AAU Nationals 16 Open Preview: Mintonette m.61

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This team opens AAU Nationals as a top seed in their pool with matches against FL Bloom 16U and WVBA 16 Adidas. Here are some of their key athletes.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='152359' first='Keira' last='Steininger'] - L (*pictured)<br>This club produces quality prospects in the DS/L role and Steininger is one of their best, leading the back row effort for the top 16s team as their primary libero. She is efficient in her first-step as her court awareness and read helps her range when passing in serve receive and to make big plays from her base defensive position in all directions. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='152041' first='Presley' last='Stokes'] - OH<br>One of the biggest arms on this team, Stokes is relentlessly aggressive when she is on time and balance in the air. She can swing a heavy ball and is not afraid to challenge the block at the net. She has scored a lot of points in her young prep career both for her high school team and during the club season, including earning several accolades along the way. She is confident and productive, which makes her a tough match up for opponents.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='152040' first='Macie' last='Moreland'] - OH<br>Moreland is a nice complement to Stokes with a different style of game in her offense as an attacker. At 6'0, she relies a lot on her length and contact point to swing over the block or challenge the high hands or seams in front of her. She is an effective offense threat in addition to making a good impact on the defensive side when blocking. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='151970' first='Dylan' last='Hunt'] - RS<br>The 5'11 Hunt balances the offense well from the right side of the floor as she elevates well and can create a high elbow move to help maximize her contact point. She has a well-rounded skill set to be able to score from the left side as well as contribute efficiently in their serve receive patterns.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='289181' first='Addyson' last='Butts'] - MB<br>At 6'0, Butts has some of the best length on this squad, which helps her impact on both sides of the ball at the net. She is their best middle option regarding her approach work and movement around the setter as she can swing through both sides of the opponent's floor well when she has good space. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='151965' first='Kylah' last='McNeal'] - MB<br>McNeal can be effective in the middle when available in her transition work. As this team has heavy pin action in the arsenal, McNeal has the physical tools to get up well and swing aggressively through the middle tempo and options in their game plan. Any impact they can get from her will help to open more space for the primary threats on either side of the court. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='151967' first='Larsen' last='Terrill'] - S<br>At 5'11, Terrill has good size for this role, which increasingly is becoming the norm for elite setters in club and at the next level. She consistently contacts the ball high and can deliver the full scope of the court with good touch and appropriate use of force in her extension when in the pocket or on the move. Her decision-making could be an x-factor for their success given their pin-heavy focus.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->