Four Qualifiers in One Weekend, Who's Getting a Bid?

Be sure to follow @lshotvb on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/lshotvb/">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@lshotvb?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc">Tik Tok </a>and <a href="https://x.com/LineShotVBall">Twitter</a> for all things volleyball!   –   Eleven bids will be given out across four qualifiers in one weekend. Let the games begin!   Just as fast as the season has started, the nationals picture starts to become a lot more focused. 11 teams already have their tickets punched to the USA Girls 18s Junior Nationals in Salt Lake City in April. 11 more teams will join them after this weekend.   Whether you're in Columbus, Orlando, Minneapolis or Dallas, it is going to be an electric weekend of volleyball. Here are six of the top teams you need to know that DO NOT have a bid already and should surely secure theirs after Sunday.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Michigan Elite 18 Mizuno @ OVR</h2>   <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/11/DSC07546-3.jpg?w=769" alt="" class="wp-image-725347" style="width:215px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Jessica Costlow</figcaption></figure>   This team came out of the gates SMOKING hot at the Windy City Qualifier. They went on to rattle off an eight match win streak before meeting up with the eventual tournament winner in 1st Alliance. They would then find themselves just within reach of that third and final bid. Unfortunately, a late game injury to OPP Gabriella Babinski and a few untimely calls, 18 Mizuno saw the final bid go to OTVA Tampa. Nonetheless, this could be the weekend to secure their spot in Utah.   With a near brand new look to their roster, MiElite really turned some heads at Windy City. S Ella Craggs (Illinois State) is playing some of her best ball after concluding a legendary high school career. Her distribution was key and came up so timely, leaving her hitters in great scoring opportunities all weekend. MB Victoria Gray (Indiana) had herself a weekend, particularly when you consider how she is coming off of a season barring injury.   However, one of the biggest revelations of the weekend was from their go-to weapon, turned libero, Jessica Costlow (Toledo). In her positional debut, Costlow did not disappoint whatsoever. This was a key area of question for this group coming into the season. All worries have washed away.   18 Mizuno is not only a favorite to take home a bid this weekend at OVR, but they're in snatching distance of winning the qualifier. While there will likely be a rematch with Metro down the line, a mighty physical team. MIElite's biggest concern will come with AVC, WCQ Runner-Up. That square-off won't occur until Championship Sunday.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">METRO 18 Travel @ OVR</h2>   Metro was right there in forcing themselves into a bid conversation in Chicago. They're capitalizing on the club's typical MO, pure physicality and athleticism. Attributes that will surely be key in this Ohio Valley Qualifier.   This team all comes together with the play of Isabella Bardin (Purdue). The 6'2 setter can dish the rock but also throw it down as well. Her size offers up so many different looks for this squad and hoists them up a formidable block. Alexis Ewing (Penn State) was looking as big as ever in Chicago. A late addition to the sport, Ewing continues to grow her game at an expeditious rate. She can simply tower over opposing blockers and leave dents in the floor. It's Bardin's favorite button to push. When Ewing's on, Metro is a nasty bug to kick.   It will be to Metro's aid that there will be a trickle effect this weekend. AVC is surely a leading force to be in the gold on Sunday. OVR is giving out three bids this weekend. If all plays out, Metro needs to simply uphold their seed and they're grabbing a ticket to Nationals. To get there, they will need to find a rhythm early on in matches and run with it. This was seemingly 18 Travel's biggest issue last weekend.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Tribe 18 Cardinal @ Florida Fest</h2>   They're the returning AAU 17 Open National Champions. They're coming off of a championship weekend at the 3STEP MLK Invitational without their entire roster on tap. This is a no brainer. Much like Michigan Elite, I am not only predicting Tribe to grab a bid this weekend, but I foresee this team to continue their winning ways at Florida Fest.   One of the biggest contributors to Tribe's successful MLK weekend was the play of Tekoa Barnes (Oklahoma). This is one of the hardest hitting players in the country. And I will die on that hill. Barnes explodes off the court and onto the ball, and when it all comes together, there is no stopping her OR her team. Tribe also has the luxury of having a top rated back court player like Zoey Matias (Missouri). An unspoken hero in this squad full of big names, Matias does the dirty work and it doesn't go unnoticed here.   I do have some questions to ask going into Florida Fest. Where is Kelly Kinney (Minnesota)? And where is Charlotte Glass (Duke)? These two leading ladies were seemingly absent from the MLK weekend. Per social media, Kinney seemed to have been on a mission trip and has made her return home. I am interested to see if either will be back on the courts with 18 Cardinal for the qualifier.   Regardless of personnel, this group has more than proven to be deep in their bench and capable of making big things happen. Just by a quick overview of teams that'll be in Orlando, I have no doubt this group will be a top 3 finisher, with or without Glass and Kinney. Without the two, it will make a potential match up against in-state rival, OTVA Tampa a lot more interesting. A match-up that could very much determine who wins this tournament.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">FC ELITE 18 Elite @ Northern Lights</h2>   <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/01/DSC05179.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-504767" style="width:289px;height:auto" /></figure>   The Northern Lights 18s Qualifier will have the luxury of having already 3 teams in the tournament with a bid to USA Nationals. This creates quite the trickle down effect if whether or not seedings align throughout the goings of play. With VC Nebraska, Mizuno Long Beach and Adrenaline all with a bid, these three also act as the top three seeds entering the tournament. A team that not only can go grab their ticket to the illusive tournament, but maybe make a statement or two this weekend is FC Elite.   This team was well within the fold of being one of the last teams vying for the bid last weekend in Windy City. They would come out of the gates swinging, upsetting Circle City on Day 1. Unfortunately though, despite the upset, FC couldn't keep the momentum and faltered on Day 2, going 1-2. A team that seems to still be in the process of connecting the dots, NLQ would be the perfect place to put it all together.   A key piece I would like to see get taking off more is the play in the middle. FC Elite has itself one of the shiniest diamonds in the rough with 2026 Mya Hemmer (Baylor). A product out of the upper peninsula of Michigan, Hemmer is late to the game but coming on very strong in her first ever club season. She showed off huge signs of excellence in Chicago and could maybe use a bit more opportunities in Minneapolis.   Who will need to continue her red hot play is the leader of this squad, Peyton Carlson (Creighton) on the outside. When things were getting dicey, Carlson is the player you want on your side. She's a complete six rotation player with loads of ball control and an eye for open court.   FC Elite has shown to be able to hang with the top dogs. Day 2 of Windy City seemed to have been nothing but a fluke. A first tournament jitter that needed to be let out. At Northern Lights, with the first tournament under their belts and the added comfort of the trickle down, FC should be able to play freely. This, as for any team, is a dangerous situation for other opponents. I wouldn't be shocked to see FC take home that bid here, but maybe throw down some of the top teams in the qualifier.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Dallas Skyline 18 Royal @ AVC</h2>   <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/07/DSC00809.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-573238" style="width:309px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Sophia Thornburg</figcaption></figure>   I was rather shocked to see this team not already have a bid after the weekend in Austin. Granted, this team was without their Under Armour All-American, Zoe Gillen-Malveaux (Duke). With or without her, this is going to be another tough outing for Skyline as there is only 2 bids out for grabs here. There's only 12 teams in this qualifier, so the margin for error becomes that much more serious.   Despite coming up short at the Lone Star Qualifier, Skyline is a team that has perennially been in the Open division at USA Nationals. They return a bulk of their cast form last year's third place finish in 17 Open. There is little doubt in this team making a return one last time. They'll look to their pins big time, especially if they have to go another weekend without ZGM.   The play of future Fighting Irish duo of Sophia Thornburg and ChiChi Nnaji will be pivotal. Thornburg on the left pin has been exceptional as she continues to grow her overall game. She has a heavy arm and a wide range that can really mess with opposing defenses. For Nnaji, standing at 6'5, not only does she have the size advantage, but she has the strength as well. When everything comes together, Nnaji is a force of nature. Not much is stopping her, let alone, slowing her down.   Despite the shortened window of opportunity, Dallas Skyline will have a similar luxury of FC Elite. The trickle down. With both Drive Nation and Excel having clinched their spots in Salt Lake City at Lone Star, this leaves a lot of opportunity to grab theirs.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">North Pacific Juniors 18 Forefront @ AVC</h2>   There may not be a more dangerous team in the 18 Open, that isn't talked about enough than the squad out of NPJ. This group had teams on the ropes in Windy City. Coming in as the 10th seed in the WCQ, NPJ managed to finish fifth, taking down the No. 2 seeded, Circle CIty along the way. With narrow three set losses to both OTVA Tampa and AVC, NPJ had a bid to SLC just within reach.   It's a shortened field, less bids being handed out, but arguably a less competitive field than that of WCQ's. This all can work in NPJ's favor. Paige Thies (Arizona) had the hot hand every step of the way. Her high reach and heavy arm caused fits for so many teams along the way. Her power will be a key factor in this weekend's hunt for a bid.   Alongside Thies, Reese Sheppard was another standout. At the libero position, Sheppard has the gift of her length and she uses all of it to her utmost advantage. She reads the game extremely well and covers so much ground. This allowed so many scoring opportunities to open up for her team, truly acting as the propellant for 18 Forefront.   The AVC Qualifier can be the perfect place for NPJ to finish what they started in Chicago. Not only could they walk out with a bid, but this would be a great stage for this crew to dominate throughout.

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