10 Teams That Could Crash TC NIT Elite Bracket

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There is always going to be a spotlight on the power pools at Triple Crown.&nbsp; The power pools consist of four pools of eight that are the top 32 teams in the tournament.&nbsp; These teams have three matches on Saturday within the pool and no matter their outcome, they are guaranteed a challenge match into the “Elite” bracket.&nbsp; Teams outside of the power pools need to win their pool in order to get a challenge match on Sunday morning against a power pool team.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There have been some Cinderella stories at NIT where teams from outside of the power pool have made a run into the elite bracket. Who are some teams that could pose a threat and make some noise this weekend?&nbsp; Here are ten that I've seen live that I think could really make some noise.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>AVC Cleveland 17 Red</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I was able to see this group at Central Zone in Indy at the end of January.&nbsp; AVC is accustomed to high level play, this group has qualified for the open division in the past, and they will be coming into Kansas City with something to prove. The quarterback of this offense is Pittsburgh commit Izzy Hoppe who is incredibly dynamic where she always finds a way to get her hands on the ball to get her attackers an open look.&nbsp; She will have an outside duo in Audrey Ellis (Cleveland State) and Sydney Borowy (UCONN) who will be point scorer outlets for 17 Red.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Vital 17-1 Gold</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Vital comes out of Eden Prairie, Minnesota - a Southwest suburb of Minneapolis.&nbsp; The Twin Cities are loaded with talent when it comes to high school volleyball.&nbsp; Vital was a Cinderella story from last year where they defeated OT 16 T JP to advance to the final 32.&nbsp; They would eventually come back to Kansas City for the Show Me Qualifier and earn a 16 Open bid.&nbsp; A 2027 libero to watch on this team is Cora Bicknese who has always played up an age group.&nbsp; She is the top ranked libero in Minnesota's Class of 2027.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":750185,"width":"437px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/02/RG1A1684.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-750185" style="width:437px;height:auto"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Gia Ireland, NORCO </figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>NORCO 17 Black </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I was able to see this team at the Northern Lights Qualifier and was so impressed.&nbsp; This team has the length and power at the pins to go toe to toe with any team in the country.&nbsp; Tessa Dodd, the Kansas commit provides a really solid block and can terminate from anywhere in the front row.&nbsp; She is the Wyoming Gatorade Player of the Year.&nbsp; This team has two key 2027s in Gia Ireland at setter and outside hitter Emery Johnson.&nbsp; This is court to catch this weekend where they are in an opening pool with Academy West, CUVC, and Houston Juniors.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":750188,"width":"538px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/02/RG1A1719.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-750188" style="width:538px;height:auto"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Gabi Zachariasen, Kairos</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Kairos 17 Alpha</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kairos has been on the up and up out of Sioux Falls where their teams have been an AAU powerhouse and on the brink of open level bids on the USAV circuit.&nbsp; This 17 Alpha team was at the Northern Lights Qualifier just over a week ago and they have the firepower to make a run in Kansas City. They will be looking to South Dakota commit and South Dakota Player of the Year Gabi Zachariasen who is a powerhouse pin with elite scoring ability.&nbsp; Another attacker to know would be Madelynn Henry who is a 2027 outside that can flat out fly.&nbsp; She is absolutely electric.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":515273,"width":"566px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/02/DSC05824.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-515273" style="width:566px;height:auto"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Elena Hoecke, MN Select</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>MN Select 17-1 </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This club and this team specifically knows how to win big matches.&nbsp; They were a 16 Open qualifier in 2024 and last year at NIT they were 8-1 overall, finishing in the top 16 after not being in a power pool.&nbsp; They have one of the top liberos in Minnesota in Kentucky commit in Sidney Burley and the top middle in Minnesota from the Class of 2026 in Elena Hoecke who will play for the Gophers.&nbsp; They stumbled a bit on day one of the Northern Lights Qualifier not advancing out of their pool, but generated plenty of momentum winning their last five matches of the weekend.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":530977,"width":"525px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/04/DSC06765.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-530977" style="width:525px;height:auto"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Maizy Agnello, Sky High</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Sky High Adidas 16 Elite</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This club out of Chicagoland has so much firepower where they have the ability to knock off some top teams.&nbsp; I was able to see this team a few times last year and was impressed with their balance and athleticism.&nbsp; This Illinois Class of 2027 is loaded with talent, June 15 will be extremely busy.&nbsp; One of those athletes to know is outside hitter Maizy Agnello where she has quite the blend of athleticism and physicality where she can score from anywhere on the court.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":527592,"width":"559px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/04/DSC06737.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-527592" style="width:559px;height:auto"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Maggie Kurpekis, Adversity</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Adversity 16 Adidas</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Another Chicagoland team that is a must watch is Adversity 16 Adidas.&nbsp; So far this team is 7-2 in the Windy City Power League with their only losses coming to Sky High and 1st Alliance.&nbsp; They have one of the top attackers in the Illinois Class of 2027 in Maggie Kurpeikis who has quite the all around game.&nbsp; She can serve receive, pass, and score from the front and backrow.&nbsp; When Kurpeikis is on the court, its as if Adversity is never out of system - she's always an outlet.&nbsp; They have been battle tested early this season and will be ready to take on the best this weekend.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":750182,"width":"541px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/02/RG1A1526_6aef62.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-750182" style="width:541px;height:auto"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Hannah Herrick, SPVB</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Sports Performance 16 Elite</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I was able to see this team at Central Zone in Indianapolis where they went 4-0 on day one before stumbling in Sunday's gold bracket.&nbsp; An early learning lesson for the club out of Aurora, Illinois where they play such a clean, balanced game.&nbsp; They have two pins that are ones to watch with Kampbell Niepagen and Hannah Herrick who are big time scorers.&nbsp; They can do it from the outside and backrow, they are erasers where they can score in and out of system.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Academy 16-1O Tsunami</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I was able to see Academy take on the Central Zone Invite in Indianapolis where the hometown team put on quite a performance.&nbsp; They finished in the final four and with a record of 5-2.&nbsp; This team has really crisp ball control and pins who can score points out of system.&nbsp; Caroline Hanchar was dazzling on the pin where she was showing she could score out of serve receive, in and out of system on the pin as well as the backrow.&nbsp; They play with a no fear type of edge where they are looking to put pressure on the other side of the net from the first whistle.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":515283,"width":"572px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/02/DSC05884.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-515283" style="width:572px;height:auto"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Peyton Heatherly, 1st Alliance</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>1st Alliance 16 Gold</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This team not getting in a power pool might spark them just a bit to come into the weekend with a chip on their shoulder.&nbsp; They were 15 Open qualifiers last year and have a scary good all around team.&nbsp; They have the top setter in the Illinois Class of 2027 in Peyton Heatherly who can also hit on the right side.&nbsp; She has an IQ beyond her years and is extremely savvy on the court. Two attackers she will be looking two are Kalia Kroth and Delilah Roman.&nbsp; Kroth had a huge high school season and hits with such velocity that she is so tough to defend.&nbsp; Roman has plenty of length and can score and block making a huge difference at the net.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->