Nebraska’s Opening-Day Wave 2 Matchups to Watch at USAV Nationals

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 16s and 17s are ready.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We're following a flurry of Championship Saturday activity at AAU and USAV Nationals, all while preparing for the momentous 16s and 17s wave of GJNC. It's giving us plenty of angles to cover, and we can't wait to watch it all unfold.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Wave 2 of USAV Nationals will bring Nebraska's next group of title contenders to Dallas, and the journey starts with some high-stakes Sunday contests to open pool play. Here are a few that immediately stand out.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Premier Nebraska 17 Gold vs. Mintonette Sports m.71</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>All eyes on 17 Open.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Premier Nebraska 17 Gold earned an early GJNC berth through a magical run at the Northern Lights Qualifier. This January triumph has allowed 17 Gold to hone its skills with postseason plans already secured, raising the expectations for Dallas. Still, we know how tough the 17 Open division can be.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>17 Gold has a Sunday tilt against Ohio's Mintonette Sports .m71, the top seed in Pool 5.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Midwest Elite 17-1 vs. Sunshine 17 LA</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Let's give a nod to our Iowa and South Dakota neighbors.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Midwest Elite 17-1, which used to compete under the [program_tooltip program_id='429192' first='MVP' last='United'] banner, has already collected plenty of postseason highlights. Even under a new name, this Great Plains Region mainstay should be a force in the 17 National division.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A Day 1 contest against Sunshine 17 LA looms large as Midwest Elite battles a big wave of Open-level contenders. Consider this division an extension of Open.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">South Central NE 17 Black vs. BSVBC 17 Black</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We're catching up with Show Me Qualifier royalty.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>South Central NE 17 Black secured its 17 Liberty bid with a runner-up finish in Kansas City this April. It was the team's third consecutive trip to the Show Me championship match, cementing 17 Black's multi-year postseason legacy. This core group also reached the GJNC podium in Chicago as 15s.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A showdown with BSVBC opens this year's proceedings.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">[program_tooltip program_id='428717' first='Nebraska' last='ONE'] 17 Black vs. TAV Houston 17 Adidas</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This will be a fascinating litmus test for [program_tooltip program_id='428717' first='Nebraska' last='ONE'] 17 Black.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This tight-knit squad added a few new players for 2025 and kept up its momentum through the Great Plains Region Bid Tournament. 17 Black primarily competed in the 17 USA division and enjoyed an exceptional start at the Show Me Qualifier.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 17 National division will feature several Open-caliber teams, and TAV Houston 17 Adidas is one of them.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/KingsleyATK/status/1911458038549979156","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/KingsleyATK/status/1911458038549979156 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">[program_tooltip program_id='428743' first='VCNebraska' last=''] 17 Elite vs. Michio Chicago 17 Navy</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[program_tooltip program_id='428743' first='VCNebraska' last=''] 17 Elite is built to handle the expectations of a No. 1 pool seed.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This perennial Open contender sits atop Pool 7 in the 17 Freedom division. We watched 17 Elite adapt to a bevy of new faces in the starting lineup, and it all came together for a GJNC bid through the Great Plains Region. Title hopes are soaring in Dallas as 17 Elite starts its slate against Michio Chicago.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">[program_tooltip program_id='428743' first='VCNebraska' last=''] 16 Elite vs. Arizona Storm 16 Thunder</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>16 Open beckons.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[program_tooltip program_id='428743' first='VCNebraska' last=''] 16 Elite earned a 16 Open bid at the buzzer through the Lone Star Qualifier. We saw this team's postseason worthiness at several prominent events, including non-qualifier venues like Triple Crown NIT. 16 Elite has been here before.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sunday's return to the Lone Star State will be highlighted by a contest against Arizona Storm 16 Thunder, a popular championship pick in this division.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Premier Nebraska 16 Gold vs. Madfrog 16's N Green</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Let's complete the 16 Open duo.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Premier Nebraska 16 Gold has a busy late-season stretch. The team stormed through the Great Plains Region Bid Tournament but went a step further with a bid-earning triumph in Kansas City. 16 Gold's Open aspirations materialized when it mattered most.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Day 1 starts with a clash against Madfrog, a home-standing club from the Northern Texas Region.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/KingsleyATK/status/1911786949184229567","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/KingsleyATK/status/1911786949184229567 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">[program_tooltip program_id='428717' first='Nebraska' last='ONE'] 16 Black vs. ECVC 16 Black</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here's another [program_tooltip program_id='428717' first='Nebraska' last='ONE'] roster with plenty of offseason additions. 16 Black has paid it off.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This group nearly earned a 16 USA bid at the Show Me Qualifier, but 16 Black could still fall back on its runner-up finish at the Great Plains Region Bid Tournament. [program_tooltip program_id='428717' first='Nebraska' last='ONE'] hopped up to the 16 National division, which will surely feature elite talent.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The trek begins with a tilt against ECVC.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">[program_tooltip program_id='428743' first='VCNebraska' last=''] 16 Black vs. CIA 16 Black</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Add to [program_tooltip program_id='428743' first='VCNebraska' last='']'s count.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[program_tooltip program_id='428743' first='VCNebraska' last=''] 16 Black clinched a GJNC spot through the Great Plains Region Bid Tournament after multiple impressive showings at national qualifiers. The Northern Lights Qualifier was a particularly stark display of how well 16 Black can compete under pressure.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A Nebraska-Iowa square-up is a good way to ramp up that pressure on opening day.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/KingsleyATK/status/1908944605912924393","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/KingsleyATK/status/1908944605912924393 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Premier Nebraska 16 Black vs. Iowa Impact 161 Elite</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After a roundabout journey to GJNC, Premier Nebraska 16 Black looms as a 16 Freedom favorite.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Initially, 16 Black came up one spot short of a USAV Nationals bid at the Great Plains Region Bid Tournament. However, the team got an assist from its 16 Gold counterpart after 16 Gold claimed an Open bid from the Show Me Qualifier. 16 Black jumped into the 16 Freedom spot and is the No. 7 overall seed in the division.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>16 Black has an early border battle with Iowa Impact to back up its frontrunner status.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->