May 28, 2023

With pool play wrapping up on Day 2 of the JVA West Coast Cup in Long Beach, setting the stage for bracket play on Day 3, let’s take a look at the top highlights as well as our Show Stoppers. A day after upsetting top-seeded SoCal 16 Eric in 16 Open, it was SF Tremors 16 Tigers which was on the other end of it on Sunday. Both VVA 16-1 and Tstreet LV 16 Trevor took down SF Tremors to advance from Pool 1. VVA, as the No. 2 team, finished 3-0 ahead of 2-1 Tstreet LV. Nothing was out of place in Pool 2, though, as both Arete 16 Navy Telos and Seal Beach 16 Black reached the gold bracket. There was a minor upset in Pool 3, as the No. 2 team in Tstreet 16 Naseri finished 3-0 ahead of No. 1 Sunshine 16 Pacific. Both also moved onto the gold bracket. In 15 Open, Actyve 15 Black, Tstreet 15 Curtis, Academy 15 HP Daniele and Sunshine 15 Westside advanced to the gold bracket. While Pool 1 played out according to seed with Actyve going 3-0 as the No. 1 team and Tstreet 2-1 as the No. 2 team, it was a different tale in Pool 2. Academy HP ended up on top at 3-0 as the No. 2 team, with Sunshine the No. 3 team going 2-1 and taking second. That kept Arete 15 Navy Telos, the No. 2 overall seed and No. 1 team in the pool, from advancing. The results were fairly straightforward in 17 Open. Saddleback 17 Sofly, Actyve 17 Black and Sa Clemente 17 Riley all advanced as the No. 1 teams in their pools. Tstreet LV 17 Britta and Balboa Bay 17 Blue also moved on as No. 2 teams in their pools, while Academy 17 HP Lukasz reached the gold bracket by winning Pool 3 as the No. 4 team. Academy HP, San Clemente and Tstreet IE 17 Taylor finished in a three-way tie at 2-1, with Tstreet being eliminated after taking third based on tiebreakers. *** DAY 2 SHOW STOPPERS Emerson Boyd S/RS Arete 15 Navy Telos: Boyd has a bright future a 6-0 setter/right side. She does well distributing the ball with a consistent release. As a hitter, she has a strong arm and was powering down balls. Brylee Moore OH Arete 15 Navy Telos: Another 6-0 prospect, Moore can bring it on the outside. When the opportunity presented itself she would let it fly. Sara Moynihan S/RS Tstreet 15 Curtis: Moynihan played a key role setting and hitting. Though she’s a bit undersized, she’s a springy lefty who gets up and is a reliable scorer. She’s also a solid setter who puts up a nice ball. Sammie Aaron OH VVA 15-1: Aaron was coming with it all around. She was a key cog in the attack with front and back row scoring. She also played sound defense in the back row. Emily Pruett RS VVA 15-1: Pruett is someone to keep tabs on. The lefty has a nice arm and can generate pace when called upon. Lauryn Lewis MB Sunshine 15 Westside: Lewis is a tad undersized but is quick and jumps well. She was getting her hands on plenty of balls moving side to side blocking at the net. Ayla Johanski S/RS SoCal 16 Eric: Johanski is another player who though is a bit undersized is a flat-out baller. She’s a feisty attacker who doesn’t back down and challenges bigger blockers. She’s also a steady setter who does well mixing it up. Kaylee Noa L/DS SoCal 16 Eric: Noa made a few incredible saves. She wasn’t afraid to lay out flat and get the ball up to keep the rally going. Ai-Lani Hunter RS VVA 16-1: Hunter is an athletic right side with an explosive jump and strong arm. She’s a definite threat and someone VVA likes to get involved plenty. Delaney Blied MB Seal Beach 16 Black: Blied was showing off her powerful arm. She was getting fed and was delivering the thunder as she hammered down her share of kills. Lola Padilla OH Tstreet IE 16 Andy: Padilla is a hard-hitting outside who takes plenty of swings. She has a big arm and was pounding balls for points. Evelyn Jurden OH VA Elite 16s: Jurden was another outside who displayed a powerful arm. She was not holding back and being aggressive with her attacks. *** Sophia Van Ness OH Sunshine 16 Pacific: Van Ness was giving Sunshine consistent offense, including a couple of loud kills. She was also doing well in the back row defending and keeping the ball alive. Nikki Tawil S Sunshine 16 Pacific: Tawil was sharing the ball and getting all her hitters involved when she could. She has a consistent release and locates well. Kiera Hamilton OH Club Cactus 16 Mizuno: Hamilton was among the best scoring threats with her 6-0 frame and ability to go over the block at times. She’s lanky with the ability to connect high and let it go. Camille Solovjev L/DS San Clemente 17 Riley: Solovjev was a back row stalwart, passing and defending well with on-point deliveries. Alice Taylor RS SF Elite 17 Saga: Taylor is a physical right side who can power through blocks. When she was across the front row, SF Elite looked to get her involved as she was coming through on the regular. Logan Stern S SF Elite 17 Saga: Stern is a smooth disher with a clean release. She was putting the ball in good spots and moving it around well. Arielle Bruk OH Academy 17 HP Lukasz: Bruk carries a strong arm and was bringing it over and over. When she connects she can really rip it. Marlee Arrington RS Tstreet IE 17 Taylor: A 6-0 right side touching 10-4, Arrington gets up. She has great upside with the ability to go right over blocks. Emma Rowell S/RS Actyve 17 Black: Part of the Class of 2025, Rowell