Dark Horse USAV Nationals Contenders: 17 Open
More sleeper picks are incoming. We kicked off this dark horse series with a look at some 16 Open teams that could surprise us at USAV Nationals this summer. Let’s stick with that motif and move up one spot on…
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Continue ReadingMore sleeper picks are incoming.
We kicked off this dark horse series with a look at some 16 Open teams that could surprise us at USAV Nationals this summer. Let’s stick with that motif and move up one spot on the age group ladder.
Here are a few 17 Open teams you cannot overlook in Indy.
UPVBC 17-Adidas Open
The Oklahoma prep volleyball scene just keeps growing, and the state will have some representation in 17 Open at USAV Nationals.
UPVBC 17-Adidas Open secured its trip to Indianapolis with a breakthrough top-five finish at Windy City. It was an incredibly clutch weekend for a team looking to find a late-season Nationals bid against some of the toughest 17s competition in the country.
You can see why UPVBC was competitive in Chicago, though. Middle blocker Kady Hansen Kady Hansen 6'3" | MB OKC Storm | 2023 State OK has impressed me since the very beginning of the season at NLQ. Mackenzie McGuire Mackenzie McGuire 6'2" | OH Broken Arrow | 2022 State OK has also been a go-to attacker on the pin, while setter Riley Roberts Riley Roberts 5'10" | S Norman North | 2023 State OK continues to give opposing defenses fits with her deceptive hands.
So, consider UPVBC’s presence in Indy as another step forward for the Sooner State. Don’t be surprised if they make some noise there, either.
UPVBC 17-Adidas National has forced a third set with HJV 17 Elite!
Some strong forces at the net for Ultimate Performance, including middle blockers Kady Hansen Kady Hansen 6'3" | MB OKC Storm | 2023 State OK (5). @PrepDigOK pic.twitter.com/5vFWmIUchh
— Austin Kingsley (@KingsleyATK) January 30, 2022
AZ REV 17 Premier
Arizona teams have loomed large at many qualifier events this year, and that trend ought to continue at Nationals.
AZ REV 17 Premier earned a spot in the 17 Open field with a third-place finish at the ultra-competitive Salt Lake City Showdown. At a tournament that showcased some of the best talents west of the Rockies, 17 Premier proved that it belongs in the championship discussion.
The team is led by Baylor commit Kendal Murphy Kendal Murphy 6'3" | OH Horizon | 2023 #28 Nation AZ , a six-rotation outside hitter who contributes in just about every way possible. She can score on either pin, puts up a big block on the wings, and is a stout passer in the backcourt. Murphy is not the only high-impact pin hitter on this team, though, as Evan Hendrix and Eryn Jones have both generated plenty of highlight moments throughout the year.
17 Premier cannot be overlooked among all the high-flying frontcourts we’ll see in Indy.
Alamo 17 Premier
On to Texas.
Of course, it’s never a surprise to anyone to see Texas well-represented at Nationals. There are a lot of Lone Star State teams to cover, though, and we have to make sure no one slips under the radar. Alamo won’t let that happen at Indy.
17 Premier’s impressive runner-up finish at SLC secured its place in the postseason race. That result is far from an outlier, though, as blue-chip prospects are everywhere on Alamo’s roster. Middle blocker Hannah Whittingstall Hannah Whittingstall 6'2" | MB Alamo Heights | 2023 State #75 Nation TX and pin hitter Nayeli Gonzalez Nayeli Gonzalez 6'2" | MB Cornerstone Christian | 2023 State #35 Nation TX have been an unstoppable combo in the front row. If they’re not taking over matches, left-side attacker Ivy Swafford will gladly do it herself. Purdue commit Taylor Anderson Taylor Anderson 6'0" | S Cornerstone Christian | 2023 State #21 Nation TX runs a fast offense from the setter spot and regularly gets perfect passes from libero Alyssa Manitzas Alyssa Manitzas 5'2" | DS/L Cornerstone | 2023 State #85 Nation TX .
Overlook Alamo at your own peril. This club is built for a 17 Open championship run.
Dallas Skyline 17 Royal
We’re traveling from San Antonio to Dallas for this next pick.
I’ve encountered Skyline at a few different qualifiers this season, and you could always tell that 17 Royal had ample talent to make a postseason push. Becca Kelley Becca Kelley 6'3" | OH Rockwall Heath | 2023 State #126 Nation TX is the outside hitter who puts away tough swings for this team. She also gets plenty of help from fellow Power 5 commits Krista Dooley Krista Dooley 6'3" | OH Plano East | 2023 State #94 Nation TX and Miranda Putnicki. On the ball control side, libero Symone Sims Symone Sims 5'4" | DS/L Lebanon Trail | 2023 State TX has had an outstanding year defensively and helps feed the quick offense run by Baylor-bound setter Harley Kreck Harley Kreck 6'0" | S Rains | 2023 State #27 Nation TX .
It was fun to get an early look at 17 Royal at events like NLQ and Triple Crown, but it was a late-season push that got Skyline in this position. Placing third at Sunshine was enough to put this Texas squad on a path to Indy, and steady improvement should be a persistent theme as I get another look at Skyline to cap off the year.
OT 17 J John
This Florida team is so much fun.
While covering Triple Crown in Kansas City, we had heard about OT 17 J John embracing an underdog role–an “us against the world” mindset. Luckily, this squad has posted the kind of results that show it’s not to be overlooked. A top-three placement at Sunshine put OTVA in the 17 Open championship running, and that event was a culmination of some year-long success for OTVA.
For 17 J John, that success is spearheaded by Cincinnati commit Zeta Washington Zeta Washington 6'1" | MB Ponte Vedra | 2023 State #31 Nation FL at middle blocker. Her range and versatility have bewildered many opposing defenses this season. Likewise, setter Jessica Shattles Jessica Shattles 5'10" | S Ponte Vedra | 2023 State FL has kept blockers off-balance with her quick tempo and precise location. On the pins, watch for Grace Albaugh Grace Albaugh 6'0" | OH Bolles | 2023 State #98 Nation FL and Allison Cavanaugh Allison Cavanaugh 6'3" | MB Bishop Kenny | 2023 State #135 Nation FL to terminate with great efficiency in Indy.
My expectations for 17 J John are high, even if the underdog mystique persists at Nationals.
This @OTVAvolleyball 17 J John team has just kept improving since I saw them at NLQ.
Semifinals berth clinched! #TCVolleyballNIT pic.twitter.com/DBwBeB3RZE
— Austin Kingsley (@KingsleyATK) February 21, 2022
Metro 17 Travel
It’s been a while since I’ve checked in on Metro. Let’s do that here.
17 Travel’s top-five finish at Sunshine was the triumph needed to lock Metro into the 17 Open pack at Nationals. Big late-season performances have become a theme in this feature series already, and 17 Travel is surely included in that category.
Metro is no stranger to talented attackers, and you’ll want to keep an eye on the 17 Travel front row. Safi Hampton Safi Hampton 6'1" | OH Hammond (MD) | 2023 State #34 Nation VA ‘s stock has absolutely skyrocketed this year, as her jump touch is nearly unrivaled when she’s attacking in rhythm. BYU commit Brielle Kemavor will anchor the middle, and Samantha Dorn is also having a strong 2022 campaign on both pins.
If you’re yearning for a little East Coast flair at Nationals, Metro is for you.