California Teams in the Windy City Qualifier: Preview

<p>Chicago, IL - Teams from all over the nation are converging upon the Windy City. The McCormick Place Convention Center will host the massive national qualifier in which teams will be taking the court to battle it out for a bid in 11 National and all divisions for 12s, 13s, 14s, 15s, and 17s. Several teams from California will be making the trip out this Easter weekend, which teams could potentially grab a bid?</p> <p>Several teams are making the trip to Chicago for Easter weekend, with SF Elite sending a whopping 15 teams to the Windy City Qualifier. Here are some California teams that could potentially be some top contenders at the qualifier.</p> <p>In the 12 USA division, watch for SF Elite 12 Nono who is the top seed going into the tournament, and Sunshine 12 Westside who is the fourth seed going into the tournament, to make waves. In the 13 American division, Sunshine 13 Westside, the fourth seed, and SF Elite 13 Salazar, the eighth overall seed could potentially be battling for a bid at the end of the weekend. Sunshine 14 Westside is seeded two overall going into the tournament and will be looking for a podium finish in the 14 USA division. In the 15 USA division, Norcal Black 15-1 will be the top seed overall going into the tournament. They recently finished second at the Pacific Northwest Qualifier ins Spokane, WA in the 15 Open division and will look to double qualify. Seal Beach 15-Black from the Southern California region is seeded sixth overall going into the tournament and will be looking to snag a bid. They recently finished 10th at the SCVARed Rock Rave qualifier and also compete in the premier division of the PVL.</p> <p>SF Elite 16 Shannon is seeded sixth going into the tournament and will be looking for a podium finish in the 16 Liberty division. In the 16 USA division, California has a few teams that could be real contenders for a bid. Norcal Black 16-1 who is currently the top seed going into the tournament, recently finished second in the16 USA division at the Pacific Northwest Qualifier and will look to double qualify. Keep an eye on NorCal’s setter, Katherine Salonga, who is energetic and has a terrific connection with her middles. She’s quick with good hands and a great defender. NorCal opposite hitter, Sophia Elwell, could also be a big factor for them. She puts up a solid block and swings consistently and efficiently for her team. Laguna Beach 16 MS (15) and T Street IE 16-Andy (13), which are both teams from the Southern California region who both complete in the gold division of the PVL could also be contenders for a bid in the 16 USA division. In the 17 American division, some top teams from the Northern California region look to battle to secure a bid as Academy 17 HP Shane and Marin Black 17-1 are the first and second seeds going into the tournament.</p> <p>The 17 USA division looks to potentially have some big battles as several Southern California teams could be top contenders for a bid in that division. Actyve 17-Black (2) is ninth overall in PVL and in the premier division. Actyve’s 6’2” Outside Hitter/Middle Ava Gronemeyer is a versatile player to watch with a stable platform, she can pass and hit on the pins well but also often attacks from the middle. Seal Beach 17-Black (3) is currently fifth overall in the PVL in the premier division, they have a lot of really good ball control and it’s tough for teams to score on them. 6’ Outside Hitter and University of Washington (Beach) commit, [player_tooltip player_id="162759" first="Zoey" last="Henson"] can also hammer the ball from anywhere on the court. T Street IE 17-Asics (4) is a potential top contender as well, they are seventh overall in the PVL and finished second at the Red Rock Rave Qualifier in 17 USA just a couple of weeks ago. Not to be overlooked, Sunshine 17 Westside (10), could also contend for a bid. They’re an overall solid team who competes in the PVL gold division and finished thirteenth two weeks ago at the Red Rock Rave Qualifier in the USA division.</p> <p>In the 17 Open division, Sunshine 17 LA (3) will try to score a podium finish. They are currenlty third overall in the PVL premier division and finished ninth in the open division at the Red Rock Rave Qualifier a couple of weeks ago. They will likely look to big 6’3” OH/Opposite, [player_tooltip player_id="160313" first="Olivia" last="Babcock"], who is a high flyer with a dynamic approach and big swing with a fast arm. She is committed to Pittsburgh. [player_tooltip player_id="163280" first="Grace" last="Thrower"], another 6’3” OH/Opposite for Sunshine 17 LA could also come in big for them. She’s long with good transition and a big approach when she attacks. She also puts up a nice big block.</p>