and adjust to either hit or help on offense. Please share our stories with family, friends, and fans. This can be done by subscribing or sharing on social media. Follow Prep Dig and Prep Dig California on the many different social media platforms ie: Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. For any corrections, please email them to niqnaq23@gmail.com and put “PrepDig correction” in the subject line. Happy reading!!