With the safety net of power pools, the results on Day 1 of the Tour of Texas Dallas stop didn’t carry a whole lot of ramifications. But if you thought that would keep the intensity down and teams from going hard at one another, you were mistaken.
The biggest surprise of the day came in the afternoon wave when Madfrog 15 Green – ranked No. 6 in our 15s Preseason Rankings – took down national No. 1 TAV 15 Black in three. However, that loss didn’t prevent TAV from winning the pool after finishing in a two-way tie at 2-1 with Skyline 15 Royal. In the wacky world of club volleyball, Madfrog came in fourth after dropping its next two outings to Skyline and Club V 15 Ren Kalee. So it goes.
Club V was among a handful of out-of-state clubs which made the trek to test themselves against the best Texas has to offer. Wave 15 Brennan and A5 15-1 Kelly also were part of the 15s Invitational at the SWAC on Saturday afternoon. Wave had a great day, going 3-0 with victories over Excel 15 National Red, SA Juniors 15 Adidas and Drive Nation 15 Black. A5 was in a slightly more difficult pool and finished 1-2 after beating AP 15 Adidas but falling to Drive Nation 15 Red and Hou Skyline 15 Royal.
HPSTL 14 Royal, Dynasty 14 Black and Club V 14 Ren Silver were all part of the 14s Invitational, also played Saturday afternoon at the SWAC. HPSTL was given the top overall seed and performed like it, downing Excel 14 National Red, TAV 14 Black and Madfrog 14 Green. Madfrog and TAV had an intense encounter in the pool as well, with Madfrog getting by in straight sets.
As for Dynasty, the Heart of America region club showed up very strong on Day 1 as it picked up victories against Skyline 14 Royal, Hou Skyline 14 Royal and Club V 14 Ren Silver. Club V finished 0-3 in that pool.
When it came to the 17s Invitational, A5 17-1 Calvin was part of the top power pool and finished 2-1 overall. A5 lost to Madfrog 17 Green but downed Hou Skyline 17 Royal and Drive Nation 17 Red. Madfrog also finished 2-1, with Hou Skyline and Drive Nation going 1-2.
Wave 17 Juliana was part of the second power pool and finished 1-2. Wave beat Austin Skyline 17 Royal in its first outing before falling to HJV 17 Elite and TAV 17 Black Jon. TAV went 3-0 in that pool.
SASVBC 17-1 and Club V 17 Ren Reed were paired in power pool 3 together, with Alamo 17 Premier and AJV 17 Adidas. Alamo came out ahead at 2-1, with the tiebreaker over Spike and Serve. AJV and Club V tied at 1-2, with AJV taking the tiebreaker there for third.
Wave 16 Scott, Dynasty 16 Black, Club V 16 Ren Matt and A5 16-1 Gabe were all part of the 16s Invitational. A5, playing in power pool 3, had the best showing at 3-0. A5 swept Alamo 16 Premier, AP 16 Adidas and CSVCC 16 Black from Canada.
Wave was placed the highest, competing in power pool 1 and going 1-2. Wave lost to Skyline 16 Royal and Hou Skyline 16 Royal before downing TAV 16 Black. Club V and Dynasty were in power pool 2 together. Club V beat Dynasty to finish 1-2. Dynasty went 0-3. New-look Austin Skyline 16 Royal went 3-0 and Madfrog 16 Green finished 2-1.
Day 2 continues with more pool play before breaking off into the first of two challenge matches. The challenge matches continue on Day 3 before bracket play begins.
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DAY 1 SHOW STOPPERS
Below, we highlight the players who stood out to us the most during our time watching them compete Saturday.
Ava Carrasquillo S/RS AP 16 Adidas: AP went 1-2 with losses to A5 and Alamo. However, Carrasquillo was a big-time contributor with her two-way role setting and hitting. She placed her shots well and does a nice job with her location when setting.
Presley Thompson L/DS Wave 16 Scott: Thompson’s defending was a highlight of Wave’s on Day 1. She made a few key saves and stood in against big-time hitters and held her own.
Finley Krystkowiak OH Wave 16 Scott: Krystkowiak is such a vital part of Wave’s offense. She’s tall with a strong arm and delivers a ton of points.
Taylor Clarke RS Skyline 16 Royal: Clarke was rolling on offense and was putting tons of pressure on defenses. Her scoring ability really opens up the attack when she’s front row and stretches defenses.
Hannah Lee MB Madfrog 16 Green: When Lee gets up and connects, it excites her whole team. She caught a few and was able to send them straight down and bounce them with authority.
Dawn Moore RS Madfrog 16 Green: Moore is a bit undersized but it only makes it that more thrilling when she launches in the air and lets loose. She takes off in a hurry and lets it rip with ease.
Olivia Siskin S A5 16 Gabe: Siskin is a smooth setter who gives A5 versatility to run a 6-2 or because or because of her height leave her in to direct a 5-1. She has nice hands and the ability to set hittable balls off tough passes.
Cali Reece L/DS TAV Houston 16 Adidas: Reece was among the defenders who made us take notice with her ability to extend rallies and keep her side in the point.
Kinsley Young MB TAV 16 Black: Young has so much power and strength she can hammer balls when the opportunity presents itself. When she gets a hold of one like that it’s impossible to dig.
Nadiya Shelby RS Hou Skyline 16 Royal: The athleticism on this squad runs deep and Shelby is part of the reason why. She gets way up on the right side and was making an impact on both sides of the ball with her attacking and blocking.
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Henley Anderson OH Austin Skyline 16 Royal: A new addition to the roster this season, Anderson is a total game changer. With her ability to get up and extend, she makes blocks disappear as she hits over them time and time again.
Chloe Johnson OH Madfrog 17 Green: Johnson doesn’t necessarily look like she can crush it the way she does. But don’t be fooled. She can let it fly and send balls down with a fury.
Kassidy O’Brien S Hou Skyline 17 Royal: O’Brien’s ability to direct the attack and run an offense is high level and fun to watch. She’s a smooth disher who can turn bad balls into solid sets still.
De’Andrea McMillian MB TAV 17 Black Huron: New to the club this season, the Florida commit can bring it in the middle. She changes the dynamic of the lineup when she’s front row with her scoring and blocking.
Sophia Thornburg OH Skyline 17 Royal: Thornburg is new to the roster this season and what a difference she makes with her length and ability to get up and score.
Taylor Cook S Skyline 17 Royal: Cook does a good job connecting with her hitters and moving the ball around to keep them involved.
Megan Fitch OH Alamo 17 Premier: Fitch is such an integral part of what Alamo does. She brings a big-time arm to the attack and can launch balls from the front and back row all the same.
Macey Hughes RS Alamo 17 Premier: Hughes was providing a nice scoring boost with her efforts on the right side. She was helping open the attack and giving Alamo a reliable option when she was across the front.
Natalie Fukumoto L/DS SASVBC 17-1: Fukumoto can make tough plays look easy. She’s an effortless defender who is tough to get a ball down on.
Sydney Black L/DS HJV 17 Elite: Black brings lots of energy and hustle to the defensive side. She flies around the court keeping the ball alive.
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Jordan Taylor MB HJV 17 Elite: It’s a scary sight for opponents when Taylor gets up and is coming at them. When she’s able to jump and fully extend, there isn’t much hope of slowing or stopping her as she goes right over blocks and sends balls straight to the floor.
Alexis Richards S Wave 17 Juliana: Richards is a quick setter who did well mixing up and spotting her sets.
Callie Krueger L/DS Austin Skyline 17 Royal: Krueger is a lights-out defender with the ability to make spectacular saves at times.
Ellis Crawford MB A5 17 Calvin: Crawford is a real presence across the front row as she has an impact on both sides of the ball. She was contributing with both her scoring and blocking on a consistent basis.
Isabella Howard MB Madfrog 15 Green: Howard came through with plenty of key plays to help Madfrog upset TAV in its first outing of the day. She did a nice job of finding ways to score when called upon.
Gentry Barker OH TAV 15 Black: Barker was set to play beach only but recently rejoined the roster after deciding to keep playing indoor. She’s a huge part of what TAV does from her passing and ability to score in so many different ways.
Sophee Peterson S/RS TAV 15 Black: Peterson is a high IQ player who is always under control, whether it’s hitting or setting. She knows how to get the job done.
Natalie Norton OH Excel 15 National Red: Norton is definitely a name to know. She’s long and brings plenty of size to the attack. She can really extend and deliver at times.
Allie Hudgins OH Austin Skyline 15 Royal: Hudgins is a key part of the redesigned Austin Skyline roster that should have the team on the rise this season. Hudgins is long with a big arm and when she connects there’s not much defenses can do but hope she misses.
Nailah Randle OH SA Juniors 15 Adidas: Randle is another outside in the 15s division who owns the attack. She flies and unleashes with a fury and is very fun to watch do her thing.
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Zoe Fuqua RS SA Juniors 15 Adidas: Fuqua has plenty of potential and is another athletic attacker SA Junior can throw at opponents.
Natalie Kitts MB HJV 15 Elite: Kitts is another player to keep an eye on as she moves up the ranks. She has a lot of size and a nice arm and can be a real factor at the net.
Aspen Brown RS Hou Skyline 15 Royal: Brown was a huge part of the attack. She was playing all the way around and swinging front and back row as well as taking swings from the middle. Her number was getting called a lot.
Lucy Holmes RS Skyline 15 Royal: Another right side who was leaving a mark was Holmes. She was taking aggressive swings and providing a lift offensively.
Emery Gonzales S Wave 15 Brennan: Gonzales does well locating and playing under control in guiding the attack along.
Ireland Real OH Wave 15 Brennan: A new addition to the roster, Real brings lots of size to the lineup. She’s a key figure in the offense and is tough to block with her length.
Elizabeth Goodlett RS Skyline 14 Royal: The lefty was a featured part of the attack. Skyline looked to get Goodlett the ball often. She’s a tough cover with her length and arm to back it.
Peyton Barnes OH Hou Skyline 14 Royal: Barnes can come with it at times on the attack. She has a solid arm and was powering balls down.
Elsa St. Rose MB HJV 14 Elite: St. Rose was making a lot of plays at the net, both hitting and blocking. She can also get out and run the slide which makes her a difficult cover.
Carina Buttrum L/DS HPSTL 14 Royal: Buttrum was patrolling the back row well and her passing was on point.
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Sarah Albers RS HPSTL 14 Royal: Albers is part of a menacing front row that throws a lot of height and size at opponents. She has a very strong arm and can overpower defenders with it.
Addison Tucker L/DS Madfrog 14 Green: There were big arms in power pool 1 and Tucker did well standing in and digging tough shots. She also passed well out of serve receive.
Maya Ogbogu OH Madfrog 14 Green: Ogbogu is a stud attacker with a rocket for an arm. She can blast balls with ease around, through or over blocks.
Olivia Permenter OH TAV 14 Black: Permenter brings a lot to the TAV offense. She has a solid arm and takes big swings.
Sarah Floyd RS TAV 14 Black: Floyd is a free-swinging lefty with a fluid arm who can deliver the goods. She’s also part of serve receive at times.
