Power Players in the MEQ 16 Open Gold Medal Rounds

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><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></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>–</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This weekend saw one of the top qualifiers in the country take place.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>From coast to coast, the best of the best were on tap and in search for a bid to junior nationals in Vegas.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In the 16 Open, we saw Mintonette take the title alongside Boiler Juniors, A5 and Mad Frog earning bids. This division was chock full of barn burners and talent across the board.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Let's take a look at some of the Power Players from the 16 Open Gold Medal rounds at MEQs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Mallory Matheny - Mintonette</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One would argue that Mallory Matheny was the MVP of the 16 Open this weekend. Running the offense to championship winning team is no feat to scoff over. And this player is operating this offense at a level that puts them as one of the best in the country.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Layla Hoying - Mintonette</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>When in doubt, find Layla Hoying on the pin! There's little that this player was touching that wasn't turning into gold in Indianapolis. When Sunday rolled around, Hoying seemed to have found a fifth gear and was cranking out the points.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Emma Cugino - Mintonette</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>She rounds out the trifecta on this Mintonette squad. If it weren't for Emma Cugino's first contact, Mintonette would be looking like a whole different team. Cugino was dynamite in the back court all weekend long. Blow after blow, no shot to clever enough, Cugino was there and bettering every ball.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='260995' first='Caroline' last='Ward'] - Boiler Juniors</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='260995' first='Caroline' last='Ward'] may be one of the youngest players in the field, but she also may be one of the most potent at the net. With a wicked fast arm swing, it's a blink and you miss it when Ward puts the hammer down. She was coming up clutch in the latter parts of the Boiler Juniors' runner up weekend.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='210192' first='Lexi' last='Shondell'] - Boiler Juniors</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This division had no shortage of elite level setters on center stage. [player_tooltip player_id='210192' first='Lexi' last='Shondell'] is one of those up and coming talents that runs a tight ship. Shondell has a deceptive touch and can turn the flow of the game on its head at the snap of her fingers. In system, Shondell was leaving her hitters in big time scoring situations.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='210191' first='Reese' last='Resmer'] - Boiler Juniors</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Maybe one of the best middle blockers in the gold medal rounds, [player_tooltip player_id='210191' first='Reese' last='Resmer'] was a warrior at the net all weekend long. Resmer plays so quick along and off the net, she can score on a lot of routes and especially on her block.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Gabriella Rodriguez - Madfrog</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This team has a serious rep when it comes to their attackers, but this weekend, their defense truly shined. And by defense, I mean Gabriella Rodriguez! This player really shined when it came to getting down to bid-ness. Her defense was impeccable and timely and Rodriguez is always in great position to stick the pass.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Olivia Siskin - A5</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Another elite level setter shining in the Circle City, Olivia Siskin was incredible this weekend. Operating A5 to an 8-1 record to go along with their bid, Siskin was on point from start to finish. No matter where she is on the court, Siskin is putting her hitters in such great positions to score. Seemingly nobody could defend her offense throughout the first two days of the tournament.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">Honorable Mention from GM Pool Play</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Lucy Maloney</strong> - 1st Alliance</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Kayla Nwabueze </strong>- Legacy</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Emma Frietch </strong>- NKYVC</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Catherine Beadles</strong> - Wave</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Genevieve Harris </strong>- NC Academy</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Nadiya Johnson</strong> - Metro</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Elle Mattola </strong>- Winter Park VC</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list -->