What I “Don’t Know” About NLQ 16 Open
Qualifier season is here. However, heading into this weekend there are a lot of question marks that I’m sure by the end of the weekend will be answered. I know a lot of the top teams, top players, but it’s…
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Continue ReadingQualifier season is here. However, heading into this weekend there are a lot of question marks that I’m sure by the end of the weekend will be answered. I know a lot of the top teams, top players, but it’s the certain scenarios that have me questioning.
I’m a volleyball nerd, I love looking at a schedule and seeing particular scenarios that Austin Kingsley wrote about, but I also have questions and even teams that I have not seen yet. There are bids up for grabs, but there is also seeding that teams are looking to improve upon. A lot of these teams will be playing at MEQ next weekend and everyone wants a favorable Day 1 matchup.
Here is what I “Don’t Know” heading into the Northern Lights Qualifier.
I don’t know who can beat Dynasty 16 Black.
Dynasty 16 Black is coming off a 15 Open National Championship and a 16 Elite Triple Crown title last month. There is little weakness on this squad where they have solid ball control led by Ryan McAleer who is the commander of the court, such a presence. 2025 setter Reese Messer was extremely impressive at Triple Crown where she does such a great job of getting her hands to the ball, jump setting to keep her attackers in system, her game marvel’s 17 Black setter, Ashley Mullen who is committed to UCLA – evidence of top setter training at Dynasty. After the second touch, pick your poison. They have a three headed monster of pin attackers with Carlie Cisneros, Skyler Pierce, and Abigail Mullen. All of these athletes can score at will from multiple spots off a variety of tempos.
I don’t know what Midwest squad (outside of KC) will be in Gold contention on day three (but I do think one will).
15s and 16s finishing round one of power pools, 17s staring gold bracket play, more names to know from #centralzone
Natalie Powers – @stingvb1988 15 Gold
Macy Hinshaw – @circlecityvbc 17 Purple
Allie Shondell – @BoilerJuniorsVB 16 Gold
Riley Whitlock – @BoilerJuniorsVB— Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) January 30, 2022
KC, Texas teams, and A5 highlight the big hitters of this event, but there are some Midwest (Mideast) squads that I think will be in contention for a bid on day three. Boiler Juniors, led by 2024 setter Allie Shondell and a plethora of scrappy attackers really jump out as a sneaky team to contend with. FC Elite 16 Navy out of Appleton, WI took Arizona Storm to three sets in their challenge match at Triple Crown and are champions of the Badger Region. Emerson Van Lannen is a setter/right side combo who is lethal and highly efficient. Hometown teams Northern Lights and MN Select will always have competitive teams and the longer the season goes, the better these teams get. Kairos 16 Adidas out of Sioux Falls, SD is sneaky good. They traditionally start their season later with so many multi-sport athletes playing basketball. This will be one of their first big tournaments out. And we can never forget about Nebraska with Nebraska Juniors 16 Black, Premier Nebraska 16 Gold, and Nebraska Elite 16 Lohaki. I was able to watch Premier 16 Gold at Triple Crown and this team is real close to breaking into that top tier of teams. Aowyn Schrader is a 2024 pin on the rise with Premier who will be key athlete to watch this weekend.
I don’t know how many Texas teams will get a bid.
I could see two Texas teams getting a bid with the most obvious ones being TAV and Drive Nation. TAV has such a physical line up with middle blocker Ayden Ames as a major force who has such a presence while in the front row. For Drive Nation, I was extremely impressed with 2025 six rotation attacker Suli Davis. She is a big time point scorer from the front and backrow with a big time arm swing with a ton of pace on the ball. Houston Skyline 16 Royal, Arete Athletics 16 Navy Telos, Tejas 16 Black, and Skyline 16 Royal will be the other Texas teams competing in 16 Open. There will be a Texas team who gets a bid, I’m just not sure who, or how many.
I don’t know how to stop an A5 Mizuno 16 Gabe team who is firing on all cylinders.
I saw A5 at Central Zone and they were the most physically imposing 16s team I have seen in a few years. With Mia Hood and Mary MK Patten blocking together on the right side at 6’7 and 6’6 it’s a lineup comparable to Wisconsin this past year. The speed and physicality this team plays with is tough to match. They have dropped matches to the 16s from AVC, NKYVC, and OT 16 Jason. Last weekend they rolled through at Bluegrass to claim the title and will have plenty of momentum. These athletes have their eyes on the prize this upcoming weekend.