15 Open Gold Pools - Analysis and Challenge Predictions

Here we go, 15 Open Gold Pools are set with teams having a chance to play their way into the elite eight.  The margin of error is ever so slim, these teams are the best in the country.  I was able to watch quite a few matches today and here are a few predictions I have heading into day three - “Separation Day”.  Let's break it down.    <a href="https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?vanity=PrepDig&set=a.1394186685712530">15 Open Pool Play Photos </a>   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/06/RG1A5530.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-787130" style="width:467px;height:auto"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Jane Myers of A5</figcaption></figure>   Gold Pool 1   1 - TAV 15 Black Jason   15 - Tribe 15 Elite Cardinal    18 - A5 15 Kelly    It's tough to pick against TAV in any age division. They have a physical and athletic front line, but their defense is so clean and tough to score against. Libero, [player_tooltip player_id='580658' first='Caitlin' last='Carrizales'] really paces this squad from the backrow and teams always have to know right side [player_tooltip player_id='765096' first='Sarah' last='Floyd']. I was able to see Tribe and A5 today, and for as electric as these teams are I think their fire power will be contained by TAV. The next one advancing will be A5 15 Kelly.  Setter Jane Myers makes a lot of positive things happen for A5, she is so dynamic.    Advancing - TAV and A5   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/06/RG1A5559.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-787131" style="width:533px;height:auto"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Devy McCarty of Kairos 15 Alpha</figcaption></figure>   Gold Pool 2    2 - Kairos 15 Alpha    16 - OT 15 T Randy   17 - Northern Lights 15-1   Kairos 15 Alpha out of Sioux Falls, South Dakota has the top seed in their challenge bracket. What is so good about this team is that they pose very little weakness. Their serve receive is so solid, led by libero Devy MCCarty and they have one of the top 2029s in the country with Julia Masselink. OT has Leilani Lamar and after a 1-2 start they have bounced back for a shot at the final eight. Northern Lights is a scary match up for both of these teams. Their balance is tough to counter. Northern Lights defeated OT at the Prep Dig Gauntlet in early June, but OT was without Lamar who was training with the U19 National Team.    Advancing - I think everyone in this pool goes 1-1. And based on points I'm going with OT and Northern Lights.    Gold Pool 3   3 - Dallas Skyline 15 Royal Yun    13 - AJV 15 Adidas    20 - AVC CLE 15 Red   Can AVC Cleveland find their way into a challenge match with two Texas teams in their pool?  That is going to be a tough task.  Dallas Skyline continues to build momentum across all of their age divisions and AJV has been an upstart team all season.  Skyline blazed through their pool with their only loss coming to Tribe in three sets, the final match today where they had the three seed locked up.  I think they can go 2-0 and I'm going to give the nod to the kids from Ohio in AVC to punch their ticket to the sweet sixteen.    Advancing - Dallas Skyline and AVC Cleveland   Gold Pool 4    4 - Circle City 15 Purple   14 - H Skyline 15 Royal    19 - Excel 15 National Red   No surprise that Circle City 15 Purple has put themselves in this position with the season they've had.  The ball control, defensive discipline, and balance is what makes this team elite.  Charlee Groninger, setter for Circle City knows how to find the right match up for her attackers.  Another matchup between two Texas squads.  I really liked the firepower I saw from [program_tooltip program_id='510661' first='Houston' last='Skyline'] today.  They had quite a matchup with [program_tooltip program_id='431200' first='Madfrog' last=''] today where they came just short in a three set thriller.    Advancing - Circle City and [program_tooltip program_id='510661' first='Houston' last='Skyline']   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/06/RG1A5477.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-787132" style="width:557px;height:auto"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Haedyn Lynnes of Dynasty</figcaption></figure>   Gold Pool 5   5 - Dynasty 15 Black    11 - TStreet 15 Chandler    21 - D Skyline 15 Royal David   Dynasty just has a brand for all of their teams that is made to win at a high level, especially when it comes to day three and four of nationals.  Teams across multiple age groups know how to pass and play with a high IQ that can just break down their opponents.  Their top 12s and 13s were runner ups in the top divisions of their age groups.  TStreet and Dallas Skyline have plenty of power, but I don't think it will be enough to dent the defense and discipline of Dynasty.    Advancing - Dynasty and TStreet   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/06/RG1A5439.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-787133" style="width:502px;height:auto"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Gia Gupta of Coast</figcaption></figure>   Gold Pool 6    6 - Coast 15 Rodrigo    12 - [program_tooltip program_id='431200' first='Madfrog' last=''] 15 N Green   22 - HJV 15 Elite   Watching Coast this morning, their ball control and balance was so strong.  [player_tooltip player_id='720339' first='Summer' last='Tukua'] and [player_tooltip player_id='694132' first='Harper' last='Goff'] had big performances this morning and I was also impressed with the play of Gia Gupta at libero.  The big name in this group is [player_tooltip player_id='586653' first='Maya' last='Ogbogu'] of [program_tooltip program_id='431200' first='Madfrog' last=''] who is one of the top players in the Class of 2028.  Can see take over a match and find a way for her team to advance to play for a national title? Don't count out HJV and their outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id='765090' first='Sade' last='Bello'].  There will be plenty of fireworks in this pool.    Advancing - [program_tooltip program_id='431200' first='Madfrog' last=''] overtakes the six seed and Coast advances as well.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/06/RG1A5521.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-787134"/></figure>   Gold Pool 7    7 - Legacy 15-1 Adidas   9 - Wave 15 Brennan    23 - Academy 15 Diamond   Watching Legacy this morning, they were firing on all cylinders.  I was really impressed with the setter/middle connection of Payton Woodruff to Lauren Sheldon.  I know Legacy can score points and if they can be in system for their middles to do damage - watch out.  I was able to see Wave 15 Brennan against Tribe and was impressed with their depth and balance with their pins.  Academy 15 Diamond was exciting, what an athletic team.  Their setter is so intriguing in Chloe Burbage.  Her length and athleticism is different - she's not afraid to take it herself.    Advancing - Legacy and Wave    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/06/RG1A5451.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-787135"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Rachel Bower of Idaho Crush</figcaption></figure>   Gold Pool 8    8 - Alamo 15 Premier   10 - ID Crush 15 Bower   24 - Absolute 15 Black    I feel like this has the makings of three teams going 1-1.  At this stage of the game every point matters.  I was really impressed with Rachel Bower of Idaho Crush who could score at will.  Alamo and Absolute bring the Texas and California style to the court where they know what it takes to win big matches.     Advancing - Idaho Crush overtakes the eight seed and Alamo moves on as well.    The Challenge Matches To Gold    Challenge 1   TAV 15 Black Jason vs. Northern Lights 15-1    TAV 15 Black Jason advances to Gold   Challenge 2   OT T 15 Randy vs. A5 15 Kelly    OT T 15 Randy advances to Gold   Challenge 3    Dallas Skyline 15 Royal Yun vs. [program_tooltip program_id='510661' first='Houston' last='Skyline'] 15 Royal    Dallas Skyline 15 Royal Yun advances to Gold   Challenge 4    Circle City 15 Purple vs. AVC CLE 15 Red   Circle City 15 Purple advances to Gold   Challenge 5    Dynasty 15 Black vs. Coast 15 Rodrigo    Upset - Coast 15 Rodrigo advances to Gold   Challenge 6    [program_tooltip program_id='431200' first='Madfrog' last=''] 15 N Green vs. TStreet 15 Chandler    [program_tooltip program_id='431200' first='Madfrog' last=''] advances to Gold   Challenge 7    Legacy 15-1 Adidas vs. Alamo 15 Premier   Legacy advances to Gold    Challenge 8    ID Crush 15 Bower vs. Wave 15 Brennan   Upset - Wave 15 Brennan advances to Gold

Here we go, 15 Open Gold Pools are set with teams having a chance to play their way into the elite eight. The margin of error is ever so slim, these teams are the best in the country. I was able to watch quite a few matches today and here are a few predictions I have heading into day three - “Separation Day”. Let's break it down.