2025 Nebraska Bid Tracker: VCN 18 Elite Finds Early Open Glory

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Nebraska Bid Tracker is back.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We've only reached January's halfway point, but we already have some Nationals-bound players to discuss in the Great Plains Region. And, with how condensed the 18s season is, it should be no surprise that a top 18s contender is kicking off a new year of this annual bid-tracking series.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[program_tooltip program_id='428743' first='VCNebraska' last=''] 18 Elite traveled to Kansas City's MLK Tournament in search of an early 18 Open bid to USAV Nationals. Last year's 17 Elite group experienced a dramatic bid-earning triumph through the Salt Lake City Showdown, but this 2025 group is fundamentally different than that 17s squad. A medley of new faces and familiar stars came together to bring [program_tooltip program_id='428743' first='VCNebraska' last=''] back into the GJNC hunt in 18 Open.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Let's recognize VCN 18 Elite's runner-up finish to clinch one of the first tickets to Salt Lake City, the site of this year's 18s Nationals.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Razor-Thin Margins</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[program_tooltip program_id='428743' first='VCNebraska' last=''] 18 Elite's bid journey was defined by some razor-thin margins and clutch triumphs. This is usually how qualifiers work, after all.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>18 Elite was slotted into an unusual opening-round pool that featured three teams rather than four. The format was altered so that each match would have three sets to 25 points, even if a 2-0 decision was reached after the first two sets.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This new wrinkle did not deter VCN, resulting in a 2-0 start with a 5-1 set record. 18 Elite moved on to a fascinating Sunday pool which featured an even split of representatives from the Great Plains Region and the Heart of America Region. 18 Elite was paired with Premier Nebraska 18 Gold and battled PVA and KC Power from the Kansas City area.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[program_tooltip program_id='428743' first='VCNebraska' last=''] made an early statement with a three-set victory over its in-state rival. This set up the "Heart of America gauntlet," where 18 Elite suffered its first defeat of the weekend in a loss to KC Power. However, VCN bounced back to beat PVA and finish on the plus side in Round 2.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Four teams remained with two bids on the line. [program_tooltip program_id='428743' first='VCNebraska' last=''] overcame a deuce loss in Set 1 to down Adrenaline in a three-set tiebreaker. Then, 18 Elite avenged its loss to KC Power before falling to MAVS in a 16-14 third set.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Three of the four teams achieved a 2-1 record in the Gold pool, setting off a bevy of tiebreaker drama. [program_tooltip program_id='428743' first='VCNebraska' last=''] achieved a 5-3 record in set count, putting it above MAVS in overall percentages. This was enough to place 18 Elite in second place to lock up a spot in Salt Lake City.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Dream Team</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here's where we'll address the massive influx of talent to this new-look 18 Elite team.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 18s age group is a fascinating wildcard. Early college enrollment has become increasingly common among senior athletes, so clubs often have to shuffle their decks dramatically between 17s and 18s.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":255191,"width":"416px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none","align":"right"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2022/12/50_Abbie-Hagedorn-2.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-255191" style="width:416px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Fortunately, [program_tooltip program_id='428743' first='VCNebraska' last=''] received plenty of reinforcements to help out their returning stars. [player_tooltip player_id='173527' first='Abbie' last='Hagedorn'], [player_tooltip player_id='189320' first='Natalie' last='Wardlow'], and [player_tooltip player_id='155052' first='Kiera' last='Link'] moved to VCN after logging innumerable high-level reps with [program_tooltip program_id='428717' first='Nebraska' last='ONE']'s Synergy squad. All three were fixtures in 18 Elite's starting lineup en route to the runner-up finish in Kansas City and played various roles in the team's flexible lineup.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Wardlow, a Wisconsin commit, showed some adaptability as an opposite despite spending most of her club career in the middle. This shift allowed [player_tooltip player_id='269932' first='Gretchen' last='Seagren'] and [player_tooltip player_id='395108' first='Eastyn' last='Kropatsch'] to showcase their strength at the middle blocker spot. We've also seen Seagren thrive as an opposite, so 18 Elite's positional versatility is already becoming its primary strength. Meanwhile, Lincoln East star [player_tooltip player_id='342564' first='Katie' last='Merten'] logged some impressive reps at opposite to accompany her experience as a middle. These athletes can play anywhere along the net.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This is a perfect segue to [player_tooltip player_id='189362' first='Faith' last='Venable'], a high-flying attacker who has shifted between middle blocker and outside hitter for [program_tooltip program_id='428743' first='VCNebraska' last='']. Her main objective at last weekend's event was to score on the left pin, and she did this with ruthless efficiency. But Venable was also a six-rotation asset who demonstrated her incredible development as a backcourt leader. She's much more than a middle blocker.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Looking for another multi-position star? South Dakota State commit Brooke Larsen fits the bill. This dynamic setter-opposite dazzled us during her long tenure with Premier Nebraska, and now she's wielding her outstanding two-pronged onslaught with [program_tooltip program_id='428743' first='VCNebraska' last='']. Larsen set out of the back row and hit in the front row through most of 18 Elite's stay in Kansas City--a worthy use of this D1-bound star.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>18 Elite boasted serious depth at the ball control positions to add this wealth of terminal attackers. In addition to Larsen's setting out of the back row, 18 Elite also deployed returning [program_tooltip program_id='428743' first='VCNebraska' last=''] stars [player_tooltip player_id='173517' first='Meghan' last='Anderson'] and [player_tooltip player_id='173537' first='Audrey' last='Waido'] at the setter position. Anderson and Waido have been the focal points of offensive success on different VCN teams of the past. Now, they're joining forces to chase an 18 Open crown.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The backcourt is led by three more returning [program_tooltip program_id='428743' first='VCNebraska' last=''] standouts. North Dakota State commit [player_tooltip player_id='189328' first='Rya' last='Borer'] locked down the libero jersey and maintained her exceptional momentum from last year. She worked in tandem with [player_tooltip player_id='173524' first='Nikki' last='Ott'] and [player_tooltip player_id='495064' first='Macy' last='Abel'], both of whom are skilled at whichever zone they're asked to command. Even with all the newness in this 18 Elite lineup, the instant cohesion led to immediate qualifier success.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">The Tracker</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Here's where we'll add teams to the bid tracker throughout the season.</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">18 Open</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[program_tooltip program_id='428743' first='VCNebraska' last=''] 18 Elite</strong> - <em>KC MLK</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->