It was a really good day to be the No. 1 team in one of the 16, four-team pools on the opening day of the Durango Fall Classic in Las Vegas. In all, 15 of the 16 top teams in their respective pools advanced to Saturday’s championship qualifying round at Durango High.

The lone team left out? That would be Kamehameha Kapalama HI, which began the day as the No. 11 overall seed. But the Warriors were upended by Vista Murrieta CA, which pulled off the upset in three sets, 22-25, 25-16, 25-21, on its way to a 3-0 finish. Thus, the Broncos – who also defeated St. Ignatius CA and Foothill CA – are the only non-No. 1 team still alive for the coveted crown.

For seven of the top teams in their respective pools, it was a perfect Friday as none of them even dropped a set. The nation’s top team and No. 1 overall seed Cathedral Catholic swept all three of its outings, as did No. 3 Assumption KY, No. 5 Timpview UT, No. 7 Mountain View UT, No. 8 Mater Dei CA, No. 14 Lakewood CA and No. 15 Redondo Union CA.

Skyview ID – the No. 13 overall seed – had a day and is fortunate to still be in contention after going three sets in all three contests. It included a razor-thin victory over Kahuku HI, 26-24, 17-25, 25-23, to finish out the pool. Skyview also went three with Bishop Gorman NV and Long Beach Wilson CA.

Second-seeded Fayetteville AR had a close call and barely survived the 1 v 2 meeting against Coronado NV. Fayetteville needed three sets to escape, 24-26, 25-14, 27-25, and eventually finished 3-0.

Fourth-seeded Sierra Canyon CA went the distance twice, needing three sets to get past both Lone Peak UT and Mercy KY. Sixth-seeded Marymount CA also went three twice in victories over Ontario Christian CA and Corner Canyon UT. Ninth-seeded Punahou HI, No. 10 Torrey Pines CA, No. 12 ‘Iolani HI and No. 16 Archbishop Mitty CA all dropped one set in winning their respective pools.

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Day 1 is done without any major contenders knocked out. That means Saturday is set for a fantastic finish. The 16 pool winners play a qualifying match to begin Day 2. The winners advance to the eight-team championship bracket from which the champion will be crowned.

Cathedral Catholic takes on Archbishop Mitty in what could be a preview of the California Open Division state final. Mater Dei takes on Punahou in an interesting match. Punahou beat Redondo Union at the Ann Kang Invitational and Redondo has a victory over Mater Dei so the math points to Punahou winning that one right? If only it was that simple. Meanwhile, Redondo draws No. 2 seed Fayetteville.

The other Hawaiian team still alive in ‘Iolani faces one of the two Utah squads still in the hunt in Timpview. The other Utah school – Mountain View – is matched up with past champion Torrey Pines.

Skyview – as we mentioned went three all three times Friday – doesn’t get a break with Sierra Canyon lined up across the net. In a rematch from earlier this season, Marymount and Vista Murrieta clash again. Marymount took the first meeting in straight sets.

Lastly, one of the most intriguing matches is Assumption squaring off with Lakewood. Lakewood is unheralded but plenty good enough to come out ahead in that one.

The best news is it doesn’t matter how you try and slice it up. Championship Saturday at Durango always delivers. I’ve called it the best day of the high school season in the past and I’m sure I’ll be feeling the same way watching it all unfold during the 2022 version.

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UNDER THE RADAR PLAYERS

Hitting the club scene like we do, we find a lot of the same players starring in high school as well obviously. We’ll have our full assortment of Show Stoppers after the tournament ends featuring many names you are probably already familiar with. For now, we want to shine a light on players that we haven’t written about before or often or ones you might not have heard of yet.

Taliah Lee SR OH Timpview UT

Joa Roberts JR MB Timpview UT

Mia Compas SR MB Cathedral Catholic CA

Sadie Snipes JR OH Branson CA

Lauren Dignan SO L Branson CA

Ashley Repetti SO OH Los Alamitos CA

Elon Milroy JR RS Los Alamitos CA

Rella Binney JR S Punahou HI

Grace Fiaseu MB/RS Punahou HI

Bellamie Beus FR OH Skyview ID

Melissa Eyer JR L Skyview ID

Chloe Pravendikov JR OH Long Beach Wilson CA

Sophie Broesamle SR OH Lakeside WA

Finley Workman JR OH Xavier Prep AZ

Lauren Ingram SR OH Hockaday School TX

Olivia Wayne SO MB Hockaday School TX

Ayva Ostavar SO S Mater Dei CA

Eryn Hiraki JR RS ‘Iolani HI

Tessa Onaga SR L ‘Iolani HI

Maya Imoto-Eakin SR S ‘Iolani HI

Madisyn Parady SO S La Costa Canyon CA

Kacie Caoili SO S Archbishop Mitty CA

Isabella Romero SO OH Archbishop Mitty CA

Demi Harris SR L Archbishop Mitty CA

Alanah Clemente SO RS Alemany CA

Havyn Rolle JR MB Alemany CA

Cameron Downs SR S Mercy KY

Katie Poynter SR OH Mercy KY

Emma Barnett SR MB Mercy KY

Jaida Sione SR OH Sierra Canyon CA

Ava Hewitt-Smith SR MB Sierra Canyon CA

Addy Esslin SR S Bishop Manogue NV

Nina Hemsley FR MB Rancho Cucamonga CA

Meagan O’Leary JR OH South Torrance CA

Elina Mortensen JR OH Corner Canyon UT

Bianca Richardson JR OH Faith Lutheran NV

Alexa Trapani SR L Marymount CA

Maela Honma JR OH Kamehameha Hawai’i HI

Sarah Schubert SR OH Kamehameha Hawai’i HI

Kinley Kerbs SR S Madison ID

Mariah Wilson SR RS Madison ID