All Eyes on Triple Crown: Some Players to Watch

We are a couple of days out from arguably the biggest tourney in club volleyball. The Triple Crown NIT is one of, if not THE biggest tournament in club volleyball and everyone is excited. I have had so much fun chatting with players that are heading to Triple Crown and asking them what they are most excited for this club season and without fail they ALL say that they are most looking forward to this tournament. 

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I think what makes this tournament so special is the fact that it is the best of the best competing for the title. There is really nothing on the line except for bragging rights to get to say “we won Triple Crown”. It is a tournament where teams come from all across the country and there is such solid competition. I also love that all of the girls get to see the players they play with on the camps circuit or at NTDP. It's like a big, fun, competitive reunion!

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The tournament is still a few days out but the “Power Pool” teams just dropped so here are a few athletes I know will be there that I am ready to catch.

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Bo Bronson- OH- KC Power- PPV 212: Such a strong outside hitter. One that can jump well and hit the ball at a high contact point. I think she is unique in the way she can swing so well from the right as well as the left. Bronson also has great vision for a 16’s player and can tool the block really well.

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Aubrey DeGrate- Oppo- Mad Frog 16 Green- PPV 121 - Such a hard hitting opposite. You want your right side to have power and be a force and DeGrate does that. She does a good job of getting the ball in line with her right shoulder and hitting with power. She aims for the edges of the court and hits very deep with power. She has also played a lot of middle and is a dynamic player able to fill many roles.

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Marlee Steiner- MB- HPSTL 16 Royal- PPV 191: Steiner is a very long middle blocker. She is super high on the block but still does a great job of pressing and being over. She is really quick twitch and hits a heavy ball in the deep angles better than a lot of middles I've seen at this age group. With some strength over time I could see her jumping in PPV this club season. 

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Tristen Bailey- OH- Mizuno LB 16 Rockstar- PPV 189: A really consistent hitter on the pin. She has a really strong approach and attacks a really heavy ball. She has her cross court swing down to a science. She jumps really well touching 10’4” and uses every bit of that reach to attack over blockers.  This team is really strong, especially on the pin and a lot of that is thanks to Bailey.

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Kacie Schulte- Oppo- Northern Lights 16-1- PPV 185: One of the strongest all around opposites in the 2027 class. She blocks well, she attacks well on the right, she hits so well in front of the setter, she does so many skills so well. Schulte seems to be somewhat of a “swing hitter” that her Northern Lights team has hit all over the court. If you get the chance, check her out because she's an absolute stud. 

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Sasha Cromer- Setter- KC Power- PPV 163: Power setter that is really strong. She is able to put her hitters in great positions. She is really strong and pushed the ball across the court well. I love an offensive setter and she embodies that. I am excited to watch her lead her team at Triple Crown.

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Makenna Barnes- OH- Mizuno LB 16 Rockstar- PPV 204: This 6’2 outside hitter is incredible. Personally, I think she may be an underrated OH in the 2027 class because she's one that I could see making an impact at the college level. She is so powerful and knows how to use her body to swing really well. She has such great patience on out of system swings. I can't wait to catch her and her team in action at Triple Crown.

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Lyndsey Robinson- Libero- Municana Mustangs- PPV 212: Out of system setting is one of the biggest “arts” in being a libero and Robinson has it down. She also moves so well as a libero and reads off the block with a lot of experience. Once again a stud libero playing for Munciana… I love it and can't wait to catch this group in the power pools. 

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Kylee Webb- OH-  PVA 16 Elite- PPV 164: Webb has a really quick twitch armswing. She drives her arms up really fast. I would love to see how much more power she could have with a bigger backswing because she is already so powerful. She finds ways to score and hits the back corner of zone 5 so well… It's VERY hard to defend!

‍Lyric Judson- MB- Premier Nebraska Gold- PPV 199: I may be saving the best for last here in this article… Judson is the jack of all trades. I don't think there's a spot on the court she doesn't swing well from. She runs the slide so dynamically and has line and cross every time. Her quicks in front of the setter are fast and powerful and away from the block. They also run her on a super quick Go ball on the outside and she can absolutely crush that ball. I am so impressed with Judson and have no questions that her PPV will need an adjustment in the near future!