As we approach the New Year, we are beginning to get into our club coverage for the new season. Earlier in the week, we released our 18s Team Spotlights highlighting some of the top contenders in the division. Below, we highlight 17s teams, some of which are top contenders and some of which are on the rise from our perspective.
MADFROG 17 GREEN: Madfrog was an incredible story last club season, rising up and capturing the 16 Open gold medal in a totally unexpected conclusion to the year. The thing is, after returning just four players from that roster, Madfrog will likely be in a position to surprise once more this summer as the team isn’t going to start among the favorites. Among those back is 4-star outside Lainee Pyles (LSU). She was named 16 Open MVP in Indy. Back with Pyles is setter Cate Hatefield, L/DS Akunna Cos-Okpalla and MB/RS Katherine Mansfield. Part of the new additions is 3-star outside Reagan Sharp.
A5 17-1 JING: One of the biggest factors for this group is dealing with expectations because they are definitely high! A5 returns the core of the team which finished runner up in 16 Open this summer. There are few if any holes on roster that features 5-star outside Hannah Benjamin (Kentucky), 4-star middle Mia Hood (Michigan State) and 4-star right side Molly Kate Patten (Georgia). The deep roster also includes 4-star middle Logan Wiley (Georgia Tech), 4-star L/DS Gabriela Cornier (Florida) and outside Gracie Rose.
DYNASTY 17 BLACK: Dynasty joins A5 has the standard in which other teams will judge themselves by in 17 Open this season. No team had a more consistent year than Dynasty in 16 Open and with a few minor changes one would expect that to remain the same moving up an age group. There is no better combination in the division than 5-star outsides Skyler Pierce (Nebraska) and Carlie Cisneros (Arizona) teaming up with 5-star setter Reese Messer. Dynasty also has a big, powerful arm on the right side in 5-star recruit Abigail Mullen. In the middle, there’s the combo of 5-star recruit Cy Rae Campbell (Wake Forest), 4-star recruit Jada Ingram (UNLV) and Piper Newton. Defensively, Dynasty is anchored by 4-star L/DS Ryan McAleer (Purdue) and helps round out a well-balanced lineup.
TAV 17 BLACK: Another top contender is TAV, which features a game-changing addition to the roster. vballrecruiter.com’s High School Sophomore Player of the Year Cari Spears is playing up a year again – she played on Metro 16 Travel last season – and brings an immediate offensive advantage to an attack that already has 5-star outside Jadyn Livings (USC) and 5-star middle Favor Anyanwu (USC), as well as 4-star pin hitter Mikala Young (TCU). Also on the roster is 3-star middle Ashby Daniel (Alabama), 4-star middle Anna Boatner and 3-star middle Ava Shankle. Setting is 5-star Michigan commit Camille Edwards and Harper Hall. Joining Spears by playing up an age division is 4-star L/DS Gillian Pitts.
DRIVE NATION 17 RED: While the teams above are considered to be the favorites, Drive Nation falls under the category of a team expected to make a jump up the standings. But after finishing 26th in 16 Open this summer, it would be surprising not to see Drive Nation finish higher in 17 Open with the changes that were made. It’s not entirely a new team but there are enough new players that it’s essentially a brand-new team. Among those coming over to the club include 5-star MB/RS/OH Ayden Ames (Nebraska), 4-star right side Grace Carroll (Baylor), 4-star outside Lolo Lambert (Arkansas), 4-star middle Lillian Croshaw, 4-star setter Bethanie Wu (Yale) and middle Shelby Burriss. Two players who played up an age group on Drive Nation 16 Red this past season in Suli Davis and Zoe Gillen-Malveaux are not on the 17s. Both stayed on the 16s this season to play with their own age group and solidify that lineup. One key returner though is 4-star L/DS Caleigh King.
CO JRS 17 KEVIN: Co Jrs could be a little up-and-down last year but still wound up finishing tied for 5th in 16 Open. With the lineup largely the same, Co Jrs should be on everyone’s radar with its talent and height on the roster, one highlighted by 5-star S/RS Izzy Starck (Penn State). She’s joined by 4-star pin hitter and 6-6 Avah Armour (Central Florida, 2023), 3-star right side and 6-5 Addie Kanouff and 4-star outside and 6-3 Paityn Chapman (Tennessee). Recent Florida commit and 3-star L/DS Ella Vogel is back as well.
TRIANGLE 17 BLACK: Triangle doesn’t likely fit the description of a top contender, but the group that finished tied for 13th in 16 Open this summer could be knocking on the door. One of the biggest switches this club season involves this group and the addition of 5-star right side Ryan Hunter (2025). Hunter is a high-flying, hard-hitting banger who brings a whole new dynamic to the attack. Triangle’s attack was already in good hands with 4-star outsides Asia Thigpen (Kentucky) and Kiki Horne and 3-star setter Emily Bobbitt (Iowa State). Back along with that trio is 4-star middle Ashlyn Philpot (Illinois) and Laynie Smith (Illinois). The middle depth is filled out by newcomer Mallory Jenkins.
ROCKWOOD THUNDER 17 ELITE: Rockwood finished tied for 27th in 16 Open in Indy. However, there is reason to believe the Gateway Region club can finish higher this summer in Chicago. As a 16s bunch, RT had a rough start to last season as it was knocked out of Open qualifiers twice on Day 1. RT steadily improved and was playing well toward the end of the season. That key pieces are back plus a key newcomer brings optimism for the new season. Joining this edition of the roster is 4-star pin hitter Claire Morrissey (Missouri). She played up on the 17s last year and was a big part of that team. She adds a lot of punch to the lineup that includes 4-star recruit Maya Witherspoon (2025), 4-star pin hitter Jordan Smith (2025) and 3-star outside Allison Risley (Northern Kentucky). Also back are 3-star setters Alyssa Nelson (Villanova) and Morgan Dumm (2025). RT should be sound in the back row with 3-star L/DS Olivia Hasbrook (Ohio State) returning as well.
WAVE 17 JULIANA: Last year in 16 Open, Wave produced consistent quality results but fell in challenge round and ended up tied for 14th at JNs. The roster remains mostly intact, with a couple additions that should keep Wave among the more competitive teams in the division. Back is 4-star setter Amanda Saeger (DePaul) and 4-star L/DS Maya Evens (2025), as well as 4-star middles Jenna Hanes (Michigan) and Camden Bolane (Yale). Also returning are pins Sofia Williams, Niki Egan and Ayva Moi. The team added depth at the setting position with Kiki Remensperger coming over from Coast. Also joining Wave is 3-star outside 6-0 Fallyn Blotzer and 6-1 middle Grace Flanagan (2023). They had some height to a lineup that could use it.
SG ELITE 17 ROSH: San Gabriel was on an upswing heading into JN’s this summer but was dealt a setback with an injury to 5-star setter Taylor Yu. Without her, the team finished tied for 33rd. Like every team, SG needs health to be on its side but the So Cal club should be on the rise this season with a few key additions. The attack should be stronger and more balanced with 6-1 right side Taylor Treahy joining the mix, as well as 3-star middle Madeline Way (Hawaii) and 3-star outside Gabriella Destler coming aboard too. Returning players include 3-star outsides Ingrid Zahn and Helena Foord, as well as 3-star right side Haley Clark. On the others side of the ball is 4-star L/DS Lauren Lynch (2025).
