Heart of America Power League Qualifier: 17s
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The first attempts to earn a bid got started with the HOA Power League Qualifier last weekend! Two national division bids normally go out after the play dates are complete, with the potential for some trickle-downs based on open bids…
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Continue ReadingThe first attempts to earn a bid got started with the HOA Power League Qualifier last weekend! Two national division bids normally go out after the play dates are complete, with the potential for some trickle-downs based on open bids earned throughout the season. Here are the teams that took competed in the qualifier with 40 teams getting a chance to continue. This is a loaded region in this age group led by Dynasty 17 Black. We won’t try to put too much pressure on them this year but we expect them to be in the hunt come July.
And with that said, other teams are not intimidated by this bunch as evidenced by Power ‘] 17-1 walking away with the early head-to-head win over Dynasty in the seeding championship match. We will get more into roster breakdowns in the coming days but Power returns a strong nucleus led by setter Janelle Green Janelle Green 5'9" | S Blue Valley North | 2024 State #68 Nation KS and pin Alea Goolsby Alea Goolsby 5'11" | OH St. Thomas Aquinas | 2025 State #36 Nation KS . We could go through the whole Dynasty roster to name standouts but we’ll match Power by highlighting setter Reese Messer Reese Messer 5'11" | S St. James | 2025 State #6 Nation KS and pin Carlie Cisneros Carlie Cisneros 6'0" | OH Liberty North | 2024 State #7 Nation MO . An important note: The top teams from each pool advanced to a seeding bracket where only one set was played…so we won’t put too much stock just yet into these wins we are highlighting in this article.
It was Mavs KC 17-1 and Power ‘] 17-2 that went down to the above-mentioned teams in the semifinal round to get the 3rd and 4th seeds going into Power League. Mavs squeaked by Club North 17-1 to faceoff with Power ‘]. Power 17-2 escaped a back and forth with Pohaku to take on Dynasty . Mavs return Sara Allmon Sara Allmon 6'0" | OH Olathe South | 2024 KS and Kelsey Schenck Kelsey Schenck 5'11" | S St. Thomas Aquinas | 2024 State KS . We saw a lot from Power ‘] 17-2 last season and expect them to make noise again this Power League series being led by Chloe Tyrrell Chloe Tyrrell 5'10" | OH Olathe East | 2024 State KS and Shannon Frakes Shannon Frakes 6'0" | OH Spring Hill | 2024 State KS .
The next four teams technically all ended with the 5 beside their name but once it was all sorted out Club North gets the 5th, Shockwave 17-1 followed by Pohaku 17-1 and Mavs KC 17-2 rounding out the top 8. Mizuno Club North was perfect in pool play and took down Tamales in bracket play. Kendall Johnson Kendall Johnson 5'10" | MB Platte County | 2024 State MO and Mikalah Davis Mikalah Davis 5'9" | OH St. Michael The Archangel | 2024 State MO are two weapons on the pin. Shockwave didn’t drop a set before falling to Power ‘] 17-1 to earn a Power League spot. Jillian Gregory Jillian Gregory 6'0" | OH Maize South | 2025 State #66 Nation KS and Camdyn Stucky Camdyn Stucky 6'1" | S Maize South | 2024 State #97 Nation KS lead a deep Wichita-based roster. Pohaku split with 417 Juniors but a couple of lopsided set wins in other matches gave them the top seed and a trip to PL. Ava Martin Ava Martin 5'10" | S Bishop Miege | 2024 State #77 Nation KS is one of many names to know and we will highlight more in the days to come. And last but not least, Mavs KC 17-2 They also had a match split to start the day but escape to win the pool. Keilah Rivers Keilah Rivers 5'10" | OH Spring Hill | 2024 State KS and Reese Massey Reese Massey 5'8" | DS/L Staley | 2024 State MO are difference-makers.
Apex 17-1 and Tamales 17-1 were our final two teams to get in by winning their pools and breathing easy heading into the afternoon. Both Springfield, MO area clubs took care of business in pool play. Apex was perfect while Tamales did drop one set. Apex is a team we were impressed with last season with a roster that includes Mollie Thomas Mollie Thomas 6'0" | S Marshfield | 2024 State MO and Bella Faria.
The last six teams had to fight from the backside to find their way to the ultimate goal of being one of sixteen competing for bids.
11. 417 Juniors (4-0-1)
12. PVA 17-1 (3-0-2)
13. KC Challenge 17-1 (4-1)
14. Dynasty 17-2 (3-2)
15. 417 Columbia 17-1 (3-2)
16. Mavs 816 17-1 (3-2)