Kansas’s Top-Performing 17s Teams from Northern Lights Qualifier

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We're off to a roaring start in the Heart of America Region.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Yes, the annual club calendar is full of venues where Kansas teams can enter the national spotlight in home territory. Triple Crown NIT and the Show Me Qualifier immediately come to mind. However, top performers from the Sunflower State are not shy about taking the show on the road.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Minneapolis welcomed dozens of Heart of America contenders to NLQ last weekend, and several of those squads capitalized on the northward trip. Bids were earned, too.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Before we get into individual standouts, here's an overview of which Kansas teams are gaining momentum after 2026's first Northern Lights Qualifier.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">[program_tooltip program_id='428889' first='Dynasty' last=''] 17 Black</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>No one is surprised to see [program_tooltip program_id='428889' first='Dynasty' last=''] swiping an early Open bid.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[program_tooltip program_id='428889' first='Dynasty' last=''] 17 Black soared to a runner-up finish in NLQ's most prestigious 17s division and did not drop a set until the end of Round 2. This Kansas City-area club is always expected to make noise on the national scene, and 17 Black has already locked up its trip to Indianapolis. Even with its high standards, [program_tooltip program_id='428889' first='Dynasty' last=''] is already ahead of schedule.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":942108,"width":"330px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none","align":"right"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2026/02/RG1A0186.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-942108" style="width:330px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Kubik</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Where do we even start with this group? [player_tooltip player_id='480396' first='Peyton' last='Kubik'] will invariably swipe some storylines with her rocket arm, but 17 Black's firepower goes far beyond the Pitt commit. Nora Goodenow carries on a family tradition of prowess on the right pin. Meanwhile, [player_tooltip player_id='485573' first='Camryn' last='Minatee'] has raised the standard at libero, allowing her fellow passers to thrive.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Expect a few more names to emerge from this championship-caliber [program_tooltip program_id='428889' first='Dynasty' last=''] crew.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">KNVBC 17 Showtime</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Leave it to Showtime to put on a show.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>KNVBC 17 Showtime made sure to carry the Topeka banner well at NLQ. The team swept its first four matches in Minneapolis and won the division's Silver bracket, securing a ninth-place finish. It's an impressive run in Minneapolis's stacked 17 USA field.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='621307' first='Emersyn' last='Ripley'] and [player_tooltip player_id='828131' first='Addison' last='Davee'] have formed a wicked duo at the middle blocker spot. 17 Showtime is also not afraid to leverage its left-side hitters, and [player_tooltip player_id='480404' first='Lauren' last='DeGroot'] was a game-changing six-rotation contributor at this position. Asha Dugan tied everything in the back row.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">[program_tooltip program_id='430200' first='KC' last='Power'] 17-2</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":585273,"width":"294px","height":"auto","aspectRatio":"0.8181998650097272","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none","align":"right"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/08/57-Dakota-Fraase.jpg?w=837" alt="" class="wp-image-585273" style="aspect-ratio:0.8181998650097272;width:294px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Fraase</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Add another GJNC bid to the tab.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[program_tooltip program_id='430200' first='KC' last='Power'] 17-2's run to the 17 Liberty championship match secured its spot in this summer's USAV Nationals field. The triumph was keynoted by an eight-match winning streak in which [program_tooltip program_id='430200' first='KC' last='Power'] swept six of its eight opponents. Most of the team's nail-biters came on Day 1, when 17-2 won a pair of three-set thrillers to advance.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Even though I spend most of my time on the Nebraska beat, I was eager to catch up with some familiar names on this [program_tooltip program_id='430200' first='KC' last='Power'] 17-2 roster. [player_tooltip player_id='525973' first='Dakota' last='Fraase'] is a dynamic scorer on either pin, and [player_tooltip player_id='544703' first='Hadley' last='Clevenger'] has made her mark in the contrasting jersey. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This group recently visited the Premier Nebraska gym for early-season reps. I may be biased, but the trip up north has clearly paid dividends.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">KC [program_tooltip program_id='428823' first='Voltage' last=''] 17-1</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We have double trouble in 17 Liberty.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>KC [program_tooltip program_id='428823' first='Voltage' last=''] joins [program_tooltip program_id='430200' first='KC' last='Power'] 17-2 on the list of bid-earners in NLQ's 17 Liberty division. And, like [program_tooltip program_id='430200' first='KC' last='Power'], KC [program_tooltip program_id='428823' first='Voltage' last='']'s podium triumph was sparked by an 8-1 overall record and a dominant run through the first two rounds of pool play.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[program_tooltip program_id='428823' first='Voltage' last='']'s intimidating frontcourt was a key part of last weekend's exceptional showing. [player_tooltip player_id='732904' first='Jordan' last='Redd'] took some exceptional out-of-system swings on the left side, and [player_tooltip player_id='485607' first='Delaney' last='Fleeman'] was equally effective on the other end of the dial. Of course, we have to credit the outstanding first contacts from [player_tooltip player_id='770347' first='Ava' last='Lane'], helping to set up [program_tooltip program_id='428823' first='Voltage' last='']'s terminators.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Heart of America Region is flexing its ever-expanding depth, and that will continue at GJNC.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->