Five Intriguing Day 1 Power Pool Matchups at Triple Crown

When it comes to power pools, every match is huge. The teams have a loaded resume of big wins, tournament hardware, and some of the top players in the country. Scanning through the many matches on Saturday, here are some of the power pool matches that might be ones to take an extra look at that might have a storyline to them.

Friendly disclaimer, these are only five where every match at Triple Crown is going to be a battle. Power pools are going swing for swing and the teams outside of the power pool are looking to be Cinderella. A chance to play in the elite bracket and some huge matches on Sunday and Monday.

FC Elite 18 Elite vs. Sunshine 18 LA 

FC Elite might be coming from one of the smaller metro markets in Appleton, WI (70,000), but this team is loaded with Division 1 talent with Saige Damrow (2023-Wisconsin), Kennedy Martin (2023-Florida), and Karissa Kaminski (Dayton) - the list goes on. The combination of Damrow and Kqminski for FC Elite might be the best serve receive combo in the country. They will start their weekend against Sunshine, the sunny SoCal kids who have plenty of stars of their own, led by Stanford commit Ella Rubin. These two teams met at the Girls Winter Championship where Sunshine won by two points in both sets to claim the title. They both have bids to 18 Open USAV championships and are looking to add on to their quality win resume and continue the momentum they have established to start 2022.

Legacy 17-1 Adidas vs. 1st Alliance 17 Gold 

1st Alliance is at a whole new level this year. They started with a dominant start at NLQ in Omaha where they torched the competition, not dropping a set to claim the title getting an early bid to Indy. Legacy is coming into the season as a heavy favorite and have Triple Crown championship experience where this group won the 15s division in 2020. They won JVA Rock N Rumble and was a runner up to Circle City 17 Purple at Central Zone. This match will feature some of the top pins in the country with top 2023 prospect Harper Murray of Legacy heading to Nebraska while 1st Alliance has future Big Ten commits in Grace Egan (Ohio State) and Gigi Navarette (Northwestern). Kennedy Wagner is another high flying outside for 1st Alliance who is committed to Ole Miss.

KC Power 17-1  vs Rockwood Thunder 17 Elite 

Two opposite ends of the state, two different regions, a whole lot of history and talent. These two clubs have a history of high level D1 athletes and make it a routine to play at the USAV Open Division come late June/July. This will be a matchup between two top setters in the Class of 2023 with Ella Swindle of KC Power who is a Texas commit and Missouri Gatorade Player of the Year. Rockwood Thunder had a really athletic and physical setter of their own Juliette Myrick, who has committed to play at Army.

@mavsvb has one athlete over six feet tall, but they spread the court with Reagan Barth and Lily Dudley on the pins and six rotation left handed right side Elizabeth Goodenow attacking in the front and backrow. The other side is always guessing pic.x.com/wp5VaqAos7

— Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) May 16, 2021

Drive Nation 17 Red  vs MAVS KC 17-1

Drive Nation out of the Dallas area has asserted itself as one of the top clubs in the country.  They have been on the fast track to the top after finishing second in the nation last year as 16s.  They have a roster full of Division 1 commits that include Reese Robbins (Louisville) and Callie Kiefer (Alabama).  MAVS, out of the Kansas City area, finished third in the country last year.  They play a fast paced, smash mouth style where they have extremely dynamic athletes at every position.  Logan Jones, and Arkansas commit, runs the show as their setter and one of her favorite targets is Yale commit Reagan Goodenow.  This will be a battle of speed with MAVS and size with Drive Nation. MAVS have already clinched an Open bid with a third place finish at NLQ behind 1st Alliance 17 Gold and Premier Nebraska 17 Gold. 

This middle/right side combo for @a5volleyball really tough to go head to head against. Molly Kate Patten 6’6 and Mia Hood 6’7#centralzone pic.x.com/bcZR3NNN5k

— Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) January 29, 2022

A5 Mizuno 16 Gabe  vs TAV 16 Black 

This might be the most physical matchup of the 16s with TAV out of Dallas and A5 out of Atlanta. A5 has multiple athletes six feet plus and Mia Hood and Molly Kate “MK” Patten who are 6’6-6’7. I was able to see them live at Central Zone and they are an imposing team who plays with a quick tempo and puts so much pressure on the other side. They have a full line up of future D1 athletes.  TAV is one of the top clubs in the country and will feature some of the top prospects in Texas as well as the nation with middle blocker Ayden Ames and outside hitter, Mikala Young.  These two are final four finishers from 15 Open in 2021 where Dynasty 15 Black took home the title.