Scouting USAV Nationals Favorites: 16 Open

We've seen some dark horses. Now, let's revisit the favorites. Throughout the year, we've been able to narrow down a small list of teams that always seem to show up at the big events. Some of these teams are ones that we expected to be here, while others have really surged in 2022. In either case, we now have an idea of which teams will be considered title favorites heading into USAV Nationals this month. This series will be a bit of a refresher on those teams. We're going to dive into some scouting reports and give you a little reminder on what makes these teams dominant. Bring on the favorites.   Dynasty 16 Black Sometimes you encounter a club team that is seemingly untouchable. Dynasty 16 Black is one of those teams. Dynasty's results speak for themselves. Championships at Windy City, Triple Crown, NLQ, and MEQ (among other events) have proven that this team is back to capture a repeat national title as 16s. Naturally, the scouting report for 16 Black reveals strengths at every position. Left-side hitters [player_tooltip player_id="119707" first="Skyler" last="Pierce"] and [player_tooltip player_id="119226" first="Carlie" last="Cisneros"] continue to produce on offense and know how to put away tough swings on the pins. They'll both stay in the backcourt to pass and play defense, too. This team is also led by two of the best 2025s in the country who still manage to dominate while playing up. Setter [player_tooltip player_id="154039" first="Reese" last="Messer"] and opposite [player_tooltip player_id="153930" first="Abigail" last="Mullen"] are so dynamic at their respective positions. Messer's aggressive jump setting will consistently give her hitters split-blocking opportunities. That's good news for Mullen, who has seen an expanded role as a back-row opposite this year. 16 Black can go an entire match without subbing out any of its pins and has the luxury of using serving subs. [player_tooltip player_id="178634" first="Piper" last="Newton"] and [player_tooltip player_id="119726" first="Jada" last="Ingram"] remain rock-solid in the middle, while [player_tooltip player_id="150068" first="Ryan" last="McAleer"] will take care of libero duties. With this lineup, good luck trying to find any weaknesses. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Such a quiet confidence with <a href="https://x.com/dynastyvbc?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@dynastyvbc</a> 16 Black. All business, all the time. Another W on Championship Monday! <a href="https://t.co/qnOeSzmwey">pic.x.com/qnOeSzmwey</a> — Austin Kingsley (@KingsleyATK) <a href="https://x.com/KingsleyATK/status/1513511583170895879?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 11, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>   NKYVC 16-1 Tsunami We go from the Triple Crown champion to the Triple Crown runner-up. One of the most dramatic moments of the 2022 club season came when 16-1 Tsumani actually managed to settle the score with Dynasty 16 Black at Show Me. An intense three-set victory in Gold pools locked up NKYVC's 16 Open bid while the team also handed Dynasty one of its only defeats of the season. [caption id="attachment_199480" align="alignright" width="400"]<img class="wp-image-199480" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2022/04/IMG_8600-crop-3938x2586-1654190742-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="400" height="263" /> Gillespie (18) and Hamburg (11) put up the block for 16-1 Tsunami at the Show Me Qualifier.[/caption] The version of 16-1 Tsunami we saw at Show Me looked very healthy after NKYVC went through some early-season injuries. With a full lineup, this team has a bit of everything. [player_tooltip player_id="107399" first="Julia" last="Hunt"] remains one of the most versatile middle blockers in the 2024 class. She can hit standard quicks in the middle or split out wide to either of the pins in sideout situations. [player_tooltip player_id="107434" first="Lilly" last="Hamburg"] also joins the fray at middle blocker and adds some impressive physicality to that position. 16-1 Tsunami also uses an assortment of pin options with [player_tooltip player_id="107423" first="Alivia" last="Skidmore"], [player_tooltip player_id="139273" first="Lilly" last="Gillespie"], and [player_tooltip player_id="114565" first="Sydney" last="Barrett"] all having ample experience on the outside. [player_tooltip player_id="107418" first="Macy" last="Lentz"] has been a great utility player as an opposite and/or defensive specialist. Ball control is still a staple at NKYVC, too. That hasn't changed. [player_tooltip player_id="107422" first="Elizabeth" last="Tabeling"] has had some spectacular showings in the libero jersey, and [player_tooltip player_id="139275" first="Kaleigh" last="Frietch"] is incredibly comfortable locking down middle-back. [player_tooltip player_id="139272" first="Abby" last="Yoder"] will shoulder the setter duties and works in some nice tempo that allows the entire offense to flourish.   A5 Mizuno 16-Gabe 16-Gabe is a team that's impossible to overlook. Physicality for days. That's the story with A5 Mizuno and its 16s roster that will garner plenty of recruiting interests once we reach June 15th. The results have also been impressive, with 16-Gabe taking tournament titles at Sunshine and Bluegrass. Where do you start with this group? On the left side, Hannah Benjamin and Grace Rose bring enough heat to make any team envious. But that's only the beginning. Slide over to the middle blocker spot and you'll find Mia Hood and Logan Wiley. These two athletes bring two unique skill sets but succeed in playing to their own strengths. Hood uses her incredible six-foot-six frame to dominate at the net, while Wiley is a quick, springy middle blocker with some unmatched range in front of the setter. Speaking of setters, A5 makes great use of a two-setter system with Cooper Abney and Isabela Boyd taking turns in the backcourt. Not only are Abney and Boyd both skilled enough to run an efficient, up-tempo offense, but the two-setter system also allows 16-Gabe to flex its dominance at opposite. Grace Agolli and MK Patten both take on big attacking responsibilities on the right pin and consistently pile on to an A5 squad that's never easy to stop. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <a href="https://x.com/a5volleyball?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@a5volleyball</a> 16-Gabe does it again! The undefeated ATL squad fends off a strong effort from Premier Nebraska to move to 2-0 in Gold! <a href="https://x.com/hashtag/NLQ?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NLQ</a> <a href="https://t.co/HqXWdsh8OF">pic.x.com/HqXWdsh8OF</a> — Austin Kingsley (@KingsleyATK) <a href="https://x.com/KingsleyATK/status/1505556287475625990?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 20, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>   WAVE 16-Brennan Let's go out west. WAVE 16-Brennan is a great candidate to carry the 16 Open torch in California. A championship at Red Rock in early April cemented this team's place as one of the favorites heading into Nationals. This roster has the talent to back it up, too. [player_tooltip player_id="162773" first="Jenna" last="Hanes"] is another one of those incredibly versatile middles who regularly takes designed swings on the left side. When she's not swinging on the pin, expect players like [player_tooltip player_id="162778" first="Ayva" last="Moi"] and [player_tooltip player_id="162768" first="Nikole" last="Egan"] to make some clutch plays on the outside. You can expect ball control to be stout with 16-Brennan. I recently featured Maya Evens in a <a href="https://prepdig.com/2022/05/must-see-athletes-playing-up-in-2022-defensive-specialists/">playing-up feature</a>, as this 2025 libero plays with the kind of veteran presence that is rare from such a young player. She is joined by [player_tooltip player_id="162782" first="Sofia" last="Williams"] and [player_tooltip player_id="162766" first="Dakota" last="Conway"] to form an unwavering backcourt trio that frequently generates positive first contacts. That also allows setter [player_tooltip player_id="162780" first="Amanda" last="Saeger"] to work her magic on the second touch.   Circle City 16 Purple When talking about USAV Nationals frontrunners, Circle City is just going to keep popping up. We aren't far removed from Circle City's big breakthrough at the Show Me Qualifier. 16 Purple scrapped its way to a tournament championship with some of the most balanced play in the gym that weekend. So, let's talk about that balance. Setter [player_tooltip player_id="110513" first="Emery" last="Moore"] runs a precise offense that gets the whole team involved, and it worked to perfection in Kansas City. Left sides [player_tooltip player_id="110503" first="Ava" last="Utterback"] and [player_tooltip player_id="110495" first="Sophia" last="Mayo"] are incredibly impactful on the pins, while opposite Alexis Maesch's role within the 16 Purple attack continues to grow. Keep a close eye on [player_tooltip player_id="110492" first="Scarlett" last="Kimbrell"] and Dakota Elliott in the middle. When this duo is terminating, it opens up the entire offense and presents a lot of favorable blocking matchups. That was a key to Circle City's Show Me success, and we might see that materialize again in Indianapolis--home territory for this dominant club. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> That's a championship ROOF.<a href="https://x.com/circlecityvbc?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@circlecityvbc</a> 16 Purple comes from behind in the third set to win the 16 Open title at Show Me! <a href="https://t.co/hjEQMyeecs">pic.x.com/hjEQMyeecs</a> — Austin Kingsley (@KingsleyATK) <a href="https://x.com/KingsleyATK/status/1513624645622284302?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 11, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>