The 16 and 18s age groups began regional play as the SCVA kicked off its schedule this past weekend at Momentous in Irvine. There was a lot of what one would expect from the first outing of a long season. While it was clear the players were excited to be starting up their club season and there was lots of energy in the gym, the volleyball was a bit hit and miss as teams looked to get their footing. We’ll check in on the teams we saw in action from both age groups as well as spotlight the teams which have the best chance at qualifying from the region for Open.

18s

COAST 18-Ozhan: This group features 11 returning players who captured the 17 Open bronze medal this past summer. Coast opened in fine form, going 7-0. It included downing Sunshine 18 LA in the final, as well as picking up a pair of victories over Mizuno Long Beach 18 Rockstar and one against rival Wave 18 Juliana. Among those back is 4-star BYU recruit and outside Claire Little and 4-star UCLA recruit and middle Brooklyn Briscoe, as well as 4-star Oregon recruit and right side Noemie Glover. One of the strengths of Coast is its depth. Coast added setter Nikki Quinn and middle/right side Ryleigh Patterson. Coast has the options of running a 5-1 with either Quinn or returner Zoe Rachow or letting them run a 6-2. Patterson adds to the mix as a fourth middle or a third right side, or even someone who can fill in at outside. Catherine Schnell and Milan Bayless are also options on the left, while Bianka Lulic and Irleynd Lorenzen are the other middles. Back defensively is the strong duo of Sydney Bold and Brooklyn Yelland. This is certainly a top team in the 18s and one capable of contending for the top prize.

SUNSHINE 18 LA: As a 17s team, Sunshine took 21st in 17 Open at Junior Nationals. Sunshine opened this year going 5-2, with setbacks against Long Beach and Coast and a victory over Wave. There are a lot of familiar faces with one key addition in setter Lauren Brooker. She mostly ran a 5-1 for nationally-ranked Marymount this high school season and at 6-1 gives Sunshine options it didn’t have last season. The big arms are back in 5-star Pitt recruits in Olivia Babcock and Torrey Stafford. Sunshine will look for middle Dior Charles and pins Avery Jones, Grace Thrower and Ava-Marie Lange to fill in around them. Drew Wright is also back. She moved to libero late last season and excelled. She played outside for nationally-ranked Mira Costa this fall but was back in the libero jersey this weekend anchoring the defense.

WAVE 18 JULIANA: Wave was a victory away from reaching the top eight in 17 Open this past summer. It’s mostly the same group, one that went 4-2 over the weekend. Wave won its first four matches but fell to Coast and Sunshine to end the weekend. The core is back and includes 5-star Stanford recruit and outside Julia Blyashov. She’s one of three players on the roster that was part of Cathedral Catholic’s national championship run during the high school season. Coach Juliana Conn also coached Cathedral while middle Mia Compass and L/DS Katerina Lutz were also on the Dons’ roster. Back along with Blyashov are middles Eva Rohrbach and Cayla Payne, outside Lily Dwinell, right side Auburn Tomkinson, L/DS Koko Kirsch and setter Shanelle Puetz. All played key roles last spring. Blyashov missed the final four matches of the high school season with a sprained ankle but was suited up and playing.

MIZUNO LONG BEACH 18 ROCKSTAR: Long Beach didn’t qualify Open as a 17s group last season. There’s optimism that’ll change this coming spring as it’s a different roster overall than a season ago. One example is outside and 4-star Oklahoma recruit Mele Corral Blagojevich. She was part of the 18s last year and was not part of the 17s until AAUs. Another key addition is outside Eva Travis. The high-flying UCSB recruit adds much-needed offense. Also new this season is setter/right side Tanon Rosenthal. She moved from Texas and was part of Mira Costa’s high school team. With returning setter Fatimah Hall part of the roster, Beach can run a 5-1 or 6-2, as both Rosenthal and Hall can hit too.

The Rest: Those are the four teams with the best shot of qualifying for 18 Open. Legacy 18 Elite technically qualified for 17 Open last summer but turned down the bid and instead attended AAUs, where it won 17 Premier. However, the roster lost two key contributors in outsides Addison Benson and Kylie Tengberg. Back is S/RS Madison Maxwell and 4-star Baylor recruit and middle Victoria Davis, as well as S/RS Milani Lee. A4 Volley 18 Joaco joined Legacy and the four other clubs we mentioned – Coast, Sunshine, Long Beach and Wave – in the power division’s top six. A4 looked to qualify open last season and attended AAUs – where it finished 21st in 17 Open – after missing out. A4 went 3-3 this weekend, beating Balboa Bay 18 Blue, Seal Beach 18 Black and Legacy while falling to Coast, Wave and Sunshine. A few of the returning players include outsides Ashlyn Beebe and Paige Buzzerio, libero Makena Lim, and setter Reese Torticill.

***

16s

COAST 16-LUIS: Coast turned it on at Junior Nationals last season, making the top eight in 15 Open after struggling some during the season. It’s changed the perspective on this season as Coast has gone to a bubble Open team to one expected to qualify. The group went 5-1 over the weekend. Coast beat Wave 16 Kevin but fell to Surfside 16 PV Legends on Day 2. There are lots of returning players, including outside Ava Poinsett, setter Jolyna Salas and middles Jenny Li and Savannah Simpson. Also part of the group is Stella Dillon, who joined Coast late last season after moving up from the 2s team and adds another option on the pins. One newcomer is outside Madyson McCarthy. She’s a freshman playing up an age group.

WAVE 16 KEVIN: Wave did very well for itself by qualifying for 15 Open last year and eventually finished tied for 23rd. Wave came out of the gate this year by going 5-1 over the weekend. It beat Surfside but lost to Coast on Day 2. Most everyone returns from last year’s roster plus a couple new additions that have bolstered the lineup this season. Among those back are outsides Mae Kordas and Nia Thompson, L/DS Yuri Park, middle Olivia Durr and right side Keila Gabriel. All played integral roles last season. Wave looks to take a step forward this fall with the additions of outside Quinn Loper and Ruby Hill, both who came over from Tstreet. Loper and Hill are both over 6-feet and add both height and depth, both which were needed. Another change comes at setter. While Ava Zamora returns Wave added Emily Page to the mix.

SURFSIDE 16 PV LEGENDS: Surfside is definitely a team to watch for nationally. This group tied for 11th in 15 Open a season ago and has loaded up for this go around. Surfside tied with Wave and Coast at 5-1, but settled for third based on tiebreakers. Back is 4-star recruit and outside Kaci Demaria, as well as middle Daniela Rusich. They are joined by a group that comes over from Mizuno Long Beach Rockstar that includes 4-star middle Kalyssa Blackshear, outsides Kiana Greer and Simone Roslon, pin Preslie Saunders and setter Isabella Jones. While this is a new-looking group, there’s a lot to like from a passing and terminating perspective.

The Rest: Coast, Wave and Surfside are the favorites to qualify for Open from So Cal. A4 Volley 16-Cassie was the fourth team in the top pool along with those three. A4 went 0-3 on Day 2 and 2-4 overall. Among the returning players is S/RS Helen Beary, outside Sydney Hanson and setter Claire Hammond. A key pickup is outside Brooklyn Drumwright, who comes over from 949. A couple teams looking to move up to the top pool are Forza1 16 One and Forza1 16 North. Both went 6-0, as well as Mizuno Long Beach 16 Brian. Forza (South) finished 30th in 15 American at JN’s and returns a bunch of players. They include middle Abigail Greiner, outside Arilynn Strickler, setter Justice Fuhrmann, outside Kate Johnson, middle Charlotte Underwood and outside Miley Thunstrom. Forza1 North, meanwhile, earned bronze in 15 USA. Outside Maylynn Mitchell is among those back, as well as setter Cierra Grant and outside Maya Banks. Setter Brooke Hansen is a key addition that should have the team trending upward. While Long Beach 16 Brian went undefeated, Mizuno Long Beach 16 Rockstar was competing in the top division and went 5-1. Holdovers from a season ago include setter Ayva Ostovar, L/DS Kayla Ostovar and outside Layli Ostovar, who is a freshman playing up, as well as right side Sunni Skipps.