Where Badger Region Teams Stand With National Bids

We are only a month removed from the Badger Region Qualifier where teams get the chance to punch their ticket to the national tournament held in June.  As someone heavily involved in the club volleyball world, I have a hard time tracking who has qualified and what division they have qualified.  Here is a little lesson behind qualifying for nationals 

Here is some terminology in regards to club volleyball when it comes to national tournaments. 

Regional Qualifier - This would be the Badger Region Qualifier where teams competed back on March 1 and 2 in Milwaukee. Teams earn “bids” to national based on their finish at the region qualifier. 

Regional Division Bids: 

National 

American 

Freedom 

National Qualifier - This is a qualifying event that will have teams from across the country compete for a bid to nationals.  There are various divisions to compete in at a national qualifier.  Some of the national qualifiers that teams from Wisconsin will usually compete in are the Mideast Qualifier (Indianapolis and St. Louis), Northern Lights Qualifier (Minneapolis), and Windy City Qualifier (Chicago).  There are national qualifiers all over the country, some clubs will head across the country.  For example, at the Northern Lights Qualifier in Minneapolis there will be teams from Texas, Florida, California and everywhere in between. 

National Qualifier Division Bids: 

Open - Highest Division

USA

Liberty 

American 

Bid - This means teams punch their ticket to nationals, they have earned a spot.  

Reallocated - The Badger Region has a certain number of bids to give out.  There are regions across the country, and some regions will not have enough teams to fill up their bids they are given by USA Volleyball.  Those bids are then reallocated to another region. 

Trickle Down Bid - I think the best way to explain this would be using FC Elite 16 Navy as an example.  FC Elite 16 Navy won the Badger Region Qualifier, which earned them a national division bid for USAV Nationals.  Three weeks later they earned an “Open” bid at the Northern Lights Qualifier. They will be among the top 32 teams in the country by competing in the open division at USAV Nationals in Dallas.  Since they “upgraded” their bid, their "National" bid from the Badger Region then goes to another Badger Region team. This is the “trickle” down effect where teams can earn a bid to nationals or upgrade their bid by another team in the regional qualifying at a national event. 

Patriot Division - Planning travel for a national event can be quite the task for clubs and families.  Some teams might not earn a bid until later in the season and would only have a matter of weeks to coordinate travel (if not less).  Teams have an option to sign up for the Patriot Division which guarantees them a spot at nationals.  This allows for teams and families to plan travel in advance where teams can always upgrade their bid at a national qualifier.  

Bid Status from the Badger Region as of April 4 at 12:00 PM