USAV Nationals Preview: 16 and 17 Liberty

Today is the day! We turn our attention to the Liberty Division in the 16s and 17s. As a refresher, Liberty bids are earned through a team's finish in the Liberty Division at a national qualifier or by receiving a reallocated bid after another team from its region earns a higher-level qualification.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">16s</h2>   This age group is loaded with talent from the Gateway and Heart of America (HOA) regions. Seven teams from those two regions will battle for a championship, including the tournament's top overall seed.   Invasion 16 Black enters Indianapolis as the No. 1 overall seed and will look to hold that position throughout the week. They punched their ticket early by winning the Sunshine Classic in February and continued to prove themselves with multiple top-10 finishes in the USA Division. Kendall Roscher is one of several dangerous attackers, providing consistent production from the right side.   I'm switching things up today and previewing the teams by pool rather than seed.   Pool 2 features 913 Athletics 16 National (36). The Heart of America squad finished runner-up to Invasion at Sunshine before challenging itself in the USA Division for the remainder of the season. Setter Elina Douglas stands out on film with her ability to distribute the ball, create rhythm for her hitters, and keep opposing defenses guessing.   Pool 3 includes PVA 16 National (22), another Heart of America representative. Windy City proved fruitful, as a third-place finish secured their bid to Indianapolis. They were one of the most consistent Liberty teams throughout qualifier season, posting multiple top-10 finishes. Libero Sofia Savedra is a joy to watch. She covers an incredible amount of court, routinely digs hard-driven attacks, and has mastered the one-arm save.   Joining them in Pool 3 is Gateway's Rockwood Thunder 16 Navy (30), which received a reallocated regional bid. They enjoyed a successful Liberty season with several top-10 finishes. Middle Zoey Zweifel has been outstanding this spring, showing the ability to score in every zone while being equally effective on the slide, forcing opposing blockers to respect every option.   STATC 16-1 (29), representing southwest Missouri, opens play in Pool 4. Their third-place finish at Show Me earned them a trip to Nationals. This is a physical team with plenty of size and power. Livia Ahmann is one of the key weapons, capable of scoring all across the front row. She gets off the floor quickly and is especially dangerous on quick attacks behind the setter.   KC Power 16-2 (20) lands in Pool 5 and is a team I've watched several times this season. They're disciplined defensively and rarely give away points with unforced errors. After narrowly missing Liberty bids earlier in the year, they broke through by winning Show Me in April. Lily Windberg has consistently shown the ability to put the offense on her shoulders when her team needs a big point.   Rounding out the field is Core STL 16 Navy (38) in Pool 8. They earned the Far Western provisional bid to Nationals. Setter Carly Wolff directs a balanced 5-1 offense, doing an excellent job of putting her hitters in position to succeed. At the same time, her size and athleticism make her a legitimate offensive threat herself.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">17s</h2>   We'll keep the same pool-by-pool format for the 17s, where seven teams from the coverage area are set to compete.   Pool 1 features Central Missouri's CMVBC 17-1 (32). Their trip to Kansas City for Show Me paid off with a Liberty bid in one of the season's final qualifiers.   KC Voltage 17-1 (31) headlines Pool 2. They secured an early bid at Northern Lights in January and feature a roster filled with players who earned all-conference and all-state recognition during the high school season. This group has played together for years, and that continuity shows. Outside hitter Jordan Redd is one to watch, bringing a powerful attack along with a strong blocking presence at the net.   Mavs KC 17 National (22) joins Pool 3 after receiving a bid that returned to the region. Following that qualification, they continued to perform well while competing in the USA Division. Morgan Benart is one of the most exciting middles in the field, attacking with power on the slide and finishing consistently off one foot.   Mizuno Club North 17 Jessen (28) enters Pool 5 after earning a runner-up finish at MEQ, securing another trip to Indianapolis. They boast multiple offensive weapons, including Khloe Black, whose lively arm makes her a constant scoring threat. Watching her attack a two-ball through the middle is one of the more impressive plays you'll see.   The highest-seeded team in my coverage area is KNVBC 17 Showtime, which sits atop Pool 6. I've had the chance to watch them several times this season, and they're an entertaining group. When they're clicking offensively and playing with confidence, they're capable of making a deep tournament run.   Pool 8 features both Club North Volleyball 17 IB (17) and No Coast 17 Tsunami (42). Club North earned its bid in Boston and brings a balanced lineup to Indianapolis. Their middles were particularly impressive at the Midwest Pre-National Tournament earlier this month, and the roster also features recent Iowa State commit Payton Osegueda.   Representing the Gateway Region, No Coast 17 Tsunami secured its bid with a third-place finish at MEQ. Lilly McGrail has been one of the team's most consistent weapons this spring, using her physicality and versatility from the right side to put points on the board.   With seven teams in each age group capable of making noise, the Liberty Division should provide plenty of exciting volleyball over the next several days. Good luck to all of the teams as the chase for a national championship begins.

Today is the day! We turn our attention to the Liberty Division in the 16s and 17s. As a refresher, Liberty bids are earned through a team's finish in the Liberty Division at a national qualifier or by receiving a reallocated bid after another team from its region earns a higher-level qualification.