’26 Mid-East Qualifier 17 Open Dream Team

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong>Be sure to follow&nbsp;@lshotvb&nbsp;on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/lshotvb/">Instagram</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@lshotvb?is_from_webapp=1&amp;sender_device=pc">Tik Tok&nbsp;</a>and&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/LineShotVBall">Twitter</a>&nbsp;for all things volleyball!</strong></em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em><strong><em><a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@lshotvb/video/7618686972084735245?is_from_webapp=1&amp;sender_device=pc&amp;web_id=7597496589356025374">WHO HAS THE BEST LINE SHOT?! TAKE YOUR VOTES HERE! </a>📍 </em></strong></em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong><em>--</em></strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It's one of the biggest tournaments of the season for a lot of reasons. The Mid-East Qualifier brings in the talent from every corner of the country. From the midwest to the south, to Texas and the PNW, we had representatives from just about everywhere you could imagine. All on the hunt for their bid to return back to the Circle City this summer. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Not only does MEQ bring the heat in terms of talent, but its the half way mark of the regular season in the club season. Qualifier season is nearing its end and we're just 6 weeks away from the quiet period that May brings. From there, its the almighty race for national championships in June and July. We're seeing teams hit their stride and playing some of their best volleyball yet.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 17 Open remains to be one of the most sought after division in the country. These players have sometime to prove and for many, it is their last go around before hitting the early grad trend next winter. TAV, once again, dominated the field, winning in a dominated 10-0 fashion. OTVA came up short in challenging the clear front runners for the 17 Open title come Summer time. We also saw the emergence of teams like PVA and 1st Alliance bring themselves within the conversation with big weekends.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Without further ado, let's take a look at who had their A Game on championship Sunday of MEQ '26!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">OH: [player_tooltip player_id='534308' first='Lexi' last='Martin'] - TAV</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The duo of [player_tooltip player_id='534308' first='Lexi' last='Martin'] and [player_tooltip player_id='534299' first='Brynn' last='Stephens'] is just one that cannot be stopped. The two just feed of each other with such similar games. Martin was playing on a whole other level this weekend. Her attacking prowess continues to rise and she's doing so with so much range. Martin can get you from any where on the court and it's apparent how frustrated she makes opponents .</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">OH: [player_tooltip player_id='753544' first='Sophia' last='Puleo'] - OTVA</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of the biggest reasons for OTVA having the weekend they did was the play of [player_tooltip player_id='753544' first='Sophia' last='Puleo'] on the left pin. Puleo, in all six rotations, plays the game head and shoulders above the rest. She's relied upon to take a great deal of swings, but you wouldn't be able to tell due to her ability to terminate as well as she does. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">OH/DS: Kalia Kroth - 1st Alliance</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This kind of player is so much fun to watch. Kalia Kroth is one of those pesky under sized pins that can out ball control you to bits and then follow it up by ripping your defense to shreds with her arm. Kroth has such a control on the game due to how much 1st Alliance relies on her to touch the ball. It's not rare to see the play start off of the platform of Kroth and end off of her swing.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">MB: [player_tooltip player_id='828292' first='Nyla' last='Livings'] - TAV</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='828292' first='Nyla' last='Livings'] continues to wow more and more with every viewing. She simply just puts on a show! From her block to transition offense, she can shut you down at the net, and if you so happen to surpass that block, she'll make you pay. Livings has an ability to run about any route in the book at an efficient scoring rate.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">MB: Presley Kreter - PVA</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Presley Kreter is a bit of newbie to my radar. I wasn't too familiar with her game before this weekend, but I'll be surely keeping tabs after. In many ways, Kreter was the catalyst for PVA's surge into the final four teams of the tournament. She's an incredible strong blocker, whether it is a shut down or a slow down, she does work at the net. But more effectively, Kreter opens up the entire net with her scoring. She has a nice slide and with her being so efficient, defenses had a hard time slowing her or PVA down.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">OPP: [player_tooltip player_id='534152' first='Samantha' last='Karjala'] - OTVA</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This player really was an unsung hero on the weekend. I mentioned how effective Puleo was able to be all weekend and a lot of that is to the credit of [player_tooltip player_id='534152' first='Samantha' last='Karjala'] on the right side. As the weekend went on, Karjala only became more and more effective and viable threat. This pin to pin option for setter [player_tooltip player_id='827835' first='Sophia' last='Dostic'] was a nightmare for opponents across the net. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">S: [player_tooltip player_id='518965' first='Sophee' last='Peterson'] - TAV</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The more I watch [player_tooltip player_id='518965' first='Sophee' last='Peterson'] and the more I study her game, she's simply a masterclass in the making. Peterson is as cerebral of a setter as they come. Her vision and feel for the flow of the game is second to none. She doesn't have to rely upon the flashiness that many others revert to, and in many ways, it makes her more effective. And the results show as she has led TAV to another huge tournament win.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">L: Ella Horvick - OTVA</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>If there is any thing to know about OTVA Tampa, is that they know how to make an elite level libero. Some of my favorite 'bros have been coming out of this club and you can add Ella Horvick to that running list. While i've always been high on this one, this past weekend at MEQ rather solidified her in. Horvick has that perfect mix of scrappiness while being composed and technically sound. She reads the opposing offense well and can cover a vast expanse of court to open her teammates up for scoring opportunity.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-- </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@lshotvb/video/7621307523244526878?is_from_webapp=1&amp;sender_device=pc&amp;web_id=7621304062684595719"><strong><em>MLV ALL STAR GAME IS THIS WEEKEND - DON'T MISS IT!</em></strong></a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->