Recapping AAU Nationals 15 Open: 29s and 30s Who Made a Statement

After a highly competitive AAU Nationals in the 15 Open division, there’s one thing we know for sure: the state of Michigan sure has some talented volleyball players. It ended up being an all-Michigan final as Legacy and FaR Out battled for the title, with Legacy coming out victorious in two sets. There was no shortage of talent on display—not just in this final, but throughout the entire event—so let’s dive into teams and athletes that stood out the most.

First, let’s talk about the top four teams.

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Legacy 15-1

Let’s be clear about one thing: what makes Legacy such a strong team isn’t just that they have Diamond-level outside hitter Lexi Coleman on the squad, though that certainly helps. Everybody paying attention already knows what a revelation Coleman is, whether it’s with her superb attacking or impressive defensive plays, but she is surrounded by spectacular players in their own right:

• First, credit must go to setter Kaelyn Easton, who could easily just find Coleman and be successful that way, but makes sure to get the ball to all of her hitters while also providing a strong presence at the net and good defense.
• Then there’s Georgia Addleman on the right pin, who hits a heavy ball and is a very strong blocker. She made some really big momentum plays that kept her team ahead.
• Along with Coleman, Riley Harrah on the left pin is highly terminal and did well to find open areas of the court or high hands whenever available.
• All the middles on display for Legacy were great, but I especially want to highlight Emily Nwabueze. At 5’10”, she’s not the tallest middle you’ll see on a court, but she was explosive both in front of the setter and on the slide. 
• Finally, libero Stella Smith was simply on fire. There were so many times while watching Legacy play that it was clear their opponent believed a ball was going down for a kill only for Smith to fly out of nowhere and get the ball up.

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FaR Out 15 Black

Though they came up short against Legacy, FaR Out put together a fabulous campaign the past few days. It was a total team effort for them, with many different players standing out:

• On the right side, Piper Vugteveen was very efficient and reliable, and even got going on the D-ball, which you don’t see too many opposites doing at this level.
• Both the team’s outsides, Sydney Manning and Brynn Johnson, proved to be great all-around players who passed and defended well and could put down balls with authority.
• Middle Kennedy Thomas didn’t get tons of offensive opportunities, but she was a huge presence at the net with her disciplined blocking.
• And, similar to Legacy, the unsung hero of this team is libero Isabelle Brown. She was digging some serious heaters (such as those from Lexi Coleman) right to target and was simply phenomenal in the passing department, seamlessly poaching balls from her hitters and keeping the team in system.  

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A5 15-Kelly

Falling short in the semifinals was A5, who put up a great fight but couldn’t overcome Legacy’s balanced offense and service pressure. Up until that point, the giants of Georgia were unstoppable whenever they got the ball to 2030 middle blocker Madison Middleton (a very apt name, by the way). What an absolute powerhouse Middleton is; despite being the youngest on the team, she routinely led A5 in points thanks to incredible placement on her attacks as well, disciplined blocking, and a strong serve. Already a Silver-level prospect, it’s clear that Middleton will be among the top, if not the #1, middle in her class by the time 2028 comes around.

Credit is owed to setter Olivia Hayden, who ran a smooth offense and did an excellent job getting Middleton involved in the offense as much as possible, even when off the net. Outside hitter Sydney Hardy also provided some nice offense on the left side, and while fellow outside Macurdy Harden wasn’t always given that many opportunities to score, she stood out for her excellent ball control, particularly on the passing front.

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OTVA 15 T Randy

OTVA didn’t drop a single set until their loss to FaR Out in the semifinals. Standing out most for the team from Florida was ‘30 outside hitter Lola Mogridge (sister to current NCAA players Liv and Izzy), who already has an impressive variety of shots in her repertoire in addition to good passing mechanics. Setting the offense was the always-impressive Daria McLaughlin, who looked every bit as poised and effective as you would expect out of a 2029 who just camped at top programs like Kentucky, Florida, and SMU. Pin hitter Maya Talley, playing on the left, was also very effective on both sides of the ball, putting up some nice blocks in addition to scoring kill after kill. Lastly, middle blocker Lucie Amonett, who caught our eye with diligent blocking at the latest NTDP session, was a force at the net whether she was hitting in the middle or on the slide.

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Standouts from other squads

Not every team could advance to the semifinals or even the championship division, but there were plenty of high-ceiling athletes who deserve a shoutout.

• Natalia Zywicki - Outside, Michigan Elite: If you want an outside hitter who can score well and pass dimes, look no further than Zywicki. She was especially impressive in a close match against A5, where she took some audacious swings that gave her team a lot of momentum.
• Cheyenne Hunter - Outside, Alabama Performance: Hunter has some really nice offensive chops that were on display throughout the tournament. She can swing comfortably from either pin and has a patience to her approach that allows her to see the block and take smart, powerful swings.
• Kendall Rowray - Outside, Munciana: Talk about a player who can crush the ball! Watching Rowray play against EliteVBTC, it sometimes felt like every single ball she swung at went down for a kill. Beyond her offense, there’s plenty to like about Rowray’s all-around game (blocking, defense, and passing were all on point) and what it says about her ceiling as a player.
• Audrey Lange - Middle, EliteVBTC: Lange is a really fun player to watch, and her team uses her in creative ways. In several rotations, she lines up on the pin to take her first swing before transitioning into the middle. She’s quite effective at scoring from the left, though it’s clear why she’s a middle blocker when you see how fast she moves from pin to pin and how dominant she is in putting up a wall at the net.
• Olivia Arlt - Setter/opposite, Northern Lights: Arlt is super athletic and does a lot for her team. In the front row, she’s a very athletic and efficient hitter, scoring well from both the left and right pins. In the back row, she sets a nice offense and can get any of her hitters going at any point. She has a lot of potential at either position, and it will be interesting to see how she develops and which one she ultimately decides to pursue.

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