Can Anyone Beat THESE TWO Teams? Post-MEQ Thoughts

Be sure to follow @lshotvb on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/lshotvb/">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@lshotvb?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc">Tik Tok </a>and <a href="https://x.com/LineShotVBall">Twitter</a> for all things volleyball!   <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@lshotvb/video/7618686972084735245?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc&web_id=7597496589356025374">WHO HAS THE BEST LINE SHOT?! TAKE YOUR VOTES HERE! </a>📍   --   The Mid-East Qualifier has become a staple in the club volleyball season for so many reasons. On one hand, this tournament lands itself practically right in the middle of what I would consider regular season for club volleyball (January-May). But this tournament has also become the place to be for the top talent in the country. It's one of the toughest qualifiers to grab a bid in, despite having SO MANY teams on tap with bids. That's how competitive things are here.   And for bonus points, what other tournament can pull the likes of Munciana and KIVA out of their USAV hiding to compete, MEQ. But that's for another conversation. Let's talk about the true storyline taking shape post-MEQ weekend.   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Post MEQ Thoughts</h3>   It seems to be that in both the 16 and 17 Open that everyone is chasing one particular team. Excluding some minor hiccups that come with the length of the club season nowadays, these two teams have been virtually unstoppable. It takes grinding them down to the end to come close.   In the 16 Open side, A5 16-1 Gabe has been the team to beat. The team that leads the pack. Everyone else in 16 Open is in a "catch up" when it comes to them. To further prove such point, this weekend, despite being down a key player. They were driving the conversation.   For 17 Open, the one's reigning supreme are the ladies of TAV 17 Black Jon. A team that has just won its fourth straight Triple Crown title last month. This group just won ANOTHER major tournament in the Mid East Qualifier.   <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2026/03/DSC04567-crop-1537x1010-1774304014.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-957450" style="width:311px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Bethany Benjamin</figcaption></figure>   Let's break this down a little bit further.   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">A5 at MEQs and What is it About Them?</h3>   I mean, to NO ONE's surprise, A5 is one of the best clubs in the country. They perennially are putting up top ranked teams season in and season out. But something about this group is special. It's not JUST that they have generational talent of [player_tooltip player_id='745327' first='Kari' last='Knotts']. But they have the depth and elite level talent deep into the bench. With players like [player_tooltip player_id='742342' first='Leilani' last='Lamar'] and [player_tooltip player_id='744267' first='Julia' last='Clarke'] at the net, Bethany Benjamin in the back court and [player_tooltip player_id='912878' first='Chelsea' last='Torrence'] at the setting position, its a trifecta of killer variables.   However, in Indianapolis, there was a big question mark around 16-1 Gabe. The show stopping Knotts was nowhere to be seen. With many suggesting a slight injury, Knotts was left back home in Georgia to rest up for the remainder of the long season. This may have given A5 a different look, but if you ask me, it is exactly what the group needed to find something more.   Aside the generational talent, A5 is very much a team that would take the country by storm, with or without. You have players like Lamar, Clarke but also Azariah Ehima and [player_tooltip player_id='947005' first='Kennedy' last='Davis'] at the net that could very much take control of a match all on their own. Benjamin is easily a top 5, if not THE top, prospect in this class for her position. Torrence has the makings to be one of the elite setters of this class as well.   All this to say, if there was a player I could maybe pin point as a potential "MVP" for this championship winning Gabe team, its [player_tooltip player_id='515435' first='Leah' last='Stickney']. When she gets her time to shine on the court, she lights up the stage. This weekend, it was all hers for the taking and she did just that. While Stickney isn't the size of Lamar and Knotts, she very much contends with them in terms of physicality and scoring prowess. Down the stretch of championship Sunday, it was Stickney pulling out the major points and creating the separation between herself and her opponents .   <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2026/03/DSC04620.jpg?w=769" alt="" class="wp-image-957448" style="aspect-ratio:0.7509934767938817;width:291px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='742342' first='Leilani' last='Lamar']</figcaption></figure>   A5 16-1 Gabe went on to have ANOTHER undefeated weekend, dropping just two sets, early on. This team continues to be the team at the front. Despite a major missing piece, it's the depth and system that propels them further. Mid-East Qualifier not only proved that they can do it without, but it showed that at any given moment, they can go to any piece on their bench to plug in and deliver. A dangerous warning to teams coming into the second half of the club season.   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Who Can Test the Current Power House in 16 Open?</h3>   After all of that to say, there ARE some teams out there that COULD give it to the ones to beat.   First off, the obvious team is TAV 16 Black Yun. This roster has maybe the closest roster in terms of physicality, depth and dynamic nature to contend with A5. Led by [player_tooltip player_id='586653' first='Maya' last='Ogbogu'] and [player_tooltip player_id='580697' first='Mary-Christine' last='Crutcher'], this squad has a full line up of heavy hitters. In fact, TAV has beat A5 this year already, beating them at the Tour of Texas early on. However, 16 Black Yun had a poor misstep at Triple Crown, not even making it to the semifinals of the tournament. They also lost to A5 at Sunshine last month in a close 3 set match.   Staying in Texas, just down the road. Dallas Skyline may be the only other team that I would put some money on to contend with the heavyweights. They've had their encounters with each other already this season, meeting up in the Triple Crown title match. A5 would go on to have full control of that match, but who's to say if the next round would be as definitive. D. Skyline has the likes of [player_tooltip player_id='721043' first='Taylor' last='Johnson'] and [player_tooltip player_id='531615' first='Aleah' last='Edmond'] on the left side, a pair capable to contend with the pairing of Lamar, Knotts and/or Stickney. Not to mention, their middle blocker, Grace White, who is having one heck of a sophomore outing for Skyline. --   <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@lshotvb/video/7620274891845078285?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc&web_id=7597496589356025374" id="https://www.tiktok.com/@lshotvb/video/7620274891845078285?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc&web_id=7597496589356025374"></a><a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@lshotvb/video/7620151962356485407?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc&web_id=7597496589356025374">A5 WINS THE MIDEAST QUALIFIER WITHOUT THEIR STAR </a>

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