Things to Watch at Northern Lights

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Another weekend for 18s to chase bids and the first opportunity for 17s. Here are a few things to keep an eye out for this weekend in Minneapolis.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>18s</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In the open division, [program_tooltip program_id='430200' first='KC' last='[program_tooltip program_id='428794' first='Power' last='']'] already owns a bid and will look to build on their play at MLK, where they felt they may have left a little meat on the bone. They will look to be among the first teams this year to double-qualify in the open division. Mavs 18 Elite finished 7th in Kansas City a couple of weeks ago and will look to secure one of the three available bids. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[program_tooltip program_id='428892' first='PVA' last=''] 18 Elite will fight for a USA bid this weekend. They were 7th in Kansas City in the same division. [player_tooltip player_id='355660' first='Alyssa' last='Gray'] had a strong fall and will look to carry the team offensively. [program_tooltip program_id='515493' first='Club' last='North'] 18 Sammie was 9th in the USA and will take their shot in the Liberty division in Minnesota. There are three bids on the table. Adalyn MacLean was really good from the setter position at MLK. [program_tooltip program_id='428889' first='Dynasty' last=''] 18 Blue picked up their bid in Kansas City in the American and will fight to upgrade to the Liberty. They were runner-ups but locked in the bid as the top 18-year-old team in the group. Keira Cole played well on the right side and look for [player_tooltip player_id='355659' first='Jada' last='Echols'] to add some offensive punch from the outside. Optimum (OVC) will also battle Liberty. 2027 [player_tooltip player_id='483941' first='Paxton' last='Damme'] plays up on this team on the outside. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>17s</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As mentioned above, the 17s get their first shot to earn a bid this weekend. In the Open division, [program_tooltip program_id='428889' first='Dynasty' last=''] 17 Black, Mavs 17 Elite, and [program_tooltip program_id='428892' first='PVA' last=''] 17 Elite will give it a go for one of the three bids at stake. [program_tooltip program_id='428889' first='Dynasty' last=''] won the 18 USA division at MLK in Kansas City, going 8-0. [player_tooltip player_id='480396' first='Peyton' last='Kubik'] is elite, and [player_tooltip player_id='586613' first='Ellie' last='Bain'] is an overlooked setter in my opinion. The Mavs have a strong nucleus returning to make a strong run for the bid. [player_tooltip player_id='478871' first='Maryn' last='Dean'] is another top setter in the Kansas City metro and can shoot the ball in the middle to [player_tooltip player_id='396499' first='Kinley' last='Gillihan']. [program_tooltip program_id='428892' first='PVA' last=''] didn't participate in Kansas City but features [player_tooltip player_id='446328' first='Tori' last='Massengill'], who made the move over from [program_tooltip program_id='428794' first='Power' last='']. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Central Missouri Volleyball will journey north to play in the USA division. [player_tooltip player_id='915884' first='Emma' last='Hulsey'] was a stable presence in the Helias lineup this fall and anchors the middle for this squad. Invasion 17 Black and 17 Blue, along with [program_tooltip program_id='428799' first='Rockwood' last='Thunder'] 17 Navy, will compete in Liberty. [player_tooltip player_id='560903' first='Kyndal' last='Jacobs'] is a player we've seen in action at Prep Dig events and is a key member of the Rockwood team. [player_tooltip player_id='834653' first='Laynie' last='White'] of Blue Springs is a player to watch on the Invasion 17 team when play gets going. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->