First, let's acknowledge the "elephant in the room" and get it behind us. The choice by seven of the 16Open field from last year's to play JVDA in Louisville does weaken this year's 17Open Field, not to mention the departure of last year champion Laguna who's players are doing well playing 18U. With an average finish of 10.8 at last year's JOs, it is very safe to project that these teams will not be replaced by teams of the same competition level; desire "Yes", competition level "No.
Before being inundate with responses about "it's a new season", "teams develop at different rates", etc., I would contend the "leap" for the new teams coming into 17Open filling the void of the talent-laden teams that left is insurmountable in a one-year effort (Note to reader: I am a staunch supporter of USAV and a raving advocate of JRVB.) Then again, know my analysis is "biased" in that I never bet on a horse on its inaugural run; never buy a new car model the first year it's introduced; and seldom stand in line at movie premiers instead waiting to read the reviews and listen to opinions of those I value.
Now that the "elephant" has been "out-ed" and received it's due, it will not be mentioned in subsequent posts of the VBREPORTER…it is behind me (us)….let's move on.
Due to the delay in USAV getting the 17Open Division posted, I've only taken a quick look at the field,
not getting down into the "Nitty-gritty" required of an in-depth analysis.
On face value, and not knowing the technical challenges and tournament mechanics required, if there was ever a great opportunity for USAV to change
their format and combined the Open and National Divisions at JOs, this was the year.
With only ten teams (36%) returning from last years 16Open Division and the average finish of those teams being a low 14.7, the competitive difference between
majority of the field in Open (64% new) and the top of the field in National Club has never (IMHO) been less defined.
It would have been great for volleyball to not bar SWI, Minnesota Select, etc. from the Open Field and truly "Open" the competition rather than
allowing it to be decided by committee or the shell game known as National Qualifiers (which NQ is strong this year, which will be weak so we can
qualify?). Again, USAV card-carrying member here….
My "initial" projection after full 15-minutes of scanning information is that teams that finished Top-10 last year (TAV, Invasion, AJV and Vision) will feast on the competition at JOs and then fight it out among themselves for the championship….but again it's very early in my process, I have not set up my pre-pools and gone through the full analysis required.
Also there are factors outside my control; questions to be answered…such as "Will the Cincinnati Classics
institute a club policy that bars players (especially setters) from taking down finger-eating equipment after practices? 
More to come…
