16 Open Day 3 Gold Pool Preview and Players To Know

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The field has been separated. In 16 Open, the top 24 have advanced to gold pools after two days of pool play. These teams have played five matches against top teams in the country, how they get there can be quite a journey filled with tiebreaker procedures with some teams on the wrong end. Let's take a look at who is playing with momentum, who we need to watch, and who could be some dangerous teams to watch on day three of gold pools.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>The Top&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A5 16 Gabe and TAV 16 Black have been the top two teams in the 16 Open field all year. A5 hasn't dropped a set this tournament and are coming off a 16 Open championship at AAUs in Orlando just a few days ago. They have a roster full of commits highlighted by Leilani Lamar going to Pittsburgh and Bethany Benjamin the highly touted Libero going to Minnesota. Oh, and the top 2029 in the country in Kari Knotts. TAV 16 Black has Prep Dig's number one overall recruit in Maya Ogbogu and on the right side is Texas commit Sarah Floyd with a huge left handed swing. They have a 2029 of their own who is one of the best in the country in MC Crutcher. They took care of business, but there is more to be done.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There are others who went 5-0 who need to be on the radar that would include Wave 16 Scott, Dallas Skyline 16 Royal Paul, and Madfrog 16 Green. Wave has been dominant as a club. Their 15 Brennan team won the 15 Open title with an undefeated record while the 17s will be in gold pools as well.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Tiebreaker Trouble&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Pool 1 had a tie for third with Iowa Premier 16-1 and Excel 16 National Red going 2-3. Iowa Premier won the head to head and advances to the gold pools.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In Pool 3, three teams finished with a three way tie for second (three advance out of each pool). HJV 16 Elite and Adversity 16 Adidas will be moving on with Club V 16 Prodigy Reed being on the outside looking in. Adversity 16 Adidas has put together quite a season. Kolby Ross, and electric six rotation outside hitter who has made her verbal to Illinois. Their other outside hitter Lexie Grevengoed is one of the top available players in the Illinois Class of 2028. They are run by setter Haven Enselman who is trending to be one of the top 2029s in Illinois. Many athletes from this group won a 16 American title last year. Their final match was against Circle City 16 Purple who was sitting at 4-0. Adversity came out on top in a three set thriller finishing the final set off 15-13.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Stars 16 ZAmy finished in a tie for third with PVA 16 Elite in Pool 5. It was a winner take all in their third match with Stars grabbing the sweep with the send set being 30-28.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I don't know if I've ever seen this before, but Pool 7 had Madfrog go 5-o and the next five teams all finished 2-3. A four way tie for second place. Houston Skyline 16 Royal would finish second, they had the best set record of the teams who finished 2-3.&nbsp; The next four teams all had a set record of 5-7.&nbsp; Actyve 16 Navy comes out of this pool in third I believe due to their Point % compared to the other teams who finished 2-3.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Major Seed Upgrades</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There were some teams coming in who had nothing to lose.&nbsp; They are among the top 48 teams in the country and they've seen a lot of these teams throughout the year.&nbsp; There is no fear.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here are teams who have a major seed upgrade from where they started and will be in the gold pools.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>SC Rockstar 16 Carlos - Seed 35 to 14</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Iowa Premier 16-1 - Seed 47 to 24</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Legacy 16-1 Adidas - Seed 25 to 23</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>D Skyline 16 Royal Jimmy - Seed 33 to 22</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>TAV Houston 16 black - Seed 29 to 4</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Stars 16 ZAmy - Seed 39 to 20&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Actyve 16 Navy - Seed 41 to 18&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>MKE Sting 16 Gold - Seed 42 to 11&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Players To Track&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["508163"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a45962b8dce0"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The six rotation lefty right side packs such a punch. I like how she competes and is a threat in the front and back row. MN Select will run her on various routes and tempos in the front row and she is always a threat to score out of system.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["545971"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a45962b8dd20"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Avery Cordes is quite the dynamic attacker out of the Des Moines area. She is someone who can relied upon to score from both pins and can swing out of the middle. This is a huge deal for an Iowa Region team to advance to the day three gold pools. They are playing with house money now.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["744600"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a45962b8dd43"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Alamo 16 Premier has played in plenty of big matches together. I was courtside for their match against Stars where Bolton started to take over.&nbsp; She is an outside hitter, but it was her play from the backrow and her backrow attack that really propelled Alamo to a win.&nbsp; They will be ready for gold pool play and beyond.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["575131"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a45962b8dd62"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Jordyn Blair is the enforcer for Circle City 16 Purple.&nbsp; She is a blend of physicality and athleticism that allows her to dominate the middle.&nbsp; Her ability to quickly move laterally, closing the pin and being able to transition allows Circle City to have a balanced offense. They are 4-1, winning their pool and will be fun to see get after it in gold pools.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["836674"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a45962b8dd7f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">This Adversity team has continued to build momentum even dating back to nationals in 2025 when they won an American Division Championship in Dallas.&nbsp; Olivia Hill is a right side whose stock has been skyrocketing.&nbsp; She's 6'4, touching 10'4 via her Instagram and seeing her compete that definitely translate with her high contact point and block.&nbsp; Hill and her squad kick off gold pools against a tough MAVS 16 Elite squad out of Kansas City.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["587083"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a45962b8dd9c"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">I was able to watch a whole set between MKE Sting 16 Gold and Pineapple where Sting dominated set two in the sweep.&nbsp; Ruby Clooten out of the middle was on fire with her block and her swing where she just continued to score points and shut down opposing attackers. She is real quick, she knows how to move along the front line with efficiency.&nbsp; Sting came in as the last seed in their pool, the 42nd seed overall and will upgrade to the 11 seed overall after finishing second in the pool.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Teams To Watch For</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Circle City 16 Purple&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Their ball control is tough to beat.&nbsp; Everyone can pass.&nbsp; They have two UCLA commits in outside hitter Audrey Utterback and libero Stella Hammood.&nbsp; They finished in the final four last year for 15 Open and we'll see if they can play into the home court advantage.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>MN Select 16-1</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The last time this team was in Indy they advanced to the MEQ 16 Open Championship.&nbsp; They are one of the few teams to defeat Circle City 16 Purple this year.&nbsp; They have balance, athleticism, and physicality where they have just found ways to win.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>MAVS 16 Elite</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This is the type of team who can just chip away at a team.&nbsp; They will have a tough pool with TAV and Adversity, but if they can win the serve and pass game (which they typically do), watch for them to give a scare.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->