MLK Recap and Bids Earned
We are playing a little bit of catch-up but better late than never as we look back to MLK weekend in Kansas City, ahead of more bid tournaments this weekend. Where do we start? Well, let’s start with the crazy…
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Continue ReadingWe are playing a little bit of catch-up but better late than never as we look back to MLK weekend in Kansas City, ahead of more bid tournaments this weekend. Where do we start? Well, let’s start with the crazy writer who said none of the local teams would grab a bid in 18 Open. There was a team or two that appeared to had dropped but don’t think it would have mattered with the way Dynasty 18 Black played. A team that lost a few players but made big additions went 8-0 to grab the top prize and a trip to Nationals. They dropped two sets along the way. They took down local foe KC Power and Nebraska Premiere on day 1. With the returning nucleus of setter Addison Beagle Addison Beagle 5'9" | S Liberty North | 2022 State MO , Jasmine Dulan Jasmine Dulan 5'7" | OH Blue Valley North | 2022 State KS , and Iyannah Jackson Iyannah Jackson 6'0" | MB Lansing | 2022 State KS , and the additions of Taylor Stockman Taylor Stockman 5'11" | OH Blue Valley West | 2022 State KS , Sarah Pyle Sarah Pyle 5'9" | OH St.Thomas Aquinas | 2022 State KS , and Vivian Kieffer Vivian Kieffer 5'6" | DS/L Shawnee Mission Northwest | 2022 State KS , this team clicked throughout the weekend and now can focus their attention on improving over the season.
We mentioned the Dynasty team lost a few players and gained some. Well, the players gained were from PVA and the players lost went to PVA . Either way, all of those players grabbed a bid after PVA 18 Elite finished second with a 7-2 record. They had to go three sets in every match on day 1 to stay in the winner pools. Familiar faces proved pivotal in Ava Martin Ava Martin 5'10" | S Bishop Miege | 2024 State #77 Nation KS and Davis Guetterman Davis Guetterman 5'6" | S Louisburg | 2022 State KS . New faces Brylee Peterson Brylee Peterson 5'11" | RS Mill Valley | 2022 State KS and Taylor Roberts Taylor Roberts 5'10" | RS Mill Valley | 2022 State KS were valuable pieces.
In the newest division, Liberty, one Missouri/Kansas team grabbed a bid after a perfect weekend and that was Mizuno Club North 18 -1. They went 8-0, going 16-2 in sets played. Their final match saw a back and forth match up including a 27-25 second set defeat to Nebraska Elite 18 Crossfire. Club North was able to bounce back to grab the deciding set 15-11. This team returned many strong players coming off of great high school seasons and had a successful 2020 season. Lia Graham Lia Graham 5'3" | DS/L Plattsburgh | 2022 State MO , Lillian Holden Lillian Holden 6'3" | MB St. Pius X | 2022 State MO , Autumn Kaderly Autumn Kaderly 5'6" | S Smithville | 2022 State MO , and Isabella Reynolds Isabella Reynolds 6'0" | MB Smithville | 2022 State MO were names we discussed often a year agol A key defensive addition in Alexis Moeschler Alexis Moeschler 5'5" | DS/L Bonner Springs | 2022 State KS could be prove to be large as the season progresses.
18 American saw two teams battle it out for the lone bid and Invasion 18 Black walked away champion after a 7-2 weekend, including the finale over PVA 18 National in straight sets. They suffered a defeat on each of the first two days before running the table on Monday. Key players completing the roster after completing successful high school careers include Jalyn Walruff Jalyn Walruff 6'0" | OH Blue Springs | 2022 State MO , Katherine Spacil, and Alexis Nunn Alexis Nunn 5'5" | DS/L Lee's Summit North | 2022 State MO .