Strong Finishes at Nationals

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>What a finish to the season for the many teams and players from our Missouri and Kansas coverage area. It was a pleasure following their journeys throughout the year, and several closed the season with impressive runs at the USAV Girls Junior National Championships. This recap highlights the teams that finished among the nation's top 15.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">15s</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[program_tooltip program_id='430200' first='KC' last='[program_tooltip program_id='428794' first='Power' last='']'] 15-1 lived up to the lofty expectations in the Open Division, closing its season with an outstanding fifth-place finish. The squad rolled through the first three days undefeated before falling to eventual national champion Wave in the opening round of the Gold Bracket. [program_tooltip program_id='430200' first='KC' last='[program_tooltip program_id='428794' first='Power' last='']'] finished 8-1 overall, while outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id='938175' first='Brylie' last='Milo'] capped off her breakout season by earning All-Tournament Team honors.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In the National Division, Gateway Region's No Coast 15 Wave claimed the bronze medal after posting a 7-3 record. Libero [player_tooltip player_id='778394' first='Abigail' last='Koelling'] anchored the defense with an outstanding tournament, while outside hitter Madison Haynes provided a consistent offensive spark, earning both players All-Tournament recognition. [program_tooltip program_id='428892' first='PVA' last=''] 15 Elite narrowly missed the Gold Bracket before finishing ninth nationally.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">16s</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The USA Division featured a pair of fifth-place finishers from our coverage area—one from Heart of America and one from Gateway.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[program_tooltip program_id='428799' first='Rockwood' last='Thunder'] 16 Elite finished 6-3, with [player_tooltip player_id='909834' first='Aubrey' last='Toti'] earning All-Tournament Team honors. Topeka Saints 16 Gold also made a memorable run, posting a 7-2 record. Setter [player_tooltip player_id='503124' first='Blakely' last='Walter'] and outside hitter Karis Miller were both recognized for their outstanding play.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[program_tooltip program_id='428889' first='Dynasty' last=''] 16 Blue hit its stride late in the season, and that momentum carried into Indianapolis. The team finished 6-4 and earned a ninth-place national finish.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In the Liberty Division, Invasion 16 Black entered the tournament as the No. 1 overall seed and looked every bit the favorite through the first three days. Their only loss came in the opening round of the Gold Bracket, resulting in a tie for fifth. Blue Springs South setter [player_tooltip player_id='778345' first='Mia' last='Roberts'] earned All-Tournament Team honors. [program_tooltip program_id='428799' first='Rockwood' last='Thunder'] 16 Navy also secured a top-15 finish, tying for ninth.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">17s</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[program_tooltip program_id='430200' first='KC' last='[program_tooltip program_id='428794' first='Power' last='']'] 17-1 came through in several pivotal matches to reach the Open Division Gold Bracket before falling in a hard-fought three-set match to Nebraska One 17 Synergy. Setter Sasha Comer was recognized with All-Tournament Team honors. HPSTL 17 Royal also turned in a strong Open Division performance, finishing tied for ninth after narrowly missing the Gold Bracket through the challenge match.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mavs 17 Elite represented the region well in the National Division with a top-15 finish.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The USA Division produced three more top-15 teams. [program_tooltip program_id='430200' first='KC' last='[program_tooltip program_id='428794' first='Power' last='']'] 17-2 finished tied for fifth with a 5-4 record, while Manhattan Mayhem 17P matched that result with its own fifth-place finish. Manhattan's [player_tooltip player_id='807871' first='Bailey' last='Busch'] and [player_tooltip player_id='544703' first='Hadley' last='Clevenger'] were both named to the All-Tournament Team. HPSTL 17 Orange rounded out the group by tying for ninth.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Heart of America was also well represented in the Liberty Division, where Central Missouri Volleyball battled to a fifth-place finish. The team's 5-4 record was enough to navigate into the Gold Bracket on the final day. Setter Alyssa Scherr and middle blocker [player_tooltip player_id='915884' first='Emma' last='Hulsey'] were recognized with All-Tournament Team honors. Gateway's No Coast 17 Tsunami also earned a top-15 finish, tying for ninth.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In the American Division, 573 17 Premier C capped off its season with a ninth-place finish after posting a 6-3 record over four days of competition.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->