So far, so good for the 17 Open teams appearing in Vballrecruiter’s Top 50 national rankings as the fourth wave of AAU nationals continued on Wednesday at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando. There are 10 Top-50 clubs competing and all day have made it through to Day 3.
However, it was not all smooth sailing for all off them. OT 17 Felix – ranked No. 32 and one of the clubs which is also set to participate in 17 Open at USAV nationals – was upset by unranked Sunshine 17 Pacific and finished second in their pool.
A5 17-1 Calvin, ranked No. 22 nationally, also lost. A5 was taken down by unranked Lex United 17 Elite. Lex United, A5 and OT 17 John all finished at 2-1. Lex United and A5 tied on set percentage, so Lex United earned first based on the head-to-head result.
The rest of the No. 1 team in their respective four-team pools all went 3-0. There were two, three-team pools. In one, Kairos 17 Alpha was the No. 1 team but went 1-1 and then lost its crossover match to EliteVBTC 17 Black and was eliminated.
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DAY 2 SHOW STOPPERS
Below, we present our Day 2 Show Stoppers. These are the players who stood out the most to us during Wednesday’s action.
Mattea Casale L/DS No Name 17 Sarah: A 3-star Purdue commit, Casale is a sound defender with a steadying presence. She has a strong platform and passes well out of serve receive.
Lydia Chinchar RS No Name 17 Sarah: Chinchar – a 5-star recruit from the Class of 2027 – is a take-over pin who can beat defenses in a multitude of ways. She sees the court very well and can unload or hit well-timed off-speed shots.
Jaemysen Martin L/DS Rage Westside 17-1: Martin is scrappy and goes all out in pursuit of the ball. She was making hustle plays and working hard to keep balls alive.
Natalia Clifford OH Rage Westside 17-1: Clifford is a glue piece offensively. She carriers her fair share of the attack. When the opportunity is there, she can let it fly and send it down to the floor.
Ava Glonek MB Supernova 17 National: Glonek took care of her role in the middle. She made plays on both sides of the ball.
Alanah Clemente RS Supernova 17 National: Clemente, a 6-3 lefty, is a tough cover. She can swing all across the front row. She extends well and can go right over the block.
Meg Goodwin S Tulsa Power 17-1: Goodwin showed nice consistency in both her release and location. She also did well moving the ball around and connecting with her various hitters.
Arriana Brown OH Tulsa Power 17-1: Brown – a 6-0 outside – has a lively arm. She can light it up in a hurry and record massive kills at times.
Maddy Range OH Kokoro Volleyball 17-1: A SMSU commit, Range helped carry the offense on the outside. She’s a smart attacker who did well tooling blocks or hitting around them.
Addison Pollock L/DS Wildfire 17 Open: A 3-star Penn commit, Pollock was flying around the back court and making plays. She brough a lot of energy and vocal leadership as Wildfire advanced from its pool.
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Mikayla Porter S Wildfire 17 Open: Porter also played a key role in Wildfire’s success. She has nice hands and was putting up a good ball for her hitters.
Hannah Brady L/DS Sunshine 17 Pacific: Brady – a Michigan commit – helped Sunshine go 3-0 on the day. She’s calm and steady and doesn’t rattle. She was sharp out of serve receive and made a few big-time digs.
Ella Craggs S Mich Elite 17 Mizuno: A 3-star Illinois State recruit, Craggs runs a smooth and balanced offense. She gets all her hitters involved and keeps defenses on their toes as to where she’s going.
Luci Heid OH Tri-State Elite 17 Blue: Heid, a 3-star Northern Kentucky commit, was bringing it on the attack on the regular. She was a tough cover. She was swinging well, blasting shots from sideline to sideline.
Sakura Codling L/DS Tri-State Elite 17 Blue: A 4-star UCLA commit, Codling is a high-level defender who checks all the boxes. She reads and reacts well and is typically in position to make the plays in front of her.
Bryn Dircksen S Blackswamp 17-1: Part of the Class of 2027, Dircksen showed lots of consistency with her delivery. She put her hitters in good spots.
Lyndi Wolf MB Blackswamp 17-1: An Akron commit, Wolf was a factor at the net on both sides. She was getting touches and helping slow down the opposing attack. She was also finding ways to score when her number was called.
Aubree Valcourt MB Munciana 17 Pandas: Valcourt is fast in the middle with a quick arm. She gets off the floor in a hurry and it made her difficult to time and stop.
Natalie Carr OH Pitt Elite 17 Elite: A 4-star outside from the Class of 2026, Carr is a featured part of the offense. She has a legit arm and can really connect at times.
Cassidy Trahan L/DS Pitt Elite 17 Elite: An Eastern Kentucky commit, Trahan was among the defenders who caught our attention. She was getting to balls and doing well keeping them in play to extend rallies.
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Lauren Hurst OH A5 Chattanooga 17-1 Nancy: Hurst – a 4-star outside – is an athletic pin who jumps and swings really well. She’s a focal point of the offense and can crush shots at times.
Abigail Crowley S Husky Volleyball 17 Smack: As a setter, Crowley excels in delivering precise sets while showcasing her adaptability mid-play. Her swift decision-making allows her to modify her sets based on the defense’s positioning, effectively capitalizing on weaknesses against DME Elite 17-1.
Olivia Westfort MB Husky Volleyball 17 Smack: In the match against DME Elite 17-1, Westfort showcased her exceptional blocking skills in the first set. She delivered several key blocks both on the pin and on the right side.
Chloe Cotten DS/L Moco Mavs 17 Red: Cotten helped lead her team to victory over Five Star 17 Silver. She moved her feet exceptionally well to cover deep angle shots, delivering precise passes to her target over her shoulder. She also strategically placed her serves throughout the match, mixing them up between short and deep to disrupt their system.
Niara Williams OH Moco Mavs 17 Red: In the first set against Five Star 17 Silver, Williams proved to be a dependable hitter for her setter. She consistently put the ball away, keeping the defense guessing with a mix of line and angle shots, along with well-placed dumps over the block.
Alena Hernandez L/DS FEVA 17 Courtney: Hernandez brings dynamic energy to the court, consistently cheering and staying positive throughout the first set against BEVBC 17 Navy. Her ability to cover the court effectively and seamlessly step in for her setter demonstrates her valuable contribution to the team.
Maya Sharp OH FEVA 17 Courtney: Sharp proves her versatility in the first set against BEVBC 17 Navy, showcasing her ability to dig from the back row and deliver powerful attacks from any position on the court.
Ada McCoy OH Blue Ridge Volleyball Association: McCoy’s quick arm swing allows her to dominate at the net, piercing through blocks with precision on the pin. Coupled with her positive attitude and effective communication, she’s a standout player on the court.
Ava Dickerson MB Blue Ridge Volleyball Association: Dickerson’s agility and quick footwork enable her to move swiftly and efficiently on the court. She builds her approach gradually from slow to fast, harnessing explosive power to deliver impactful hits during the match against Wildfire 17N Premier. She is extremely bouncy. Her ability to snap the ball down into the court showcases her athleticism and makes her a captivating player to watch.
Samantha Stephens OPP Blue Ridge Volleyball Association: Stephens displays impressive vertical prowess with her powerful arm swing, making it challenging for Wildfire 17N to defend against her relentless attacks. Her ability to deliver exceptional swings adds a dynamic edge to her team’s offense and proves she dominates the entire court.
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Addison Jarvis OH Adidas KIVA 17 White: Jarvis smoothly transitions off the net, always prepared for every opportunity. Her expertise lies in rectifying out-of-system plays, ensuring her team maintains competitiveness in every rally against Buckeye 17 Red National.
Aubrey Montgomery S Adidas KIVA 17 White: Montgomery asserts herself as a stellar leader on the court, adept at steering momentum and uplifting her teammates. She keeps opponents guessing with her strategic plays, initiating the match against Buckeye 17 Red with well-timed dumps for crucial points. She exhibits quick reflexes and exceptional court coverage, making significant defensive contributions throughout the game.
Adlee Grissett L/DS Carolina Advantage 17 Teal: Grissett showcases exceptional court coverage with relentless hustle, adeptly maneuvering to create various angles with her platform. Her versatility allows her to seamlessly support her setter, consistently placing precise sets tight to the net in their match against PSVA 171 Stevie.
Ashley Hinton OH Carolina Advantage 17 Teal: Hinton showcased impressive dig skills and solid serve reception, providing a strong defensive foundation for her team throughout their match against PSVA 171 Stevie. Her confidence shines through her extreme athleticism and aggressive play at the net.
Amanda Palo L/DS TPV 17 Maverick: Palo demonstrated exceptional skill in serve receive against TVA 17 Smack. She exhibited fluid and composed movements, ensuring precise passes to her setters throughout the match. Her adeptness in handling challenging serves proved her impact on the court.
Autumn Harris OH TPV 17 Maverick: Harris delivers formidable attacks, showcasing her ability to create diverse plays along the net, effectively scoring points for her team. She demonstrates exceptional assertiveness and skill in tight situations at the net, consistently coming out on top in the middle against TVA 17 Smack Jordan.
Ania Anderson OH Red Storm 17 Nationals: Anderson demonstrated impressive ability to score from the back row with her powerful attacks, effectively capitalizing on out-of-system sets to score crucial points for her team. Her versatility extends to her exceptional passing skills and composed demeanor under pressure, making her a consistent and valuable player on the court against 850 Elite 17 Blue.
Hailey Sumich L Red Storm 17 Nationals: Sumich not only celebrates points with enthusiasm but also brings the team together. She showcased her skills by digging impressive balls and maintaining consistent passing on serve receive throughout the match against 805 Elite 17 Blue.
Ariel Gogley MB Oviedo Volleyball Academy 17 Black: Gogley consistently scores for her team, contributing significantly to their win against Wildfire 17N Premier. She effectively closes blocks, slowing down numerous balls. Together with her setter, they vary the offense to keep the defense off balance.
Addison Imbs OH Oviedo Volleyball Academy 17 Black: In a back-and-forth battle against powerful front-row players, Imbs showcased remarkable agility and responsiveness with a stellar backcourt performance. She effortlessly dug hard-driven balls and transitioned smoothly to score, consistently finding open spots on the court.
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Kate Williams MB/OPP Rise Volleyball Academy 17-1: Williams showcased exceptional anticipation skills against Nebraska Juniors 17 Red She demonstrated a keen ability to predict ball trajectories, leveraging her impressive vertical to make decisive plays offensively that led to a win.
Skyler Gates MB Rise Volleyball Academy 17-1: Gates’ commanding presence on the court extends beyond her impressive blocks and sharp-angle attacks against Nebraska Juniors 17 Red. Her passion for the game is prominent, fueling her relentless pursuit of every point with unwavering intensity. Gates excels at bringing the heat with her powerful plays on the court.
Jane Gambel OH NOLA Jesse: Gambel displays remarkable versatility on the court. Against BEACH ELITE 17B ADIDAS, consistently demonstrates all-around excellence on the court, showcasing reliability in both offense and defense. Her wide-ranging skills greatly strengthen Nolla Jesse’s roster.
Lauren Pipitone L NOLA Jesse: Pipitone positioned herself in front of a formidable attacker on the pin from Beach Elite 17B Adidas, executing impressive saves. Additionally, she hustled across the court, relieving pressure from her teammates and ensuring solid defensive coverage.
Deja McGriff S Elite VBTC 17 National: McGriff was dialed in, consistently disrupting the opponent’s offense with her tough jump float serve. Her ability to get her feet to the ball and square up when setting effectively added to the team’s offensive strength, making it difficult for the opposition to establish their defensive rhythm.
Cadence Davis OH Elite VBTC 17 National: Davis consistently received sets in the match against LMVC 17 Elite Sean, unleashing her powerful arm swing to pierced through the blockers. With unwavering confidence in every attack, each swing she executed resulted in a point for her team on the scoreboard.
