Texas National Champions – HJV 18 Premier

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Exactly one week ago, the club season ended for most 18s teams around the country, with the best of them competing in the 2023 USA Volleyball Girls 18s Junior National Championship in Columbus, Ohio.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>More than 40 teams from Texas made the trip up North to battle against the elite of the sport in the US and one of them, HJV 18 Premier, was able to bring the gold medals home, prevailing in the 18 Freedom division.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The team from [program_tooltip program_id='431166' first='Houston' last='Juniors'] Volleyball battled adversity and competition from 47 opponents to emerge victorious with nine wins and only two sets dropped, taking the Lone Star State to the top of the podium in their division.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://www.instagram.com/p/CrtMv50r2TS/","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"instagram","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-instagram wp-block-embed-instagram"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.instagram.com/p/CrtMv50r2TS/ </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Let's now recognize the accomplishment of these players in the last event of their club careers and highlight some of them who had pivotal roles in HJV 18 Premier's victory last weekend in Columbus.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["176643"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"When a libero takes home the MVP award in such a competitive tournament, it's because she really made a difference on the court and that was the case with Chaney. The technical libero was a stud for the team all week, providing great stability on the backcourt and keeping things running smoothly in a team that had a handful of players out of their original positions. Very skilled and intelligent, Chaney did a great job with her passing and also generated several transition opportunities with her defense. She came up big in the tight championship game with Florida's JJVA 18 Teal, delivering 13 digs.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6453c8ffc56e1"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/15378733/64504a195798211534016ea0' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6453c8ffc572c"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Ava Kennon","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2023","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'10u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"32924","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Dawson","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"[program_tooltip program_id='431166' first='Houston' last='Juniors']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Kennon was one of the best HJV 18 Premier players during the season and she also delivered some strong performances from the middle in Columbus. A very physical player, she's capable of impacting the game on both sides of the ball at the net and that's what she did over the week in Ohio. Her offensive game, in particular, was solid during the entire event and she had high-scoring performances in several of HJV's matches. Kennon, who also did a solid job with her blocking, earned an All-Tournaement Team selection.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6453c8ffc57cb"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/15087091/645050126e8bc511fc1a9a07' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6453c8ffc57ed"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["87575"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Vigil started the season playing as a setter for HJV 18 Premier, but moved to outside hitter during the season and was one of the best in the position in Columbus, also earning All-Tournament Team honors. She wouldn't have done it without her excellent all-around game, which allowed her to not adjust to the left (she was already used to hitting on the right with her high school team Northland Christian), but also to handle her passing and defensive duties very well. Vigil was very reliable with her offense, using her reach to beat blockers and send the ball near the end line to score.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6453c8ffc583d"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/15132881/645286b9ab921301c44ad1da' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6453c8ffc585a"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["141118"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Another player who switched positions during the season, Powell was another individual standout for HJV 18 Premier in Columbus. Originally a middle, she moved to the right and made a great impact from there. The move strongly benefited the team's defensive system as it placed one of its best blockers in front of opposing outside hitters, making their lives much more difficult when it came to scoring points. Powell also displayed great efficiency on offense, swinging hard and smartly to put the ball down. She produced from the right, the middle and and even the left, and that versatility gave the team plenty of options to work with.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6453c8ffc58a8"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/17160986/645052315798211534017b7d' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6453c8ffc58c3"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Emeli Muagututi'a","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2023","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'9u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"32561","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Ridge Point","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"[program_tooltip program_id='431166' first='Houston' last='Juniors']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"With some of her hitters adjusting to new positions, Muagututi'a didn't have an easy task in hand battling with some of the top teams in the country in Columbus. Her calm demeanor on the court and cerebral playing style were of great help as she ran HJV 18 Premier's offense, as her intelligent distribution made the team perform to its full potential at the net. Muagututi'a also contributed to the team's success with her strong game on the backcourt, getting several digs and some aces during HJV's campaign in Ohio.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6453c8ffc5977"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/15389331/6450592fe97a2713dc216dc0' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6453c8ffc5997"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Zariah Messick","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2023","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'9u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"32564","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"[program_tooltip program_id='431166' first='Houston' last='Juniors']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"The high-flying outside hitter saw her role with HJV 18 Premier grow during the season and responded accordingly, delivering strong performances. That was the case in Columbus too, where Messick's athleticism and offensive power were particularly important when the team was out of system. The pin hitter was clutch, scoring in difficult moments of matches, and secured the championship-winning point against JJVA 18 Teal by tooling the block at 14-13 on set three. She was also very solid with her passing during the event.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6453c8ffc5a1b"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/15389332/64504a1a6e81270cf4a9f25d' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6453c8ffc5a39"} /-->