Two of the top seeds looked like expected powerhouses on Day 1 of the USAV 18s Junior Nationals Championships. A couple other top seeds didn’t. Plus, there was one team which really surprised. We’ll get to all that in a moment, but first vballrecruiter.com will have post-tournament coverage as well that will include our standout players list. Some of the best we saw in action Friday who are sure to be recognized include FC 18 Elite libero Saige Damrow, A5 Mizuno 18 Marc libero Emma Farrell, Madfrog 18 Green S/RS Harmony Sample, Rage 18 Westside middle blocker Olivia Harrison and PVA 18 Elite outside Ava Martin.

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Top-seeded A5 Mizuno 18 Marc and No. 2 overall seed Sunshine 18 LA performed on Day 1 like two clubs destined to meet up in the 18 Open championship when the final day of competition rolls around in Phoenix. Sunshine was virtually untouchable, posting a 1.5957 points ratio in going 3-0. A5 wasn’t far behind with a points ratio of 1.303 in also moving to 3-0. Coast 18-1, the No. 5 seed, was the only other one in the ballpark of those numbers with a 1.2016 points ratio in pushing to 3-0.

Two other tops seeds, however, stumbled Friday and the left door open for opponents to take first place in those respective pools. Third-seeded Madfrog 18 Green was bested by FC Elite 18 Elite in its final match of the day to fall to 2-1. FC Elite is 3-0 and only needs a victory over either Gainesville Jrs 18/17 or Premier Nebraska 18 Gold on Day 2 to clinch first place in Pool 3.

Fourth-seeded Hou Skyline 18 Royal was upended by Rage 18 Westside in its first outing and finished 2-1. While a big victory for Rage, the Nor Cal club couldn’t fully capitalize and finished 2-1 after going down to Excel National 18 Red in its last contest.

The biggest surprise of the day was neither Madfrog nor Hou Skyline losing however. That honor went to SASVBC 18-1. The Hawaiian team is playing short-handed and is missing star outside and Texas commit Devin Kahahawai, plus outside Maui Robins, right side Lucky-Rose Williams, both liberos in Payton Oliveira and Jaelyn Tang, and half of its 6-2 setting duo in Jaclyn Matias.

Still, SAS managed to go 3-0 as the top seed in Pool 6 as Nicanora Clarke moved from right side to outside to help fill the void. Tanea Loa also filled in at outside, while Alyssa Kamealoha stepped in at libero as SAS defeated Legacy 18-1 Adidas, Top Select 18 Elite and KC Power 18-1.

In Pool 4, all teams are within one game of each other, as Rage, Hou Skyline and Circle City 18 Purple sit at 2-1. Wave 18 Kevin, AZ EVJ 18 Tempe and Excel are 1-2. The top three teams in each pool advance to the challenge rounds that begin Saturday evening, so a lot is still to be determined in that pool.

But Pool 4 wasn’t even the wildest pool of the day. It was Coast’s pool that was. Coast was perfect followed by Rage 18 Cory at 2-1. Yet, Tri-State 18 Elite, Northern Lights 18-1, Team Indiana 18-1 and VC United 181 Elite are all 1-2. While Coast looks safe to advance, anything goes behind the So Cal club come Saturday.

Pool 7 is tight as well.

Skyline 18 Royal held its mark as the No. 7 seed and went 3-0. Excel NW 18-1 Rox is 0-3 but the other four are within a game of one another. Mizuno Long Beach 18 Rockstar and OT 18 Felix sit at 2-1. Absolute Black 18-1 and Triangle 18 Black are right behind at 1-2.

In Pool 8, Metro 18 Travel – the No. 8 seed – finished 3-0, as did OT 18 Chad, the No. 2 team in the pool. AVC Clev Rox 18 Red also positioned itself well by going 2-1.

Dynasty 18 Black – the No. 2 team in Pool 1 – was the only other club to go 3-0 on Day 1.

Arizona Storm 18 Thunder missed going 3-0 when it was upset by MN Select 18-1, which pulled into a tie with Storm at 2-1 with the victory in Pool 2.

Rockwood Thunder 18 Elite came out strong in Pool 6 but stalled in its final match when it was uprooted by at-large Vital 18-1 Gold. That knocked RT to 2-1 on the day.