Show Me Qualifier Must-See Matchups: 16 Open
We’re going back to Kansas City! Seriously, what a great slate of club events KC has put together for us this year. From the MLK Qualifier to Triple Crown NIT to this weekend’s Show Me bid event, this city has…
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Continue ReadingWe’re going back to Kansas City!
Seriously, what a great slate of club events KC has put together for us this year. From the MLK Qualifier to Triple Crown NIT to this weekend’s Show Me bid event, this city has given us so much exciting volleyball over the past few months. Let’s keep it rolling!
The Asics Show Me Qualifier will be a high-stakes event for countless teams looking to secure a late-season Nationals bid. There are countless quality teams still hunting for that chance to qualify, with many of those squads battling in the ever-competitive Open division. In short, expect some immediate intensity when the first ball is served in Kansas City. Early matchups will be important!
So, let’s talk about a few of those early matches. We’re previewing some must-see opening pool battles at Show Me, starting with 16 Open.
KC Power 16-1 vs. Nebraska Elite 16 Lokahi
We’ve talked a lot about differing agendas heading into Show Me, and that’s demonstrated well by this fascinating matchup between KC Power and Nebraska Elite. Home-standing KC Power is fresh off of earning a bid at MEQ and has given us some outstanding volleyball to watch over the past few weeks. Rachel Van Gorp remains a showstopper in the frontcourt, while Janelle Green has been an excellent leader at the setter spot.
Meanwhile, Nebraska Elite is still searching for an Open bid and will likely show up in Kansas City with a little extra fire. The intimidating lineup of Nora Wurtz, Carly Ries, and Alizabeth Jacobsen really started to come together at NLQ last month, and now this team will have another shot at the top of the leaderboard.
Great Sunday start for the Kansas City teams as @kcpowervb 16-1 gets back on the board with a W! pic.twitter.com/ktlO3Y34hi
— Austin Kingsley (@KingsleyATK) March 20, 2022
OT 16 O Roberto vs. Pohaku 16-1
OTVA and Pohaku are part of a fun three-team pool that includes Mission 16 Elite. This trio also has the shared experience of competing at NLQ in Minneapolis, with 16 O Roberto and Pohaku meeting in a Gold pool matchup that went all the way to a third set.
The pin-hitting battle will still be a huge focal point in the rematch. Amina N’Diaye is emerging as one of the nation’s top 2025 pin hitters for OTVA, while Gabrielle Wire had a big-time March stretch for Mission. We can also expect new standouts to emerge from this crucial opening-day contest.
Great Sunday start for the Kansas City teams as @kcpowervb 16-1 gets back on the board with a W! pic.twitter.com/ktlO3Y34hi
— Austin Kingsley (@KingsleyATK) March 20, 2022
Circle City 16 Purple vs. MKE Sting 16 Gold
This is setting up to be a fun Midwestern slugfest.
Despite facing some injury-related adversity earlier in the season, MKE Sting 16 Gold is reaching full strength at the right time and is finding its rhythm once again. Anna Bjork, Jae Fitting, and Madison Quest are just a few of the names to watch from this team that has consistently competed at a national level.
2022 has been a great year for Circle City in a lot of different age groups, and 16 Purple might just add to the club-wide list of accomplishments. Ava Utterback is a high-flying six-rotation pin to know from this team, and we’ll certainly have plenty more Circle City athletes to feature before the weekend is done.
Illini Elite 16 Cardinal vs. MN Select 16-1
A couple more powerhouse clubs are set to face off in 16 Open.
Illini Elite has that familiar combination of ball control firepower that has brought the club so much success over the years. 16 Cardinal’s roster has some good class variety, too, with lethal outside hitter Paige Tode representing the Class of 2025 and Laney Snow coming up from the 2026 pack.
MN Select lurks as a dark horse in this pool. Destiny Wiggins has been a go-to opposite in all six rotations this year, and setter Audrey Waterman is always an attacking threat on the second contact.
Premier Nebraska 16 Gold vs. Northern Lights 16-1
Pool 5 in 16 Open is tasked with slowing down one of the hottest 16s teams in the country in Premier Nebraska 16 Gold. There’s a different energy with this team after it secured an improbable Nationals bid in Minneapolis. Mia Tvrdy and Aowyn Schrader lead the way offensively.
Of course, Northern Lights is never a club that gets overlooked under any circumstances. For 16-1, keep an eye on the physical frontcourt duo of middle blocker Reese Ptacek and lefty setter-opposite Audrey Kocon.
What a win, and what a tournament for @Premier16_G! This team just fights.
On the board with a win in Gold pools! #NLQ pic.twitter.com/KmRZ54oBve
— Austin Kingsley (@KingsleyATK) March 19, 2022
NKYVC 16-1 Tsunami vs. OP2 16-1
The Triple Crown NIT runner-up is looking for more. NKYVC 16-1 Tsunami already knows how to win in Kansas City, and the team will now pursue a repeat performance at a national qualifier. Julia Hunt is that do-everything player to watch along the net, and Elizabeth Tabeling will anchor the defense.
Oklahoma Peak Performance will be an intriguing challenger in this pool. Curry Kendall puts down the tough swings for this group, and she should match up well with the size that NKYVC always brings in the frontcourt.
UPVBC 16 Open vs. Iowa Rockets 16R
These are a couple of fun “wildcard” teams in Pool 1.
Don’t underestimate the physicality of this UPVBC squad from Tulsa. Kate Schneeberg is a strong, aggressive setter at the net, and Maren Johnson will do a ton of scoring at the left pin. On the other side of the net, Iowa Rockets 16R is delving into the Open field after snagging a 16 USA bid at NLQ. We always love to see teams challenge themselves at this point in the season, and that’s what Rockets 16R plans to do in Kansas City.