Title Contenders in the 17 Open at AAU Nationals

<h6 class="wp-block-heading"><em>Be sure to follow <strong>@lshotvb </strong>on Instagram and Twitter for all things volleyball!</em></h6>   <h6 class="wp-block-heading">Use code <strong>LSHOTVBUSAV </strong>and get $10 off your registration for Prep Dig's USAV Showcases, <a href="https://events.prepdig.com/info?website_id=3&event_id=765">Session 1</a> & <a href="https://events.prepdig.com/info?website_id=3&event_id=766">Session 2</a>!</h6>   <h6 class="wp-block-heading">–</h6>   <p>Just like that, we are already to championship Sunday! Who will be crowned the 2023 AAU National Champions in the 17 Open?</p>   <p>The last three days have been jam-packed with the best volleyball in the country. In came 62 teams, only 12 remain on the hunt for a national championship.</p>   <p>Let's take a look at what teams are on the hunt!</p>   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">FaR Out 17 Black VS OT 17 O Felix</h3>   <p>These two teams are going in as a really tough match up. FaR Out is coming into tomorrow 6-3 with six of the matches going to three sets. Their last five games have all gone to three, with 17 Black going 4-1. This group knows how to put up a fight and how to go down swinging, they won't go down easily. On the other hand, OTVA was on real mean streak, winning their first eight matches before dropping their last game to Miami Hype. OTVA has also had themselves a slew of 3-setters, including four of their last five matches. </p>   <p>This one is going to be a doozy. With the power houses of [player_tooltip player_id='110295' first='Elana' last='Erickson'] (Western Michigan) and [player_tooltip player_id='156343' first='Navea' last='Gauthier'] from FaR Out and the defensive craze from OTVA with Anna Pantona and [player_tooltip player_id='316007' first='Caylan' last='Russ'] (Florida State). This will surely be another three set brawl.</p>   <h4 class="wp-block-heading">Winner VS Kairos 17 Alpha</h4>   <p>Whoever makes it out of this match-up will have to against the tough Kairos 17 Alpha. This team is also an 8-1 team. With a really strong defensive scheme in the back to go along a well-balanced offense. Kairos will be a daunting battle for either team in the gold medal opener.</p>   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Academy 17 Tsunami VS Northern Lights 17-1</h3>   <p>This one is going to be a pretty fun match up to kick off your Sunday morning. Academy Tsunami has been one of the top dogs in the country since the January after winning Central Zone in Indianapolis. Its June now and they're going into Sunday with a perfect 9-0 record. Five matches going the distance, all of which resulting in favor of Academy. For Northern Lights, outside of some uncharacteristic losses, this squad has been having a really solid outing in Orlando. 6-3 going into the final day, I could totally see <a href="https://prepdig.com/2023/06/northern-lights-the-comeback-queens-in-the-14-open-championship/">The Comeback Queens</a> be a common theme for this club that just saw their 14-1s team win 14 Open only a week ago. </p>   <p>In this one, I may have to give the edge to Tsunami in this one, [player_tooltip player_id='110491' first='Leah' last='Richmond'] (Western Michigan) runs one mean offense that has proven superior to some of the biggest teams in the field. Northern Lights has their own top tier setter with [player_tooltip player_id='107552' first='Audrey' last='Kocon'] (Providence), and she's got herself a pretty big weapon on the right with [player_tooltip player_id='117644' first='Hadley' last='Burger'] (Texas AM-CC).</p>   <h4 class="wp-block-heading">Winner VS OT 17 T Aaron</h4>   <p>Like their sister team, 17 O Felix, this team has gone a big time 8-1 with only one loss... To Miami Hype. All of 17 T Aaron's matches have gone the way of sweeps, this could mean big things or be worrisome when a challenge begins to present itself by one of these two squads. Regardless this is another big match. With their big Gator 1-2 punch of L [player_tooltip player_id='344867' first='Isabella' last='Lee'] (Florida) and S [player_tooltip player_id='359348' first='Taylor' last='Parks'] (Florida), we got ourselves a doozy.</p>   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Top Select 17 Elite VS Legacy 17-1 Adidas</h3>   <p>You never know what you're going to get when its nationals. Top Select came into this tournament as a heavy favorite for the 17 Open title. They're cruising pretty well here with an 8-1 record, losing their last match to NE Elite. But the team across the net is what may give people a surprise. This Legacy squad has had an up-and-down season, only really showing off the last time they were in Orlando back in February for the Sunshine Classic where they placed ninth. Maybe Orlando is 17-1 Adidas' sweet spot? Legacy comes into this match up as the upset queens with a 6-3 record and huge wins over Circle City and Northern Lights. </p>   <p>While it would pretty easy for me to full send this one on Top Select. A team led by one of the top players in the country, and recent Under Armour All-American Invitee, Nayellis Cabello (Louisville). I am not about to count out Legacy either. A dangerous combination of setting with [player_tooltip player_id='139304' first='Lucy' last='Mott'] (Boston College) and right side presence with [player_tooltip player_id='176600' first='Kate' last='Maley'] (Loyola-Chicago), don't count them out.</p>   <h4 class="wp-block-heading">Winner VS Miami Hype 17N Emilio</h4>   <p>After a rough start to nationals, Miami Hype has been taking down teams left and right to go on an 8 game win streak. Miami already has wins over two golden medal round teams and are battle-tested with four three set matches throughout the tournament. This could be the dark horse of the tournament that sneaks the championship away from an expected winner. </p>   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">A5 17 Jing VS Mintonette m.71</h3>   <p>The reigning champions are looking to go for a repeat. Last year this 17s group at A5 not only won the 16 Open division, but they also won the premier division as well. They're looking for another trophy in the shelf here. They're coming in with a 7-2 record, starting and ending the last three days with a loss, both in three sets. For Mintonette, they are too 7-2. For m.71, the Florida teams seem to be their only kryptonite as both OTVA teams searching for a championship were Mintonette's lone losses.</p>   <p>Like I said, A5 is coming into tomorrow meaning NOTHING but BUSINESS. This team has been finding a lot of success on their pins with [player_tooltip player_id='359342' first='Hannah' last='Benjamin'] (Kentucky), Emma Duffield (Georgia) and [player_tooltip player_id='359345' first='Grace' last='Agolli'] (California). They have however been playing with line-ups throughout the tournament. I'd expect these three to be front and center, firing on all cylinders. For Mintonette, they have the size capable of giving it to A5. With [player_tooltip player_id='139286' first='Becca' last='Wight'] (Virginia) and Lilly Barron (Houston) on both pins, this will be the battle of the pins. </p>   <h4 class="wp-block-heading">Winner VS Tri-State Elite 17 Blue</h4>   <p>With one lone loss to Boiler Juniors in the second match of Day 3, this Tri-State team has been cooking, sweeping every other opponent. On all facets of the game, Tri-State Elite has been a solid, all-around competitor. This is another team that could be a dark horse late in the tournament!</p>   <p>-</p>   <p><em>PrepDig is putting on the Stock Up Showcase series across the country for Class of 2024-26 prospects AND Freshmen Showcase Series for 2027s throughout the month of July. </em><a href="https://prepdig.com/stock-up-showcases/?type=Showcase&state=&start_date="><strong><em>Click here</em></strong></a><em> to sign up for YOUR event. You can use promo code “LshotDig2023” for $10 off your registration.</em></p>