The action on the first two days is what sets up the pools for Day 3. And it’s Day 3 when you can really start to see the tournament take shape and get an idea of what the path to gold is going to take.
To give you an idea of how the first two days of 16 Open at AAU nationals played out let’s look at Vballrecruiter’s Top 50 National Rankings. Of the 79 teams entered in the age group, 19 are represented in the rankings. Only two did not advance to Day 3. They were No. 41 Academy 16 Yeti and No. 47 Tribe 16 Elite Navy.
Academy fell to another ranked team – No. 46 Sunshine 16 LA – and finished third behind No. 39 SPVB 16 Elite and Sunshine. As for Tribe, it lost to No. 15 MN Select and unranked Northern Lights 16-1, which was on the cusp of making the Top 50. Northern Lights went on to upset MN Select to take first.
Despite the lackluster first two days, the action is going to take a significant upswing on Day 3. Here’s why.
Pool E features four nationally-ranked teams – No. 9 A5 16-1 Gabe, No. 39 SPVB, No. 38 Tri-State Elite 16 Blue and No. 24 WPVC 16 Armour Black. Only two can advance, making that a power pool of sorts.
Pool B is another intriguing pool. It contains No. 6 Legacy 16-1 Adidas, No. 36 Academy 16 Diamond, No. 25 Tribe 16 Elite Cardinal and unranked Adidas KiVA 16 Red.
Pool D opens with No. 4 Boiler Jrs 16 Gold facing No. 15 MN Select. Both teams are among those headed to USAV nationals in a couple of weeks. Also in the pool is No. 31 EC Power KOP 16 Empire and unranked OT 16 Will.
Of course, there are opportunities to be had as well.
Take Pool A for example. While it features national No. 1 Mintonette Sports m.61, the other three teams in Kokoro Volleyball 16-1, SynergyForce 16 James and FarOut 16 Black are unranked. That gives one of them the chance to make the gold bracket.
It’s even better in Pool F, where all four teams are unranked, meaning two get to make the gold bracket. The quartet is made up of Ozark Jrs 16 Elite, Northern Lights, Jupiter Elite 16E and JJVA 16 Teal.
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DAY 2 SHOW STOPPERS
Below, we name our Day 2 Show Stoppers. These are the players we feel stood out to us the most during our time watching them.
Cala Haffner L/DS Team Pineapple 16 Black: Haffner, a 4-star recruit, never rattles. She plays under control. She reads and reacts at a high level and is a spot-on passer.
Sophia Gisslen S Team Pineapple 16 Black: Gisslen, a 3-star setter, does a good job incorporating all her hitters. She runs a diverse offense and with it keeps defenses on their toes.
Briana Pagan OH Vaqueras 16-1: Pagan is slightly undersized on the pin. Yet, she jumps well and has a solid arm. She uses it to tool blocks effectively and find ways to beat bigger blocks.
Valeria Nunez RS Vaqueras 16-1: Nunez has huge upside. She’s a 6-2 recruit from the Class of 2027. She can extend and hit a high contact point, hitting sharp angles along with it.
Genevieve Harris S Academy 16 Diamond: A 5-star setter and recent Texas commit, Harris is just smooth. She does well getting to off passes and still getting her hitters looks with strong sets.
Taylor Bruce RS Academy 16 Diamond: Touching over 10 feet and a recent Georgia commit, Bruce helps open up the offense with her scoring ability from the right side. She has a lively arm and combined with her jump, she can rip shots down in a hurry.
Ella Thorson S Kokoro Volleyball 16-1: A 6-0 setter, Thorson was among the quarterbacks who stood out. She has a consistent, clean release and puts the ball in a hittable window.
Madelynn Henry OH Kairos 16 Alpha: A 3-star recruit from the Class of 2027, is an explosive attacker. She has serious hops and a really fast arm. Together, she can let it fly at times and rip shots down.
Kamryn Jackson RS OK Charge 16 UA: Jackson was doing her thing on the right side. She’s an athletic attacker who jumps well. She has a solid arm too. She was helping shoulder a fair share of the offense.
Brooklynne Brass OH SPVB 16 Elite: Brass – a 3-star recruit – is another pin hitter who can get up. She touches well over 10 feet and has a lively arm. She too was lighting it up with a few impressive kills.
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Abbey Knight RS SPVB 16 Elite: A 3-star recruit, Knight is a force on the right side. She has a heavy arm and hits with lots of power.
Kennedey Whitford L/DS Iowa Rockets 16R: Whitford is a scrappy defender who flies around the court. She brings a ton of energy to the lineup and passes consistent out of serve receive.
Mia Kinney RS K2 16 Adidas: Kinney is part of the Class of 2027. She’s a bit undersized on the right but she does not get cheated on the attack. She takes aggressive swings and hits with lots of power.
Gunny Brock OH K2 16 Adidas: A 3-star recruit, Brock is a wirey outside with a lively arm. She shoulders a load on offense and provides a punch to the attack.
Madeline Dettling OH Mich Elite 16 Mizuno: Dettling, a 3-star outside, is the key piece of the attack. She provides a lot of the offense with her ability to score in a variety of ways.
Allie Davison S/RS Mich Elite 16 Mizuno: Davison brings flexibility to the lineup with her ability to set and hit. She’s a solid setter who can move the ball side to side.
Madison Mayo OH Alabama Perf 16 National: Mayo is an up-and-coming talent and a name to know. She’s 6-2 and a member of the Class of 2028. Playing up two age groups, she fits right in with the 16s. She has a quick arm and knows how to score.
Megan Ingersoll RS Alabama Perf 16 National: A 3-star recruit, Ingersoll is 6-1 and has a powerful arm. She can thunder shots down with authority at times.
Alana Whitfield OH Illini Elite 16 Cardinal: Whitfield, a 3-star outside, is a key piece of the attack. She’s a springy outside with a lively arm and she gets after it.
Lily Bosworth MB Illini Elite Cardinal: Bosworth – a 4-star middle – is a presence in the middle with her length and size. She puts up a big block. She’s also hard to slow on the attack with her ability to hit over blocks and create tough angles.
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Reghan Frazzetta S Atlanta Extreme 16 Jackie; Frazzetta is a talented setter who exhibits a positive attitude on the court and exceptional communication with her hitters. Her positive demeanor and clear instructions on the court foster a cohesive and effective team dynamic. Additionally, she plays strong defense, further enhancing her value to the team.
Mar’Ley Phillips OH Atlanta Extreme 16 Jackie: Phillips, a dynamic outside hitter, excels at attacking from the back row and consistently scores points for her team. Her athletic prowess and versatility on the court make her an invaluable player. In the match against Infinity 16 Green, Phillips was relentless, demonstrating her hustle and dedication by staying active and engaged throughout the entire game.
Sami Duran OH A4 Volley 16-Peyton: Duran displayed a powerful arm swing on the pin, scoring multiple points into the angle against Columbia 16 Black. Her aggressive and precise hitting consistently broke through the defense, making her a key offensive weapon for her team.
Maxine Meder MB A4 Volley 16-Peyton: Meder was a key player in the front row during the match against Columbia 16 Black, showcasing her versatile skills and reliability. She demonstrated her ability to run a fast offense and seamlessly connected with her setter, executing numerous plays within a single rally getting on top of the ball every time she was attacking. Her adaptability and comprehensive skill set made her an essential asset to her team’s performance.
Courtney Grayson MB Red Storm 16 Elite: Grayson is a dominant force at the net, visibly impacting the game as Athlete HQ 16-Stalker’s hitters and defense faltered under her relentless scoring. Her commanding presence consistently boosts her team’s confidence and contributes significantly to their success.
Marielle Gary S Red Storm 16 Elite: Gray is an exceptionally smart and strategic setter, constantly aware of the happenings on the other side of the net. Her well-timed dumps are highly effective, scoring every time. Marielle skillfully utilizes all of her hitters, keeping the defense guessing and contributing significantly to her team’s dynamic offense against Athlete HQ 16-Stalker.
Brooke Byxbee MB Stars 16 Nicholas: Byxbee, a middle blocker, excels in transitioning off the net and maintaining her aggressive presence. She demonstrates excellent footwork when both blocking and attacking, always knowing her role and executing it effectively. Her agility and strategic positioning make her an essential asset at the net.
Layla Hinrichs OH Stars 16 Nicholas: Hinrichs’ left-handed hitting gives her a unique advantage on the court, often catching Champion 16 National Doug off guard and allowing her to score multiple points. She is a smooth, well-rounded player with superb defense and passing skills, making her a key player in both offensive and defensive plays.
Katelyn Xue L SMASH 16-1: Xue takes charge on the court with her confident defense and passing skills. She maintains a super low athletic stance throughout the entire match, showcasing her dedication and readiness to make plays. Xue’s strong influence and impressive skills significantly elevate her team’s performance level.
Sabine Wenzel MB SMASH 16-1: Wenzel’s ability to attack all angles of the court, coupled with her high reach, makes her a formidable offensive threat. She overpowered NIVA 16 Purple’s middle, a key factor in her team’s victory against them.
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Abbigayl Sells L Legacy 16-2 Adidas: Sells is a Libero who shows incredible tenacity throughout the game, consistently passing difficult balls with accuracy. She also steps in seamlessly for the setter when needed, delivering excellent sets and demonstrating her versatility and dedication on the court.
Jillian Ferrill OH Legacy 16-2 Adidas: Ferrill’s big approach allows her to elevate and generate a significant amount of power in her attacks. She is super agile, transitioning on and off the net quickly and efficiently. Her height also contributes to forming a strong block for Legacy 16-2 Adidas, further solidifying her impact on both offense and defense during their match against Five1 16 Black.
Riley CopenHaver MB Legacy 16-2 Adidas: CopenHaver’s presence on the court is truly captivating, drawing the eyes of spectators with her dynamic play. Her performance against Five 1 16 Black was nothing short of impressive, showcasing her ability to make game-changing plays as a middle blocker. She proved that she can play at an extremely high level as a middle blocker.
Chloe Garcia S 305 VBC 16 Alan: Garcia’s speed and ability to square up to all of her sets make her a versatile and reliable player on the court that her hitters can count on. Her agility and quick reactions allow her to effectively execute plays and contribute to her team’s success against Rogue 16 GO. Her ability to control the ball with such precision sets her apart on the court.
Kayla Zanon L 305 VBC 16 Alan: Zanon is constantly active on the court, never staying still to cover as much ground as possible, which allows her teammates to focus on scoring points. Her excellent ball control and accuracy in serve receive contribute significantly to the win against Rogue 16 GO.
Meghan Carroll MB/RS Dunes 16 Black: Carroll consistently exploits the opening on the right hand of the middle block, creating opportunities for her angled swings to score. Her strong load-up and precise follow-through make her attacks effective and challenging for opponents to defend, which led to their victory against Cincy Classics 16 Red.
Jenna Kelly Dunes OH//OPP 16 Black: Kelly possesses an aggressive jump float serve that allowed her to go on a scoring run, shaking the confidence of multiple passers during their victory over Cincy Classics 16 Red. Additionally, Kelly’s ability to quickly get outside and execute a rapid approach adds to her effectiveness on the court.
Sydney Hengelfelt S Nebraska One 16 Black: Hengelfelt demonstrates excellent court awareness, allowing her to make quick and strategic decisions during the game. Her ability to read the game and anticipate plays contributes to her effective setting and overall impact on the court.
Ellie Schaedel L Nebraska One 16 Black: Schaedel was instrumental in her team’s success against Empowered 16 Elite Black, consistently digging and passing with precision to set her team up for successful plays. She brings a high level of energy to the court, which motivates her teammates and adds intensity to their game.
Avery Burdette OH/OPP TPV 16 Paragon: Burdette executed her plays with precision and confidence, delivering some remarkable hard-driven line swings on the pin during the 3rd set against OPU 16 Adidas. Her performance was a testament to her skill and determination, inspiring her teammates to elevate their game.
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Ady Bollinger L Ozarks 16: Bollinger’s exceptional passing was highlighted in the match against NO NAME 16 Kevin. She displayed an expanded range on the court, allowing the outside hitter more attacking opportunities. Her straightforward approach to passing, avoiding unnecessary mistakes, showcases her efficiency and reliability on the court.
Piper Batie S Ozarks 16: Batie’s work ethic and determination on the court are unparalleled, consistently striving to elevate her team’s performance. Her athleticism and exceptional hand skills make her a formidable presence, often turning the tide in her team’s favor with her impactful plays.
