The first step at USAV nationals is to survive. For the teams which were able to do so and are still in contention, it’s not about playing well on Days 1 and 2. It’s about simply giving yourself a shot and the only way to do that is to make it to Day 3. In 16 and 17 Open, 24 clubs were able to do just that. It doesn’t matter the results of the first two days. When Day 3 begins, everyone’s record resets to 0-0, as the three-team pools lead into challenge play.
There are two aspects to the second day of competition. The first is how the opening round of pool play ultimately played out. The second is how those results set the stage for Day 3. Let’s get to it.
Staring with 17 Open, it was Club V 17 Ren Reed remaining the hot topic. The No. 6 team in Pool 1 wrapped up 5-0, followed by Hou Skyline 17 Royal (4-1) and TAV 17 Black (3-2). Wave 17 Juliana, Triangle 17 Black and GP 17 Rox all finished 1-4, with Wave earning the fourth-place tiebreaker. Wave made it tough on itself losing to Triangle to close pool play.
Wave opened the day with an epic clash against Club V, which took the third set, 23-21. Wave needed to beat Triangle to ensure itself of moving on without the aid of tiebreakers, but Triangle rallied in three to create the tiebreakers scenario.
Pool 2 was a tight one. While Arizona Storm 17 Thunder went 5-0, Legacy 17-1 Adidas and Coast 17-1 tied at 3-2. Legacy took second based on the the head-to-head result. CUVC 17 Open and Alamo 17 Premier also tied at 2-3, with CUVC taking fourth and moving on based on their head-to-head result.
1st Alliance 17 Gold took care of business in Pool 3, going 5-0. The real surprise wasn’t that, but Norco 17 Black going 4-1 as the No. 6 team. This was one of the biggest surprises because Norco was the only unranked team in Vballrecruiter’s Top 50 national rankings in 17 Open. However, not only did Norco advance, it beat four ranked teams to finish second.
After that, Drive Nation 17 Red and ID Crush 17 Bower also advanced. They finished tied at 2-3, but it was Drive Nation taking third with the head-to-head result.
Drive Nation was one of three at-large recipients, along with Dynasty 17 Black and AJV 17 Adidas. Dynasty showed up strong and left no doubt it deserved one of them after going 4-1 and winning Pool 4. Dynasty tied with Circle City 17 Purple but took first based on the head-to-head outcome. Excel 17 National Red and Mizuno Long Beach 17 Rockstar tied at 3-2, with Excel taking third. Co Jrs 17 Kevin, the No. 4 overall seed, ended 1-4 and in fifth place.
Pool 5 saw OT 17 Aaron go 5-0 and MKE Sting 17 Gold go 4-1. There was no surprise here. Both are highly-ranked teams. Behind them there was a three-way tie with Mich Elite 17 Mizuno, MAVS KC 17-1 and Austin Skyline 17 Royal. MAVS took third, Mich Elite fourth and Austin Skyline fifth. Mich Elite and MAVS squared off in the last outing of the day, with Mich Elite winning in three to hang on and advance over Austin Skyline.
Skyline 17 Royal, the No. 6 overall seed, advanced but not the way I expected. It was a rough go for Skyline, which went 2-3 and took third place. It was Surfside 17 Legends going 5-0 and Northern Lights 17-1 finishing 4-1. Nebraska One 17 Synergy also moved on at 2-3. If you recall, Surfside came in last year with high hopes but didn’t break pool play in the biggest shock of the opening round. Going 5-0 this go around was certainly redemption and also a sign Surfside could be poised to make a deep run.
Let’s get to how the results played out in 16 Open as the first round of pool play concluded.
Top-ranked and No. 1 overall seed Mintonette Sports m.61 was upset by Mizuno Long Beach 16 Rockstar to open pool play on Day 1. Yet, Mintonette still managed to take first place after finishing tied with Madfrog 16 Green at 4-1. Academy 16 National – one of the at-larges – went 3-2 to take third. Long Beach hung on and finished fourth after going 2-3.
Pool 2 is a great example of why every result counts. Pohaku 16-1 beat AZ Sky 16G in the opening match on Day 1. It turns out they tied at 2-3, with Pohaku taking fourth and moving on based on that result. Meanwhile, TAV 16 Black owned the pool by going 5-0 and dropping just one set. Wave 16 Scott and GP 16 Rox tied at 3-2, with Wave taking second and GP third.
Pool 3 was one of the toughest pools with Legacy 16-1 Adidas, Boiler Jrs 16 Gold and Hou Skyline 16 Royal all in it. Legacy held firm, going 5-0, followed by Hou Skyline at 4-1. But it was Boiler Jrs in third. Instead it was Club V 16 Ren Matt going 3-2 and taking third. Boiler Jrs finished fourth at 2-3.
Austin Skyline 16 Royal, the No. 4 overall seed, was upset by Coast 16-1 to end Day 1. However, Austin Skyline still ended in first place after going 4-1. Coast tied with Premier Nebraska 16 Gold at 3-2, taking second with the head-to-head outcome. A5 16-1 Gabe and Academy 16 Diamond both went 2-3, but A5 survived because of the head-to-head outcome.
Pool 5 demonstrated just how little sense this tournament can make. Elevation 16 Goller, one of the at-larges, beat Skyline 16 Royal on Day 1. Skyline, the No. 5 overall seed, rebounded to beat 1st Alliance 16 Gold to end pool play and take first place after they tied at 4-1. Elevation, meanwhile, ended in a three-way tie at 2-3 with Forza1 North 16 One and MKE Sting 16 Gold. MKE Sting took third based on the best set percentage. Forza1 North and Elevation tied on set percentage, but since Forza beat Elevation head-to-head, Elevation was eliminated.
In the biggest shock of the first round, No. 6 overall seed Arizona Storm 16 Thunder went 1-4 and took fifth. There was no way to see that coming. Arizona Storm was undone on Day 2 by a lost to HJV 16 Elite in its opener. HJV prevailed 17-15 in Game 3. Storm would have moved on with a victory in that one. Instead, it was eliminated before closing out with SCVC 16 Roxy. SCVC went 5-0, with Vision 16 Gold, WPVC 16 Armour Black and HJV all going 3-2 and moving on in that respective order.
Let’s continue with 16 Open and take a look ahead to the second round of pool play, featuring eight, three-team pools. What stood out the most was Pool 5, featuring Skyline, Madfrog and Boiler Jrs. Skyline defeated Boilers Jrs in three sets recently at AAUs and they’ll do it again on Day 3. It’s an insanely tough pool, as all three teams are good enough to make the challenge matches. But one won’t.
I think the next toughest one is Pool 6 with SCVC, Wave and A5. It’s the same thing. I would have thought all three would have reached the challenge rounds, but one of them won’t make it that far.
Beyond that, I see plenty of opportunity. Teams like Mintonette, TAV, Legacy, Austin Skyline, Hou Skyline and 1st Alliance all figure to move on from their respective pools. But one of the other two teams will move on as well and put itself in position to spring an upset to make the gold bracket. These teams have to be excited. They likely have to win one match to advance and then who knows, anything can happen from there.
Turning back to 17 Open, with Club V’s emergence and Skyline taking third in its pool, Pool 1 contains both Club V and Skyline. Drive Nation is the third team and faces an uphill climb.
Pool 5 is another pool that stands out. It featured OT Aaron, Hou Skyline and ID Crush. That’s a tough ask of ID Crush to make it out of that pool.
Pool 3 is another tough pool. It features 1st Alliance, TAV and Mich Elite. Like ID Crush, Mich Elite is going to have to come through with an upset to move on.
After that, it’s like 16 Open. There is plenty of opportunity. Pool 2 is one example with Arizona Storm, Excel and MAVS. While Storm should go 2-0, the winner of Excel-MAVS will advance and put itself in a position to play for a spot in the gold bracket. You can’t really ask for more than that.
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DAY 2 SHOW STOPPERS
The first round of pool play is in the books. As teams fought and competed to remain in the hunt, it brought forth many standout individual performances. Below, we highlight those who stood out to us with our Day 2 Show Stoppers.
Tenesyn Frye S ID Crush 17 Bower: A 4-star Houston recruit, Frye does a great job guiding the offense. She squares up well to the ball, allowing her dish with consistency. She does well spreading the ball around and getting all her hitters involved.
Hannah Beauford S Drive Nation 17 Red: Beauford – a 4-star Cal recruit – was another setter who helps elevate her team. She’s a great leader who stays calm under pressure. She has nice hands and is a smart player who contributes beyond just running the offense.
Logan Parks S/RS MAVS KC 17-1: Parks is a do-it-all type of player. The 5-star Stanford recruit is a next-level talent and excels both setting and hitting. She’s a physical hitter who gets up and rips shots. She can also push the ball around the court with considerable ease.
De’Andrea McMillian MB TAV 17 Haroun: A 4-star Florida recruit, McMillian is a force in the middle. She puts up a wall of a block. She also is a legit threat offensively and someone TAV will go to as much as possible when in system.
Karsyn Fetzer OH Norco 17 Black: Fetzer – a Gonzaga recruit – helped Norco break pool and remain in the hunt. She’s a bit undersized on the outside but she’s a relentless attacker who takes big, aggressive swings and doesn’t back down against bigger blocks.
Maya Evens L/DS Wave 17 Juliana: A 4-star Notre Dame recruit, Evens spent the season playing up on the 18s. She’s a lights-out passer and defender. She reads the play exceptionally well and is rarely off target with her contacts.
Layli Ostovar OH Mizuno Long Beach 17 Rockstar: Ostovar – a 5-star USC commit from the Class of 2026 – is a fun player to watch because of the energy she brings. She does more than just score, something she is really good at it. She’s involved in everything from passing to scrappy defense.
Reese Messer S Dynasty 17 Black: A 5-star USC commit, Messer guided Dynasty to a first-place finish in its pool. Her IQ is off the charts. She’s quick, gets to the ball well and has extremely soft hands with excellent location.
Jaidyn Jager OH Coast 17-1: Jager – a 5-star Indiana recruit – is another player who spent the year playing up on the 18s. She’s an all-around contributor, as she’s a solid passer, plays great defense and is a smart attacker with all the shots.
Keri Leimbach L/DS Nebraska One 17 Synergy: A 4-star Nebraska recruit, Leimbach was among the standout defenders. She brings a ton of energy and feistiness to the court. She flies around making plays and does well picking off hard-driven shots her way.
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Erika Sayer MB Co Jrs 17 Kevin: A 4-star Stanford recruit, Sayer is one of the more exciting middles to watch get after it. She’s high-octane and is always going all out. She’s more than a handful on the attack. She has a big, powerful arm and can get out and run the slide at a very high level.
Sadie Poeck RS Circle City 17 Purple: Poeck was on fire when we watched her against Excel. She was coming through with clutch kills late. She’s a springy attacker who was getting in the air and exploiting the gaps in the block.
Emma Frietch L/DS NKYVC 16-1 Tsunami: Frietch is a quick defender who covers a lot of court. The 3-star recruit was hustling around helping keep her side in the rally.
Audrey Dyas MB NKYVC 16-1 Tsunami: A 4-star recruit, Dyas has a heavy arm. She changes the dynamic of the front row when she checks in, giving NKYVC and real offensive punch with the way she can connect.
Ella Florez S Pohaku 16-1: Florez – a 5-star Iowa State commit – is a smooth operator. She has a soft, clean release and locates with high accuracy.
Vivian Hickman S AZ Sky 16G: Hickman is another setter who was showing what she can do. The 3-star UCLA commit come move the ball from pin-to-pin without issue. She connects well with her hitters and keeps the defense guessing.
Makenna Crosson OH Vision 16 Gold: A 4-star recruit, Crosson is a key cog in the lineup. She’s one of the main components offensively. She’s a smart hitter who throws a variety of shots at the defense.
Aviya Russo OH Academy 16 National: Russo – a 3-star recruit – is the go-to hitter for her squad. She does a lot, including carrying a big load on offense.
Elena Hoecke MB MN Select 16-1: A 5-star Minnesota commit, Hoecke is an impressive presence in the middle. Her size and length make her a real factor on both sides of the ball. She’s a game-changer offensively with her scoring prowess.
Amelia Mancino OH WPVC 16 Armour Black: Mancino is a bit undersized on the pin but she brings it. A 3-star recruit, she gives Winter Park a reliable option front and back row. She hits a heavy ball.
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Milly McGee S SCVC 16 Roxy: McGee – a 4-star USC commit – helped SCVC go undefeated in its pool. She does well connecting with her hitters. She gets them all involved and runs a balanced attack.
Lynney Tarnow MB 1st Alliance 16 Gold: A 4-star Wisconsin commit, Tarnow is a force at the net. She has the size to make a difference both blocking and attacking. She puts up a massive block. She’s also difficult to slow with her ability to be able to hit right over the block.
Gabi Rodriguez L/DS Madfrog 16 Green: Rodriguez – a 4-star Texas AM commit – is high-energy who brings a defensive edge to the lineup. She’s an accurate passer, reacts well and has a lot of range.
Caroline Ward RS Boiler Jrs 16 Gold: A 5-star recruit from the Class of 2027, Ward is a high-flying, highly entertaining right side. She makes getting up and connecting look easy as she simply soars and swings over the block.
Eden Tardy OH Paramount VBC 16-1: Tardy made some strategically brilliant plays on the pin against TVC 16-Black, highlighting her thoughtful approach to the game. Her court awareness was clearly evident as she displayed exceptional prowess in serve receive, consistently handling tough serves with precision and control.
Avery Prendergast S Paramount VBC 16-1: Prendergast demonstrates exceptional hand skills, facilitating a fast-paced offense in collaboration with her teammates. She prioritizes getting to the ball square, enhancing her consistency. Her keen court awareness allows her to exploit openings in the defense. Prendergast’s strong communication with her hitters further strengthens her team’s cohesion.
Ai-Vy Ho S Excel 16 Red National: Ho showcased her dependability and strategic insight in the match against SASVBC G 16 Dan. Her meticulous setting opens up opportunities for her teammates and highlights her thoughtful approach. Ho’s collected demeanor under pressure and quick decision-making make her a pivotal player, setting the tone and assuming a leadership role on the court.
Maryn Hall OH Rage 16 Garren: Hall is an exceptionally well-rounded player, demonstrating impressive versatility both in the back row and at the net against NKYVC 16-2 Tide. Whether she’s delivering powerful hits, making crucial defensive saves, or setting up plays, her adaptability and skill make her a valuable asset to the team in every position.
Amara Rhodes S Rage 16 Garren: Rhodes displayed tenacity and grit in the match against ASEVC 16 Premier. She skillfully ran a fast offense and effectively led her team’s momentum. Her setting stands out with her speed and quick release, keeping the opposing team on their toes. Her setting style contributes significantly to her team’s offensive prowess and success.
Karys Campos L Actyve 16 Black JD: Campos excels in creating scoring opportunities by seamlessly stepping in for the setter, delivering tight sets to her hitters at the net. Her high-intensity play and strong platform on serve receive to further enhance her team’s performance.
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Nora Newman RS Excel 16 Red National: Newman’s quick transitions off the net provide valuable opportunities for her setter, enhancing your team’s offensive strategies. Her sharp angle swings for kills highlight her skill and effectiveness in crucial moments, making her a key player in securing points in the match against SASVBC G 16 Dan.
Brighton Richards L/DS Forza1 16-1: Richards demonstrates exceptional court positioning skills, particularly evident against float serves from Forza1 16-1. Additionally, Richards confidently takes charge of serve receive sequences, contributing significantly to her team’s dominant performance in the second set against Forza1 16-1.
Dominique McKay RS Forza1 16-1: McKay has a playing style that is very up beat, she encourages her teammates on the court and consistently supports them in huddles. She is a great attacker and showcase many valuable swings down the line through the blocks opening against SDVBC 16-Drea
Anabelle Schembra S Team Indiana 16-1: Schembra played a pivotal role in her team’s victory against Mizuno Club North 16-1. A natural leader on the court, she maintains excellent connections with her hitters thanks to her smooth and reliable setting. Her competitive edge and consistent performance make her a standout player worth watching.
Elli Strecker MB Team Indiana 16-1: Strecker started the first set against Mizuno Club North 16-1 with a massive kill that even their libero couldn’t dig despite being in the right position. She dominates the front row with her power, consistently attacking from on top of the ball, making it challenging for defenders to anticipate her hits.
Laney Wier DS MJVA 16 Elite: Wier demonstrated excellent tempo on serve receive, showcasing precise platform control and effective footwork. Her reliability was evident in the set against STVA 16 Navy, where she effectively set up her team for success.
Kate Kizer Oh MJVA 16 Elite: Kizer exudes confidence on the court, consistently capitalizing on opportunities to score with her precise attacks down the line. She is an all in type of player. Her height allows her to dominate at the net, turning the game in MJVA’s favor against STVA 16 Navy. Moreover, she effectively shuts down the right-side attacks with her strong blocking, creating challenges for the opposing team to find openings.
Jillian Ferrill OH Legacy: With Ferrill’s rapid arm swing and strong snap, she consistently delivered powerful swings on every angle of the court from the left side and back row against TAV Houston 16 Adidas. They were unable to defend her. Additionally, she maintained a steady performance, consistently passing with precision on serve receive.
Abbi Sells L Legacy 16-2 Adidas: Sells demonstrates a keen awareness and powerful efficiency in her first step during serve receive against TAV Houston 16. This precision lays the groundwork for successful passes, highlighting her skill and concentration on the court. Additionally, her exceptional balance upon contact further highlights her technical proficiency.
Liliana Gegovic MB Legacy 16-2 Adidas: Gegovic showcased exceptional skills against TAV Houston 16 Adidas, leveraging her impressive vertical and keen ability to predict ball trajectories to make decisive offensive plays that led to scoring. Immediately impactful in the front row against TAV Houston 16 Adidas, she disrupted their offense with multiple stops, displaying exceptional footwork, balance, and an aggressive presence at the net, forming a massive, highly effective block.
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Jada Johnson OH NPJ Salem 16 National: Johnson delivered a show-stopping play in the first set against ELEU-REDS 16U, connecting with her setter on a remarkable one-handed set, crushing it inside the attack line to score. Her energetic presence brings great hype to the team, pumping up everyone and maintaining momentum.
Emma Brewer OH NPJ Salem 16 National: Brewer is a standout talent, she displayed her aggressive play in the front row and remarkable speed in her swings. She played a pivotal role in scoring points for her team against ELEU-REDS 16U, leveraging her height to her advantage.
Grace Profitlich L ACAD 16 Red: Profitlich carefully analyzed Rage 16 Carmelo’s playing style and positioned herself accordingly. She combined her hustle and determination to consistently keep the ball in play. Profitlich also demonstrated skill in adjusting her body to effectively handle float serves, maintaining precise control and accuracy throughout the match.
Sophia Spinelli S ACAD 16 Red: Spinelli’s ability to foster cohesion and lead defensively adds significant value to her team’s performance, particularly evident in their dynamic offense against Rage 16 Carmelo. Her setting impresses with its speed and quick release, posing a challenge for ID their opponents to anticipate her next move.
Angelina Kraft L/DS Katy United 17 Adidas: Kraft demonstrated excellent ball control in both serve receive and defense during the match against 805 Elite 17 1. She maintained a very composed demeanor throughout the game, contributing to her team’s stability and success.
Annika Brooks RS Katy United 17 Adidas: Brooks was a key player in the match against 805 Elite 17-1. She put up a dominant block against their outside hitter, effectively stopping their offense and forcing them to adjust their strategy. When attacking, she consistently powered through blocks, showcasing her strength and skill on the court.
Abby Magness MB Sportime 17 Gold: Magness demonstrates a positive attitude on the court and exhibits excellent lateral movement along the net, effectively closing blocks and aiding her team’s defensive setup against PSVBA 17 Legacy. Her high-reaching swing adds to her offensive capabilities.
Tristan Montalbano OH Sportime 17 Gold: Montalbano is an all-around player who excels in both offense and defense. In the game against Club Sand 17 Gold, she demonstrated her ability to switch up offensive strategies while also showcasing her stellar defensive skills. Her athletic ability and consistent performance make her a standout player.
Sydney Frazier MB M2 17 Elite: Frazier’s effectiveness as a middle blocker makes her a formidable opponent. Her attacks are difficult to react to unless perfectly positioned, as she gets right on top of the ball and can hit any angle on the court.
Norah Giles RS M2 17 Elite: Giles displayed her fluent and effortless play style in the match against DaKine Warriors 17 Surf 1. She executed remarkable swings on the pin, consistently delivering powerful attacks. Additionally, she put up a solid block against their outside hitter.
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Sydney Mayfield Pin Paramount VBC 17 Nick: Mayfield demonstrates impressive jumping ability, allowing her to attack from various angles over the blocks on the pin. In her match against Forzai 17 ONE, she effectively swings hard cross-court, showcasing her powerful offensive skills.
Isabel Morales L Paramount VBC 17 Nick: Morales displayed her fierce competitiveness in the first set with several hard-driven line digs against Forzai 17 ONE. Her unmatched hustle on the court allows her to set herself up perfectly, demonstrating an excellent ability to read the game. Additionally, she moves her feet exceptionally well on serve receive.
