The Mitten Report at Mid-East Qualifiers 2023 (2/2)
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Indianapolis was on fire this weekend! A huge reason for what sparked the fire came from the talent traveling from Indiana’s neighbor to the north. Michigan was well-represented this past weekend at the Mid-East Qualifiers. One of the biggest tournaments…
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Continue ReadingIndianapolis was on fire this weekend! A huge reason for what sparked the fire came from the talent traveling from Indiana’s neighbor to the north.
Michigan was well-represented this past weekend at the Mid-East Qualifiers. One of the biggest tournaments of the season, and it did not disappoint.
Let’s take a look at some of the top teams to come out of the Mitten state this past weekend at MEQs.
17 Open
Legacy 17-1 Adidas vs Michigan Elite 17 Mizuno
This one was an absolute brawl. When I saw this match-up lined up after Day 2, I had to get front row seats for this one. These two teams have a lot of history between them. As the two have traded some players throughout the years. Former Elite players such as MB Taya Nordmann Taya Nordmann 6'2" | MB Dewitt | 2024 State MI and OH Mia Eickholdt Mia Eickholdt 5'11" | RS Country Day | 2024 State MI , now play for Legacy, meanwhile former Legacy player MB Johanna Tillman Johanna Tillman 6'2" | MB Dakota | 2024 State MI , now plays for Elite. It was intense and it came down to the wire. What a fun match
Right off the bat, Michigan Elite was in total control of the first set. The serving pressure Elite had on Legacy was strong and was doing big things. But, up 23-20, an epic come from behind run from Legacy sparked by the play of OPP Kate Maley Kate Maley 6'1" | RS Skyline | 2024 State #153 Nation MI was all Legacy needed before taking the opener, 24-26.
In the second set, it was almost a mirrored story. After Elite shot out to a lead to start, Legacy had control of the entire set. Up until it was match point, 20-24. This is where I saw a star be born in OH Allison Pilat Allison Pilat 6'2" | OH Plymouth Christian | 2024 State MI for Elite. I’ve always had big praise for Pilat, but never have I ever seen her take over a match the way she did in this moment. The next six points for Elite to secure a tiebreaker all came from the rocket launching of Pilat.
The third was a back and fourth affair with Legacy ultimately taking the match, 12-15 in the third. Arguably one of the best matches in the entire convention center.
Alongside Maley, L Kiley Gallagher Kiley Gallagher 5'5" | DS/L Clarkston | 2024 State MI and Nordmann had great outings as well. The two held it down on the defensive end for Legacy very well. Similarly for Elite, L Hailey Green Hailey Green 5'1" | DS/L North Branch | 2024 State MI and S Avery Woodard Avery Woodard 5'7" | S Marysville | 2024 State MI were digging machines, combining for over 30 digs in the three set battle.
18 Open
Legacy 18-1 Adidas
This 18 Open was stacked with so many good teams. Legacy was one of the best out of the field, per usual. And for the first 2 days of MEQ, it looked like 18-1 was cruising their way to a top five finish and a bid, going undefeated up until the last match of Day 2.
While Day 3 saw Legacy drop out of bid contention, it was still another top ten finish for this squad. Led by the usual suspects of recently committed OH Kennedy Louisell Kennedy Louisell 6'0" | OH Forest Hills Northern | 2023 State #140 Nation MI (High Point) and MB Laurece Abraham Laurece Abraham 6'1" | MB Country Day | 2023 State #111 Nation MI (Yale). These two were doing a big bulk of the point scoring for this team.
Legacy looked a little different this weekend too, as they were without their starting libero, Kaitlyn Hoffman Kaitlyn Hoffman 5'8" | DS/L Novi | 2023 State #81 Nation MI . Easily stepping in was Lexi Smith (Oakland), and she did really well filling in last minute.
18 Premier
Legacy 18-2 Adidas
Much like their 1s, 18-2 just narrowly missed out on a bid this weekend after a really good outing throughout the tournament. But nonetheless, this team still remains one of the best in the USA division.
S Erin Madigan Erin Madigan 6'2" | S Dakota | 2023 State MI (Arkansas State) was running the show for this squad and looking just as good as ever. Her location was spot on all weekend and she backs it up elite level blocking. Her go-to’s, OH Katie Smith Katie Smith 6'0" | OH Utica Eisenhower | 2023 State MI (Wayne State) and Rachel Zurek Rachel Zurek 6'0" | MB Lakeland | 2023 State MI (Michigan Tech) were on fire too.
Five:1 18 Black
Sneaking into the top ten of the USA division was Five:1’s top team, 18 Black. Similar to Legacy’s team this team is led by a lot of future GLIAC superstars.
One of those future superstars is the big gun for Five:1, OPP Cola Sisk Cola Sisk 5'10" | RS Lake Fenton | 2023 MI (Saginaw Valley). The south paw was doing her usual business this weekend. OH Dani Pohl Dani Pohl 6'0" | OH Pewamo-Westphalia | 2023 State MI was also having a superb weekend on the left side. The two were firing off really well opposite each other and the team looked the best it has all season!