Missouri Teams Prepare For Nationals

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The last dance is here as the 18s are set to begin play Friday in Columbus, Ohio. This will be the final competition for many before they head off to college, and for others, it will be their final chance to lace them up period. Here are the teams in the state who will be participating.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>National</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We will have two teams in what many consider the second most competitive division, the National. <strong>HPSTL 18 Royal </strong>earned their bid through the region competition. <strong>Rockwood 18 Elite </strong>will also begin action in the National, after previously qualifying in USA based on our notes. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>HPSTL will be in Pool 5 and hold the 11th seed beginning tournament action. They have a roster of players that have been playing together for years and will look to make their final weekend together memorable. [player_tooltip player_id='152141' first='Emma' last='Fairchild'] and [player_tooltip player_id='101700' first='Elise' last='Paul'] are a couple of their mainstays. It also appears [player_tooltip player_id='207576' first='Harper' last='Highfill'] will play up and join the team for their time in Ohio.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rockwood will begin in Pool 3 as the 15th overall seed when the first serve launches. They had a second-place finish in their region bid event. [player_tooltip player_id='123459' first='Mia' last='Berg'] and [player_tooltip player_id='123472' first='Caitlyn' last='Little'] are players who will be counted on to play big at the net. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>USA</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[program_tooltip program_id='428797' first='[program_tooltip program_id='428797' first='Pursuit' last='']' last=''] 18 National </strong>snatched up their big early in the season in Kansas City at the MLK Qualifier. They have competed often this season and hope the court time and experience will carry them this weekend. A couple of middles on their roster to watch are Payton Roberts and [player_tooltip player_id='168036' first='Katherine' last='St. John']. They will begin their championship quest from Pool 2. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>From the Northland of Kansas City, <strong>Mizuno Club North 18 Sam</strong> made the dance after a strong showing at NEQ with a third-place finish. They are a team that will depend on good ball control to allow their setter a chance to have plenty of options. Victoria Creason and Reaanne Reed hold the setting duties. Look for Club North in Pool 8. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Liberty</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>MEQ was good for <strong>Blue Steel Volleyball Club 18 Black</strong> out of the Gateway Region, as they walked away with a bid for this weekend's national championships. They've been consistent this year in region play along with a good showing at the President's Day tournament in St. Louis. Setter Alyssa Frederking will look to run a smooth offense will they begin play in Pool 6 as the 11th overall seed. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Invasion 18 Black</strong> handled their business at the Music City Qualifier walking away with the gold ball. They will look to navigate Pool 7 on court 31 in a four-team battle. [player_tooltip player_id='152144' first='Tori' last='Valentine'], [player_tooltip player_id='152130' first='Alli' last='Poage'], and Kori Frankin will look to control things at the net. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>American</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We have three teams from the Show Me State representing in the American division.<strong> Missouri Juniors 18-1 </strong>captured the top prize in Kansas City at the MLK Qualifier. They also had good showings in the Gateway Region tournament. [player_tooltip player_id='150016' first='Anna' last='Wekenborg'] and Landry Van Overshelde form a good connection. You can follow them atop Pool 12. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[program_tooltip program_id='428760' first='Core' last='STL'] 18-1 </strong>finished fourth in the Gateway Region and earned its American bid. They played in the Liberty division at MEQ and left with a 9th-place finish, which was a good showing. They are in Pool 10.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Invasion 18-2 </strong>earned the region bid from the HOA bid tournament and is set in Pool 14. They just nearly missed out on gaining their bid in a qualifying tournament, finishing with a 3rd place showing in Kansas City. [player_tooltip player_id='335636' first='Aubrey' last='Kohl'] is a quality setter and is fun to watch. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Freedom</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rockwood 18 Navy earned the region Freedom bid and will be one of six teams in Pool 7 in Columbus. [player_tooltip player_id='101698' first='Kirstyn' last='Loyd'] and [player_tooltip player_id='123657' first='Abigail' last='Siess'] will be featured in the Rockwood offense. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>417 Columbia 18-1</strong> and <strong>STATC 18-1 </strong>will be in the tournament from the HOA region. 417 will be in Pool 6 and you will find STATC in 5. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->