Triple Crown NIT Round Table Preview – Coach Mike DZ’s Version
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One of the most anticipated tournaments at the beginning of each club season is the Triple Crown NIT because of all of the talent that will be under one roof. It will be held in Kansas City, MO on February…
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Continue ReadingOne of the most anticipated tournaments at the beginning of each club season is the Triple Crown NIT because of all of the talent that will be under one roof. It will be held in Kansas City, MO on February 18-20th. Prep Dig has three scouts who will be covering the tourney. I will be joining Chris Fitzgerald and Austin Kingsley at the tourney and we will each be offering our perspective on teams and players to watch out for during the weekend. Let’s “Dig” in to my take.
18s
What Teams Will Be Contending For a Championship On Day Three?
Since my boys already picked the Cali teams of Sunshine and Coast to contend on day three, I am going to go out on a limb and pick a Texas squad that I believe some are sleeping on. Dallas Skyline 18 Royal have a few weapons that never seem to run out of ammo. In the past three years that I have been covering this age group, I have never been able to count out Oregon commit Becca Kelley Becca Kelley 6'3" | OH Rockwall Heath | 2023 State #126 Nation TX who can score from anywhere on the court. This team has always been a threat at the national level, but this year they have added some crazy firepower like Middle/Opposite Georgia Commit Cecily Gooch Cecily Gooch 6'3" | MB Highland Park | 2023 State #183 Nation TX and North Texas commit Hannah Gonzalez Hannah Gonzalez 6'3" | MB Lovejoy | 2023 State #170 Nation TX . This reloaded roster also consists of LSU commit Angelina Lee Angelina Lee 6'2" | MB Farmersville | 2023 State TX , who dominates out of the middle, and libero Symone Sims Symone Sims 5'4" | DS/L Lebanon Trail | 2023 State TX who will suit up for Kansas State next year. They recently took third in the Lone Star Qualifier in the 18 Open division and are poised for some upsets in this prestigious tourney if you ask me.
What Non-Power Pool Teams Could Sneak Up On People?
Seal Beach 18 Black has a super stud in six foot two lefty setter/opposite Gianna Tagoai Gianna Tagoai 6'3" | S Redondo Union | 2023 State CA who will turn many headswith her impressive skill-set. She leads a solid team in the non-power pools who has a great seed going into the tourney who have had some success in the last few years at USA Nationals. They will look to make an impact against teams who have not seen their tall lineup. Captain Erynn Sweeney Erynn Sweeney OH Mater Dei | 2023 CA is also a tough out on the left side. She packs a serious punch and could do some damage if people overlook them.
Who are the big time commits who will be having a huge impact on the tournament?
Since I cover California and Texas, I will throw some of their top recruits in the mix. Julia Blyashov Julia Blyashov 6'3" | OH Cathedral Catholic | 2023 State #3 Nation CA , Reese Robins Reese Robins 6'5" | MB Timberview | 2023 State #15 Nation TX , Claire Little Claire Little 6'2" | OH Vista Murrieta | 2023 State #46 Nation CA , Cindy Tchouangwa Cindy Tchouangwa 5'11" | OH Tompkins | 2023 State #45 Nation TX , Olivia Babcock Olivia Babcock 6'3" | OH Sierra Canyon | 2023 State #13 Nation CA , and Torrey Stafford Torrey Stafford 6'0" | OH Marymount | 2023 State #20 Nation CA are all huge offensive threats. Setters Zoe Rachow Zoe Rachow 5'11" | S Otay Ranch | 2023 State #141 Nation CA and Callie Kieffer Callie Kieffer 5'10" | S Prosper | 2023 State #199 Nation TX are two of the best to dish dimes.
17s
What Teams Will Be Contending For a Championship On Day Three?
There is no stopping the newly formed “Dream Team” out of Texas…Drive Nation 17 Red. If you have been following this age group like I have over the last three years, this roster surprised me this summer when it was announced after tryouts. Texas likes to boast that “Everything is Bigger in Texas” and these kids went all in together to form a super team. It is a combination of players from five of the best clubs in the North Texas region and one from the Lone Star region. Yes…they also have a player who travels four hours from San Antonio to Dallas in order to practice and compete with this squad on a weekly basis also. Vivian Parker Vivian Parker 6'0" | OH Aledo | 2024 State #52 Nation TX , Lauryn “Lolo” Lambert Lauryn “Lolo” Lambert 5'9" | OH Plano East Senior | 2024 State #20 Nation TX , Grace Carroll Grace Carroll 6'5" | RS Cornerstone | 2024 State #21 Nation TX , Ayden Ames Ayden Ames 6'3" | MB Redondo Union | 2024 CA , Bethany Wu, Caleigh King Caleigh King 5'6" | DS/L Southlake | 2024 State TX , Jessica Jones Jessica Jones 6'2" | MB Wakeland Highschool | 2024 State #169 Nation TX , and Shelby Burriss Shelby Burriss 6'1" | MB Lovejoy | 2025 State TX joined forces with Carson Eickenloff Carson Eickenloff 5'7" | S Boyd | 2024 State #146 Nation TX , Brianna Watson Brianna Watson 6'1" | OH Flower Mound | 2024 State #53 Nation TX , Avery Baughman Avery Baughman 5'5" | DS/L Plano | 2024 State TX , and Lillian Croshaw Lillian Croshaw 6'3" | RS Northwest | 2024 State #164 Nation TX , who won the USA Volleyball Junior National Championship last year with Madfrog to make up one of the most potent lineups I have ever seen. They all decided to be coached by legendary coach Ping Cao and they are finally gelling together at the right time. I was able to watch them in person this past weekend as they steamrolled everyone that was in their path during the tough and ultra competitive Tour of Texas tourney. This team will be in contention on day three for sure.
What Non-Power Pool Teams Could Sneak Up On People?
Absolute 17 Black is a solid squad who has been on a tear out in Northern California so far this season. Jaden Hendrickson Jaden Hendrickson 6'0" | MB Redwood | 2024 State CA is a stud on the left side who can unload some bombs on anyone. She is someone who can score in bunches really quickly. Middle Alana Villela Alana Villela 6'1" | MB California | 2024 State CA has been a wall for this team on the defensive end. Libero Jaime Low is also someone that is scary good in the back row. Her range is sneaky and she has some of the best emergency techniques in the age group. Alamo 17 Premier has a few studs who will turn some heads in the non-power pools also. Their setter duo of Gabriella Reeves Gabriella Reeves 5'7" | S Antonian College Preparatory | 2024 State TX and Megan Hawkins Megan Hawkins 5'9" | S Canyon | 2024 State TX is one to watch. Lola Davila Lola Davila 5'6" | DS/L Brandeis | 2024 State TX and Jaylin Lott Jaylin Lott 5'4" | DS/L SA Clark | 2024 State TX hardly let anything drop near their zones in the back row. Alamo is known for their defense and these two are studs.
What Teams Could Be The Cinderellas of the Tournament?
Dallas Skyline 17 Royal is the epitome of a “Cinderella” team as some of their stars from last season left for other pastures. This will not stop all-star left side Lauren Perry Lauren Perry 6'0" | OH Denton | 2024 State #44 Nation TX , super setter Carter Fouche Carter Fouche 5'8" | S Reedy | 2024 State TX , stud liberos McKenna Brand McKenna Brand 5'6" | DS/L Lovejoy | 2024 State TX and Tally Grissom Tally Grissom 5'10" | DS/L Liberty Christian Varsity | 2024 State TX , dynamo outsides Reese Renfrow Reese Renfrow 5'8" | OH Prosper | 2024 State TX and Loren Ashlinn Winn Loren Ashlinn Winn 6'2" | RS Dallas Ursuline | 2024 State TX from competing at the highest level. I just watched them defy all of the odds and battle to a second place finish at the Tour of Texas tourney last weekend. This team plays together extremely well and makes all of the right plays at the right time to stay in every rally. Everyone will overlook them and that is just how they like it. They might not match up with anyone height wise, but they will be one of the sneakiest teams in the tourney in my opinon. Do not sleep on this team!
Who are the big time commits who will be having a huge impact on the tournament?
Nebraska commit Ayden Ames Ayden Ames 6'3" | MB Redondo Union | 2024 CA is playing on another level for Drive Nation 17 Red. LSU commit Lainee Pyles Lainee Pyles 6'3" | MB Fossil Ridge | 2024 State #47 Nation TX is a juggernaut and cannot be stopped on the offensive end for Madfrog . Everyone on Drive Nation’s squad that I mentioned earlier in the questions will have a major impact on this tourney. Houston Skyline middle Jaela Auguste Jaela Auguste 6'0" | MB Grand Oaks | 2024 State #17 Nation TX is committed to Florida and will be one of the biggest shut down blockers on the weekend. Wisconsin commit Charlie Fuerbringer Charlie Fuerbringer 5'11" | S Mira Costa | 2024 State #2 Nation CA is one of the best setters in the age group and will have her Mizuno Long Beach squad ready to ball. She will be delivering the ball to one of the most explosive attackers, Stanford commit Babi Gubbins Babi Gubbins 6'3" | OH Mater Dei | 2024 State #18 Nation CA . This duo is unstoppable and should not be ignored as impact players.
Who are the under the radar uncommitted stars to watch out for?
Savannah Skopal Savannah Skopal 6'0" | S Rouse | 2024 State #39 Nation TX is the best setter in Texas “hands” down and will be running a clinic for Austin Juniors. Reese Renfrow Reese Renfrow 5'8" | OH Prosper | 2024 State TX from Dallas Skyline 17 Royal is an undersized left side attacker who can flat out bang with anyone in the country. Some may overlook because of her size but all this kid knows is how to score. She can rack up the kills in a hurry and is so much fun to watch. She will make some coach very happy if they give her a chance. Reese Animashaun Reese Animashaun 5'10" | S St. John's | 2024 State #89 Nation TX is a flat-out phenom who will rival anyone who wants to get into a vertical competition. Her Houston Skyline 17 Royal squad is poised for a good run.
As always stay tuned for more articles on your favorite athletes. If you have anyone you think we should watch out for, please shoot me an email with some info at nov8vb@yahoo.com. Also don’t forget to help these kids get more exposure by sharing our stories with your friends. Help us help them by simply retweeting on Twitter or sharing on Facebook. Thanks for following us, Prep Dig Family! Don’t be afraid to interact with us. We love the likes, shares, and quotes/comments. Keep them coming!