Midwest JVA ChallengeMay 4, 2016 by Megan Kaplon
Top 10 Players At JVA Midwest Challenge: 18 Open
Top 10 Players At JVA Midwest Challenge: 18 Open
The strength of volleyball in America’s heartland will be on full display this weekend in Des Moines, Iowa. The JVA Midwest Challenge will bring in 142 tea
The strength of volleyball in America’s heartland will be on full display this weekend in Des Moines, Iowa. The JVA Midwest Challenge will bring in 142 teams from across North America to battle for the title and the glory in 10 different divisions, and you can watch the action LIVE on FloVolleyball.
Here’s our list of the top 10 players to watch in 18 Open. You’ll eventually see these athletes compete for top Division I teams in the NCAA and possibly contend for national championships.
10. Samantha Slaughter, Kairos Elite 18 Adidas
Slaughter, who recently verbally committed to Creighton, is a junior playing up on the top Kairos 18s team. The talented multi-sport athlete recently earned second-team all-state honors as a member of the Harrisburg High School basketball team in addition to being a three-year starting outside/middle hitter on the volleyball team.
9. Brittany Witt, Nebraska Juniors 181
A Nebraska first-team all-state libero and four-year high school varsity starter, Witt set a school record at Marian High School in Omaha for digs in a season when she was only a sophomore and went on to break her own record a year later. The Creighton recruit is a two-time AAU All-American.
8. Claire Anderson, Club Fusion 18 Black
Anderson has played every front-row position in her celebrated high school and club career, and this fall, she’ll take her talents to DePaul University. Her performance for St. Charles North High School last fall earned her the title of Kane County Chronicle Girls Volleyball Player of the Year.
7. Piper Mauck, IPVA 17 Black
Another impressive and nationally ranked setter, Mauck is a member of the IPVA 17s team that is playing up an age group at the JVA Midwest Challenge. The 6-1 Roosevelt High School junior committed to Iowa State her freshman year.
6. Jaclyn Taylor, Club Fusion 18 Black
One of the top setters in the Class of 2016, Taylor will play for Creighton after graduating from St. Charles North High School this spring. Taylor, who was nominated for the Andi Collins award honoring the nation’s top prep setter, will quarterback Fusion’s loaded offensive at this weekend’s JVA Midwest Challenge.
5. Olivia Van Zelst, Wildcat Juniors 18 Black
This 5-11 outside hitter puts some serious heat on the ball. A Purdue recruit and daughter of two Purdue alums, Van Zelst may end up playing defensive specialist or libero in college, but on her Wildcat Juniors squad, she’s a ferocious offensive threat.
4. Taryn Knuth, IPVA 17 Black
Knuth comes from a family of high-level athletes. Her father played football for Iowa State, her mother played basketball at Drake and all three of Knuth’s older siblings played Division I sports, including two sisters who played volleyball for Iowa State. After Knuth, a 6-3 middle blocker, graduates from high school next spring, she’ll play at Florida State.
3. Olivia Nicholson, Nebraska Juniors 181
Nicholson was a member of the USAV Girls’ Youth National Team in 2014 and was on the 2015 AVCA All-American Watch List. A middle on her North Platte High School team, the 6-1 senior will play outside for Nebraska Juniors this weekend to prepare for her college career at Mountain West Conference powerhouse Colorado State.
2. Daley Krage, Club Fusion 18 Black
The 6-4 Krage originally planned on attending Northwestern before deciding that USC was the place for her. The St. Charles North senior, who is an Under Armour Honorable Mention All-American, signed to become a Trojan last month.
1. Raegan LeGrand, Nebraska Juniors 181
Reigning Nebraska Gatorade Player of the Year, LeGrand will attend also the University of Southern California in the fall. The 5-10 libero/outside hitter played for the storied Papillion La Vista South High School program that produced, most recently and notably, the University of Nebraska’s dynamic twin duo Amber and Kadie Rolfzen.
Here’s our list of the top 10 players to watch in 18 Open. You’ll eventually see these athletes compete for top Division I teams in the NCAA and possibly contend for national championships.
10. Samantha Slaughter, Kairos Elite 18 Adidas
Slaughter, who recently verbally committed to Creighton, is a junior playing up on the top Kairos 18s team. The talented multi-sport athlete recently earned second-team all-state honors as a member of the Harrisburg High School basketball team in addition to being a three-year starting outside/middle hitter on the volleyball team.
9. Brittany Witt, Nebraska Juniors 181
A Nebraska first-team all-state libero and four-year high school varsity starter, Witt set a school record at Marian High School in Omaha for digs in a season when she was only a sophomore and went on to break her own record a year later. The Creighton recruit is a two-time AAU All-American.
8. Claire Anderson, Club Fusion 18 Black
Anderson has played every front-row position in her celebrated high school and club career, and this fall, she’ll take her talents to DePaul University. Her performance for St. Charles North High School last fall earned her the title of Kane County Chronicle Girls Volleyball Player of the Year.
7. Piper Mauck, IPVA 17 Black
Another impressive and nationally ranked setter, Mauck is a member of the IPVA 17s team that is playing up an age group at the JVA Midwest Challenge. The 6-1 Roosevelt High School junior committed to Iowa State her freshman year.
6. Jaclyn Taylor, Club Fusion 18 Black
One of the top setters in the Class of 2016, Taylor will play for Creighton after graduating from St. Charles North High School this spring. Taylor, who was nominated for the Andi Collins award honoring the nation’s top prep setter, will quarterback Fusion’s loaded offensive at this weekend’s JVA Midwest Challenge.
5. Olivia Van Zelst, Wildcat Juniors 18 Black
This 5-11 outside hitter puts some serious heat on the ball. A Purdue recruit and daughter of two Purdue alums, Van Zelst may end up playing defensive specialist or libero in college, but on her Wildcat Juniors squad, she’s a ferocious offensive threat.
4. Taryn Knuth, IPVA 17 Black
Knuth comes from a family of high-level athletes. Her father played football for Iowa State, her mother played basketball at Drake and all three of Knuth’s older siblings played Division I sports, including two sisters who played volleyball for Iowa State. After Knuth, a 6-3 middle blocker, graduates from high school next spring, she’ll play at Florida State.
3. Olivia Nicholson, Nebraska Juniors 181
Nicholson was a member of the USAV Girls’ Youth National Team in 2014 and was on the 2015 AVCA All-American Watch List. A middle on her North Platte High School team, the 6-1 senior will play outside for Nebraska Juniors this weekend to prepare for her college career at Mountain West Conference powerhouse Colorado State.
2. Daley Krage, Club Fusion 18 Black
The 6-4 Krage originally planned on attending Northwestern before deciding that USC was the place for her. The St. Charles North senior, who is an Under Armour Honorable Mention All-American, signed to become a Trojan last month.
1. Raegan LeGrand, Nebraska Juniors 181
Reigning Nebraska Gatorade Player of the Year, LeGrand will attend also the University of Southern California in the fall. The 5-10 libero/outside hitter played for the storied Papillion La Vista South High School program that produced, most recently and notably, the University of Nebraska’s dynamic twin duo Amber and Kadie Rolfzen.