This is “Dots,” VolleyballMag.com’s weekly look at 10 things in club volleyball, past or present, that interest me and hopefully will interest you. Look for Dots every Tuesday through Junior Nationals this summer.
• The 18s national qualifiers rolled into Salt Lake City this past weekend for the SLC Showdown, the seventh such qualifier in this age group for 2024.
In the 24-team Open division, two from California and one hometown squad qualified. Texas and Kansas clubs showed out in the club-level divisions.
• WAVE 18-Brennan, from San Diego, won the 18 Open division, but without overcoming significant adversity on Day 2. The squad was 1-1 after two pool play matches, including a loss to two-time qualifier champion KC Power 18 Black and needed a win over AZ Revolution 18 Premier to clinch advancement. WAVE won Game 1 handily but lost Game 2 and went into overtime in Game 3 before prevailing, 17-15. Phew!
WAVE regrouped in its Gold Pool with two sweeps to clinch a bid, then outlasted SCVA foes SCVC 18 Roxy, 15-12 in the third, to take home top prize.
Head coach Brennan Dean said that MB Jenna Hanes, who led the team in kills, was unstoppable for the weekend. He added that the team’s other two middles also were excellent as was his entire team, in fact.
“Everyone played a role in getting us to the podium,” he stressed.
• SCVC, the reigning 17 Open Junior National Champion, punched its ticket in its first qualifying effort. The team, from the South Bay of Southern California, lost to NORCO 18 Black on Day 1, but not before clinching first in its pool. Melissa Boice’s team followed up with five straight sweeps to reach the final, and won Game 1 of the championship match before being swallowed by WAVE in Games 2 and 3.
“Our focus the weeks leading up was in our preparation,” Boice said. “How we prepare will predict how we will play, along with one point, one game, one match at a time.”
The team excelled after the surprising loss by getting solid serving and passing led by libero Taylor Deckert and outsides Sarah Hom and Kendall Beshear. On Day 3, middles Rachel Moglia and Jade Dudley-Epps were efficient, and setter Thea Morris and right side Chloe Hynes were on point.
“Falling short to a strong Wave team in the finals, we walked away with our ticket punched, but more work to be done!” Boice said.
• Club V 18 Ren Reed, a…
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at Volleyballmag.com…