What Stars Shined Bright At NLQ 17 Open?

The Northern Lights Qualifier brought some of the top 2027s in the country to Minneapolis.  I have seen a lot of these athletes play, but whenever a new club season starts it is fun to see the evolution of their game as well as see the new athletes who pop up on the radar.  Here are some of the “stars” of NLQ 17 Open.  Some will be familiar names while others are ones who are emerging and need to be a name to know as we near Presidents Day weekend where many of these athletes will be heading to Triple Crown in Kansas City - see you there!    <figure class="wp-block-image 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="aspect-ratio:1.5014953078271631;width:459px;height:auto"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Peyton Kubik</figcaption></figure>    I don't know how athletes who are part of volleyball families feel about the comparisons between their game and their sisters, but Peyton Kubik of Dynasty 17 Black has so many amazing qualities that I also saw when covering her older sisters in Madi Kubik and Hayden Kubik. When I started at Prep Dig back in 2018 I was able to see Madi Kubik and Hayden Kubik rise to an elite level where they prepped at West Des Moines Valley High School in Iowa. Madi would go on to play at Nebraska and Hayden would start at Nebraska and finish with a successful career at Tennessee. Peyton Kubik is next in line where she was a key part of the success of Dynasty 17 Black who earned an open bid. There is a maturity about the game of Kubik, she passes well where her platform is quiet, under control. As an attacker she is able to play on the outside and right side while also being an option to score out of middle back. She swings big, but is also incredibly efficient. This is a well balanced Dynasty squad with great chemistry, but at the end of the day when you have a point scorer like Kubik it sends your team to another level.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2026/02/RG1A0393.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-942110" style="aspect-ratio:1.5014953078271631;width:489px;height:auto"/></figure>    There was a fun spark about this AVC 17Red team out of Cleveland where they have one of the top middle blockers in the country in KJ Williams. I knew I would see big blocks and electric swings from Williams, but I was so impressed with how connected to her teammates Williams was all weekend. She celebrates big, she plays with a fire and intensity that is contagious where others reach another level. The other side of the net has to be aware of her. They are keying on her for every play. Even when Williams isn't getting the kill, she's drawing attention, and she's also making the other side second guess their shots. What an impact player beyond the stat line.     Smoot operator. Arizona Storm 17 Thunder make the trip from the desert to the snow and blazed their way through a rugged 17 Open field. Tessa Larkin is a marquee name for this group and she delivered all weekend. What I enjoyed about her game was how efficient her movement was from being a defender to transitioning to an attacker. She also has a high IQ of when to swing big, when to use the block, the offspeed, she makes the opposition second guess how to defend her on each swing. She is making something extremely hard look effortless which is the result of detailed and disciplined training at Arizona Storm, always one of the top clubs in the country.     I remember watching Malorie Boesiger as a 7th grader when she played up two age groups on the Nebraska One 15 Synergy team way back in 2022. To see the evolution of her game, overcoming adversity of an injury, and seeing her command the offense as a junior was exciting. She plays with such composure and confidence, a true quarterback for her team. She's won state titles and played in plenty of huge matches all year round. This Nebraska One squad just missed out on advancing to the final gold pools. Their best volleyball is ahead and will be ones you won't want to play as the club season progresses.     This is a dangerous MN Select 17-1 team that Ellery DeBoer serves as QB1. The Michigan State commit runs the show as a setter where she has two major targets to Kacie Schulte and Isabell Scheuch who are both heading to Arizona State. DeBoer is another athlete who has always played up an age group and is now aligned with her age group and graduating class. When sitting on the opposite baseline of where she is setting, I have a hard time reading her in regards to where she's going and tempo she's using. If the defense keys in on Schulte and Scheuch, she will find another one of one matchup for her other attackers. And there are times where she knows how to be effective when she's offensive. Everything about her game is incredibly efficient. MN Select made it to the final gold pools, and although they didn't get a bid this weekend - they are going to be in the hunt the rest of the season.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2026/02/RG1A0192.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-942105" style="aspect-ratio:1.5014953078271631;width:586px;height:auto"/></figure>    What an athlete. Elizabeth Bower is the libero for Idaho Crush 17 Bower who plays with such maturity. The Louisville commit plays with poise, control, and a quiet intensity that raises up others around her on the court. She has a quiet platform where she makes the setters getting to the ball relatively easy. If there is an errant first touch, she brings calm to the chaos on the second touch that allows her attackers to swing away. Crush came out on the wrong end of a three way tie going 2-1 on Saturday. They may not have come away with a bid, but they have the pieces in place to have a big 2026 season.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2026/02/RG1A0180-crop-3188x2093-1770148017.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-942103" style="width:473px;height:auto"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Reagan Wallraff</figcaption></figure>    After watching Creighton volleyball the past couple of seasons and their rise to being an elite eight team, Reagan Wallraff is going to fit right in with their brand of attacker. She has flashes of Creighton greats Ava Martin and Norah Sis with how she is a big leaper, contacts high, and is so smooth with movement. She uses her angles effectively, taking what the defense gives her. With her skill set, upside, and the program at Creighton she has all the makings to be a super star at the next level and beyond.     I didn't get a chance to see Mckinley Moser much last season, I saw her during the 15s season and what an evolution in her game the past two years. I was really impressed with her physicality at the net. Whether it was being offensive on her own, blocking, or just using her athleticism to get the ball to her attackers - it was impressive. She positions herself along the net where she is very deceptive where she can feed her middles or shoot it to the outside. This is a fast VCN offense. They found their groove Saturday afternoon into Sunday where they came home with a 17 Open bid.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2026/02/RG1A0196-crop-3188x2093-1770147908.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-942099" style="width:640px;height:auto"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Ellyson Randolph</figcaption></figure>    There are times where I watch an athlete and see the commitment and it just makes sense. That's Ellyson Randolph. The six rotation outside hitter for North Carolina Academy 17 Diamond is heading to Kentucky where there they have turned out numerous six rotation All American and pro players. Randolph brings speed, athleticism, and a violent arm swing to the table. She has a natural point scoring ability. This Academy squad advanced to day two gold pools and will be ones to keep tabs on this 2026 club season.

The Northern Lights Qualifier brought some of the top 2027s in the country to Minneapolis. I have seen a lot of these athletes play, but whenever a new club season starts it is fun to see the evolution of their game as well as see the new athletes who pop up on the radar. Here are some of the “stars” of NLQ 17 Open. Some will be familiar names while others are ones who are emerging and need to be a name to know as we near Presidents Day weekend where many of these athletes will be heading to Triple Crown in Kansas City - see you there!