Uncommitted Players in the 17 Open at Northern Lights

<!-- wp:heading {"level":6} --> <h6 class="wp-block-heading"><em>Be sure to follow&nbsp;@lshotvb&nbsp;on Instagram, Tik Tok and Twitter for all things volleyball!</em></h6> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":6} --> <h6 class="wp-block-heading">–</h6> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Club season has officially started and the chase for a bid begins!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This week marks the start of the qualifier season for many teams across the country with the Northern Lights Qualifier taking place in Minneapolis. There's been a few bids taken already in the 18s division but for the rest of the age groups, NLQ marks the first go-around. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>While we get down to bid-ness, we have to take a look at who's competing this weekend. The field in the 17 Open Division is stacked! NLQ welcomes over 10 teams from last year's USAV National Tournament, six of those teams placing in the top ten for 16 Open. This is going to be a brawl.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With all of this talent on display, there's still quite a few uncommitted dandies in the field. We're highlighting a few that deserve some attention going into the qualifier weekend.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Finley Johnson - SIVB</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Starting off strong, we're getting a little taste of what the PNW has cooking this coming club season. Finley Johnson is a player that has been emerging as one of the top prospects to come out of the region. She's developed a really nice overall game, but has been coming along nicely as a go-to attacker. She hits a heavy ball and is expanding her range really well around the court.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"right","id":326941,"width":"206px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/02/Baliegh-Minor-e1677201824949.jpg?w=949" alt="" class="wp-image-326941" style="width:206px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Bayleigh Minor</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Katerina Stout - Michigan Elite</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This is player that is coming into her second straight season playing in the 17 Open division. A burgeoning talent in the middle, Katerina Stout has had a whirlwind of growth over the last 12 months. She started last club season on the 16-2s team at MiElite before being brought up to the 17-1s. Rejoining her class, Stout joins last year's 16 Open AAU National Runner-Ups. She adds a lot of size and blocking prowess to this year's team.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Bayleigh Minor - Houston Skyline</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This one is kind of a head scratcher. I'd argue that Bayleigh Minor is a five star rated middle in this 2025 class. With an incredible ability to elevate off the ground and put the ball away, she scores at ease. You then look at how laterally agile Minor is along the net and you have a complete package. Minor brings a lot of firepower to Houston Skyline and she's one of the first options to feed.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Kiya Johnson - Nebraska Elite</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kiya Johnson is another attacking dynamo to keep an eye on in Minneapolis. Whether she's throwing blows in the middle or on the right pin, Johnson has been having a lot of success scoring anywhere along the net. She's an incoming talent that is seeing herself on a real steep upward trajectory as of late. She's finishing at a high rate offensively and offers a lot of physicality with her block.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Sydney Buchanan - 1st Alliance</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Speaking of players coming in hot, Sydney Buchanan is coming in on fire! She's getting the call up to 17 Gold this season after leading 16 Silver to a top ten finish in the USAV National Division last summer. Buchanan is a raw, athletic powerhouse with the ability to terminate at a very high level. I am excited to see the combination of Abby Vander Wal and Buchanan this weekend. This addition to 17 Gold could be what they need to finish atop the podium later this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='177442' first='Olivia' last='Stier'] - MN Select</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This is a new player that's landed on my radar recently and I am excited to see what more she is made of. [player_tooltip player_id='177442' first='Olivia' last='Stier'] is very much an under-the-radar talent in the middle. She has the size to be a really successful middle, but its when she pops off the ground is where she could really set herself apart. Literally popping off of the ground, Stier gets up and gets on the ball so fast. If MN Select can stay in system and feed this player, they could find great success.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"> Ellie Burns - Northern Lights</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ellie Burns is a new addition to this group that finished top ten in the 16 Open Division at USAVs. A new addition, and looking like a real impactful one at that. On top of being a solid piece in Northern Light's 6-2 system, Burns is showing off some serious defensive chops. As much as she is running the offense, she's keeping the ball alive and giving Lights more opportunities. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->