Northern Lights Qualifier 18s Preview

Another qualifier is ahead for the 18s and the first for the 17s this weekend with the annual Northern Lights Qualifier. The Friday-Sunday event should be a good one. Here is what we have in the 18s.

In the open division, they will have two pools of six teams with two local teams set to embark on a journey for their bid. Dynasty ‘ last=”] 18 Black will be in pool 1 as the third seed with Nebraska Premier, who picked up their open bid two weekends ago in Kansas City. After going 3-5 at MLK, they will look to regroup behind the play of Brooklyn Young Brooklyn Young 6'0" | MB Liberty | 2023 State MO and Tiana Simmons in the middle. Look for the defense of Heidi Devers Heidi Devers 5'4" | DS/L St. James | 2024 State KS to help set the tone for the weekend.

Pool 2 will feature Power ‘ last=”]’] 18-1, who will hold down the second seed. They made it to the gold pools a couple of weeks back going 5-3 on the weekend for fourth place. With at least one trickle-down in play, a third-place finish could be good enough to secure a bid. They will join a pool with Minnesota Select, who finished third in Kansas City. Ashlyn Bellamy Ashlyn Bellamy 6'1" | OH Lee's Summit | 2023 State MO , Ava TeStrake Ava TeStrake 6'4" | OH Olathe Northwest | 2023 State #65 Nation KS , and Ali Olson Ali Olson 6'0" | MB Bishop Miege | 2023 State KS look to be big at the net, with Ava Anderson Ava Anderson 6'3" | MB Lees Summit West | 2024 State MO setting the tone defensively.

Prediction: We like Power ‘ last=”]’] as a unit and think they can walk away with a bid this weekend.

Four pools of four teams will be what the USA division looks like come Friday. Two teams from our coverage area will look to have a strong weekend. Fight Club 18-1 is fresh off of securing a national bid in the Liberty division. This team has the weapons to get their second bid in three weeks. Brailee Bogle Brailee Bogle 6'0" | S Wichita Northwest | 2023 State KS will set the tone offensively from the setter position. Fight Club ‘s defense has been their calling card early in the season behind Peyton Benoit and Daetyn Bogle Daetyn Bogle 6'0" | MB Wichita Northwest | 2023 State KS . If their defense is on point, look for them to better their bid. They will be the second seed in pool 1.

Pool 2 will feature PVA ‘ last=”] 18 Elite as the top seed. They are giving their try again after finishing 5th in this division two weeks ago. They have more than enough pieces to improve on their 6-2 record in Kansas City. Jaya Johnson Jaya Johnson 6'2" | MB Olathe South | 2023 State #116 Nation KS , Elinor Engel Elinor Engel 6'1" | MB Shawnee Mission Northwest | 2023 State KS , and Victoria Vilott are scoring options. Makya Clayton Makya Clayton 5'6" | S Lee's Summit | 2023 State MO can do many things on the court. Emma Wheeler Emma Wheeler 5'5" | DS/L Olathe South | 2023 State KS and Charley Thomas Charley Thomas 5'9" | DS/L Blue Valley | 2023 State KS are extremely talented defenders.

Prediction: We like PVA ‘ last=”] to grab a bid and Fight Club to come up just short.

Five pools are the route the Liberty division will look come Friday with four teams in three pools, and three in two. Invasion 18 Black will be in the first pool as the second seed. They went 3-4 in Kansas City in the same division two weeks ago. Victoria Valentine (Tori) has been a star in this lineup from the left pin for years. Kori Franklin Kori Franklin 6'1" | MB Notre Dame De Sion | 2023 State MO and Alli Poage Alli Poage MB Kearney | 2023 State MO will try to be difference makers at the net. Allie Puetz Allie Puetz 5'7" | DS/L State MO is a solid defender.

Missouri Jrs. 18-1 will be the second team in the second pool. They had a strong showing in the competitive Gateway Power ‘ last=”] League and hope to build on it by earning a bid this weekend. Anna Wekenborg Anna Wekenborg 5'10" | MB Blair Oaks | 2023 State MO , Landry VanOverschelde, and company look to get out the gate strong.

In pool 4, 417 Juniors 18-1 will open up atop the group. They finished 5th in Kansas City with a 5-2 record. Hillary Estes Hillary Estes 6'1" | MB Nixa | 2023 State MO , a Western Illinois pledge will be key to this team getting going. Bayley Simmons Bayley Simmons 6'1" | OH Marshfield | 2023 State MO can find the floor from the pin. Kya Johnson Kya Johnson DS/L Kickapoo | 2024 State MO is a premier defender, totaling close to 600 digs in her junior season. Claire Esther Claire Esther 6'0" | MB Republic | 2023 State MO is another player to keep an eye on with her playmaking ability.

Rounding out our regional teams will be Mizuno Club North 18 Sam in pool 5. They also finished tied for 5th in Kansas City after going perfect through pool play. Shaye Koski Shaye Koski 5'10" | OH Park Hill | 2023 State MO was a key addition to this team. The outside hitter won the Evelyn Gates award as the top player in Kansas City. Sanoma Hunter Sanoma Hunter 6'0" | MB Van Horn | 2023 State MO is an athletic and dynamic middle. Avery Caskey and Victoria Creason are two more names to look out for.

Prediction: We like Club North to get a bid. They went 6-1 last time out and came up just short.

American

Eight pools for the one bid. 417 Juniors 18-2 in pool 1. Invasion 18 Blue and Summit Volleyball Club are at the top of pools two and three respectively. 417 took 20th in Kansas City. Invasion dropped only one match in the same tournament in the semi-finals to finish third. Summit wasn’t too far behind in the 5th spot after going 6-2.

You have to journey down to pool 6 to find PVA ‘ last=”] 18 National in the second spot. They attempted to get their bid in the Liberty division last time out and will slide back down to American.

Prediction: The oh so great have to basically stay perfect American division. Invasion was so class last time so here we think they can get it done behind the play of Aubrey Kohl and company.