17s Fab Five Middle Blockers at Triple Crown

<!-- wp:heading {"level":6} --> <h6 class="wp-block-heading"><em>Be sure to follow&nbsp;@lshotvb&nbsp;on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/lshotvb/">Instagram</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@lshotvb?is_from_webapp=1&amp;sender_device=pc">Tik Tok&nbsp;</a>and&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/LineShotVBall">Twitter</a>&nbsp;for all things volleyball!</em></h6> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":6} --> <h6 class="wp-block-heading">–</h6> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Triple Crown was, yet again, one for the books.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The talent on display and the epic match-ups throughout the convention center did not disappoint.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Still reeling from all of the fun, let's take a look at some of the biggest performers from the tournament. Who were the fab five middle blockers in the 17s division this year?</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Gabriella Pitcel - MKE Sting</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This future Illini is one of the most electrifying middles in the gym. She's a blink and you'll miss it kind of player. That's how fast she can get on top of a ball. Gabriella Pitcel gave MKE Sting that extra oomph they needed to propel onward to win the 17 Elite title. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Gabriele Stasys - 1st Alliance</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Across the net from Pitcel, we had ourselves quite the showdown at the middle position. In similar fashion, Gabrielle Stasys is SO FAST on her ball. When she can get a good grip of the set, it's going down hard. Stasys also gave Alliance the depth they needed to open up the wings for their pin hitters.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Nenu Kpea - Madfrog</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After losing the opening two games of the tournament, Madfrog would shoot out to an epic five game win streak. Much of this is thanks to Nenu Kpea coming alive in the middle. High flying and dynamic, Kpea can make the hardest of balls look easy. She's an incredible scorer on her attack, but her block was also so timely.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Addison Williams - Legacy</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We started to see Addison Williams wave around the net a little bit between her time in the middle and the opposite. Needless to say, wherever she was, teams needed to be on high alert. Like anything else, Williams is developing into quite the powerhouse at the net. Her efficiency scoring seemed to have been off of the charts the last two days at Triple Crown and she brings in such a stout block.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Mackenzie Collins - Houston Skyline</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The addition of Mackenzie Collins to this Houston Skyline team this season has been a game changer. Collins can leap out of the gym and no matter what kind of set she gets, she's coming in HOT! Her sheer athleticism takes her such a long way and takes this Skyline team a long way.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->