Scouting USAV Nationals Favorites: 17 Open

Our feature series on favorites is now focusing on the 17s. After recently wrapping up our look at some dark horse USAV Nationals picks in 17, 16, and 15 Open, we've shifted our scope to the squads that will be popular picks in Indianapolis. These favorites have shown the firepower needed to play championship-level volleyball, and that has been backed up by this year's results. Let this series serve as a refresher on why these teams are near the top of the pack. With 16 Open already covered, it's time to get a glimpse at 17 Open. The intrigue here will be immense.   Circle City 17 Purple Welcome back to the feature series, Circle City. No one can doubt 17 Purple's frontrunner status heading into Nationals. The team has accumulated a laundry list of tournament championships this year, including NEQ, Bluegrass, and Central Zone. [caption id="attachment_177509" align="alignright" width="400"]<img class="wp-image-177509" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2022/02/DSC03408.jpg" alt="" width="400" height="267" /> Chicoine[/caption] [player_tooltip player_id="85895" first="Chloe" last="Chicoine"], our #2-ranked overall prospect in the Class of 2023, keeps rising to the occasion week after week. The power and range she brings to the left pin are almost unmatched, and her unflappable passing makes her well-suited for the next level. Chicoine is accompanied on the left side by [player_tooltip player_id="85932" first="Ava" last="Smith"], a Florida Gulf Coast commit who has really been catching fire in recent events. There are plenty of other x-factors on this team, too. [player_tooltip player_id="110509" first="Macy" last="Hinshaw"] is a skilled 2024 setter that I recently discussed in my <a href="https://prepdig.com/2022/05/must-see-athletes-playing-up-in-2022-setters/">playing-up series</a>. Staying on the ball control side, libero [player_tooltip player_id="85921" first="Molly" last="Urban"] has helped lock down the backcourt this season. [player_tooltip player_id="85924" first="Ella" last="Hemmings"] and [player_tooltip player_id="85912" first="Macy" last="Bruton"] can also come in to contribute in that area. Finally, the middle blocker duo of [player_tooltip player_id="106295" first="Ella" last="Chapman"] and [player_tooltip player_id="85897" first="Emily" last="Waddell"] round out the team's stifling defense with some great blocking technique and intimidating size.   1st Alliance 17 Gold This team looked like a USAV Nationals favorite way back in January. Nothing has changed. January, of course, brought some of the Midwest's best 17s teams to Omaha for the Northern Lights Qualifier. This was a great tournament field, but 1st Alliance still swept everybody. That flawless weekend still stands out as one of the most remarkable performances of the 2022 season, and 17 Gold has not slowed down since then. On the left pin, [player_tooltip player_id="138647" first="Kennedy" last="Wagner"] and [player_tooltip player_id="138648" first="Grace" last="Egan"] have shown a new gear this year. They're both reliable contributors in all six rotations, generate a lot of perfect passes, and are incredibly low-error when attacking. When 1st Alliance needs a sideout, look for the left sides. Let's slide over to the right pin. [player_tooltip player_id="138649" first="Kamryn" last="Chaney"] has quickly established herself as one of the most dominant blocking opposites in the 17s division. She has denied so many opposing left-side hitters this year, with most of those blocks going straight down. It also doesn't hurt that [player_tooltip player_id="138656" first="Kamryn" last="Lee-Caracci"] and [player_tooltip player_id="138651" first="Annie" last="Eschenbach"] are always there to help out from the middle. That's a lot of talk about attackers, but ball control will always be a strength for 1st Alliance. [player_tooltip player_id="138650" first="Gigi" last="Navarrete"] is one of the most energetic, vocal liberos in the 17s game, and Jordan Heatherly is a natural leader at setter. Put all that together, and I'd expect 17 Gold to be in the championship hunt once again.   Drive Nation 17-Red You always have to stop and watch when Drive Nation 17-Red is in the gym. [caption id="attachment_181392" align="alignright" width="400"]<img class="wp-image-181392" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2022/02/DSC04050.jpg" alt="" width="400" height="267" /> Robins[/caption] I can recall that being the case at Triple Crown NIT, where 17-Red drew a lot of interest from spectators. Perhaps it's the high-flying Texas talent that is so popular, as this team has one of the most physical rosters on the 17 Open circuit. Drive Nation is at its best when the offense is running through the middle blockers. [player_tooltip player_id="141120" first="Reese" last="Robins"] and [player_tooltip player_id="141125" first="Leah" last="Ford"] are so electric at that position, even as they bring slightly different styles to the floor. If the ball isn't going to these two, it's a safe bet that Bailey Miller and [player_tooltip player_id="141121" first="Halle" last="Schroder"] will pick up the slack on the outside. 17-Red will not hesitate to deploy a two-setter system with [player_tooltip player_id="141133" first="Callie" last="Kieffer"] and [player_tooltip player_id="122897" first="Lily" last="Nicholson"] leading the charge from the backcourt. This allows Drive Nation to flex its wealth of pin talent even more. At opposite, you'll see any combination of [player_tooltip player_id="141131" first="Cecily" last="Gooch"], [player_tooltip player_id="141126" first="Samantha" last="Hoppes"], and [player_tooltip player_id="141129" first="Nicole" last="Mauser"]. Regardless of which right-side permutation is deployed, 17-Red will always have the size and strength to dominate at the net in true Texas fashion.   Legacy 17-1 Adidas Here's another group with a proven track record that spans well before the 2022 season. Needless to say, Legacy 17-1 Adidas will not be intimidated by the big stage of USAV Nationals. This squad recently punctuated a successful qualifier run with a championship at our own Prep Dig Open in Cleveland. Even with a couple of players out due to injury, Legacy remained sharp. Outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id="66319" first="Harper" last="Murray"] claimed the top spot in our new 2023 rankings, and that has a lot to do with her extraordinary ability to do everything at a high level. She sees the block well, terminates with impunity, and will not shy away from taking on serve receive duties. Other attackers on this team have found their stride. Cincinnati commit [player_tooltip player_id="66309" first="Nina" last="Horning"] has a heavy swing that does particularly well when hitting crosscourt. Middle blocker [player_tooltip player_id="66291" first="Laurece" last="Abraham"]'s expanding role in the team's offense has also been a welcomed sight, as she can terminate effectively on the "slow-quicks" in front of setter [player_tooltip player_id="66313" first="Erin" last="Kline"]. When the whole machine is humming, 17-1 Adidas has one of the most lethal offenses in this division. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> It's all <a href="https://x.com/LegacyLvc?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@LegacyLvc</a> 17-1 Adidas in 17 Open!<a href="https://x.com/hashtag/PDTheOpen?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PDTheOpen</a> champs! <a href="https://t.co/xpS7PGYOob">pic.x.com/xpS7PGYOob</a> — Austin Kingsley (@KingsleyATK) <a href="https://x.com/KingsleyATK/status/1520816531483021317?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 1, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>   COAST 17-1 Going back to Cali. When COAST 17-1 is bringing the heat, watch out. This California squad can compete with anyone, and we've seen that at several events this year. A championship at Red Rock in early April suggests that COAST may be producing its best volleyball late in the season. [caption id="attachment_196269" align="alignright" width="400"]<img class="wp-image-196269" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2022/05/IMG_7200.jpg" alt="" width="400" height="267" /> Rachow (7) sets for COAST 17-1.[/caption] BYU commit Claire Little has always loomed large for this team. Her physical frame allows her to hit with great power in the frontcourt, but she has also developed some savvy back row skills, too. Milan Bayless and Jillian Neal have each had their own moments in the spotlight on the left, while [player_tooltip player_id="161450" first="Noemie" last="Glover"] consistently locks down the right pin. COAST also boasts a pair of setters that have been major contributors this year. I've seen plenty from both [player_tooltip player_id="160884" first="Zoe" last="Rachow"] and Tehya Maeva, and the team doesn't skip a beat when transitioning between either setter. It also helps that COAST has standout defensive specialists like [player_tooltip player_id="160913" first="Sydney" last="Bold"] and [player_tooltip player_id="160342" first="Brooklyn" last="Yelland"] to consistently deliver the ball on target.   A5 Mizuno 17-Jing Don't forget about the Triple Crown NIT champs. It was a privilege to watch A5 Mizuno 17-Jing's journey to the top in Kansas City. Since then, the team has added podium finishes at Sunshine and Central Zone. This A5 group has fascinated me for a long time, and now we're seeing its players rounding into form in 2022. [player_tooltip player_id="195475" first="Jurnee" last="Robinson"] absolutely took Kansas City by storm this year and dazzled us all with her incredible athleticism. Likewise, [player_tooltip player_id="195498" first="Ashley" last="Sturzoiu"] has been a hype machine on the left side and brings some serious heat to match her positive energy. Milana Thornton and Iyanna Garvin have compiled some great showings at middle blocker. This has also allowed Jadyn Garcia to thrive at opposite and make some eye-popping plays from that position. Distributing the ball to all these excellent options will be key to A5's success in Indy. Setter Rebecca Watkins has also been a revelation this year. She is physical enough to get some right-side hitter duties added to her docket, too. Meanwhile, Arya Jue ties everything together at libero and ensures that positive first contacts will let 17-Jing flourish. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <a href="https://x.com/a5volleyball?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@a5volleyball</a> 17-Jing finds Triple Crown glory again. <a href="https://x.com/hashtag/TCVolleyballNIT?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TCVolleyballNIT</a> <a href="https://t.co/WO0vZYfFQN">pic.x.com/WO0vZYfFQN</a> — Austin Kingsley (@KingsleyATK) <a href="https://x.com/KingsleyATK/status/1495877194018660359?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 21, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>