Bluegrass 2023: Previewing 17 Open Power Pools

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This next weekend is the annual Bluegrass event in Louisville, KY. The tournament format includes three power pools to start day one on Saturday. Here is a preview of some key athletes in each Power Pool.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>PP1</em></strong><br>Academy 17 Tsunami is the top seed to open Bluegrass as they were the winners of last month's Central Zone event. They feature some dynamic prospects including setter <strong>Leah Richmond</strong> who is committed to Western Michigan. She is athletic and can distribute their quick tempo with good precision. Pin hitter <strong>Alaleh Tolliver</strong> gets big lift and can generate good pace that challenges defenses very well. At 6'2, pin hitter <strong>Sophia Damer</strong> is adding more and more production with each event and helps to balance their offense from the right side. They should be a favorite to win this pool.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>OVR's Maverick 17 Elite is the 2nd seed in this pool while Indian's Team Pineapple 17 Black is the 3rd seed while MemphisVBAcademy17Red from the Delta region is the 4th seed.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>PP2</em></strong><br>Power Pool 2 is likely the toughest collection of teams and will likely have some hotly contested opening day matches among this group of teams. NKYVC 17-1 Tsunami is the top seed in PP2. They lost to overall #1 seed Academy Tsunami 2-1 at January's Central Zone event. Playing without standout middle<strong> [player_tooltip player_id='107399' first='Julia' last='Hunt']</strong> (*pictured) at that event, this group finished 5th overall. Uncommitted athletes that will continue to get good looks include setters <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='139272' first='Abby' last='Yoder']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='107418' first='Macy' last='Lentz']</strong> as well as middle<strong> [player_tooltip player_id='107434' first='Lilly' last='Hamburg']</strong>, whose stock has certainly grown over the first two months of this team's 2023 club effort. Yoder and Lentz complement each other well sharing the setting role and are doing good work to create a lot of balance in this team's offense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Boiler Jrs 171E Gold finished as runner-up at Central Zones and is playing some good volleyball. Uncommitted <strong>Riley Whitlock</strong> has good [program_tooltip program_id='431827' first='[program_tooltip program_id='431827' first='Elevation' last='']' last=''] and can get ahold of the ball at both pins. Opposite <strong>Alayna Christner </strong>has the best length on this team at 6'2 and being left-handed makes her a tough match up at the net to defend. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>KIVA 17 Red features 6'3 middle <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='474635' first='Ayen' last='Nhial']</strong> who has upside to her game on both sides of the ball. Her length is the first thing you notice about her frame and she continues to improve the quality of her contact point and power. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='260878' first='Lucy' last='Rankin']</strong> is this team's setter and with her 5'11 frame. Along with her touch and location she can be offensive, which increases her impact. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The fourth team in this pool is Hurricanes from Canada. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>PP3</em></strong><br>[program_tooltip program_id='430852' first='Tri-State' last='Elite'] is the top seed here and gets a lot of production from middle <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='114600' first='Faith' last='Young']</strong> (Western Kentucky). Pittsburgh commit <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='260892' first='Kiana' last='Dinn']</strong> is one of the most versatile athletes in the greater Cincy area with big hops and great tools as a setter, which allow her opportunities to score as an attacker as well as distribute the offense. TSE should clear this pool given their depth around the court although they will get a test from nearby [program_tooltip program_id='431827' first='[program_tooltip program_id='431827' first='Elevation' last='']' last=''].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='114584' first='Elise' last='Marchal']</strong> is listed as a middle but will play six rotations as she can make a huge impact from anywhere on the floor. Her skills on the right pin are being utilized there a lot as she had some impressive moments at the recent NIT event. Marchal's tools are so impressive that she is often used significantly more than other arms. The Appalachian State commit has the ability to take over matches so it will be interesting to see what they require of her workload this weekend.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Illini Elite 17 Cardinal is seeded third in this pool with Kentucky's Union 17-1 UA the fourth seed and is coming off a runner-up finish at the Pioneer Region bid event. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->