Quick Tempo Day 1 Storylines – Triple Crown 16s
“This feels normal”. This was said plenty of times from the likes of coaches to players to parents.
What maybe didn’t quite feel normal was the nerves, anticipation, and overall energy than many of us haven’t felt in close to two years. With opening weekend of recruiting for Division 1 college coaches at Triple Crown, it was all a buzz with the 18s and 16s getting after it with the top teams in the country to do battle.
Zeroing in on the 16s, there were plenty of key matchups, upsets, and top performances to highlight on day one of Triple Crown. Here are a few quick hitters from the AM Wave of 16s from Saturday morning at Triple Crown.
The Undefeated Power Pool Teams:
The power pools are no joke when it comes to Triple Crown. They are highly calculated and extremely intentional with the top teams in the country. After Day 1, six teams came out 3-0 in their power pools in A5 Mizuno 16 Gabe, Milwaukee Sting 16 Gold, OT 16 T Jason, Momentous VBC 16 Dan, Arizona Storm 16 Thunder, and Vision 16 Gold.
A5 Mizuno 16 Gabe is a heavy favorite coming into this event with a lineup that is extremely athletic, physical, and long. With the likes of Mia Hood and Molly Kate “MK” Patten at 6’7 and 6’6, they are a tough side to get through. They have offensive threats across the board and a fast tempo offense as well.
Milwaukee Sting 16 Gold is another team with an extremely well balance attacked, ran by setter Lilly Wagner. They have two dynamic middle blockers in Anna Bjork and 2025 prospect Gabriella Pitcel as well as two point scoring pins in Melia Johnson and 2025 prospect Madison Quest. Claire Luoma commands the backrow as one of the top liberos in the Class of 2024 in Wisconsin.
Other Quick Hitting Storylines:
Isabel Clark – Momentous VBC 16 Dan
Clark is extremely dominant as an outside hitter. She is physical and just has that something different to her game where she can find a way to score in big moments. With a quick search of Clark, she is also a 2024 basketball prospect as well.
Rachel Van Gorp – KC Power 16-1
Dynamite in a bottle. Van Gorp is high flying and she can put a hammer on the ball, such a fun six rotation outside hitter to watch. Her KC Power team is full of athletes, including scrappy setter, Janelle Green. They will be a dangerous team come bracket time.
The Length of Colorado Juniors
Colorado Juniors has one of the tallest lineups I saw on the day outside of A5 with Avah Armour at 6’4 and Addie Kanouff at 6’5. Juniors finished 2-1 in their power pool.
Mia Trvdy of @Premier16_G out of Omaha absolutely coming alive. Uber athletic middle, huge block here @TCVolleyballNIT pic.twitter.com/f4JT6jFKbN
— Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) February 19, 2022
Mia Trvdy – Nebraska Premier 16 Gold
Uber athletic out of the middle, Trvdy jumps like a deer and was asserting her presence out of the middle for Premier. She touches high and has a great sense of the game and is definitely one to have on the radar for 2024 middle blockers.
Charlie Fuerbringer – Long Beach Mizuno 16 Rockstar
I love watching players who can do a little bit of everything and that is Fuerbringer. She runs such a smooth offense and has a great feel for the game. She can transition to the front row and attack as well from either pin. An extremely dynamic athlete.
Bailey Higgins – OTVA 16 Jason
OTVA had a really big day going 3-0 in their power pool and I couldn’t help but watch the leaping ability of Higgins. She can flat out fly on the right side with a solid left handed swing. She really has a dynamic skill set where she can play out of the backrow as well.
Other Pool Winners:
Academy 16 Diamond
Tribe 16 Elite Sebastian
Boiler Juniors 161 EGold
FC Elite 16 Navy
Miami Hype 16 Emilio
H Skyline 16 Royal
SCVC 16 Roxy
MAVS KC 16-1
WAVE 16 Nick
Adversity G16 Adidas
Shockwave VB Academy 16 Sean
Mintonette m.61
EXCEL 16 National Red
Club V 16 Ren Wave
NORCO 16 Black
MADFROG 16 N’s Black
Legacy 16-1 Adidas
Top Select 16 Elite Blue