Bid Alert

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With qualifier season and regional action underway, many teams have already picked up bids for nationals. Let's play a little catch-up on those teams and some of the players making it happen.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Heart of America</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>18s</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We were aware [program_tooltip program_id='430200' first='KC' last='[program_tooltip program_id='428794' first='Power' last=''] earned their open bid out of the gate at MLK. They followed that up by double-qualifying after a 3rd-place finish at Northern Lights. [player_tooltip player_id='222092' first='Willow' last='Weninger'] was mentioned as a player who was consistent over the weekend. Mizuno [program_tooltip program_id='515493' first='Club' last='North'] 18 Sammie continued their streak of playing well with a runner-up finish in the Liberty Division. They completed a strong tournament with their only loss coming in the final. [player_tooltip player_id='568866' first='Jaycee' last='Tyrrell'] played well over the 9 matches.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[program_tooltip program_id='428799' first='Rockwood' last='Thunder'] has a couple of teams with bids locked up. The 18 Elite team went to the Windy City to start their qualifier season and went undefeated to get a USA bid. Their 8-0 record was impressive, dropping only 4 sets along the way. The team boasts some familiar names in [player_tooltip player_id='220349' first='Teagan' last='Pocius'] and [player_tooltip player_id='222076' first='Abigail' last='Schoene']. The same weekend, the 18 Navy team traveled to Kansas City and returned to St. Louis with a Liberty bid. They followed that up by going to Florida and winning Florida Fest. They are showing early as a strong favorite in the division at nationals unless they move up.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>17s</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The first attempt for open bids happened in Minnesota, and [program_tooltip program_id='428889' first='Dynasty' last=''] 17 Black took care of business out of the gate with a second-place showing. They had an 8-2 weekend led offensively by [player_tooltip player_id='480396' first='Peyton' last='Kubik'] and [player_tooltip player_id='436201' first='Riley' last='Riggs']. [program_tooltip program_id='430200' first='KC' last='[program_tooltip program_id='428794' first='Power' last=''] 17-2 and KC [program_tooltip program_id='428823' first='Voltage' last=''] both captured bids with a second and third place finish in Liberty. [player_tooltip player_id='488383' first='Miley' last='Layton'] and [player_tooltip player_id='556998' first='Paisley' last='Hudson'] were some of the players who shone during their tournament run. [program_tooltip program_id='428794' first='Power' last=''] and [program_tooltip program_id='428823' first='Voltage' last=''] both went 8-1. [program_tooltip program_id='428823' first='Voltage' last=''] isn't a household team from a name standpoint, but has a very talented roster of players we highlighted during the high school season. [player_tooltip player_id='732904' first='Jordan' last='Redd'] was all-state and joined on the front line with [player_tooltip player_id='809602' first='Delaney' last='Fleeman'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>16s</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We highlighted the HOA Power League last weekend. Mavs KC 16-1 and [program_tooltip program_id='430200' first='KC' last='[program_tooltip program_id='428794' first='Power' last=''] 16-1 grabbed the two National bids in play from the region.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>15s</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[program_tooltip program_id='428794' first='Power' last=''] League is completed in the 15s age group won by [program_tooltip program_id='430200' first='KC' last='[program_tooltip program_id='428794' first='Power' last=''] 15-1. [program_tooltip program_id='428889' first='Dynasty' last=''] 15-1 was the second-place finisher after the two play dates. It was one of those days that concluded as many would hope, the top two teams being undefeated going into the last match. [program_tooltip program_id='428794' first='Power' last=''] had only dropped one set and [program_tooltip program_id='428889' first='Dynasty' last=''] none going into the finale. When the dust cleared, [program_tooltip program_id='428794' first='Power' last=''] took care of business with little drama, -17, -20. Izzy Galmarini is making a name as one of the top defenders in the class, and [player_tooltip player_id='557372' first='Piper' last='Hudson'] put the age group on notice after a strong high school season where she earned all-state as a freshman.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Gateway</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The bid event took place last weekend for a handful of bids in play. For the 18s division, the National, American, and Freedom. For the 17s, just the Freedom.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>18s</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rockwood 18 Elite won the event, which I believe grants them the National bid. I will wait for confirmation, as this determines who walks away with the remaining bids. The next finishers were Blue Steel Volleyball and Rockwood 18 Thunder, who already own a USA bid. HPSTL 18 Royal may also be in line for one of those bids.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>17s</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[program_tooltip program_id='428799' first='Rockwood' last='Thunder'] 17 Elite had a 7-0 weekend, not dropping a set. We expect this team to be in contention later for the National bid and potentially an open bid led by [player_tooltip player_id='475339' first='Shaye' last='Witherspoon'], [player_tooltip player_id='544668' first='Madelyn' last='Mannebach'], and a host of other talented players. HPSTL 17 Royal were the runner-ups with their only loss to Rockwood. [player_tooltip player_id='485570' first='Eden' last='Robart'] and [player_tooltip player_id='475322' first='Kate' last='Sherry'] are a couple of players on this team who can score on the outside.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>16s</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Blue Steel were the winners at the 16s age group, followed by HPSTL 16 Royal. The Illinois-based team went undefeated on the weekend. HPSTL is another team that will be in contention this spring for the National bid and potentially Open behind [player_tooltip player_id='623081' first='Rilynn' last='Wingenbach'] and [player_tooltip player_id='828400' first='Gillian' last='Pfeiffer'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>15s</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[program_tooltip program_id='428799' first='Rockwood' last='Thunder'] 15 Elite went 7-0. We hope to learn more about this team in the coming weeks as qualifier season takes off. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->