KC Stars Shine and Dominate At NLQ 16 Open

As an outsider to the Kansas City area (although I love to visit Kansas City), I was enamored with the wealth of talent coming from KC clubs to the Northern Lights Qualifier. For those from KC, they’ve always known about the top players in the country from the likes of Jenna Gray and Audriana Fitzmorris who won national titles at Stanford to most recently Madison Lilley with Kentucky. Volleyball legends where most of these athletes who competed this past weekend grew up idolizing. For these 16-year-olds who competed in this weekend’s Northern Lights Qualifier in Omaha, they are the next generation of legends to come from the Kansas City area. Their story is just getting started. I don’t have previous ties to any KC clubs or high schools, there are no alliances that I’m holding on to. All I know is that these athletes can play, and Kansas City can continue to claim some of the top volleyball athletes in the country. [caption id="attachment_142652" align="aligncenter" width="491"]<img class="wp-image-142652 " src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2021/05/DSC08039.jpg" alt="" width="491" height="327" /> [player_tooltip player_id="101566" first="Ella" last="Swindle"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_142653" align="aligncenter" width="518"]<img class="wp-image-142653" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2021/05/DSC08043.jpg" alt="" width="518" height="345" /> Alayna Pearson[/caption] KC Power 16-1 This group has been one of the top teams in the country this whole season. [player_tooltip player_id="101566" first="Ella" last="Swindle"] has been on plenty of lists as the top setter in the Class of 2023 and rightfully so. She is long, athletic, and is a major presence at the net. She’s smooth with how she moves on the court and can run such a fast tempo to get her whole team involved. However, to be at this level it takes the full squad. [player_tooltip player_id="120010" first="Sawyer" last="Thomsen"] will be a top middle/right side recruit with her ability to move along the net and attack off one foot. [player_tooltip player_id="101697" first="Reagan" last="Fox"] is another long attacker who is a presence offensively and defensively. She contacts high and is always an outlet in and out of system. Aliana Olson on the pin just finds a way to score points. There isn’t anything flashy about her game, but she hits the ball square, plays aggressively, and knows how to find the open court or tool the block to her advantage. None of this offense is possible without depth in the backrow starting with Alayna Pearson at the libero position. KC Power finished second to perennial power TAV 16 Black in the finals, but will be a favorite heading into Triple Crown Memorial Day weekend as well as 16 Open USAV Championships in Vegas at the end of June. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Two clubs from the same metro, big crowd on hand, three sets, 15-13. <a href="https://x.com/dynastyvbc?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@dynastyvbc</a> defeats MAVS to win their Gold pool and will have a spot in 16 Open at USAV <a href="https://t.co/SWEIu789uw">pic.x.com/SWEIu789uw</a> — Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) <a href="https://x.com/PrepDigChris/status/1393956904666345472?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 16, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <img class=" wp-image-142657 aligncenter" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2021/05/DSC07828.jpg" alt="" width="509" height="339" /> [caption id="attachment_142658" align="aligncenter" width="465"]<img class="wp-image-142658" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2021/05/DSC08123.jpg" alt="" width="465" height="310" /> [player_tooltip player_id="120033" first="Rylee" last="Unruh"][/caption] Dynasty 16 Black Ticket Punched! Dynasty 16 Black has been plagued by some injuries throughout the season, but is finding their stride and will be a scary team to face heading into the final months of the season. Their Sunday Gold Pool match against MAVS 16-1 was one of the most exciting matches I was able to see all season with two teams from the same area with plenty at stake. A win by Dynasty would clinch an open bid and a spot in the final four. A back and forth third set went in favor of Dynasty, winning 15-13 to seal the deal. [player_tooltip player_id="99216" first="Ashley" last="Mullen"] is another top setter, one of the best in the country with her athleticism and her pure will to win. I don’t know if I saw her bump set all weekend as she just works so hard to get her hands to the ball. There were numerous times where she would hold the middle to create a one on one advantage to one of the outside attackers. One of those outside attackers was [player_tooltip player_id="120033" first="Rylee" last="Unruh"], a six rotation player who is always available to score. Solid all the way around, Unrush hits the ball square and can go at any angle to score. She plays with her heart on her sleeve and is definitely an emotional leader for this squad. In the middle, [player_tooltip player_id="99224" first="Calissa" last="Minatee"] is consistently touching a basketball hoop. She’s well above the net and is used in multiple positions in the front row depending on their rotation and if they are in serve receive. She can score from both pins and is dangerous off one foot. The execution and connection she has with Mullen is on point and for Mullen to always know where Minatee is on the court takes countless reps. She will be high on the radar for middles out of the Class of 2023. On the right side is [player_tooltip player_id="99215" first="Brooklyn" last="Young"] who is a highlight waiting to happen. As a high flyer she can score at will and also set the block causing the opposing outside attacker to think twice going after her. And the quarterback of the defense is libero [player_tooltip player_id="150067" first="Heidi" last="Devers"] who is actually from the Class of 2024. She is a quiet leader where she makes everything look routine, provides a solid first contact in serve receive, and can take pace off the ball while keeping her side in system. This past weekend, Dynasty had a little bit of everything when it came to three set matches, including one against A5 Gabe who is always in the national championship hunt. [caption id="attachment_142659" align="aligncenter" width="515"]<img class="wp-image-142659 " src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2021/05/DSC08133.jpg" alt="" width="515" height="343" /> Goodenow[/caption] <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> One of the most explosive athletes I’ve seen this weekend. [player_tooltip player_id="120009" first="Aubrey" last="Duncan"] 2023 middle from MAVS 16-1. She is relentless. <a href="https://t.co/Jv3SYNwtWJ">pic.x.com/Jv3SYNwtWJ</a> — Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) <a href="https://x.com/PrepDigChris/status/1393954409315438592?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 16, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Dynasty took set one but Mavs up 11-8 in set two. It’s going to be a battle the whole way. Dynasty will clinch the Open bid with a win. <a href="https://t.co/ubfTMnfabg">pic.x.com/ubfTMnfabg</a> — Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) <a href="https://x.com/PrepDigChris/status/1393949939105947654?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 16, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> MAVS 16-1 I was able to watch this team quite a bit over the course of the weekend. I wanted to be part of their bench. They didn’t get too emotionally high or low. They were chill, they would smile, they laughed, they supported each other, but above all else they just competed. Some of the teams you see at the Open level are full of athletes six feet tall at every position. Not quite with MAVS where they have two athletes at six feet or a little bit taller. However, watching them play, they take care of the ball, they spread the defense out, and the ball doesn’t drop. Volleyball is a simple game when you keep the ball in the court and put pressure on the other side. The pin attackers of MAVS come from the left and right side with the likes of Julia Kinney, [player_tooltip player_id="119220" first="Lily" last="Dudley"], and [player_tooltip player_id="150077" first="Reagan" last="Barth"]. One of the top right sides I saw all weekend and honestly throughout the year is Elizabeth Goodenow. She can score points, but her ability to pass and score points in the backrow is what sets her apart from other right sides. Again one of the most dynamic athletes on the right pin. Another “Best of” was watching [player_tooltip player_id="120009" first="Aubrey" last="Duncan"] out of the middle. She’s 6’0 tall which you could say is undersized at the middle at the high open level, but her athleticism is something different. She was quite possibly the best athlete in the whole gym. I would put her at shortstop, center on the soccer field, you name it - she can make it happen. Her motor is non-stop as she is constantly working in transition to get the ball and is always there to close the block. The unsung stars of this team are setter, [player_tooltip player_id="101701" first="Logan" last="Jones"] and libero, Reagan Anderson. Jones is 5’9, but plays much taller than what the metric says where she is not afraid to go after a big joust or set the block. Anderson keeps it simple. She has a solid platform where she is in the right spot at the right time. No need to dive when you can read well and have great footwork. [caption id="attachment_142660" align="aligncenter" width="570"]<img class="wp-image-142660" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2021/05/DSC08127.jpg" alt="" width="570" height="380" /> Clayton[/caption] PVA 16 Elite PVA had a rough draw to start the weekend going up against No Name VBC out of the Tampa area and TAV 16 Black who won the whole thing. After Day 1, they went on to win five of their next six matches to close out the weekend. Their firepower contends with the top teams in 16 Open where they have Avery Delong and [player_tooltip player_id="119219" first="MaKya" last="Clayton"] on the right side who are high flyers as well as Connelly Kilgore and Victoria Vilott on the left side. These athletes aren’t afraid to let it rip to score points and have a violent approach. Middle blocker, [player_tooltip player_id="150075" first="Jaya" last="Johnson"] brings plenty of strength and physicality to the middle where her presence is definitely felt by the attackers on the other side of the net. The show is run by setter Renee Liou who runs a 5-1, plays a solid base defense, and can attack on her own when she sees the opening.   <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Full album of photos from Championship Sunday at the Northern Lights Qualifiers on our Prep Dig Facebook page <a href="https://t.co/w5vOCBX2v7">https://t.co/w5vOCBX2v7</a> <a href="https://t.co/zjJEtvfvQf">pic.x.com/zjJEtvfvQf</a> — Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) <a href="https://x.com/PrepDigChris/status/1394281406424133635?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 17, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>