More Bids in the 18s: Northern Lights and Florida Fest

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We love bid season in club volleyball. Anytime teams from Missouri and Kansas earn bids, we celebrate with them as we know it's not an easy task. After the first qualifier a couple of weeks ago, more bids are returning!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Northern Lights</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In the open division, <strong>[program_tooltip program_id='430200' first='KC' last='[program_tooltip program_id='428794' first='Power' last='']'] 18 Black</strong> won their second qualifier of the season to double-qualify. It wasn't easy and was a close call after going 2-1 on the first day. That's not atypical for a pool play performance and generally gives you a second-place pool finish. Not today, as three teams would finish with the same record and the defeat to VCN 18 Elite in a three-set battle to close pool play earned a fourth set for advancement. That's right, after finishing with the same record and set percentage, a one-set playoff round would be played and it was as epic as the third set in the previous match. Teams would trade blows throughout the match but [program_tooltip program_id='428794' first='Power' last=''] would prevail 16-14. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>On the second day, [program_tooltip program_id='430200' first='KC' last='[program_tooltip program_id='428794' first='Power' last='']'] would again go 2-1, losing to local foe Pohaku, but this time 2-1 was good for first place in the pool and a spot in final day gold pools. They dropped one set in the gold pool, winning all three matches to earn their second title in three weeks. [player_tooltip player_id='119724' first='Jillian' last='Huckabey'], [player_tooltip player_id='119704' first='Cy' last='Rae Campbell'], and [player_tooltip player_id='119723' first='Julia' last='Headley'] were a few players who had championship moments over the three days. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In the Liberty division, <strong>[program_tooltip program_id='428892' first='PVA' last=''] 18 Elite</strong> will return to Kansas City after a third-place finish with a bid under their belts. After the second-place UP 18 Elite declined the bid, [program_tooltip program_id='428892' first='PVA' last=''] took down Summit in the all-important third-place match to seal the deal. They were perfect through their first five matches, not dropping a set on day one. The second day saw them finish second in the pool to Texas Tornados. The second-place finish was good enough to send them to the four-team gold bracket. They dropped their match in three sets to UP Elite but as mentioned above, won the next match to earn their bid. Rhyan Mack, Hannah Wooley, and [player_tooltip player_id='152837' first='Lauren' last='Croom'] are some of the players on this talented roster. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Florida Fest</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Starting in the open division, <strong>[program_tooltip program_id='428799' first='Rockwood' last='Thunder'] 18 Elite</strong> ended up double-qualifying as well after a third-place finish in the Sunshine State. Their first day ended with a pair of three-set wins. They then started day two with another three-set match before ending with consecutive sweeps. They suffered their first and only defeat of the tournament to Triangle 18 Black in three before beating Metro and OT 18 Roberto to finish second in their pool and go 8-1. The team got good setter play from [player_tooltip player_id='124219' first='Alyssa' last='Nelson'] and [player_tooltip player_id='124225' first='Sammi' last='Bergjans'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[program_tooltip program_id='428799' first='Rockwood' last='Thunder'] 18 Navy</strong> left Florida with a bid in the USA division after also going 8-1 along the way. They were perfect in pool play over the first two days and they won the all-important first match in bracket play to reach the semifinals. This would prove huge as a win guarantees a bid, a loss would get them a chance in the third-place match. This is exactly what would occur, a loss and one last match for a bid. They would face Apex, also from Missouri, and would have little trouble in the first set, running away 25-15. The second was more competitive but Rockwood would win 25-19. They had good defensive play from Addison Normile and [player_tooltip player_id='207277' first='Karlie' last='Lane'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We had a champion crowned in the Liberty division, <strong>Mavs KC 18-2 </strong>returns with a bid in hand after going 8-1 in Florida. A couple of cross-pool matches were in the mix, both wins to keep their chance at a bid alive. On the final day, they had little problem navigating the gold bracket, with only one set dropped, a 26-28 first set in the semi-finals. The championship match saw them create distance in the first set, pulling away -17 before dominating the second set -12. Macy Barlett, Tabor Scanlon, and company had a good weekend run. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->