If the results from Day 1 of 17 Open are any indication, then there’s little clue as to what is going to happen the rest of the way. One result was Rockwood Thunder 17 Elite upsetting No. 3 overall seed Drive Nation 17 Red. KC Power 17 Black – which received a generous No. 4 overall seed – fell to Metro 17 Travel in its final outing of the day to sit at 2-1. TAV 17 Black wasn’t safe either. The No. 4 overall seed was stunned by Seal Beach 17 Black and is 2-1. However, perhaps the biggest surprise is NKYVC 17-1 Tsunami going 1-2 on Day 1. The No. 6 overall seed fell to both Miami Hype 17 Emilio and Coast 17-1 with a victory over AJV 17 Adidas wedged in between.
As for Miami Hype, it received one of two at-larges into the 17 Open field and started off 3-0, with the clutch victory over NKYVC. City 17 Gold was the other at-large recipient and went 1-2 on Day 1. City lost to 1st Alliance 17 Gold and KC Power before salvaging a victory against Boiler Jrs 17 Gold.
***
By Chris Tobolski and Christine Phillips
17s DAY 1 SHOW STOPPERS
Lauren Harden OH Rev 17-1 Raptors: Harden – a 5-star Florida recruit – carries a giant portion of the offense on her shoulders. She’s a long outside who can power kills front and back row. She’s a big reason why Rev qualified for Open originally.
Taylor Williams OH Vision 17 Gold: Williams – a 4-star Duke recruit – is another outside with height who can extend and really connect. She was providing reliable offense with her ability to hit through or around blocks.
McKenna Brand L Skyline 17 Royal: Brand – a 4-star UCONN commit – was under serious consideration for our Day 1 All Red Hat Team but there wasn’t enough space. Still, she’s super fun to watch because she’s an unassuming libero who just makes play after play all over the court.
Maya Witherspoon OH Rockwood Thunder 17 Elite: Witherspoon – a 4-star Class of 2025 recruit – was bringing it on the both pins. She has a lively arm and was letting loose with it in giving her team plenty of points.
Savannah Skopal S AJV 17 Adidas: Skopal – a 4-star Rice commit – is a high-level, take-charge setter who is in total command of the show. She has a great touch and release and puts the ball in a hittable window consistently.
Rachel Resta S TAV 17 Blue: Resta, a 3-star recruit, dishes beautifully and consistently.
Marin Collins OH Niagara Frontier 17 Navy: Collins, a recent Penn State commit, commanded a presence on the court. She is someone to watch as she continues to grow in the sport. She is impressive on the court.
Jordan Smart S CHAVC 17 Black: Smart, a James Madison commit and 3-star recruit, quarterbacks her team well. She runs a 5-1 and connects with her hitters everywhere on the court.
Milani Lee RS FORZA1 NORTH 17ONE Franko: Lee, a 2025 athlete, had moments where she was ripping the ball and providing key production from the right side.
Elizabeth Andrew MB ATHENA VB 17-1 Gold: Andrew, a 5-star recruit, is legit. She owns the net offensively and defensively. She’s tons of fun to watch. And her jump serve isn’t too shabby either.
Meghan Kagehiro L RAGE 17 GREG: Kagehiro has a knack for touching a ton of balls on the court. She wasn’t afraid to get dirty.
Mia Gladden S SoCal VBC 17-Sola: Gladden caught my attention when I was walking by and she literally did a one-handed dig was beyond impressive. She sets a clean ball too.
Payton Petersen OH Six Pack 17: Petersen, a 3-star recruit committed to Louisville, was aggressive, attacking and really challenging the block in all six rotations.
Alivia Keegan S/RS Mission 17 Elite: Keegan, a 3-star recruit, impressed me on the court. She has great hands and finds her hitters well. AND she can bounce balls in the front roll.
Georgia Watson RS Mission 17 Elite: Watson, a 3-star 2025 recruit playing up, was cranking on the pins. She hits a heavy ball.
Carys Fouser MB Abq Juniors 17-1 Jordan: Fouser is part of a 1-2 punch in the middle for her squad. She brings a punch to the middle.
Alyssa Carlisle MB Abq Juniors 17-1 Jordan: Carlisle, the other half of the middle blocking duo, is a wall at the net. She seals the net well.
Shannon Sheehy S AZ REV 17 Premier: Sheehy, a San Francisco commit, has great hands and pushes well from pin to pin.
Miliana Sylvester MB 417 Juniors 17 Nat Black: Sylvester, a 3-star recruit committed to Hawaii, was making plays on both sides of the ball, disrupting attackers while giving her squad a reliable point scorer in the middle.
Madison Swehla OH Rockwood Thunder 17 Navy: Swehla is an undersized outside who jumps fast and quick. She can beat blocks with her quickness.
Jazmine Gaston OH Texas Fury 17 Legacy: Gaston, a Louisiana commit, is an athletic force on the court who jumps well on the outside.
Maya Collins L OVA 17 Black: Collins was passing consistently out of serve receive and was constantly making great plays.
Caroline Tredwell MB Skyline 17 Black: Tredwell, a UTSA commit and 3-star recruit, is an explosive middle who moves well laterally and gets off the ground quickly.
