More than 27,000 athletes from across the country converged in Central Florida to pass, set and spike during the 43rd annual AAU Girls’ Junior National Volleyball Championships.
The eight-day event has held the title of largest volleyball event in the world since 2012 when the 16U Club division set the current Guinness Book of World Records mark. It attracts approximately 40,000 spectators, 9,000 coaches and 400 college coaches and takes place on 177 courts between ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World Resort and Orange County Convention Center.
Midwest Volleyball Power, a Club based out of Sioux City, IA was represented well with three teams competing in the tournament and finishing with a 35-2 record! MVP 16 AFTERSHOCK competed against 146 teams in the 16 Club Division and remained undefeated throughout the Tournament beating Kokoro VBC 2-1 in the Championship match earning them AAU National Championship honors! MVP 18 TSUNAMI had 54 teams competing in the 18 Classic Division and they finished with an 11-1 record and earned Bronze medals. Lastly, MVP 14 TORNADO competed against 157 teams in the 14 Classic Division and ended the tournament in 5th place with an 11-1 record.
In addition to the team accomplishments, 6 MVP athletes were recognized as AAU All Americans for their performances throughout the tournament. Jensyn Younger was honored from the 14 TORNADO team, Ali Verzani & Allison Kuenle were recognized from the 18 TSUNAMI team and Meredith Lammers, & Kylee Christensen earned recognition from the 16 AFTERSHOCK team. Hallie Reuter (16 AFTERSHOCK) was honored as the MVP of the 16 Club Division making this the second year in a row that an MVP athlete was given this prestigious honor. Lindsey Smith earned Tournament MVP honors in 2015 when the MVP 18 TSUNAMI team won the 18 Classic Division.
MVP 14 TORNADO is coached by Rick Pruett, Kristi Wilshire & Kali Angerman. Team members are: #1 Jordyn Knapp (Sioux City, IA), #2 Ally Beresford (Jefferson, SD), #5 Pypr Stoeffler (Hinton, IA), #7 Taylor Wilshire (Sioux City, IA), #12 Makennah Traver (Sioux Center, IA), #13 Jecenta Sargisson (LeMars, IA), #16 Carlie Corder (Jefferson, SD), #18 McKenna VanEldik (Akron, IA), #22 Jensyn Younger (Jefferson, SD) & Josie Reid (Ponca, NE).
MVP 16 AFTERSHOCK is coached by Marty King & Katelyn Walsh. Team Members are: #5 Nicole Jacobson (Dakota Dunes, SD), #6 Hallie Reuter (Hinton, IA), #8 Elizabeth Lammers (Dakota Dunes, SD), #10 Madison Harms (Sergeant Bluff, IA), #11 Emily Bye (Vermillion, SD), #12 Kylee Christensen (Sergeant Bluff, IA), #21 Kaley Stoulp (Hinton, IA) & #22 Meredith Lammers (Dakota Dunes, SD).
MVP 18 TSUNAMI is coached by Rick Pruett & Melissa Smith. Team members are: #1 Shayla Johnson (McCook Lake, SD), #4 Autumn Fluent (Lawton, IA), #5 Sydney Rand (LeMars, IA), #6 Ali Verzani (Lawton, IA), #9 Kylie Horsley (Lawton, IA), #13 Allison Kuenle (North Platte, NE), #14 Alexia Gerdes (Cherokee, IA), #22 Cassie Hoefling (Hinton, IA) & #28 Jadin Wagner (Lawton, IA).
MVP is a 501c3 non-profit organization providing opportunity for aspiring volleyball players in the Siouxland area to compete at the highest level. MVP’s mission is to develop and maximize individual volleyball skills and create post-secondary exposure for volleyball athletes in our area. MVP is governed by a board of directors and practices at Longlines Family Rec Center in the heart of downtown Sioux City, IA.
Looks like Siouxland has been building up their volleyball programs. Way to go girls.
oh my gosh great job girls
Great article.