Opening Day Primer: Monday GJNC Matchups to Follow in 15 Open

15s action at USAV Nationals has finally arrived, and the excitement will rev up right away in Indianapolis. Consider this your "last-second primer" for 15 Open competition at GJNC. As we start to navigate the wide field of talented teams in this division, I've identified a few matchups that I'll have my eye on during opening day. This is our first chance to see which 15 Open teams are bringing their best stuff for the season's biggest event, and these matchups should tell us a lot. So, here are some Monday matchups to follow as results start to trickle in.   MAVS KC 15-1 vs. Nebraska ONE 15 Synergy If you're invested in the Great Plains volleyball scene, you already know the kind of high-quality play this matchup can bring. I immediately think back to MAVS KC and Nebraska ONE putting out scrappy performances in the Gold pools of the Show Me Qualifier, an event that was eventually won by 15 Synergy. These teams are predicated on good ball control, and that should be a big storyline when these teams meet once again. [player_tooltip player_id="173389" first="Avery" last="Baker"] and [player_tooltip player_id="173370" first="Kaylee" last="Tingey"] help lock down the serve receive for MAVS KC, while [player_tooltip player_id="155030" first="Anna" last="Jelinek"] and [player_tooltip player_id="155029" first="Keri" last="Leimbach"] will do the same for Nebraska ONE. These backcourt contributors ought to play a huge factor in what should be an excellent first-contact battle. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Wow, what a run!<a href="https://x.com/We_are_NEONE?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@We_are_NEONE</a> 15 Synergy puts together an unbelievable weekend to claim the Show Me Qualifier 15 Open championship! <a href="https://t.co/dRnfTdje5N">pic.x.com/dRnfTdje5N</a> — Austin Kingsley (@KingsleyATK) <a href="https://x.com/KingsleyATK/status/1513613704922906639?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 11, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>   COAST 15-1 vs. MiElite 15 Mizuno Pool 2 in 15 Open has the makings of a tight race, and contests like these will be absolutely critical. [caption id="attachment_204735" align="alignright" width="400"]<img class="wp-image-204735" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2022/04/IMG_8781-crop-3577x2349-1656303487-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="400" height="263" /> Costlow attacks for 15 Mizuno.[/caption] COAST 15-1 brings its string of West Coast success into the Midwest for GJNC. Outside hitter Ava Poinsett has had a particularly impactful season, and Zoe Pabarcus has also made some big strides at that position. [player_tooltip player_id='223093' first='Brooklyn' last='Bowman'] is a name to know in the backcourt. 2022 has also been quite a year for MiElite 15 Mizuno. This balanced team had a solid weekend at Show Me and recently backed that up with a runner-up finish at the Prep Dig Gauntlet. [player_tooltip player_id="156292" first="Jessica" last="Costlow"] has been a leader in a variety of positions throughout the year, and [player_tooltip player_id="156284" first="Gabriella" last="Babinski"] should keep up her dominance as a go-to scorer on the pin.   Legacy 15-1 Adidas vs. Austin Skyline 15 Royal This might be a pair of popular picks in Pool 3. The only thing Legacy 15-1 Adidas has to do is not let off the gas. A championship at the Prep Dig Open in late April was just the start of a dominant late-season charge for this Michigan bunch. 15-1 Adidas just secured a 15 Open AAU Nationals title in Orlando, with the trio of Gabriella DiVita, [player_tooltip player_id="156295" first="Campbell" last="Flynn"], and [player_tooltip player_id="156299" first="Olivia" last="Grenadier"] garnering high post-event honors. Let's see if they'll keep rolling. Austin Skyline 15 Royal won't be intimidated, though, and this Texas team brings a bevy of talented players into the fold. The frontcourt duo of [player_tooltip player_id="179899" first="Addison" last="Gaido"] and [player_tooltip player_id="180663" first="Amelia" last="Robinson"] has been incredibly efficient lately, leading to a lot of eye-popping highlight tapes. Libero [player_tooltip player_id="179887" first="Callie" last="Krueger"] has also done a great job backing up this tandem with some reliable first touches to keep 15 Royal in system. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> 15 Open champs!<a href="https://x.com/LegacyLvc?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@LegacyLvc</a> 15-1 Adidas was spectacular the whole way. <a href="https://x.com/hashtag/PDTheOpen?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PDTheOpen</a> <a href="https://t.co/Jvw2LeATM1">pic.x.com/Jvw2LeATM1</a> — Austin Kingsley (@KingsleyATK) <a href="https://x.com/KingsleyATK/status/1520800079455600640?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 1, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>   Surfside 15 PV Legends vs. Absolute 15 Black SoCal versus NorCal. Let's do it. Surfside 15 PV Legends is one of those teams that quickly caught my attention at Triple Crown NIT in February. The wicked right arm of Kaci Demaria has spearheaded a lot of big wins for this rising California crew, and Taylor Ponchak has also made her presence felt on the right pin. If physicality is your thing, don't lose sight of Surfside. In the San Francisco corner of the Cali clash is Absolute 15 Black. This team is yet another shining example of the state's strong, deep 2025 class. 15 Black's two-headed monster of Isabella Ehrlich and Aveya Stone could snag the spotlight once again at Nationals, and more players will inevitably emerge as California standouts.   [caption id="attachment_201832" align="alignright" width="400"]<img class="wp-image-201832" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2022/06/Abigail-Vander-Wal-1-crop-2000x1314-1655142915-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="400" height="263" /> Vander Wal attacks for 15 Gold.[/caption] 1st Alliance 15 Gold vs. AZ Sky 15G I'm anxious to get an early barometer on both of these squads. 1st Alliance 15 Gold has had no problems asserting itself as one of the frontrunners in 15 Open. A championship at Triple Crown NIT is a surefire way to capture people's attention, and 15 Gold has remained stout after the early-season title. [player_tooltip player_id="203428" first="Abby" last="Vander Wal"] and Sydney Buchanan are a couple of intimidating outside attackers who have a chance to take another step forward in front of a national audience. This AZ Sky 15G squad should not be overlooked, however. Like 1st Alliance, AZ Sky is another club that made the most of its Kansas City trip for Triple Crown NIT. Left-side attacker Georgiann Stein is having a breakout 2022 campaign and is joined in that distinction by Shelby Schoenbeck at the middle blocker spot. More top-tier Arizona athletes may be major stock risers by the time we're done in Indy.   Houston Skyline 15 Royal vs. Drive Nation 15-Red This is a Texas tussle we've seen before. Houston Skyline and Drive Nation represented the Lone Star Region well by finishing first and second in the Northern Lights Qualifier back in March. Now, the two neighbors are slated to match up once again in Indianapolis. Plenty of high-flying action should be expected in this one. Houston Skyline boasts an impressive frontcourt that is led by physical attackers like [player_tooltip player_id="179890" first="Taylor" last="Porter"], [player_tooltip player_id="179917" first="Ella" last="Lewis"], and [player_tooltip player_id="179893" first="Bayleigh" last="Minor"]. Drive Nation, meanwhile, has received a ton of positive contributions from setter [player_tooltip player_id="180167" first="Hannah" last="Beauford"] and her impressive corps of hitters that includes [player_tooltip player_id="180169" first="Keirstyn" last="Carlton"] and Glory Mbilo. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Just another incredible performance for <a href="https://x.com/HoustonSkyline?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@HoustonSkyline</a> 15 Royal. Bound for the <a href="https://x.com/hashtag/NLQ?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NLQ</a> 15 Open championship…and Nationals! <a href="https://t.co/t1FtMwTcAD">pic.x.com/t1FtMwTcAD</a> — Austin Kingsley (@KingsleyATK) <a href="https://x.com/KingsleyATK/status/1505609452594024448?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 20, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>