Triple Crown Round Table 17 & 18s Preview – Fitz’s Version
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We’re ready to go LIVE! All Divisions are out to recruit this Presidents Day Weekend and our Prep Dig Scouts will be ready in full force. Michael DeLeon, Austin Kingsley, and myself will have our own take on what to…
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Continue ReadingWe’re ready to go LIVE! All Divisions are out to recruit this Presidents Day Weekend and our Prep Dig Scouts will be ready in full force. Michael DeLeon, Austin Kingsley, and myself will have our own take on what to look for this upcoming weekend. Follow our Twitter for live updates Saturday – Monday. Let’s do it!
18s
What Teams Will Be Contending For a Championship On Day Three?
I was able to see Sunshine 18 LA at the Windy City 18s Qualifier in January and they were so impressive. The future Pitt players in 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 do it all for this squad. They score plenty of points are are always available to score points. However, I was extremely impressed with their libero Drew Wright Drew Wright 5'11" | OH Mira Costa | 2023 State CA , the Northwestern commit has such a great presence in the backrow where she keeps things simple and sharp for the California kids to stay in system.
Sticking with the California theme, I think Coast and Wave will be in the hunt on day three, a little bit of a flashback to Windy City. Wave has very little weakness and are such a solid team. Stanford commit Julia Blyashov Julia Blyashov 6'3" | OH Cathedral Catholic | 2023 State #3 Nation CA is so smooth and provides so much value for Wave in every rotation. She’s a point scorer, but also so solid with her serve receive and passing game where Wave always seems to be in system. A player everyone needs to know about is Cayla Payne Cayla Payne 6'3" | MB Carlsbad | 2023 State #131 Nation CA , the future Colorado middle blocker has plenty of length, but is so fast and explosive where she can score a lot of points.
Coast is a team that I think can win some big matches – so much offensive firepower. Noemie Glover Noemie Glover 6'1" | RS Cathedral Catholic | 2023 State #128 Nation CA will be one of the top right sides in the field where she can score points from the pin and the right back, she’s heading to Oregon.
I have to mention Drive Nation, A5 18 Marc, and MAVS KC 18-1 will be in the hunt come day three. All of those teams have experience playing in some big time matches and have major college commits who are ready to compete against the best in the country.
What Non-Power Pool Teams Could Sneak Up On People?
Rockwood Thunder 18 Elite and Adversity 18 Adidas could be ones who could sneak up on people. I’ve seen them both live so far this season and are accustomed to competing against the top teams in the country. Rockwood Thunder 18 Elite plays extremely clean, their ball control is on point, and they have multiple attackers who can score. Adversity 18 Adidas out of Chicago has some firepower with Catherine Burke Catherine Burke 6'3" | MB Loyola Academy | 2023 State #86 Nation IL (Penn State), Lauren Wallace Lauren Wallace 6'0" | RS Munster | 2023 State IN (UTEP), Jada James (UMBC), and Ava Nepkin Ava Nepkin 6'3" | OH Lincoln Way East | 2023 State IL (Loyola Maryland). I could see the makings of a really great team in early January and now that this team has had some time to gel they will be a scary matchup in February and March.
What Teams Could Be The Cinderellas of the Tournament?
NPJ 18 Forefront is a team I’ll keep tabs on throughout the tournament. Yes, they are a power pool team, but I don’t think there were a ton of expectations for this team out of the Pacific Northwest heading into the season. They were a four seed in their day one pool and all they did was go 3-0 that day, defeating Sunshine 18 LA. This team is extremely explosive that features to of the top pins in the West. Alex Acevedo Alex Acevedo 6'2" | OH Skyview | 2023 #9 Nation OR (Oregon) and Kyleene Filimaua Kyleene Filimaua 6'1" | OH North Creek | 2023 State #185 Nation WA (Florida State) are legit. They can serve receive, pass, and score points. They do it in different ways. Acevedo can sky above the block while Filimaua has so many shots and can use the block to her advantage.
Who are the big time commits who will be having a huge impact on the tournament?
Eloise Brandewie Eloise Brandewie 6'2" | MB Bishop Hartley | 2023 State #11 Nation OH from Mintonette m.81 is a middle blocker heading to Ohio State that is so fun to watch. She brings such a physical, athletic style to the position that younger players can definitely look up to. Ava Sarafa Ava Sarafa 6'0" | S Marian | 2023 State #14 Nation MI is one of the top setters in the game with how she can run a quick tempo to all of her attackers, she’s heading to Kentucky where she will be a treat to watch in the SEC. FC Elite 18 Elite is back again. They were a final four team at 18 Open in Phoenix last year and return the top outside hitter in Wisconsin’s Class of 2024. Ella Demetrician Ella Demetrician 6'2" | OH Appleton North | 2024 State #40 Nation WI will will her team to win and brings a lot of intensity to the court.
17s
What Teams Will Be Contending For a Championship On Day Three?
Dynasty owns the throne in the 17s age group. They blazed their way to a Triple Crown title last season, have a national title to their resume, and are tough to beat in their hometown. They have the top player in Prep Dig’s 2024 Rankings in Nebraska commit, Skylier Pierce, but they also have two athletes who are some of the top 2025s in Abigail Mullen Abigail Mullen 6'3" | RS Liberty | 2025 State #3 Nation MO and Reese Messer Reese Messer 5'11" | S St. James | 2025 State #6 Nation KS making major impacts. This team is extremely talented, but plays the game with a blue collar vibe where they aren’t afraid to outwork the opposition.
Drive Nation, A5, and TAV have rosters that are loaded with big time college commits. Drive will have the likes of Ayden Ames Ayden Ames 6'4" | MB Prosper | 2024 State #3 Nation TX (Nebraska), Lauryn “Lolo” Lambert Lauryn “Lolo” Lambert 5'9" | OH Plano East Senior | 2024 State #20 Nation TX (Arkansas), Grace Carroll Grace Carroll 6'5" | RS Cornerstone | 2024 State #21 Nation TX (Baylor), and Brianna Watson Brianna Watson 6'1" | OH Flower Mound | 2024 State #53 Nation TX (LSU) – and there’s more. A5 has plenty of length and a whole lot of talent, they’ve won major qualifiers but are looking to win the top tournament in the country. Mia Hood Mia Hood 6'6" | MB Home Schooled | 2024 #25 Nation GA (Michigan State) and Logan Wiley Logan Wiley 6'2" | MB Alpharetta | 2024 #38 Nation GA (Georgia Tech) will pace A5 out of the middle. TAV will be in the hunt and one of their top players is still in the Class of 2025 – Macaria Spears Macaria Spears 6'3" | OH Prestonwood Christian | 2025 State #5 Nation TX played for Metro out of DC last year and is now in the Dallas area playing for TAV.
I think it’s a Drive Nation vs A5 Final with at least two Texas teams in the final four.
What Non-Power Pool Teams Could Sneak Up On People?
Viva Capitanas! Capitanas will be coming from Puerto Rico to compete against the best. They were the Cinderella team of the Windy City Qualifier last year where they were in the gold pools on day three, taking Dynasty to a third set. They play with a ton of ball control and intensity where some of these athletes are on track to be part of the Puerto Rican National Team.
SG Elite Roshambo will be a team to watch. Taylor Yu Taylor Yu 6'0" | S Temple City | 2024 State #15 Nation CA is one of the top setters in the country and when she is on the court, they have a chance against a lot of these big time teams.
What Teams Could Be The Cinderellas of the Tournament?
I could make a case for a lot of these teams. I see a lot of Midwest and Mideast teams play, the Texas and California teams definitely have the flash, but there are a few who might not fit right into that category who will be ones to watch.
Colorado Juniors 17 Kevin is going to be a problem for a lot of teams. They have the size and physicality to match up with the teams from California and Texas. After seeing Izzy Starck play this fall, I think she is one of the top overall players in the Class of 2024. She can set, swing, block, defend – she does it all. NORCO 17 Black and Rocky Elite 17 National will be another two Colorado squads who will be a threat.
1st Alliance 17 Gold has the potential to be an elite eight team. They have Grace Nelson Grace Nelson 6'1" | OH Oak Park River Forest | 2024 State #37 Nation IL (Kansas) and Ellie White Ellie White 5'11" | OH Mother McAuley | 2024 State #34 Nation IL (Michigan) are so tough to stop on the pin, they can score from anywhere on the court. This team is full of solid ball control and high IQ, they know how to win big matches.
Under the Radar: What Uncommitted Athletes Do Coaches and Spectators Need To Know?
There is still a lot of high level 2024s who will be competing this weekend. Here is my quick rundown.
Setters
Emerson Van Lannen Emerson Van Lannen 5'10" | S Appleton North | 2024 State #144 Nation WI – FC Elite 17 Navy
Emily Bruss Emily Bruss 5'9" | S Pulaski | 2024 State WI – MKE Sting 17 Gold
Calli Kenny Calli Kenny 5'9" | S Willowbrook | 2024 State #58 Nation IL – 1st Alliance 17 Gold
Audrey Kocon Audrey Kocon 6'2" | S Mounds View | 2024 State #171 Nation MN – Northern Lights 17-1
Ava Martin Ava Martin 5'10" | S Bishop Miege | 2024 State #77 Nation KS – Pohaku 17-1
Middle Blockers
Tatum Grimes Tatum Grimes 6'2" | MB St. Thomas Aquinas | 2024 State #184 Nation KS – MAVS KC 17-1
Anna Boatner Anna Boatner 6'4" | MB Keller | 2024 State #87 Nation TX – TAV 17-Black
Rylea Alvin Rylea Alvin 6'2" | MB Randolph | 2024 State WI – MKE Sting 17 Gold
Berkeley Ploder Berkeley Ploder MB Barrington | 2024 State IL – Sky High 17 Elite
Libero
Sophie Ledbetter Sophie Ledbetter 5'9" | DS/L Hamilton Southeastern | 2024 State IN – Academy 17E Tsunami
Dakota Henry Dakota Henry 5'5" | DS/L Kings | 2024 State OH – Tri State Elite 17 Blue
Bianca Nistor Bianca Nistor 5'9" | DS/L Wayzata | 2024 State MN – Northern Lights 17-1
McKenna Brand McKenna Brand 5'6" | DS/L Lovejoy | 2024 State TX – Dallas Skyline 17 Royal
Pins
Alaleh Tolliver Alaleh Tolliver 5'11" | OH North Central | 2024 State IN – Academy 17E Tsunami
Melia Johnson Melia Johnson 6'2" | OH Slinger | 2024 State #140 Nation WI – MKE Sting 17 Gold
Fiona Van Dyke – MAVS KC 17-1
Ana Vetter Ana Vetter RS New Trier | 2024 State #158 Nation IL – Adversity 17 Adidas
Addie Kanouff – COJRS 17 Kevin
Sydney Waller Sydney Waller 6'2" | RS Hudson | 2024 State OH – AVC 17 Red