Team Profile: NOVA Juniors 16 Navy

This is a group that has some great potential as a unit as they feature some terrific talent from the Ohio 2027 class. With two top-five finishes in three of their events so far, they are competing well as they get closer to qualifying tournaments. Here are some of their key athletes to see.    Hanousek may have the biggest and best arm on this team. As a primary left side attacker with six-rotation tools, she can rip it with good purpose to get the ball to the floor. Her footwork in pursuit of the ball helps her a lot especially in her last two steps to close and allow her to maximize her physical tools to get up and swing aggressively. I've seen her take some impressive swings with good control through a broad range of the court, including pulling out a crafty roll shot.     Hansen is a critical factor for this team with her passing and defense. She keeps her hands low and platform out in front not allowing the ball get behind her, which helps her develop easy angles and control the force of contact. Her defensive action is locked in as she tracks the ball well and gets herself balanced to pursue in all directions with good reaction and an efficient first step.     Rosenberry recently arrived on my radar and has made a good impression in how she can deliver her team's offense. Her preparation to contact is good in that she develops the right timing to jump set most often when she is in the pocket, which can be deceptive. She also shows good court awareness and command of the force and tempo she needs to set the ball a good distance and against the flow without losing the quality of her location.     Yockey can be a big threat in the middle with a quick arm. She moves well around her setter in all aspects of her middle offense and as she can develop good space this allows her to use her high elbow action and control to swing into space with good speed. She has good quickness defensively as well to get up and over the net fast.     Flohr shares the setting role, which helps this team have solid offensive presence in each rotation through a 6-2 format. She is simple in her pursuit of the ball and is fundamentally sound in her hand position and extension in all directions. She is part of a well-trained setting tandem that can diversify their offense with good purpose and results.     Grill (*pictured) has good tools in the middle with a net presence that can be a big factor on both sides of the ball. She has good athleticism and mobility for this quicker phase of the offense and with good space and timing her range and contact quality improves. Her length creates advantages at the net as well defensively, which can be an area that helps this team compete even better if their tall lineup through their 6-2 format can increasingly slow down or send back balls when blocking.     This is a pin hitter that has good length and is improving her ability to be terminal from both sides of the court. Her comfort zone is on the power side of the court where she produced a lot during the high school season. Increasingly she is seeing more opportunity on the right side when this team is in the 6-2 format and when on time in the air she can use her length and touch point well to score.     Tschudy is another good option at the libero position and she helps to create solid depth in the passing and defensive areas of the game. When passing she does good work to maintain her center and balance as she moves her feet well. On defense, she has quick reactions to capitalize on her speed and increase her range to keep the ball up off the court.     Wheeler is one of the better all-around athletes on this team as she can contribute in a variety of ways. Her best contributions come through her passing and defense as she tracks the ball well and can develop good movement and pursuit to dig. At 5'8, she can also take a healthy swing, whether from the back row or at the left pin. When on time and tempo she can develop opportunities to score with good speed and control.     Just a 2028 prospect, James has good explosive potential given her athleticism. She has an ease in her lift off the floor to create a high contact point. At 5'10, her physical tools increase her impact as she is looking for comfortable and confident as a net option and threat over the first couple of events.

This is a group that has some great potential as a unit as they feature some terrific talent from the Ohio 2027 class. With two top-five finishes in three of their events so far, they are competing well as they get closer to qualifying tournaments. Here are some of their key athletes to see.