The Future Is Looking Bright At The NCR Regional Qualifier

<figure class="wp-block-image is-resized"><a href="https://prepdig.com/prospect-index/"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2026/02/image_e3d2cb.png" alt="" class="wp-image-943034" style="width:222px;height:auto" /></a></figure>   Get 30% off your first billing cycle with code: digdakotas30 in the coupon code area   <a href="https://www.instagram.com/prepdigdakotas/?hl=en">Follow on Instagram@prepdigdakotas</a>   Whistles were blowing bright and early at the NCR Qualifier, and it wasn't just one age group stepping onto the courts. The morning started with athletes ranging from 11-year-olds to 16-year-olds, filling the facility with energy, nerves, and excitement. It was a busy start — waves of warmups, coaches adjusting rotations, setters repping hands, liberos dialing in serve receive patterns.   And yet, in the middle of the chaos, something was refreshing about it.   When you spend weeks watching advanced systems, high-tempo offenses, and physicality at the top levels, it resets your perspective to come back to the foundation. To see younger athletes focused on approach mechanics, platform discipline, hand positioning, and footwork. It's a reminder that elite volleyball doesn't begin with velocity — it begins with mechanics.   And what stood out immediately this morning was how many programs are already prioritizing that foundation.   You could see it in serve receive posture. Shoulders square. Platforms angled with intention. Players are moving their feet instead of reaching with their arms. You could see it in attacking footwork — controlled three- and four-step approaches instead of rushed jumps. Middles are closing blocks instead of drifting. Setters are squaring their hips before release.   Some programs already have their athletes mastering the basics — and that matters.   Because when fundamentals are ingrained early, ceilings rise faster later.   Volleyball in our country has grown tremendously over the past decade. The level of training, access, and year-round development has elevated across all age groups. But standing in that gym this morning, watching those 11's through 16's compete, it feels like we are on the verge of something even bigger.   The depth is increasing. The mechanics are improving. The IQ is developing younger.   And that should excite anyone who loves this sport.   Now, let's break down a few programs that made an impression early.   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">KEVC 16's</h3>   We'll start with KEVC 16's — a group that immediately showed structure and offensive balance. What stood out wasn't just physical ability, but system discipline. In serve receive, they stayed organized, maintaining seam communication and delivering consistent first contact inside the three-meter line.   Offensively, they ran tempo with intention. Middles were engaged early, forcing blockers to respect the quick. Pins attacked with high contact and controlled arm swings rather than forcing low-percentage shots. Defensively, they extended rallies and transitioned quickly, converting digs into aggressive swings.   There was rhythm in their play — and rhythm is built on mechanics.   For KEVC 15-1, Jordyn Kube made an impact from the right side. Kube showed strong blocking presence, closing her hands well against opposing outsides and taking away line effectively. Offensively, she stayed balanced in transition and delivered controlled swings, especially when attacking deep corners and high hands against a formed block.   In the middle, Isla Wachtler brought energy and discipline at the net. Wachtler moved well laterally, closing blocks with timing rather than drifting, and stayed available in quick tempo situations. She did a solid job finishing in front of the setter and converting transition opportunities, helping KEVC stay balanced across the front row.   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Ridgedale</h3>   Ridgedale was equally impressive in a different way. Their defensive posture and pursuit stood out immediately. Back-row players stayed low and balanced, reading hitters early and shading appropriately to take away cross-court seams.   In transition, Ridgedale's attackers maintained strong approach mechanics even after extended rallies. That discipline showed up late in sets when fatigue typically creeps in. They didn't abandon structure — they leaned into it.   Their block positioning also demonstrated growth. Hands pressed over rather than floating. Middles are closing on time. That kind of technical consistency at this stage signals a program committed to development.   For Ridgeland Reds, Hayden Stanley ran a composed and balanced offense from the setter position. Stanley delivered consistent location in system and did an excellent job squaring to target off imperfect first contact, allowing her pins to stay aggressive in transition. Her tempo control kept blockers moving laterally and prevented the defense from settling.   On the outside, Xendra Jilek executed with discipline and range. Jilek maintained strong approach mechanics even in extended rallies and attacked the seam with authority. She tooled high hands when the block sealed and stayed engaged in serve receive, providing six-rotation stability for the Reds.   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Volt</h3>   Volt brought pace and energy to the court. Their setters pushed tempo, challenging blockers to close quickly and forcing defenses to adjust. Quick transitions and assertive distribution kept the offense unpredictable.   What stood out with Volt was their willingness to attack in rhythm. Outside hitters didn't hesitate in transition. Opposites attacked deep corners with intent. The pressure applied early put opponents out of the system and allowed Volt to dictate play.   But even within that pace, fundamentals were present. Controlled platforms. Disciplined footwork. Communication between rotations.   That combination of speed and structure is powerful.   For Volt, libero Jada McClaflin was steady in the back row. McClaflin handled serve receive with control, keeping her platform angle consistent and delivering passes that allowed the offense to stay organized. Defensively, she stayed low and balanced, tracking hitters well and keeping digs playable in transition.   At setter, Greta Scherbenske managed the offense with composure. Scherbenske worked to move the ball around and involve multiple hitters, keeping blockers from settling into one pattern. She adjusted well in transition and delivered consistent ball location to help her hitters stay in rhythm.   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Freeze</h3>   Freeze showed maturity in the way they managed momentum. When rotations tightened, they didn't rush. Their setters reset spacing and reestablished tempo. Pins are adjusted mid-air to the tool blocks rather than swinging blindly.   Defensively, Freeze extended rallies through strong coverage positioning and pursuit. They didn't concede points easily. Blockers closed seams instead of chasing. Back-row defenders angled platforms to create playable second contacts rather than emergency saves.   There's a difference between athleticism and trained athleticism — and Freeze displayed the latter.   For Freeze, [player_tooltip player_id='930142' first='Kyra' last='Ogundolani'] brought steady production from the outside pin. Ogundolani showed solid approach mechanics and attacked with good tempo in transition. She adjusted well to different set locations and stayed aggressive while maintaining control, especially when swinging against a formed block.   In the back row, [player_tooltip player_id='755993' first='Anna' last='Jackson'] provided consistency at libero. Jackson handled serve receive with a calm platform and communicated clearly in seam responsibility. Defensively, she stayed disciplined in base and kept digs controlled, allowing Freeze to transition efficiently.   On the other pin, [player_tooltip player_id='742766' first='Morgan' last='Weisbrich'] contributed balance to the offense. Weisbrich maintained strong footwork in transition and delivered controlled swings to the deep corners. She stayed engaged in coverage responsibilities and showed good awareness when adjusting to block positioning throughout the match.   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />   Across all these programs, one theme was clear: development matters.   It's easy to get caught up in vertical numbers and highlight swings, but watching the younger age groups this morning reinforced something important — the programs investing in footwork, ball control, and technical discipline now are building something sustainable.   You could see coaches correcting hand positioning in serve receive. You could hear them emphasizing base positioning before the serve. You could watch athletes repeating approach sequences before warmups even started.   That's how growth happens.   And that's why the future feels bright.   Some of these teams are chasing bids. Some are competing to elevate their level and return stronger next season. Both goals matter. Growth and qualification are not opposites — they build off each other.   The NCR Qualifier isn't just about who earns hardware this weekend. It's about identifying which programs are doing it the right way. Which athletes are building skills that will translate year after year. Which foundations are strong enough to support higher ceilings.   At the end of the day, it's a great thing to witness.   To see programs starting with correct mechanics. To see players understanding spacing, tempo, and defensive structure at such young ages. To see intensity paired with instruction.   If this is what Day 1 morning looks like, Day 2 is going to be even better.   Some teams will walk away with bids. Some will walk away sharper than before. Either way, the level continues to rise.   And if you think volleyball has grown already, just wait.   We are on the verge of something bigger.   Can't wait to find these players again on Day 2. 🏐🔥 ~Theresa @prepdigdakotas   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Thank you to all my readers for making this journey possible. My goal has always been simple—to shine a light on athletes at every level, from Division I to NAIA, and give them a platform to keep chasing their love for the game. Every player deserves a shot, and I'm honored to help tell their stories.</h2>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Please help us continue to grow this positive platform for players by spreading the word and encouraging your friends to subscribe at <a href="https://prepdig.com/">PrepDig.com.</a> With your support, we can create unforgettable memories and experiences!</h2>   This journey is created by the village—athletes, coaches, families, and subscribers.   Thank you for making it all possible! ~ Theresa Hickman   Follow on Instagram@prepdigdakotas