The second round of pool play commenced on Day 2 of the Tour of Texas Dallas stop before giving way to challenge matches. With it came both surprise and redemption. The biggest shockwaves were felt in 17s Invitational, where a trio of upsets shook up the pecking order heading into the final day of competition.
None was bigger than Excel 17 National Red uprooting TAV 17 Black Jon in straight sets to advance to the top eight. Joining Excel in delivering knockout blows were both AP 17 Adidas and AJV 17 Adidas. AP outlasted Madfrog 17 Green in a three-set thriller, winning 25-21, 14-25, 19-17. AJV went toe-to-toe with Hou Skyline 17 Royal and prevailed in three, 23-25, 26-24, 15-12, to remain in the hunt.
The results were much calmer in the other divisions, which featured Madfrog 15 Green extracting payback after falling to Club V 15 Ren Kalee on Day 1. The two sides met up against Sunday in challenge play and this time Madfrog came out ahead in three games, 21-25, 25-17, 15-11, to make the top eight.
What’s remarkable is through the first two days of action where Invitational teams have played either six or seven matches, only five total teams remain undefeated heading into Day 3. None in the 16s remain unscathed and only Dynasty 14 Black is unbeaten thus far in 14s. Wave 15 Brennan and Hou Skyline 15 Royal have yet to lose in 15s, while both Skyline 17 Royal and Excel 17 National Red are 7-0.
It sets up a wild final day, one that is set to see highly-anticipated showdowns. Among them is TAV 16 Black facing off with A5 16-1 Gabe in one challenge match. There’s also a big meeting between Madfrog 16 Green and Austin Skyline 16 Royal. In the 15s, TAV 15 Black and Skyline 15 Royal are set to go at it Monday morning. As is Wave 15 Brennan and A5 15-1 Kelly.
Who knows how it’s all going to play out and which teams will claim early-season bragging rights, but it won’t lack for excitement and entertainment no matter what takes place.
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DAY 2 SHOW STOPPERS
With Day 1 under their belts, teams began to settle in and the play picked up quite a bit Sunday. Not only was overall team talent on display, plenty of individual stars stood out with their play. Below, we highlight the athletes who caught our attention the most with our Day 2 Show Stoppers.
Jensen Kubik OH Dynasty 14 Black: Dynasty has been rolling along, including beating TAV 14 Black on Day 2 with Kubik playing a key role in the success. The six-rotation outside is an all-around contributor with her passing, defending and scoring.
Sophia Sturdy S/RS Dynasty 14 Black: Sturdy is another integral part of Dynasty’s lineup with her setting and hitting. She’s a sound setter with nice hands and accuracy. She’s also a smart attacker who knows how to navigate bigger blocks.
Cooper Binderup OH TAV Houston 14 Adidas: Binderup supplies plenty of offense. She has good size and a solid arm. It’s why TAV Houston sets her a lot.
Taylor Johnson OH Skyline 14 Royal: Johnson is a springy outside with the ability to swing it from the front and back row. When she gets it going, watch out because she can let it rip.
Karsyn Haynie L/DS Skyline 14 Royal: Haynie was on-point with both her defending and passing out of serve receive. She was really holding down the back row.
Brooke Oney OH Alamo 14 Premier: Oney can absolutely hammer balls on the left. She has a heavy arm and overpowers blockers and defenders.
Charlie George MB Alamo 14 Premier: George is an effective attacker. She has a strong arm and can come at opponents on the left side as well as out of the middle.
Shelbi Mead S HPSTL 14 Royal: Mead is a quick setter who does a good job of getting all her hitters involved and moving the ball around.
Madison Kutch L/DS TAV 14 Black: Kutch is an energetic defender and brings a lot of scrappiness to the lineup with the way she gets after it defensively.
Tinsley Welker-Brown S Hou Skyline 15 Royal: Welker-Brown does a great job directing the attack and putting up a hittable ball. She’s rarely off the mark and is also a presence at the net.
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Ansley Shafer L/DS TAV 15 Black: Shafer was another standout defender who made a big impact on that side of the ball for her team the way she extended plays and kept her team in the point.
Lexi Martin OH TAV 15 Black: Martin is a solid attacker with a lively arm. She pressures defenses with the multiple ways she can score.
Ava Burgess OH Club V 15 Ren Kalee: Burgess plays a key role in the attack. She’s a smart attacker who can unload at times.
Marissa Jones S A5 15-1 Kelly: Jones is on her own level when it comes to dishing. She’s super-smooth and always keeps defenses guessing as to where she’s going.
Kailey Leonard L/DS A5 15-1 Kelly: Leonard is a lights-out defender and passer. She’s asked to cover half the court or more in serve receive and is rarely challenged.
Kaylie Davis OH Madfrog 15 Green: Davis is a lanky outside with a loose arm. She can get let it fly when the chance presents itself.
Siena Ebert L/DS Madfrog 15 Green: Ebert was filling her role well and making hustle plays to help Madfrog advance.
Danielle Whitmire S/RS TAV 16 Black: Whitmire plays a dual role but she really was on fire attacking. She was crushing balls and finding open space in helping lift the attack.
Halle Thompson OH Hou Skyline 16 Royal: Thompson is on another level and when she has it going there’s no stopping her. She can get up and launch balls over blocks and straight down with ease.
Henlee Moszkowicz L/DS Hou Skyline 16 Royal: Moszkowicz is a fun defender to watch. She doesn’t blink and never backs down to the challenge.
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Coco Natarajan S/RS Drive Nation 16 Red: Natarajan is a vital part of the lineup as a two-way contributor. The lefty setter/right side is involved in seemingly every play and brings a lot of energy to the lineup.
Jaidyn Hartsfield OH Drive Nation 16 Red: Hartsfield is a bit undersized but she jumps really well. She also has a lively arm and can rocket shots whether front or back row.
Arianna Muoneke OH TAV Houston 16 Adidas: Muoneke has plenty of upside. She’s an athletic upside who can deliver wow shots when the moment is right.
Peytyn Pyle MB TAV Houston 16 Adidas: Pyle was making her presence felt at the net on both sides of the ball. She can get out and run the slide and then turn around and stuff a ball down on the next play.
Naya Salfiti RS Skyline 17 Royal: Salfiti was bringing the goods on the right side. The lefty was taking aggressive swings and it was paying off with impressive winners.
Hannah Beauford S Drive Nation 17 Red: Beauford was yet another setter who controlled the offense and put the ball in a precise window for her hitters.
Kendall Timme OH Drive Nation 17 Red: Timme carries her role on offense well. She’s a long outside with a solid arm who can bang balls down or off the block consistently.
Nia Thompson OH Wave 17 Juliana: Thompson is a fearless outside. She’s a bit undersized but she doesn’t back down against anyone as she was thudding balls to the deep corner or tooling blocks.
