NLQ 18s USA Division Bids, Standouts, and Unsigned Athletes

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The 18s season seems like it starts and ends in a flash.  With the first round of qualifiers just being completed in Omaha this past weekend there are still two more upcoming in Kansas City and Chicago with teams chasing after their bids to nationals at the end of April in Dallas.  Taking a look at the USA Division from NLQ this weekend MN Select 18-2 and Motion (MVP) out of the Milwaukee area were able to snag bids with 303 Volleyball Academy (Colorado) taking the title. This all after MVP surviving a three way tie in pool play on Day 1 and 303 surviving a three way tie on Day 2 with Capital 18 Adidas being the odd team out of that three way tie. Here are a few highlights and players from Minnesota and Wisconsin who made some big plays along the way in a highly competitive field. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>Unsigned:</strong> </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>Anna Nerad - Motion MVP 18 Blue - Class of 2019 - Middle Blocker/Pin</strong> </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Nerad has such solid hand contact with the ball her swing is incredibly quick and tough to defend.  This past high school season, Nerad was one of the main go to players for Waukesha West, who advanced to the semifinals in Wisconsin’s largest class, mostly as a middle blocker.  This past weekend she played a little bit on the outside. Either way she is scoring points and is a solid blocker as well being counted on during the big moments for MVP. </span></p> <p><strong>Sami Hilley - MN Select 18-2 - Class of 2020 - Middle Blocker</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Hilley always finds a way to get it done.  A bit of an undersized middle just under six feet tall she is a point scoring machine finding the seam in the block or completely going around it.  A high IQ player who is playing up an age level, she has always had to find ways to score points against big blocks throughout her club and high school career.</span></p> <p><strong>Kelsie Sealock - MN Select 18-2 - Class of 2019 - Libero</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Sealock has been on the Prep Dig radar for Minnesota the past couple weeks coming on strong as a libero after spending most of her high school season as an outside hitter.  Sealock is still unsigned and would be a great pick up at the next level. </span></p> <p><strong>Darragh Dixon - Milwaukee Sting 18 Black - Class of 2019 - Setter</strong></p> <p><strong>Brianna Merkel - Milwaukee Sting 18 Black - Class of 2019 - Setter</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Dixon and Merkel were a solid combination for Sting 18 Black who dropped some tough close sets and three set matches.  This team plays with fire and energy and with the two pairing together as setters they both bring a different dynamic to the court.  Dixon can be a lethal scorer on second contact with her left hand and is just savvy when it comes to playing the game. She was actually a teammate to Nerad for Waukesha West</span></p> <p><strong>Ashley East - Capital 18 Adidas - Class of 2019 - Right Side</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">East is a dynamic all around athlete who provides a huge outlet on the right side for Capital.  A solid blocker and left handed attacker, East would be a great pick up at the next level where she would be an instant impact on gym culture and competitiveness. </span></p> <p><strong>Committed Athletes</strong></p> <p><strong>Kiana Schmitt - Capital 18 Adidas - Class of 2019 - Middle Blocker</strong></p> <p><strong>Committed To Creighton </strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Schmitt was playing in her future home of Omaha where she will be attending Creighton University and playing volleyball this upcoming fall.  With Schmitt’s athleticism and high touch, she is so tough to stop on the slide. Laterally quick from pin to pin, she is always relied upon to change a change or get some type of touch.  </span></p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Hannah Brown, middle blocker for <a href="https://x.com/MotionVball?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MotionVball</a> just showing some crazy hops this morning. MVP in a battle with <a href="https://x.com/dynastyvbc?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@dynastyvbc</a> out of the Kansas City area <a href="https://t.co/PvsHHsJN9E">pic.x.com/PvsHHsJN9E</a></p> — Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) <a href="https://x.com/PrepDigChris/status/1084135564767567872?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 12, 2019</a></blockquote> <p><script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p> <p><strong>Hannah Brown - MVP 18 Blue - Class of 2019 - Middle Blocker</strong></p> <p><strong>Committed To Bellarmine (NCAA D2 in Louisville, KY) </strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Amazing jumping ability and incredibly active on the net.  Brown provides a huge spark for MVP, coming up really big in some crucial situations on their way to earning one of the bids to nationals.  She has a high motor, getting to the pin to close the block and always being available in transition. Compared to Schmitt, Brown couldn’t have more of a different style, but she still makes a huge impact on the match! </span></p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Another in state battle in a crucial match for pool standings between <a href="https://x.com/stingvb1988?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@stingvb1988</a> and <a href="https://x.com/CapitalVbAll?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CapitalVbAll</a> <a href="https://t.co/MBb8zJg5o0">pic.x.com/MBb8zJg5o0</a></p> — Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) <a href="https://x.com/PrepDigChris/status/1084157025888673793?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 12, 2019</a></blockquote> <p><script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p> <p><strong>Lydia Kneubuehl - Capital 18 Adidas - Class of 2019 - Middle Blocker (Highlight Above)</strong></p> <p><strong>Committed to UW-Stout</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">At 6’0 tall and touching 9’9, Kneubeuhl was a major impact for Capital this weekend.  When she is in system she has a quick snap and can cut a really sharp corner. She will be heading to UW-Stout next year with the likes of UW-Eau Claire (NCAA D3 Final Four) and other schools who are always extremely competitive in their region and even the nation.  The Blue Devils have landed a really solid athlete in Kneubuehl. </span></p> <p><strong>Emma Szypszak - Milwaukee Sting 18 Black - Class of 2019 - Outside Hitter</strong></p> <p><strong>Committed To Florida Gulf Coast</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This was my first chance to see Szypszak play on the outside where in the past she has been a middle blocker.  She was explosive, dynamic, and looked like that had always been her position all along. The adjustment from outside to middle or middle to outside can always take a while to develop, but with her strong blocking she will be a big time player for Sting 18 Black this upcoming season.  This team has three really solid attackers from the pin in Kaylee Lorincz and Carissa Sundholm who will provide a lot of depth and threats to score from the front and backrow. </span></p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Looking for a great way to prepare your team for Nationals or end your season on a high note? Look no further than the Prep Dig Gauntlet!<br /> <br /> The Gauntlet will provide exposure and media coverage to players at all levels! <br /> <br /> ???? 5/31 - 6/2<br /> ????Madison, WI<br /> ???? <a href="https://t.co/5HsmtBvAN6">https://t.co/5HsmtBvAN6</a> <a href="https://t.co/mRykybgoOh">pic.x.com/mRykybgoOh</a></p> — Prep Dig Events (@PrepDigEvents) <a href="https://x.com/PrepDigEvents/status/1084480489333944320?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 13, 2019</a></blockquote> <p><script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>