What a day it was Tuesday as the second day of the second wave at AAU nationals played out. The results in 15 Open were all over the place, and with it comes an insane pool for Day 3.
Let’s start there.
Legacy 15-1 Adidas, the No. 2 overall seed and ranked No. 13 in Vballrecruiter’s Top 50, lost and finished second in its pool. Adidas KiVA 15 Red, the No. 11 overall seed and ranked No. 37 nationally, also lost. It forced both of them into Pool A for Day 3.
That means top-seeded and national No. 5 OT 15 Randy along with No. 41 Mintonette Sports m.51 are all together. Only two of them can advance. It’s unusual for four nationally-ranked teams to wind up together in the same pool on Day 3. All four are good enough to all be in the 12-team gold bracket for Day 4. But as stated above, only two can make it that far now.
That’s how quickly things can take shape and shake up the draw in the process. Mintonette was actually upset in its first outing, falling to MAVA Adidas 15-Select. Mintonette finished in a three-way tie at 2-1 and still wound up in first place, with Lex United 15 Blue. It might have been better for Mintonette to finish second, as Lex United is in a Day 3 pool with two ranked teams in No. 40 MN Select 15-1 and No. 49 Top Select 15 Elite.
Tri-State Elite 15 Blue, the No. 6 overall seed and ranked No. 11 nationally, found itself in the same spot as Mintonette. Tri-State was upended in its first match, going down to Shockwave 15 Black. Tri-State and Shockwave ended in a three-way tie at 2-1, along with GP 15 Rox. Tri-State took first based on tiebreakers, followed by GP in second.
Two other pools ended with three-way ties as well, with both of them featuring three teams all ending at 1-2. One of was Pool G. While Kairos 15 Alpha went 3-0, Tribe 15 Elite Cardinal, Sky High Adidas 15 Elite and Academy 15 Diamond knotted at 1-2. Tribe had the best set percentage and managed to move on in second place.
The other pool was Pool I, where Pitt Elite 15 Elite went 3-0. Behind Pitt Elite, FarOut 15 Black, IVBA 15 Open and L2 151 all went 1-2. It was FarOut having the best set percentage as well to take second and remain in the hunt.
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DAY 2 SHOW STOPPERS
Below, we present our Day 2 Show Stoppers. These are the players who made us take note the most during our time in the gym.
McKenzie Wilkie L/DS A5 15-1 Kelly: A 3-star defender, Wilkie brings a defensive edge to the court. She’s a sharp passer who covers a lot of ground and excels at keeping rallies alive.
Mia Ray OH A5 15-1 Kelly: Ray – a 3-star outside – is a central piece in A5’s attack. She’s a strong, physical attacker who can boom balls down with lots of authority.
Payton Scifres S Sky High Adidas 15 Elite: Scifres, at 6-1, has lots of upside. Her height allows her to be a factor at the net. On top of that, she has a clean, consistent release.
Logan Georgy MB Sky High Adidas 15 Elite: A 6-2 middle, Georgy is another player who adds height to the front row for Sky High. She’s a real scoring threat and teams need to keep tabs on her because of it.
Maizy Agnello OH Sky High Adidas 15 Elite: Agnello is a springy attacker. She adds a punch to Sky High’s offense. She swings very well and hits with lots of pace.
Akshara Jay RS Sky High Adidas 15 Elite: Jay, a lefty right side, is another part of the attack. She’s a heady hitter who helps spread out the offense with her ability to score in a variety of ways.
Sage Illian S/OH Shockwave 15 Black: Illian, a member of the Class of 2028, brings a lot to the lineup with her versatility. She’s a smooth setter with the ability to move the ball around with ease. She’s also a smart attacker who uses crafty and well-placed shots to beat the defense.
Ruthie Robinson MB Kairos 15 Alpha: A 3-star, 6-0 middle, Robinson is a game-changer across the front row for Kairos. She adds a legit offensive dynamic. She can get out on the slide, extend and unload with force.
Josalyn Samuels S Kairos 15 Alpha: A 6-0 setter from the Class of 2028, Samuels is silky smooth. She sets at a high level and has firm command of the offense. She puts up a nearly perfect ball on almost every set.
Makenna Meibers OH Tri-State Elite 15 Blue: Meibers, a 3-star recruit, was bringing it on the outside. She caught a few where she unloaded in impressive fashion in sending balls down for emphatic kills.
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Ellie Osowski OH Northern Lights 15-1: Osowski was another outside who was proving her team a big lift offensively. She was finding ways to score, including swinging aggressively and firing shots past and off blockers for points.
Candice Holloway MB OT 15 Randy: A 3-star, 6-2 middle, Holloway is a presence in the middle. Her length is disrupting at the net. It allows her to hit over blocks as well as slow down opponents coming at her.
Ella Horvick L/DS OT 15 Randy: Horvick – a 3-star recruit – was among the defenders who were performing at a high level. She sees and reads the court well, putting herself in position to make the play.
Jenny Glushakov RS Top Select 15 Elite: A 6-1 right side, Glushakov gives Top Select a legit scoring option. She extends and hits from a high contact point and it makes her tough to slow.
Jenna Brooks L/DS Top Select 15 Elite: Brooks, a 3-star defender, gives Top Select a defensive presence. She’s a solid passer out of serve receive and covers well on balls off the block.
Carson Caraway OH IVBA 15 Open: A 6-3, 4-star outside, Caraway has a lot of upside. She’s a strong attacker who can hit winners from corner to corner and shoulders a large load offensively.
Lilah Anthony RS Adidas KiVA 15 Red: Anthony, a 3-star lefty right side, opens up the offense with her scoring prowess. She’s a smart hitter who sees the court well and with it is one of the focal points offensively.
Brooke Codey OH Adidas KiVA 15 Red: Codey, part of the Class of 2028, is a do-it-all six-rotation anchor. She’s really strong passing out of serve receive and solid defensively. With her beach background, she’s also a high IQ attacker who has various ways to beat defenses.
Taylor Berger MAVA Adidas 15 Select: Berger is a scrappy defender who goes all out. She’s quick and makes plenty of hustle plays to help her team stay in the point.
Mikayla Miessler OH GP 15 Rox: Miessler flashed her potential at times. She has a nice arm and exploited gaps in the block to finish off points.
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Mesa Jameson MB Kokoro 15-1: A 6-1 middle from the Class of 2028, Jameson is definitely someone to keep tabs on. She’s quick and reacts well at the net which makes her a solid blocker. She’s also a capable scorer who defenses need to be ready for when Kokoro is in system.
Abby Miller L/DS Kokoro 15-1: Kokoro is a scrappy group overall and part of that make up is Miller’s never-give-in attitude she brings to the court. She flies out around making plays and provides a ton of energy and spark.
Isabella Lopez RS Tribe 15 Elite Cardinal: A 6-3 lefty right side almost touching 10 feet, Lopez is an up-and-coming talent. As she continues to add power she’s going to become tougher and tougher to deal with.
Lacey Reed L/DS OT 15 Will: Reed showed up strong in the back court. She made a couple of big saves to keep plays going.
Ailanni Sellers S OT 15 Will: Sellers, a 3-star setter, has nice hands. She locates well too and is able to mix up her sets and spread the ball around.
Gia Miko OH Alamo 15 Premier: A 6-1 outside from the Class of 2028, Miko has a lot of potential. She swings very well and has a lively arm. She’s also a threat from the back row.
Rylie Coates S/MB Alamo 15 Premier: Coates, a 6-0, 3-star recruit, is a versatile player who brings a lot to the lineup. She can set as well as hit on the right or out of the middle. With it, she helps keep Alamo in system as she’s able to take off passes when she’s front row and still get her team good looks.
Jaylynn Carter OH CUVC 15 Open: A 4-star recruit, Carter brings the wow factor to the attack. She jumps very well. She has the arm to match. Combined, she is able to light it up in a hurry.
Kate Colosky MB FarOut 15 Black: A 3-star middle who is touching over 10 feet, Colosky moves well side to side and gets off the ground quickly. With it, she’s able to beat defenses before the block is formed and provide a lift on offense.
Elizabeth Risdon RS FarOut 15 Black: Risdon is a bit undersized but doesn’t hold back. She’s an aggressive attacker who shows no fear going at bigger blocks.
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Kennedy Varda MB Big Sky Volleyball 15-1: Varda has the ability to run multiple plays. She keeps the defense guessing and adds versatility to the offense. She closes her block effectively ensuring that she shuts down hitters and limits their options, contributing significantly to the team’s defensive strength during their match against Spiketown USA 15-1. She was able to slow down a ton of plays making it easier for her to transition.
Lowe LeFeber MB/OH Big Sky Volleyball 15-1: LeFeber’s lateral movement is another key asset during the match against Spiketown USA 15-1, allowing her to cover more ground and close blocks with precision. Her agility ensures she’s always in the right place at the right time, making her an even more intimidating presence on the court.
Miya Chase OH/DS Big Sky Volleyball 15-1: Chase is a powerhouse on the outside! She can elevate quickly and deliver powerful, crushing hits that leave the opposing defense scrambling. Her explosive athleticism and ability to consistently deliver strong attacks make her a crucial offensive weapon for her team; as a result her team defeated Spiketown USA 15-1 in an extremely close match.
Harper Sanders L/DS 575 15-1 Kortney: Sanders made some incredible digs, diving in the middle to cover over her block in the first set against Nitrosas 15-1’s middle, who kept dumping over 575’s middle. She was steady on her serve receive, setting her team up for victory over Nitrosas 15-1.
Holly Dufrene MB 575 15-1 Kortney: Dufrene is a very active middle blocker who can move off the net with ease and keep an eye on action on both sides of the court. She puts a lot of effort into being prepared for any opportunity that comes her way, and her solid connection with the setter improves their offensive approach to the game against Nitrosas 15-1.
Shelby Gibbs S 575 15-1 Kortney: Gibbs is exceptional at consistently switching up her offense, knowing exactly which players to use in different situations. Her great control with sets ensures accuracy and effectiveness in every play. As a great leader on the court, she actively communicates with her teammates, guiding and motivating them throughout the match.
Cat Nygaard L A5 Chattanooga 15-1 Mary: Nygaard passed exceptionally well in the second set against WVBA 15 Adidas. She expanded her range on the court, freeing up the outside hitter to focus on attacking. She uses simple techniques when passing and doesn’t overcomplicate things, making her an efficient and reliable player.
Lydie Varnadore OH/OPP A5 Chattanooga 15-1 Mary: Varnadore made some amazing hard-driven digs, showcasing her resilience and determination to keep her team alive in crucial moments. Her defensive prowess played a vital role in maintaining the momentum and energy on the court. Additionally, her high arm reach allows her to hit over the top of blocks, and she has a keen eye for finding openings on the court to score.
Ava Malick DS/L NYC VBA 18 Amsterdam: Malick was dialed in on defense and played with concentration throughout each play. Additionally, she maintained a positive attitude throughout, which not only uplifted her teammates but also contributed to a cohesive and supportive team environment. Her positivity was a valuable asset, especially during intense moments in the game. Always ready on defense, she showcased her skill and reliability whenever the ball came her way, ensuring that every touch counted towards her team’s success.
Bella Cocke OH Polar Elite 18-1: Instead of depending solely on her physical might, Cocke is a strategic and intelligent player who uses her keen understanding of the game to score points. This approach not only sets her apart but also allows her to excel on the pin. Her style of play is a testament to the fact that intelligence and skill can often outshine raw power on the volleyball court.
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Jocelyn Vang L Polar Elite 18-1: Vang is also strong in serve receive, displaying smooth and controlled movements that allow her to efficiently pass the ball to her setters throughout their match against Cincy Classics 18 Red. Her ability to handle tough serves with ease adds to her overall effectiveness on the court.
Nejari Crooks S/RS Triad Elite 18 National: A 4-star recruit from the Class of 2027, Crooks’ assertive net play, coupled with her unwavering confidence, established her as a commanding force during the match. Throughout the match against TVC 18 National, Crooks, playing on the right side, effectively utilized the blockers’ hands to strategically tool the ball high off their hands. Additionally, she displayed aggressive blocking, pressing firmly over the net to disrupt the offensive plays of the opposing team.
Olivia Melvin OH Triad Elite 18 National: Melvin, positioned on the pin, unleashed a barrage of powerful attacks in the second set against TVC 18 National. Utilizing her heavy arm to drive the ball through the angle and past the block leaving the opposing team’s defense scrambling to position themselves against her relentless force. Reacting to her hits required impeccable timing and quick thinking to successfully dig the ball.
Amelia Lamberti OPP Eastside Volleyball 15 Ice: Despite being a right-handed player on the right side, Lamberti does an excellent job of getting her feet to the ball on out-of-system sets and still smoothly transitioning for the kill. She consistently locates the open court with accuracy and her setter can absolutely depend on her to get the job done.
Claire Ceresa L Eastside Volleyball 15 Ice: Ceresa effectively creates space between her platform and body when executing float serves against MOVA UA 15 Gold. She positions herself well on the court, reading the game adequately. This allows her to simplify her digging, showing that she doesn’t need to overcomplicate her plays to make them successful.
Avery Warren S/OPP Block Out Academy 15-1: As a setter, Warren excels not only in her precise sets but also in her ability to adapt mid-play. Her quick decision-making allows her to adjust her sets based on the defense’s positioning, effectively exploiting weaknesses against EU U15-Platinum.
Maddy Henderson OH Block Out Academy 15-1: Henderson is an extremely versatile player. Watching her play against EU U15-Platinum demonstrated her ability to attack from the back row, pass accurately on serve receive, make game-changing saves mid-rally, and stay aggressive on the pin. Her diverse skill set makes her a valuable asset to Block Out Academy 15-1.
