It didn’t matter the division. The main storyline of Day 2 at the Lone Star Classic was watching to see how the bid chases unfolded and are set up for the final day of competition.
Let’s start with 17 Open.
There are six teams with bids still alive in Hou Skyline 17 Royal, Skyline 17 Royal, Arizona Storm 17 Thunder, MKE Sting 17 Gold, Austin Skyline 17 Royal and 1st Alliance 17 Gold. The way the pools are shaped, we are guaranteed to see two bids awarded. And it’s likely we see all three go out.
Hou Skyline and Skyline are in Pool 1 together with unqualified A5 17-1 Calvin. A5 would qualify by winning its pool, but figures to still be in a good position to earn a bid by taking second. No team can qualify out of the gold pools by taking third.
Pool 2 features three qualified teams in Storm, MKE Sting and Austin Skyline. Because of that it doesn’t matter how that pool plays out.
Pools 3 and 4 feature just one qualified team each.
1st Alliance is in Pool 3 with unqualified squads in Tribe 17 Elite Cardinal and Alamo 17 Premier. In Pool 4, no teams has its bid in TAV 17 Black, HJV 17 Elite and Drive Nation 17 Red.
Like A5, any of the unqualified teams in Pool 3 and 4 can win a bid outright by winning their pool. But they should be in good shape by taking second.
The only way an unqualified team won’t earn a bid on Day 3 by taking second is if three teams without bids win their respective pools. It’s a longshot but not totally out of the realm of possibilities.
In 16 Open, there are also seven teams with bids. They are Boiler Jrs 16 Gold, TAV 16 Black, Hou Skyline 16 Royal, Austin Skyline 16 Royal, Arizona Storm 16 Thunder, HJV 16 Elite and Madfrog 16 Green.
It’s set up similarly to 17 Open. There is one pool with three qualified teams, one with two and two with one. Boiler Jrs and TAV are in Pool 1 along with TAV 16 Blue. Pool 2 features Hou Skyline with Skyline 16 Royal and STVA 16 Mizuno still chasing bids. Pool 3 is all qualified teams in Austin Skyline, Storm, HJV. Pool 4 features Madfrog with OP2 16-1 and Tribe 16 Elite Navy looking to qualify.
Like 17 Open, an unqualified team winning its pool will earn a bid. Finishing second should be okay unless three teams without bids win their pools.
It’s slightly different in 15 Open, where all eight qualified teams are still alive. They are Arizona Storm 15 Thunder, Excel 15 National Red, TAV 15 Black, Hou Skyline 15 Royal, TAV 15 Fifer, Skyline 15 Royal, PVA 15 Elite and Madfrog 15 Green.
Pool 2 is the only pool with three qualified teams in TAV 15 Black, Hou Skyline and TAV 15 Fifer. Both Pools 1 and 3 feature two qualified teams.
Pool 1 contains Storm and Excel with Forza1 15 One still looking to qualify. Pool 3 has Skyline and PVA with Madfrog 15 Black still hoping to earn a bid. Madfrog Green is the only qualified team in Pool 4, with Tstreet 15 Asics and OK Charge 15 UA still in the mix.
Because of it, we are only guaranteed of one bid going out. Like 16 and 17 Open, the only way second place doesn’t earn a bid is if three unqualified teams win their pools.
It’s all going to make for an entertaining conclusion. As I said in the preview before the weekend started, the bids at Lone Star can go out before play even begins on Day 3. But the way the format is set up this year, we don’t know any bid winners yet. All that is going to be decided on the final day.
DAY 2 SHOW STOPPERS
Ella Olson OH Tstreet 15 Asics: Olson – a 4-star recruit – has a whip for an arm and is just relentless on the attack. She unleashes in a flurry as she rips shots effortlessly.
Brynn Stephens S/RS TAV 15 Black: A 5-star recruit, Stephens continues to showcase her versatility. Typically a setter/right side, Stephens has run a 5-1 this season at times and on Day 2 was lined up at outside hitter and passing out of serve receive.
Peyton Kubik OH Dynasty 15 Black: Kubik – a 5-star outside – shoulders a load on offense. She’s a long attacker who can extend from high angles whether front or back row.
Grace Pinegar OH Skyline 15 Royal: A 3-star recruit, Pinegar is another who brings length to the front row. She too can extend and swing from a high contact point and go over the block.
Josalyn Samuels S Kairos 15 Alpha: Samuels – a 5-star recruit – is a smooth disher who moves the ball around with ease and precision. She has soft hands and knows how to get her hitters clean looks.
Kendall Omoruyi MB Arizona Storm 15 Thunder: A 5-star recruit, Omoruyi is a force at times in the middle. She can impact both sides of the ball and provide scoring with both her blocking and swinging.
Natalie Norton OH Excel 15 National Red: Norton – a 4-star recruit – is a powerhouse on offense. She has a big, strong arm and can pound winners time and time again.
Molly Bokenkroger L/DS PVA 15 Elite: Bokenkroger is a scrappy libero who is fun to watch patrol the back row. She’s quick, covers plenty of ground and is a sharp passer.
Gloria Peters S/RS 1United 15 Blue: Peters is a vital part of the lineup. She’s a solid setter with a consistent, clean release. She also swings well and provides a scoring option.
Arayah Watson MB Hou Skyline 15 Royal: Watson was providing a big boost in the middle. She’s quick attacker who gets up in a hurry and can let it fly in a blink of an eye.
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Tinsley Welker-Brown S H Skyline 15 Royal: Welker-Brown, a 3-star recruit, was setting efficiently along with being deceptive at the net.
Dakota Hart L STVA 15 Mizuno: Hart is a speedy, no-fear libero who was continuously digging lips all day long.
Zaria Moss MB Memphis Metro 15 Elite: Moss is a bit undersized for the position but her athleticism helps overcome it. She’s a springy middle with a quick arm and ability to score when called upon.
Aliyah Potapenko RS Memphis Metro 15 Elite: A long right side with size, Potapenko provides a presence on the right side. She can make plays on both sides of the ball to lift her team.
Chloe Gerlach OH Flyers 15 Andy: Gerlach is able to produce wow moments. She gets off the ground well and can let it loose just like that for impressive kills.
Morgan Meyer OH Club One 16 Platinum: Meyer is a steadying presence who provides her fair of offense. She’s a big, strong hitter and can send shots down with authority.
Karis Carpenter L/DS STVA 16 Mizuno: Carpenter flies around the court making plays. She has no trouble picking off well-struck swings and keeping the rally alive.
Makenzie Walsh RS Kairos 16 Alpha: Walsh was coming with it on the right side. She was helping balancing out the attack and delivering big kills at times.
Madilynn Benne L/DS MAVS 816 16-1: Benne is a lights-out defender who doesn’t ever get rattled. She plays under control and is rarely out of position or unable to make the play in front of her.
Henley Anderson OH Austin Skyline 16 Royal: A 5-star recruit, Anderson is a flat-out stud. She hits at such a high angle and has no trouble going over the top of blocks.
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Christa Wilburn OH/RS Austin Skyline 16 Royal: Wilburn – a 3-star recruit – provides a lot of versatility with her ability to play equally effective on either the right or left side. She has a solid arm and knows how to finish points.
Gabi Rodriguez L/DS Madfrog 16 Green: A 4-star defender, Rodriguez was handling the defensive side of things skillfully. Her passing was on target consistently.
Lily Rolfes S Arizona Storm 16 Thunder: Rolfes, a 3-star setter, does a nice job running the offense. She moves the ball around well to her hitters and keeps the attack balanced.
Nevaeh English RS Hou Stellar 16 Elite: English is a bit undersized on the right but she gets up and can hammer it home. She was bringing it and delivering loud winners.
Blair Thiebaud S Hou Skyline 16 Royal: Thiebaud – a 4-star recruit – is in total command of the attack. She connects well with all her hitters and has great hands.
Elena Dibbs-Frantz MB NO NAME 16 Kevin: Dibbs-Frantz, a 3-star recruit, is hard to miss on the court standing at 6-5. She provides a huge wall on defense and when she connects she can literally hit over opponents.
Breya Dawson OH Mem Metro 16 Elite Blk: Dawson, a 6-2 outside hitter, is athletic and explosive on the pins. She brings the heat consistently on the court.
Aubrey Easterwood MB Skyline 16 Black: Easterwood, a 6-3 middle blocker, was always making plays when she was across the front row. Whether it was being the first line of defense or attacking with fire, Easterwood was one to watch.
Parker Duncan OH AJV 17 Adidas: Duncan – a 3-star Arkansas commit – is a wirey attacker who can score front and back row, thus always keeping pressure on defenses.
Isabelle Bardin S/RS Metro 17 Travel: A 3-star Purdue commit, Bardin is a really long and does a solid job both setting and attacking. She locates well dishing and is a smart hitter who finds holes in the defense.
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Reese Messer S Dynasty 17 Black: A 5-star USC commit, Messer is ultra-smooth. She’s always one step ahead and keeps defenses guessing.
Mija Bendziute RS Tribe 17 Elite Cardinal: Bendzuite – a 3-star UCLA commit – was playing at a high level. Her height allows her to swing over the block. She also puts up a big one of her own.
Mackenzie Davis RS Excel 17 National Red: Davis is a bit undersized but she was crushing shots without hesitation.
Addison Gaido RS Austin Skyline 17 Royal: Gaido – a 5-star Texas commit – was a major contributor at the net. She was sending balls down left and right while also rejecting shots with her massive block.
Gabriele Stasys MB 1st Alliance 17 Gold: Stasys, a Yale commitment, is an undersized middle blocker who is not only quick laterally but is hard to slow down offensively.
Addison Massey OH Tx Performance 17s Black: Massey, a 3-star recruit from the Class of 2026, was cranking on the court where ever she was. She was a ton of fun to watch.
Kyra Hall OH EP Strive 17s National: Hall, a 2024 athlete, was another outside who was firing away on the outside and making her presence known.
Kennedi Rogers OH AVA TX 17 Adidas: Rogers, a 4-star recruit committed to SMU, is always fun to watch ball out on the court. She has a cannon of an arm and no fear on defense.
