AAU 15 Open: Preview and Predictions

Number of Teams: 59

vballrecruiter.com Nationally-Ranked Clubs (11):

7. OT 15 Randy

8. Legacy 15-1 Adidas

25. Munciana 15 Lorax

26. Adidas KiVA 15 Red

27. Mich Elite 15 Mizuno

34. ID Crush 15 Bower

36. A5 Mizuno 15 Bob

37. Boiler Jrs 15 Gold

40. Northern Lights 15-1

42. GP 15 Rox

46. OT 15 Meg

49. Top Select 15 Elite

vballrecruiter.com 5-star recruits (1):

Charlotte Glass, S, Tribe 15 Elite

vballrecruiter.com 4-star recruits (7):

Mesaiya Bettis, OH/RS, Northern Lights 15-1

Campbell Flynn, S, Legacy 15-1 Adidas

Lauren Coyne, RS, SPVB 15 Elite

Navea Gauthier, OH, Far Out 15 Black

Abbigail Pickard, S, Far Out 15 Black

Abigail Li, S, A5 Mizuno 15 Bob

Izzy Mogridge, S, OT 15 Randy

Outlook: The top four seeds are also the four teams ranked the highest in our national rankings. The difference is Munciana 15 Lorax seeded No. 2 ahead of Legacy 15-1 Adidas, which is the No. 3 seed and ranked 17 spots higher in our rankings. OT 15 Randy earns the top seed, while Adidas KiVA 15 Red checks in at No. 4. The rest of the top eight seeds looks like No. 5 Mizuno Northern Lights 15-1, No. 6 GP 15 Rox, No. 7 OT 15 Meg and No. 8 SPVB 15 Elite. OT Meg did well in reaching the semifinals of 15 Open at the JVA West Coast Cup earlier this month but might be seeded a little high. Mich Elite 15 Mizuno, which is ranked No. 27 in our rankings, begins as the No. 11 overall seed. Like the 17s in 17 Open, ID Crush 15 Bower might be under-seeded in 15 Open, opening as the No. 17 overall seed. The field has plenty of teams capable of making noise and delivering upsets. A5 Mizuno 15 Bob, Boiler Jrs 15 Gold, Team Pineapple 15 Black, Far Out 15 Black, Tri-State Elite 15 Blue and Tribe 15 Elite Dean all fit that bill. Still, OT Randy and Legacy have separated themselves from the rest of the pack with their play throughout the season. Munciana certainly has the ability to compete and beat either, as does KiVA. It’s difficult seeing the national champion coming from outside the top four seeds. But maybe someone can break it up and earn at least a bronze medal?

Prediction: We like the scrap and grit of OT Randy. We like the fact Legacy knows how to win. That’s why the pick is for the two to meet up in the final. Legacy squeaks by in three. Munciana and Tri-State Elite bring home the bronzes.

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