With the sheer size and intensity of the Triple Crown NIT, one would think the volleyball world would take a break the following weekend. Wishing thinking, right?!? Instead, Triple Crown is really the starting line for the qualifying season, because after the three days in Kansas City everything gets cranked up a notch. Part of the vballrecruiter.com team is in Orlando covering the younger divisions of the Sunshine Classic. As for me, I spent a weekend home watching local SCVA Power League action and spotlight teams from it below.
TSTREET 14 CARSON: Admittingly, I thought I would be able to write more about Tstreet during its time at Triple Crown. But, after a strong Day 1 Tstreet was upended by AP 14 Adidas on Day 2 and knocked out of contention. Anyway, that was Tstreet’s only loss in KC and went on to finish ninth overall, still collecting victories over Adidas KiVA 14 Red, Madfrog 14 Green, Legacy 14-1 Adidas and A5 14-Helen. Tstreet avoided any letdown this past weekend, going 4-0 on the day by beating Surfside 14 PV Loriann, United 14 Evren, Forza1 14 One and Mizuno Long Beach 14 Rockstar without losing a set. Tstreet was tinkering with its lineup Saturday. One change (or at least something I didn’t see in KC) was running Megan Hodges on the right side and pairing Emma Kingston and Berit Brinkema in the middle. It seems to make a lot of sense. Hodges puts up a big block and Brinkema was ripping balls on the attack. There is certainly roster flexibility, though one mainstay is outside Ella Olson. She hit a wrist-away shot that bounced at the 12-foot line! Insane! Gabriella Souza and Ally Fausett do well setting, while Katherine Jackson and Katherine Nowak also factor into the offense on the pins. On Saturday, Sarah McDonald, Sarah Thorp and Madisen Dolsophon all wore the libero jersey at one point. It was unfortunate not to see Tstreet play TAV 14 Black or Arizona Storm 14 Thunder in KC as Tstreet seems one of the teams that can legitimately compete with those clubs.
MIZUNO LONG BEACH 14 ROCKSTAR: Playing short-handed, it was hard to get a gauge on this squad in Kansas City, where Beach finished 21st at Triple Crown. Two of its four losses came to Madfrog, with other setbacks against MAVC KC 14-1 and Elevation 14 Molly, which Beach also defeated. Beach doesn’t have the size of the top teams in the 14s, but that doesn’t automatically rule Beach out. This team has pieces! Hanna McGinest is a playmaker on the left. Beach is also another team with options. Cedra Talaga will suit up at libero or she’ll play outside. When she’s swinging, Beach turns to Lucy Matuszak at libero and was using McKennah Iamaleava at outside. Sienna Castillo was holding down one of the middle spots with Taimane Poe holding the other. Simrin Adams had to adjust and play middle in KC, but was back on the right this past weekend. Marlo Libbey and Leighton Devereux were taking turns at setter. Beach swept both United and City 14 Gold before falling to Tstreet in a crossover match.
FORZA1 14 ONE: Unlike Tstreet and Long Beach, Forza did not head to Triple Crown this year. However, it doesn’t mean Forza should be forgotten about. After all, this group finished tied for seventh in 13 Open last summer in Indy and boosts one of the top 7th-graders in the country in right side Janiah Burrage. She’s already taking big swings. Forza defeated ACT 14 Craig and Wave 14 Tammy, which finished 11th at Triple Crown, before losing to Tstreet on Saturday. Middle Evelyn Pool was booming balls when her number was called. Baylee Jones and Ella Johnson were both strong on the left side, while Kiersten Moore showed her smooth setting skills.
FORZA1 NORTH 14 ONE: The Forza North group was not at Triple Crown either. Last year, it finished tied for fifth in 13 USA and will certainly be looking to make the jump this season. Forza North went 3-0 on Saturday, earning victoris over Vegas Aces 14 UA, Coast 14 Katie and Wave. Outside Ryah Brock played up on the 14s last year and has stayed with her age group this year. She’ a force on the outside. Marley Robinson is a springy setter/right side who can help carry the offense. Chloe Taylor was setting very well across the back row as well while Lauren Furnald was taking aggressive swings on the outside. Kaleia Zeits was holding down the libero position at the time while Sanal Severloh and Jordan Rall took care of the middle.
WAVE 14 TAMMY: As we stated, Wave recently finished 11th at Triple Crown, where it earned a Day 1 victory over eventual silver medalist Drive Nation 14 Red. Wave also pushed AZ Storm to three. Wave beat Vegas Aces on Saturday in regional action but fell to both Forza clubs. We noted the standout play of right side Olivia Greenwood at Triple Crown and she was a big part of the offense once more. Gabrielle Ngo is someone to watch in the middle as she continues her growth. She had nice kills in showing off her arm. Outsides Skylar Beets and Ashley Chuba and libero Kelly Randolph were showing up well too, as was setter Conner Oxberry.
CITY 14 GOLD: City finished a respectable 30th at Triple Crown and was also in action Saturday in regional play. City went 2-1 in Anaheim, losing to Long Beach but beating Surfside and Vegas Aces. Like Wave, City also beat Drive Nation on Day 1 at Triple Crown as well as pushing Mintonette Sports m.41 to three before falling. City to pick up a solid victory over Tri-State Elite 14 Blue on Day 3. City struggles to match up size-wise, though middle Evangeline Jeffries brings height to the front row. Miette Moon-Sasik was setting, with Evan Taylor on the right side, Maya Harris and Maya Purdy on the outside and Daniella Marrero at libero.
COAST 14-1: Coast came in 57th at Triple Crown. Coast was not in a power pool and lost twice on Day 1 to Kairos 14 Alpha and ID Crush 14 Bower and didn’t advance to the top elimination bracket. On Saturday in regional play, Coast beat ACT twice but lost to Forza North. A definite bright spot was the standout play of middle Kate Bennett. She’s quick and has a knack for scoring. Coast also relied on Layla Steinfeld in the middle, as well as Lilia Decker and Kasia Zwierzykowski on the outside. Malia Mekaele was directing the attack while Paige Meyers was in the libero jersey.
SURFSIDE 14 PV LORIANN: Surfside was yet another SCVA which recently competed at Triple Crown, coming in tied for 35th. On Saturday, Surfside lost to both City and Tstreet before finishing with a sweep against Vegas Aces. Sydney Neely was performing well on the outside. She was backed by fellow outside Allyn Hilt, as well as middles Bella Higgins and Tori Evans, as well as setter Lundin Leitch and right side Shewa Adefemiwa.
