Oops, They Did It Again: Legacy Wins MEQ 18 Open

This tweet says it all, the Legacy 18-Elite team has won their 6th major tournament and their national qualifier, going 6 for 6 this year in their final go around with this group.

SIX for SIX!! 18 Elite defeats MAVS 18-1 to win MEQ 18 Open and their 6th tournament and 3rd Qualifier! Unbelievable!!!! 🏆🥇🏆 #leaveyourlegacy pic.x.com/NVe4NY9JfK

— Legacy Volleyball (@LegacyLvc) March 24, 2019

They did drop one match earlier in the tournament Momentus out of Southern California earlier in the weekend, but roared back not dropping a set the rest of the way with wins on Sunday against 1st Alliance 18 Silver (Chicago area), KC Power, Top Select (Florida), and the finals against MAVS (Kansas City area) by a score of 25-21, 25-16.

To the common volleyball fan, it may be hard to understand how difficult this is to accomplish.  18 Open has athletes that have committed to some of the top programs in the country. In their wins against KC Power and MAVS out of the Kansas City area, those teams have athletes committed to Kansas, Kansas State, Arkansas, Louisville, and other mid major programs across the country.  After covering teams from across the Midwest, this past weekend MN Select 18-1 has athletes committed to Wisconsin, Minnesota, Northern Iowa, Illinois State, North Dakota State, and Air Force, they finished 19th. FC Elite out of Wisconsin has athletes going to Purdue, Loyola Chicago, Arkansas, Marquette, Green Bay, and Illinois that finished just outside the top 20.  The margin of error is extremely small, 18 Open is no joke and to have this kind of record against teams of this high of caliber is something to hang your hat on.

One player that has been climbing up the ranks and I feel will make an immediate impact at the next level would be middle blocker, Taylor Venuto, the 6’2 middle blocker out of Dexter who is touching 10 feet.  Yes, Legacy has the Big Ten commits, as well as others who are Division 1 caliber, but Venuto is coming into a program that is on the rise in Loyola Chicago who will be bringing in some of the top 2019 and 2020 athletes out of Wisconsin.  The physicality and athleticism that Venuto brings to the net is something that will be fun to watch develop into what hopefully becomes a decorated career as a Rambler on the North side of Chicago.

The season is far from over, but first will be the USAV 18 Open Championships in Dallas April 26-28 which will bring the top teams in the country for one last hurrah.  The championships have been moving up, allowing for athletes to start right away with their college programs in the summer. Legacy will be a favorite heading into USA Nationals, but again it comes down to winning the big matches come crunch time.  

For some 18s teams, the season can become somewhat of a victory lap, just coasting through their last year of club.  Not Legacy, they are full steam ahead with big goals of standing on top of the mountain when the season ends.

As an athlete, what will Prep Dig do to help with your exposure for the Motor City Madness Showcase?

💥Personalized tweet welcoming you to the event

💥Before, during, and post event coverage

💥Your name sent to college coaches informing them of your attendance at the event pic.x.com/70HxQeHAAR

— Prep Dig Michigan (@PrepDigMI) March 6, 2019