2018 Northern Lights Qualifier Preview | 18 USA & 18 American

<p>The 2018 Girls Junior National Championships are a few months away. Qualifying season is in high gear as U18 teams have already had multiple opportunities to earn their bid to the big event. This weekend the Northern Lights Qualifier will commence in Omaha, NE with a handful of North Country Region teams registered to compete. The following provides some details for NCR teams and their weekend journey ahead.</p> <p><strong>18 USA</strong></p> <p>A total of 18 teams are set to compete in the 18 USA division. The top seeded team is Premier Nebraska 18 Gold. Round 1 consists of five pools, three pools of four teams and two pools of two teams. Other top pool seeds include IPVA 18 Black, ASICS MAVS 18-1, Topeka Impact 18-1, and Rocky Select 18 Jackie. The lone NCR team competing this weekend in 18 USA is MN North 18-1. They begin the tournament as the second seed in Pool 3. Their Round 1 matches will be against ASICS MAVS 18-1, Rocky Select 18 Lauren, and Iowa Select 18 Vital.</p> <p>Following Round 1 teams are seeded into Round 2 pools according to pool records and crossover matches. Three Round 2 pools will keep teams in contention for a bid while the two remaining pools consist of consolation matches. Following Round 2 at total of six teams will advance to the Gold championship bracket. Three bids to the 18 USA GJNC are on the line. Therefore, a third place match will take place between the two semifinal losers. Teams not advancing to the Gold bracket will compete for final standings in Silver, Bronze, and Flight 1 brackets.</p> <p><strong>Five Athletes to Watch</strong></p> <ul style="list-style-type: square;"> <li><strong>Lexi Ahrens</strong> (MB), MN North 18-1 | College: North Dakota</li> <li><strong>Kailea Carrier</strong> (MB), ASICS MAVS 18-1 | College: Kansas</li> <li><strong>Abby Hamilton</strong> (OH), Milwaukee Sting 18 Black | College: Loyola-Maryland</li> <li><strong>Jordan MacArthur</strong> (OH), Rocky Select 18 Black Jackie | College: Cal Lutheran</li> <li><strong>Mckenzie Michalek</strong> (L/DS), Premier Nebraska 18 Gold | College: Nebraska-Omaha</li> </ul> <p><strong><br /> 18 American</strong></p> <p>The 18 American division features four NCR teams among the 26 total teams set to compete this weekend. Seven pools will kick off Round 1 as five pools consist of four teams and two are comprised of three teams. Teams will advance according to record as Round 2 will separate the group into Division 1 and 2, with D1 teams remaining in the hunt for the single bid awarded for the 18 American division. Round 3 consists of the Gold championship bracket and consolation brackets at the Silver, Bronze, and Flight 1 levels.</p> <p>The host club will have two teams competing in their 18 Black and 18 Red teams. The 18 Black squad is the event's top seed and will face off against Pulse Volleyball Club 18 Black, Summit Volleyball Club 18-1, and CIA 18Silver in Round 1. The 18 Red team is the tournament’s 5^th overall seed and the top seed in Pool 5. Their Round 1 matchups are Southland Aces 18-1 Black, Banzai VBC 181, and Rocky Select 18 National. Impact Volleyball is the other NCR club and will be represented by their 18 Pink and 18 Black teams. Impact 18 Pink is the 2^nd seed in Pool 7 and will compete against Zoom 18-1 National Matt/Paula and Nebraska Elite 18 Envy. Impact 18 Black is the 2^nd seed in Pool 3 and will take on PVA 18 Elite, Iowa PowerPlex 18U Elite, and Rocky Select 18 Black N.</p> <p><strong>Athletes to Watch</strong></p> <ul style="list-style-type: circle;"> <li><strong>Emma Buchanan</strong> (MB), Northern Lights 18 Black | College: Bucknell</li> <li><strong>Brooke Harris</strong> (S/DS), Iowa Rockets 18-1 | College: College of Charleston</li> <li><strong>Megan LeMay</strong> (MB/OH), Northern Lights 18 Red | College: Simpson</li> <li><strong>Hailey Mackenthun</strong> (L/DS), Nothern Lights 18 Black | College: Pittsburgh-Johnstown</li> <li><strong>Kai Welsh</strong> (OH), Highlands Performance 18 Rox | College: Gustavus Adolphus</li> </ul> <p>Tournament schedules and results can be found <a href="http://results.tm2sign.com/event/142/event_divisions">here</a><span style="font-size: 14px;">, presented by TM2Sign.</span></p>