MVP Mruzik Leads 5 USA Award Winners at NORCECA U-18 Championships

2018 NORCECA U-18 Girls’ Continental Championship

• August 27-September 1, 2018
• Tegucigalpa, Honduras
• Tournament Site

USA outside hitter Jessica Mruzik was tabbed as the Most Valuable Player at the NORCECA U18 Championships on Saturday after leading the Americans to the gold medal and a berth in the U18 World Cup.

Mruzik notched eight points (6 kills, 2 aces) in the team’s pool play opener vs. Nicaragua. After resting against Barbados, the Livonia, Michigan native and Michigan verbal commit posted a match-high 12 kills and a block against Honduras to secure the USA a spot in the semifinals.

In the semifinals, Mruzik scored a team-leading 14 points (12 kills, 1 block, 1 ace). She finished off the week with a 19-point haul in the title match vs. Canada (14 kills, 3 aces, 2 blocks).

Mruzik also was honored as the tournament’s top outside hitter. Allison Jacobs, Emily Londot, Kennedi Orr and Hattie Monson also were honored among the NORCECA U18 Dream Team.

Cuba’s Thainalien Castillo was honored as the tournament’s top scorer, posting 77 points, including 24 aces.

Awards

MVP: Jessica Mzurik, USA

1st Outside Hitter: Jessica Mzurik, USA

2nd Outside Hitter: Alison Jacobs, USA

1st Middle Blocker: Geraldine González, Dominican Republic

2nd Middle Blocker: Esthepany Rabit, Dominican Republic

Opposite Hitter: Emily Londot, USA

Setter: Kennedi Orr, USA

Best Libero: Katerina Georgiadis, Canada

Best Server: Thainalien Castillo, Cuba

Best Receiver: Hattie Monson, USA

Best Digger: Hattie Monson, USA

Best Scorer: Thainalien Castillo, Cuba

NORCECA U18 girls award winners

Best Scorers

• 77 – Thainalien Castillo, CUB
• 67 – Flormarie Heredia, DOM
• 61 – Katarina Pantovic, CAN
• 57 – Thalia Moreno, CUB
• 56 – Tenneille Chapman-Goodluck, BAR

Most Individual Blocks

• 18 – Geraldine González, DOM
• 15 – Esthepany Rabit, DOM
• 15 – Anna Smrek, CAN
• 14 – Dayana Martínez, CUB
• 11 – Devyn Robinson, USA

Most Individual Aces

• 24 – Thainalien Castillo, CUB
• 16 – Andrea Aceituno, HON
• 15 – Yaimaris García, CUB
• 15 – Katarina Pantovic, CAN
• 13 – Mary Alfaro, CRC

Final Standings

1. USA
2. Canada
3. Cuba
4. Dominican Republic
5. Costa Rica
6. Honduras
7. Nicaragua
8. Barbados