What Sneaky Good 2025s Take On NLQ 16 Open?

Teams are coming into the Twin Cities to take on the Northern Lights Qualifier at the Convention Center in Minneapolis. Teams are looking to punch their ticket to USAV Nationals in Chicago, or upgrade their status to an open bid. There are a lot of big names in the Class of 2025 playing this weekend, but who are the ones that might be slept on? They might not be the first option for their team, but they certainly are capable of making a big impact when their team needs it the most.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://x.com/PrepDigChris/status/1601607159971983361?s=20 </div></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='215470' first='Camryn' last='Overton'] - Iowa PowerPlex 515   Pin Hitter   I've seen Overton compete at the high school state tournament in Iowa, like many of here PowerPlex 515 teammates. She was a standout at the Iowa Top 250. Overton brings a dynamic game where she is a big leaper with a high touch. She is lethal from the right side where she can find the open spots as well as use the block to her advantage. This squad is going to be exciting to watch and will be a tough matchup. They have depth and a setter in Katie Quick who can run quite a show and take it over with a dirty left handed swing.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/03/DSC01125.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-342956" width="536" height="357"/></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='260952' first='Leah' last='Freesemann'] - Top Flight 16 Elite   Outside Hitter   I saw Freeseman play at the Great Lakes Region Qualifier in Chicago two weeks ago. She is a long, athletic outside hitter who is rising among the ranks in the Midwest with her ability to contact high. This Top Flight team is one who could surprise some people at NLQ as they have plenty of athletes and clean ball control to stick with some of the high powered teams. Freeseman will be key to this offense as she can score points in and out of system.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://x.com/PrepDigChris/status/1619415416799125504?s=20 </div></figure>   Keira O'Donnell - 1st Alliance 16 Gold   Right Side   1st Alliance 16 Gold is one of the top 16s teams in the country. They are always in the mix when it comes to day three playing in the gold pools for something at stake. Keira O'Donnell has been playing on the right side and provides a really solid block and can score points when called upon. Abby Vander Wal is a big time scorer on the outside, but the strength of this team comes from not being able to sleep on anyone. I've seen Keria O'Donnell score points or come up with a big block when her team needed it the most.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2021/11/180-Greta-Shadewald.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-166609" width="578" height="385"/></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='178308' first='Greta' last='Shadewald'] - Madtown Juniors 161 National   Setter   Madtown Juniors comes from Madison, Wisconsin where they are in their second full year of play.  Shadewald will be one of the key players for this team as a setter where she brings a lot of length and physicality to the position.  I've seen her on the high school and club courts where she can take over a match, finding a favorable matchup for her attackers or taking it herself.  Her older sister Aida Shadewald had a standout freshman campaign this past year at Illinois State.    [player_tooltip player_id='117628' first='Clara' last='Hoegh'] - Kairos 16 Alpha   Setter   Hoegh was a standout setter this past season for Boyden-Hull high school in Northwest Iowa. However, prior to this season she was a standout for Byron (MN) and Northern Lights. She will return to her old stomping grounds. Hoegh is a pure playmaker. She's 5'7, gritty, and finds a way to get it done for her side of the net. She is extremely fundamentally sound. With training at Northern Lights and Kairos, she has a solid base defensively and is extremely smooth with her feet and hands as a setter.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2022/12/44-AK-Christensen.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-263463" width="650" height="416"/></figure>   Ashlee Kay AK Christensen - IPVA 16 Black   Outside Hitter   Christensen is a solid all around player who can do whatever the team needs to be successful. She can pass, serve receive, and score points. She can play on either pin as well as score points out of the back row. Christensen has a very relaxed platform without any wasted movement which allows her to be efficient. There will be plenty of high level 2025s in Minneapolis this weekend from Iowa.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://x.com/PrepDigChris/status/1542152223093825537?s=20 </div></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='155030' first='Anna' last='Jelinek'] - Nebraska One 16 Synergy   Outside Hitter   The is such a fun team to watch out of the Lincoln, Nebraska area. They know how to play against high level competition where they were in the elite eight at Triple Crown and finished in the top half of 15 Open at USAV in 2022. Jelinek is a six rotation outside hitter who is really explosive with her approach and contact. She is able to take what the defense gives her hitting the split or going down the line, she provides a threat out of the backrow as well. Above all, she knows how to win. She's won at every level of club and was a runner up this past fall with her high school team.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2022/11/137A6947-2.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-243647" width="464" height="321"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">'25 Cedar Rapids (IA) Xavier High OH [player_tooltip player_id='215386' first='Carley' last='Jonker']. (Rob Howe/PrepDig.com) </figcaption></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='215386' first='Carley' last='Jonker'] - Adrenaline 16 Doug   Libero   Jonker brings a ton of athleticism to this upstart Adrenaline squad out of Cedar Rapids, Iowa. This team came in as the 32nd seed to MEQ and finished in the top ten, taking everyone by storm. Jonker is the libero for this team where she covers quite a range. She can anticipate well and isn't afraid to do the dirty work. She was part of a Cedar Rapids Xavier volleyball team that won a state title this past fall and is also a standout on the softball diamond.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/02/IMG_2872-crop-2632x1728-1677536909.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-330862" width="472" height="310"/></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='178230' first='Eva' last='Wall-Perkins'] - FC Elite 16 Navy   Middle Blocker   FC Elite out of Appleton, Wisconsin plays with a lot of ball control and tempo. This team might not tower over anyone, but they are a tough match up. They took KIVA 16 Red, the eventual MEQ Open Champion, to three sets in pool play and have been really close to breaking through. Wall is a fast twitch middle blocker where she is a big leaper and has a fast arm swing taking it multiple angles. The matchup between FC Elite and Adrenaline will be a fun out where the winner could be one to advance to Saturday gold pools.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2022/09/DSC07353-scaled.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-228034" width="450" height="300"/></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='178038' first='Eva' last='Finnessy'] - MKE Sting 16 Gold   Right Side   This Sting Gold team is loaded, there is plenty of depth at every position. An athlete who has shown plenty of improvement and consistency is [player_tooltip player_id='178038' first='Eva' last='Finnessy']. The right side plays with a high IQ where she knows what shots to hit and when, she knows when to swing for a kill on an overpass, or when to bring the overpass back out to get the offense running. She provides a strong block as well. There is no one to sleep on with this squad.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/03/DSC09527-1.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-354361" width="448" height="298"/></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='177424' first='Keira' last='Schmidt'] - Northern Lights 16-1   Middle Blocker   This Northern Lights team is going to be dangerous during qualifier season.  This group has been together the past two seasons with the same coaches and are continuously getting better.  There is little weakness on this team with a lot of balance.  Schmidt is a very physical middle where she can cause a lot of havoc in the front row with her block while also working hard in transition to be available to attack.  They will have a fun matchup to finish pool play on Friday with MKE Sting 16 Gold.

Teams are coming into the Twin Cities to take on the Northern Lights Qualifier at the Convention Center in Minneapolis. Teams are looking to punch their ticket to USAV Nationals in Chicago, or upgrade their status to an open bid. There are a lot of big names in the Class of 2025 playing this weekend, but who are the ones that might be slept on? They might not be the first option for their team, but they certainly are capable of making a big impact when their team needs it the most.