Pacific Northwest Triple Crown Preview

The Triple Crown NIT is arguably the best tournament in all of club volleyball. The collection of talent concentrated in Kansas City and Overland Park draws teams from across volleyball organizations (USAV/AAU/JVA), and the invite-only process ensures the best of the best are represented. College coaches are in attendance, looking for athletes for their programs, and the NIT is the spot to find them. The Pacific Northwest secured multiple invites for clubs across Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Montana- impressive for Regions that have not always had a significant amount of representation at the Triple Crown in Kansas City.   18's Division   NPJ Forefront 18- POWER POOL SELECTION   CPA 18 Benson- POWER POOL SELECTION   Sudden Impact 18 Tsunami   Athena VB 18-1 Gold National   NPJ Portland 18 National   Idaho Crush 18 Engelson   What is a Power Pool selection? Power Pools are a selection of the Top 32 teams per age group, selected by Triple Crown. These 32 squads compete against one another on day one to create instant high level competetion, and all 32 advance to the Elite Bracket regardless of results. It is harder to earn than an invite, and an indication that your team is considered one of the nation's best.   The Pacific Northwest earned two Power Pool selections with NPJ Forefront 18 and CPA 18 Benson earning the honors. Forefront is loaded with excellent players from Washington and Oregon, including [player_tooltip player_id='231549' first='Laura' last='Eichert'] (Univ. of Oregon), [player_tooltip player_id='335612' first='Lauryn' last='Coleman'] (Sanata Clara), [player_tooltip player_id='290227' first='Shaylee' last='Stephen'] (University of Portland),[player_tooltip player_id='434980' first='Margaret' last='Foote'] (Gonzaga), and [player_tooltip player_id='251026' first='Kaitlyn' last='Nguyen'] (Univ. of Washington) from Washington. Forefront went 10-0 at the Windy City Qualifier, earning their Open bid to USAV Nationals in convincing fashion. CPA 18 Benson recently finished third in the Open at the Lonestar Qualifier in Dallas, earning an Open bid at USAV Nationals. The team has a mix of talent from Washington, Montana, and Idaho- including junior [player_tooltip player_id='412070' first='Mara' last='Sandberg'] (Univ. of Tennessee), senior [player_tooltip player_id='244061' first='Noella' last='Migliuri'] (Fairfield), junior Kennedy Varda (Montana, Univ. of Kentucky), and senior Aurie Duncan (Montana, Gonzaga).   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Bartle Hall or Battle to Bartle?</h2>   If a team is in the Bartle Hall portion of the tournament, they play in the top draw located at Bartle Hall Convention Center in Kansas City. To keep our explanation simple, those teams are in the top portion of the tournament. Teams playing in the Battle to Bartle have a chance to advance from Advent Health Sports Park @ Bluhawk in Overland Park, MO, to Bartle Hall. It's difficult to move up; 4 teams from 15's and 17's advance, and eight from 16's. Of course, it doesn't mean that certain teams in the Battle to Bartle aren't better than teams already selected for Bartle Hall; seeding is never perfect, but they have the chance to earn that by advancing.   The Invitation process for the tournament overall and the Battle to Bartle advancement process are explained in detail here: <a href="https://www.tcvolleyballnit.com/invitation-protocols" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.tcvolleyballnit.com/invitation-protocols</a> and here: <a href="https://www.tcvolleyballnit.com/battle-to-bartle" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.tcvolleyballnit.com/battle-to-bartle</a>.   17's Division- Bartle Hall   Dakine 17 National Pink   Idaho Crush 17 Bower   NPJ Salem 17 National   NPJ Portland 17 National     Dakine 17 National Pink setter [player_tooltip player_id='459079' first='Kathryn' last='Harris'] just announced her verbal commitment to Washington State. Dakine has a group of tough-minded, competitive athletes who should compete well over the weekend. [player_tooltip player_id='555690' first='Emerson' last='Lewis'] is a tall, lefty setter and opposite who is a threat at the net for NPJ Salem 17N; she has Columbia River OH [player_tooltip player_id='499398' first='Sophia' last='Gourley'] on the pin as a terminal threat. [player_tooltip player_id='509798' first='Lily' last='Mather'] is committed to North Dakota State; she teams with high flyer [player_tooltip player_id='229375' first='Tierney' last='Ervin'] on the pin for NPJ Portland 17N.   17's Division- Battle to Bartle   Athena VB 17-1 Gold National   CPA 17 Benson   NPJ Salem 17 Premier   Athena 17 Gold is a gritty, balanced team that has played well in the early part of the season. Dynamic undersized pins, [player_tooltip player_id='400527' first='Isabella' last='Hunt'] and [player_tooltip player_id='740406' first='Ava' last='Bond'], find ways to score running an ultra-quick offense through setter [player_tooltip player_id='447981' first='Maliha' last='Rajan']. The defense is anchored by the libero [player_tooltip player_id='447979' first='Madalyn' last='Lebeck'] and middles [player_tooltip player_id='399229' first='Ashlyn' last='Pedersen'] and [player_tooltip player_id='520852' first='Grace' last='Sheron']. [player_tooltip player_id='520854' first='Brynlee' last='Allred'] is playing her best volleyball on the right side for CPA, and the back row defense is solid with liberos [player_tooltip player_id='499386' first='Avery' last='Beck'], [player_tooltip player_id='726368' first='Sage' last='Hattenburg'], and [player_tooltip player_id='510765' first='Madison' last='Hickman'] all contributing.   16's Division- Bartle Hall   Idaho Crush 16 Bower   NPJ Salem 16 National   Idaho Crush 16 Bower took home the title at this season's Colorado Challenge, a Triple Crown Event. Crush went 18-1 in sets played and has a talented group led by OH Rachel Bower (class of 2029). Bower is a high-major prospect, and setter Eva (Cat) Bower (2031) is playing up as a 7th grader. [player_tooltip player_id='740401' first='Tabitha' last='Westermeyer'] runs a quick tempo offense for NPJ Salem 16N, and top prospect [player_tooltip player_id='628925' first='Piper' last='Moog'] is a force in the middle; don't sleep on one of the best 2028 players in Oregon, [player_tooltip player_id='572638' first='Osa' last='Olsgaard']. Olsgaard touches 10 feet and can detonate kills from the pin.   16's Division- Battle to Bartle   Athena VB 16-1 Gold National   Big Sky 16-1   CPA 16 Drew   Dakine 16 National Pink   NPJ 16 Bend National   NPJ 16 Portland National   These are six terrific teams from all over the Pacific Northwest in the 16 Battle to Bartle.. Pay close attention to Victoria Gama, a 2030 Outside/Opposite playing for a tall, talented Big Sky 16 team out of Montana. Gama is 6'3", with excellent overall skills and a member of the Brazilian National Team program. Lowe LeFeber (OH), Lane Rosenbach (MB), and Cadence Schneider (MB/OH) are all class of 2028 prospects that top 6'1" and should have college programs extremely interested.    Athena 16 Gold has two 2028 pins from Washington, [player_tooltip player_id='753326' first='Tamara' last='Gonzalez'], and [player_tooltip player_id='939494' first='Ainsley' last='Prynne']- both have solid six-rotation skills. Dakine 16 National played tough at the MHM tournament; libero [player_tooltip player_id='939512' first='Lola' last='Glogovac'] is all hustle, and 2029 setter [player_tooltip player_id='939490' first='Silei' last='Pasi'] does an excellent job running the offense. [player_tooltip player_id='777909' first='Sloane' last='Chessar'] is a long, talented lefty RS with a high ceiling for NPJ Portland 16N. Dynamic setter [player_tooltip player_id='603010' first='Tristyn' last='Ervin'] keeps the offense rolling for the team. CPA 16 Drew prospect Eva Callari (ID) is an outstanding ball control OH who has the athleticism and toolbox to score against a big block.   15's Division- Bartle Hall   Idaho Crush 15 Yett   NPJ Salem 15 National     15's Division- Battle to Bartle   Athena VB 15-1 Gold National   Dakine 15 National Pink   MODE 15 National   NPJ Bend 15 National   NPJ Portland 15 National   NPJ Salem 15 Premier     Here are some of the top players to watch from the PNW teams in the 15's at Triple Crown.   [player_tooltip player_id='786278' first='Rowan' last='Greenfield']- Mode 15 National. Greenfield is a terrific athlete with scoring ability from the pin and a top-notch serve that can ignite long rallies for her team.   [player_tooltip player_id='918232' first='Mia' last='Gold']- NPJ Portland 15N- Gold is a middle with an aggressive approach and an electric arm; she can be counted on to deliver a kill when NPJ needs it.   [player_tooltip player_id='849402' first='Marin' last='Wisbeck']- Athena VB 15-1 Gold. The 6'1" Camas 2029 has the raw tools to be a force in the middle for Athena.   [player_tooltip player_id='880083' first='Bella' last='Mcnaughton']- Dakine 15 National Pink. The Curtis freshman has experience playing and winning big matches- she impressed at the Washington Exposure tour with her competitiveness and well-rounded game.   [player_tooltip player_id='849787' first='Addison' last='Norris']- NPJ Salem 15 National. Norris can handle a hefty portion of the back row in serve recieve, she has been dropping dimes to her setters in the early part of the season.

The Triple Crown NIT is arguably the best tournament in all of club volleyball. The collection of talent concentrated in Kansas City and Overland Park draws teams from across volleyball organizations (USAV/AAU/JVA), and the invite-only process ensures the best of the best are represented. College coaches are in attendance, looking for athletes for their programs, and the NIT is the spot to find them. The Pacific Northwest secured multiple invites for clubs across Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Montana- impressive for Regions that have not always had a significant amount of representation at the Triple Crown in Kansas City.