2017 outlook
For Brooke Nuneviller, there was no offseason.
After leading Tempe Corona del Sol to a 39-5 record and a girls’ volleyball 6A conference state championship in 2016, the 5-11 senior libero/outside hitter has kept herself quite busy.
She was named the Gatorade American Family Insurance Arizona Girls Volleyball Player of the Year as well as being named to azcentral sports’ All-Arizona team. In the spring, she won azcentral sports’ Sand Volleyball Player of the Year.
So Nuneviller clearly earned some time to rest in the summer, right? Not quite.
The senior played with the USA Girls U18 National Team for the second straight summer, one of just 12 players named to the team which competes in the Youth World Championships. She was one of just four players to play for both the 2016 and 2017 teams.
“That was an incredible experience playing for USA and traveling the world,” Nuneviller said. “Just an amazing experience that not many people in the world have the opportunity to do.”
Now, Nuneviller is ready to channel her efforts toward another run at a state championship.
“Not only is Brooke very talented, she is a great teammate and leader,” coach Ben Maxfield said.
“She is very positive
Teams to watch:
Tempe Corona del Sol, Gilbert Perry, Phoenix Mountain Pointe, Phoenix Xavier, Chandler Hamilton, Phoenix Centennial.
Brooke Nuneviller (Corona, USA U18s), Gabby Leo (Mountain Pointe), Lanie Wagner (Xavier), Karen Scanlon (Phoenix Horizon), Ashley Lifgren (Centennial), Anna Morse (Mountain Pointe).
Sept. 7: Perry at Horizon; Sept. 15-16: Durango Fall Classic in Las Vegas; Oct. 4: Hamilton at Xavier; Oct. 24: Corona at Mountain Pointe; Oct. 24: Xavier at Hamilton; Nov. 9: 6A State Championship at Gilbert Mesquite. and brings out the best in her teammates. She has a high volleyball I.Q. and her athleticism is off the charts. She gets to balls that the majority of girls will not get to.”
Nuneviller and her USA teammates claimed a silver medal in 2016 in Puerto Rico and a bid to the 2017 World Championships. The team played in Rio de Janiero, Brazil as well as Rosario and Santa Fe, Argentina in 2017 where they ultimately lost to Italy in the quarterfinals.
“The opportunity to play at such a high level will always make a better player,” Maxfield said. “After playing at such a high speed of play, coming back to high school the speed has slowed down which makes things easier to do. The fact she only played libero with the USA team has really helped her to continue to improve on her serve receive.”
The University of Oregon commit led the Aztecs with 361 kills, 315 digs, 50 aces and 35 blocks during the 2016 season.
Knowing the differences