No Power Pool? No Problem. Who Plays Cinderella at Triple Crown?
There is plenty of hype around the teams in the power pools at Triple Crown. However, let’s not forget about those teams who are looking to have a strong day one to get a challenge match against a power pool…
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Continue ReadingThere is plenty of hype around the teams in the power pools at Triple Crown. However, let’s not forget about those teams who are looking to have a strong day one to get a challenge match against a power pool team to make a run in the elite division. If we rewind back to 2019 when I covered my first triple Crown, Central Iowa Select out of Des Moines led by the now Tennessee player Hayden Kubik made upset after upset to eventually finish second overall at Triple Crown. Got a game, got a chance. Here are some teams outside of the power pools who could make a run at Triple Crown.
Dynasty 16 Black
I remember watching this team a couple times in 2023 and I just loved the spark and grit they played with. They just swarm everywhere on the court and will be an opponent that no one will enjoy seeing across the net. Alayna Vaeth will be one of the setters running the show for this team where she falls in line with the legendary setters that Dynasty has produced over the years. Great footwork and fast hands to hit all the tempos. A big time attacker for this team who always provides an outlet is right side Taylor Stanley. Her reach is just different and the way she can hit a variety of angles is a major advantage for this Kansas City squad. She is also a six rotation right side who can score points out of the backrow. This will be a fun team to keep tabs on all weekend.
MN Select 16-1
This is going to be a team who will have success all season and I think this weekend could be a big statement for them. MN Select out of the Northwest Metro of Minneapolis has the #1 2026 and 2027 prospect in Minnesota. Middle blocker Elena Hoecke is one of the top middles in the Class of 2026. She is a blend of speed and power where she can take over a match. At 6’3, she has the wingspan and athleticism to be extremely lethal running the slide. Their setter is Ellery DeBoer who was name the #1 prospect for Prep Dig MN Class of 2027 this past week. Big time IQ, positive intangibles, and a big game athlete. Another athlete to watch is Romi Chlebecek who has plenty of pop on her swing on the outside.
MKE Sting 15 Gold
I was able to see Sting 15 Gold in Indianapolis at Central Zone a couple of weeks ago. They were a gold bracket team and proved they could compete among some of the best. Addison Kelenic is one of the top athletes and top middles in the Class of 2027 from the state of Wisconsin. She brings a really physical and athletic style to the front row and if Sting can be in system, Kelenic can really take over. Setter Gigi Chasco is one to watch where she is extremely dynamic. The Wisconsin Lutheran HS freshman can do a little bit of everything. She played middle blocker for her high school team, can attack on the right side, and is also a setter.
Houston Juniors 16 Elite
This team is accustomed to high level training and competition. Playing in the HJV gym and the Tour of Texas to prepare for Triple Crown is no joke. This 16 Elite team will feature one of the top right sides in the Class of 2026 in Sarah Hickman. At 6’5, Hickman is definitely touching over ten feet with a left handed swing from the right side. She is the one the other side has to be aware of when scheming their defense and for the outside hitters to be aware of with her block. Major gamechanger. A fun athlete on the outside who has a lot of spring is Amaya Love. She is not afraid to go after the block and use it to her advantage. She can hit all the shots and will find a way to get the job done.
CUVC 17 Open
The Carolina kids will be heading to Kansas City with gold on the mind. This team is full of D1 commits where they have Brooke McCall who will be heading to West Virginia. She has plenty of pop in her swing where she will be sure to score points. Hailey McFadden will be a force to watch out of the middle. She has skills and athleticism that are just different. From hitting a sharp angle to being an extremely physical blocker, she dominates the front line. She’s heading to NC State. A spark plug at the setter position is Arianna Lopez. She is so quick with her feet and gets her hands on everything. She plays with an intensity that is contagious. She will head to D2 powerhouse in Tampa.
Tri-State Elite 17 Blue
I was able to see this team at Central Zone in Indy a couple weeks ago and they have a ton of athletes at every position. One of their headlining recruits is libero Sakura Coding who is a libero heading to UCLA. She has such a presence on the court. Her ability to take control of the game on first contact is special. Tri-State has four commits staying close to home and playing in the Horizon League. One of them is Luci Heid who is an outside committed to Northern Kentucky. She is so terminal from the pin. She has a high contact point and can really mix up her speeds and location making her so tough to defend.
Sky High Adidas 17 Elite
This North Suburban Chicago club has some really strong teams coming to Triple Crown this weekend. I have seen these athletes play in a variety of settings from high school to club, but they have added some important pieces to this squad. Georgia Watson has joined this team as a 6’4 attacker who has committed to Kentucky. She is long, strong, and really physical at the net. Ava Wysocki is one of their top attackers. There are videos of her jumping and grabbing the basketball rim with ease. She committed to Illinois this past fall. This will be an interesting team to watch not only this weekend, but throughout the qualifier season.