Midwest Pre-National Kansas City

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A high-level event continues in Kansas City and adds the BluHawk facility in Overland Park to the mix instead of Lawrence! It should be an exciting weekend as teams come from across Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Arkansas, Iowa, and Oklahoma. Prenationals always provides opportunities to see new opponents, and the action on BluHawk Courts 6, 7, and 8 may feature some of the day's most intriguing matchups.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The headliner could be KC [program_tooltip program_id='428794' first='Power' last=''] 17-1 versus Premier Nebraska 17 Gold at 10:00 a.m. on Court 7B. KC [program_tooltip program_id='428794' first='Power' last='']'s pin duo of Sofia Simic and Halle Laincz will have their hands full against a Premier Nebraska squad led by outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id='807946' first='Hallie' last='Lauenstein']. The battle between [program_tooltip program_id='428794' first='Power' last=''] setter Sasha Cromer and Premier Nebraska setter [player_tooltip player_id='774904' first='Tess' last='Solomon'] could be one of the most important storylines of the match.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Later in the day, KC [program_tooltip program_id='428794' first='Power' last=''] 17-1 returns to the spotlight against VC Nebraska 17 Elite. Simic and Laincz will again be tested by a Nebraska team that features a talented group of attackers, including [player_tooltip player_id='443108' first='Reese' last='Eilenstine'], and [player_tooltip player_id='575237' first='Madison' last='Zajicek']. VC Nebraska setters [player_tooltip player_id='458165' first='McKinley' last='Moser'] and [player_tooltip player_id='458134' first='Millie' last='Mauch'] help orchestrate one of the deeper offenses in the field.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of the best local matchups comes when Pohaku 17-1 meets KC [program_tooltip program_id='428794' first='Power' last=''] 16-1. Pohaku outside Amelia Wilhite and libero [player_tooltip player_id='800476' first='Lexi' last='Jett'] headline a veteran 17s group, while [program_tooltip program_id='428794' first='Power' last='']'s younger roster will look to make another statement against older competition. Libero [player_tooltip player_id='517118' first='Channing' last='Minton'] and middle [player_tooltip player_id='729590' first='Briley' last='Zerbe'] are among the players to watch for the 16s squad.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>PVA 17 Elite's showdown with VC Nebraska 17 Elite could become one of the day's most competitive matches. [player_tooltip player_id='472890' first='Jaden' last='Monroe'] and [player_tooltip player_id='446328' first='Tori' last='Massengill'] lead the attack for PVA, while middle Presley Kreter provides size at the net. On the other side, VC Nebraska's balanced attack and strong ball control should make for a challenging matchup.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The late-afternoon meeting between [program_tooltip program_id='428799' first='Rockwood' last='Thunder'] 17 Navy and Mavs 17 Elite has all the ingredients of a sleeper match. Rockwood will rely on outside hitters Zoe Matus and [player_tooltip player_id='485586' first='Evelyn' last='Haarmann'], while Mavs counters with a talented group that includes outside hitters Reese Maslowski, and [player_tooltip player_id='536389' first='Grace' last='Schwartz']. Setter Maryn Dean could be a key factor if the match turns into a high-scoring battle.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Another match worth watching is MAVS KC 17 National against CNVKC Mizuno 17 Coach IB. Both teams have been competitive throughout the season and could produce several breakout performances as pool play unfolds.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Whether you're following regional [program_tooltip program_id='428794' first='Power' last='']s, future college prospects, or simply looking for the next breakout performer, these six matches should provide plenty of talent and compelling storylines throughout the day.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->