USAV Nationals Preview (14’s and 15’s)

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Today is Day 1 of nationals for our 14's and 15's up in Indianapolis! We are super excited to see how our AZ teams do in the pinnacle of the club season against the best of the best from other states. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We will spend some time diving into some team analysis (teams we think have a shot to get to the gold bracket) and then end with some players think might go off during nationals! As always make sure you are tagging us in your clips at nationals!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>(14's Division) Teams that will make a run for the gold bracket:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>AZ Storm 14 Thunder: Seeded 2nd in their pool, we see no reason why this team can't make a run to the gold bracket. This team is loaded with talent from top to bottom and has done well all season in the AZ region and at NQ's. They have two dominate pin hitters in <a href="https://prepdig.com/player/kora-callahan/">[player_tooltip player_id='920104' first='Kora' last='Callahan']</a> and <a href="https://prepdig.com/player/presley-farnes/">[player_tooltip player_id='920115' first='Presley' last='Farnes']</a> who both can score at will and from all over the front/back row while chipping in with their serve receive and defense. They also have the defense covered in the back row and service receive with libero <a href="https://prepdig.com/player/brianna-murray/">[player_tooltip player_id='891496' first='Brianna' last='Murray']</a> back there in charge and taking a ton of space with her defense. They have a great offense, top level libero, and the depth to make a deep run at nationals. Would expect a podium finish for sure from this team!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>AZ Sky 14 Gold: Another AZ team that should do well at Nationals and has a chance to make a deep run here in AZ Sky 14 Gold. Having the number 1 player in the class in <a href="https://prepdig.com/player/charlotte-lilley/">[player_tooltip player_id='919648' first='Charlotte' last='Lilley']</a> does help as she alone can be a difference maker in any match that she plays. But to get to this point Sky has used other players from <a href="https://prepdig.com/player/marieme-mbodji/">[player_tooltip player_id='934533' first='Marieme' last='Mbodji']</a> in the middle and <a href="https://prepdig.com/player/maree-poortinga/">[player_tooltip player_id='935378' first='Maree' last='Poortinga']</a> on the outside as they have also been dominate in their own right and are just as much as a reason this team will make a run as Charlotte. It also helps to have a top level libero in <a href="https://prepdig.com/player/elliot-millhiser/">[player_tooltip player_id='920105' first='Elliot' last='Millhiser']</a> running the defense to go with those 3 on offense. The balance alone of this team being able to do well on both sides of the ball should lead to a deep run. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Livewire 14 Prime: Another top seed in their pool, you have Livewire 14 Prime who is primed for a deep run of their own. The team is lead by multiple future stars but three offensive players that are going to change the game for them this week will be <a href="https://prepdig.com/player/emmalyne-glasser/">[player_tooltip player_id='920118' first='Emmalyne' last='Glasser'], </a><a href="https://prepdig.com/player/mylo-turk/">[player_tooltip player_id='920117' first='Mylo' last='Turk']</a>, and <a href="https://prepdig.com/player/olivia-petersen-2/">[player_tooltip player_id='935681' first='Olivia' last='Petersen']</a>. These three are three players who can play all rotations when called upon and score upon in tough situations along with changing the game with their physical presence at the net. This 3 headed beast should cause a lot of issues for other teams and should be able to lead Livewire to a deep run when the time comes this week. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>(14's Division) Team not seeded top 3 in their pool that could make a run:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>AZ EVJ 14 Elite: Here is a team that has some top end talent, and maybe is seeded a bit low based on their ability to compete toward the end of the season with some of the top 14 teams in AZ. They have the depth but leading the charge for EVJ will be pin <a href="https://prepdig.com/player/payton-claiborne/">[player_tooltip player_id='986778' first='Payton' last='Claiborne']</a>, setter <a href="https://prepdig.com/player/lilah-wojcik/">[player_tooltip player_id='935413' first='Lilah' last='Wojcik']</a>, and pin <a href="https://prepdig.com/player/sophie-lloyd/">[player_tooltip player_id='986779' first='Sophie' last='Lloyd']</a>. These 3 should be able to dictate the pace, scoring, and leadership needed at this level and time of year. These 3 are all players ranked in our class rankings and should be big time difference makers coming this weekend. I can see them making a deep run based on what we saw at the AZ level this year. They should not be taken lightly! </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Atomic 14 Smack Premier: Another team that has shown some dominate flashes throughout the season. This Atomic team has a chance to make a deep run at nationals with their top end talent leading the way. [player_tooltip player_id='940932' first='Stella' last='Scarborough'], <a href="https://prepdig.com/player/kristina-mimic/">[player_tooltip player_id='920124' first='Kristina' last='Mimic']</a> are two players who will be leading the offense and doing some heavy lifting at times to score points at nationals. Setter <a href="https://prepdig.com/player/jesenia-vargas/">[player_tooltip player_id='942603' first='Jesenia' last='Vargas']</a> should be having a great time running her offense with these two at the helm and helping her team score a ton of points. They have the top end talent to compete and make a deep run, and I think they will have a chance come day 3! </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>(14's Division) Players who are going to standout during USAV Nationals that aren't mentioned above:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepdig.com/player/brooke-holubar/">[player_tooltip player_id='936795' first='Brooke' last='Holubar']</a>- Revolution </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepdig.com/player/layla-duncan/">[player_tooltip player_id='789370' first='Layla' last='Duncan']</a>- Omni</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='965230' first='Kendall' last='Ferguson']- Club One</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='924597' first='Greer' last='Nordin']- Victorium </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='894710' first='Tenley' last='Wyss']- Aspire</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='964312' first='Drew' last='Simmons']- Club Cactus</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>(15's Division) Teams that will make a run for the gold bracket:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Omni 15N1: A top level offense here playing at nationals as they can score points from all over the place. <a href="https://prepdig.com/player/joelle-wasson/">[player_tooltip player_id='888746' first='Joelle' last='Wasson']</a>, [player_tooltip player_id='885082' first='K'Lei' last='Noah'], and <a href="https://prepdig.com/player/laela-barksdale/">[player_tooltip player_id='878965' first='Laela' last='Barksdale']</a> lead a 3 headed attack that should give fits to a lot of teams here at Nationals. These 3 can all be number 1 options on a lot of teams out there but do a great job balancing each other out on this team and gives their team multiple options to score and from all over the place. They did very well at NIT playing against some top end talent and even beat some teams playing in the open division so they should do just fine in the USA division at nationals and I would be shocked if they aren't in the gold bracket at the end of the tournament. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Aspire 15 Alpha: Top seed in their pool and Aspire has the depth and talent to also make a deep run here. <a href="https://prepdig.com/player/rylee-asanovich/">[player_tooltip player_id='885187' first='Rylee' last='Asanovich']</a>, <a href="https://prepdig.com/player/kendall-butters/">[player_tooltip player_id='892002' first='Kendall' last='Butters']</a>, and <a href="https://prepdig.com/player/gloria-bankston/">[player_tooltip player_id='942065' first='Gloria' last='Bankston']</a> will lead the offensive and defensive charge for Aspire over the next few days. These 3 will get a ton of touches with their ability to be forceful on offense and defense and I don't think a lot of teams will be able to match up well against Aspire with all their height and power at the net. They can rely on so many offensive and defensive weapons and have one of the deeper teams in this age group so they shouldn't have too much of an issue getting to the gold bracket! </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>AZ Storm 15 Thunder: AZ Storm will look to build on their finish at NIT to help propel them to a deep finish here at Nationals. They should get through their pool if not win their pool based on the talent they have and ability to win tight game. <a href="https://prepdig.com/player/sophia-gregg/">[player_tooltip player_id='885089' first='Sophia' last='Gregg']</a> leads the charge with her ability to effect the game with both her soring and distribution by setting , <a href="https://prepdig.com/player/sahmone-wadsworth/">[player_tooltip player_id='885088' first='Sahmone' last='Wadsworth']</a> will look to continue to be the offensive force that she has been all season along with her co-pin in <a href="https://prepdig.com/player/sloan-kribel/">[player_tooltip player_id='888723' first='Sloan' last='Kribel']</a>. These 3 alone will be able to disrupt a lot of teams and their game plans coming in, and should be the leaders to help push Storm to a deep finish. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>AZ Sky 15 Gold: After playing open in all their NQ, Sky finished up with a bid in the American division but that spells bad news for all the teams in that division as they were given the #1 seed in 15 American. Sky is going to make a run deep in this tournament and should get a podium finish based on the amount of talent they have. Leading the charge for them is outside hitter Bella Bombinski and middle block [player_tooltip player_id='888754' first='Lilly' last='Bliss']. Both of these hitters can take over a game with their defense or offense during a match. Running the show on offense though is setter [player_tooltip player_id='888740' first='Isabella' last='Palladino'] who is very capable of running a fast offense and getting the ball to her top end hitters to score major points. They shouldn't have too much trouble in pool play and will look to get to the gold bracket at the end of the tournament. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>(15's Division) Team not seeded top 3 in their pool that could make a run:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>AZ Revolution 15 Premier: The amount of talent on this team is insane when you really think about it but playing in open is a tough place to be so all this talent is needed. However they do have the depth and top end talent to for sure make some noise this weekend. It starts and ends with the front line as <a href="https://prepdig.com/player/emma-brayer/">[player_tooltip player_id='888733' first='Emma' last='Brayer']</a>, [player_tooltip player_id='920122' first='Mia' last='Wells'], and [player_tooltip player_id='888732' first='Emma' last='Nance'] will need to not only score a fair amount of points, but also be a force at the net with their blocking to slow these top end open level teams down. I think they do have the depth, coaching, experience needed to make a run and turn a few heads! I would not be surprised to see them playing for a spot in gold when it comes down to it. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>(15's Division) Players who are going to standout during USAV Nationals that aren't mentioned above:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepdig.com/player/taylin-moaratty/">[player_tooltip player_id='888752' first='Taylin' last='Moaratty']</a>- Omni</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepdig.com/player/mia-avelar/">[player_tooltip player_id='888734' first='Mia' last='Avelar']</a>- Revolution</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='891980' first='Bela' last='Salazar']- Club One</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='914746' first='Ella' last='Burghardt']- EVJ</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='983362' first='Kaylee' last='Boniface']- Sky</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='915918' first='Violett' last='D'Annibale']- Storm</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We have a lot more content coming from this incredible event! If you missed this one, be sure to tag us in your schedules for NIT, Nationals, and Festival! If you want more exposure, be sure to attend one of the Prep Dig AZ showcases in August! Use code&nbsp;<strong>MarissaMorah10</strong>&nbsp;or&nbsp;<strong>AnthonyJones10</strong>&nbsp;for a discount.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:quote --> <blockquote class="wp-block-quote"><!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepdig.com/all-events/">All Events</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --></blockquote> <!-- /wp:quote -->