Playing For Gold – IA, IL, WI Teams in Open, National, and USA

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The best among the best are starting to separate themselves at USAV Nationals in Indianapolis.&nbsp; I'm reporting this before all of the divisions are finished so I'm going to zero in on the Open, National, and USA Divisions with teams from Illinois, Iowa, and Wisconsin.&nbsp; I have covered plenty of these teams.&nbsp; I've watched some of them since they first entered high school.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here is who is battling for gold pools on day three of USAV Nationals.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Next steps to a title:&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The teams below are in the day three “GOLD” pools which means there are eight pools left in their division with three teams in each pool.&nbsp; The top two teams from each pool will advance to a challenge match later on Thursday.&nbsp; The winner of the challenge match will advance to the gold bracket with the final eight teams in their division.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>17 Open&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>1st Alliance 17 Gold</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>17 National&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>MKE Sting 17 Gold</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Iowa United 171 Elite</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[program_tooltip program_id='432009' first='Sky' last='High'] 17 Elite</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>17 USA&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>PowerPlex 17 Mendoza</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>1st Alliance 17 Silver</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[program_tooltip program_id='429175' first='VC' last='United'] 171 Elite</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[program_tooltip program_id='431948' first='Iowa' last='Rockets'] 17R&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>16 Open&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Iowa Premier 16-1</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[program_tooltip program_id='431567' first='Adversity' last=''] 16 Adidas</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>1st Alliance 16 Gold</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>MKE Sting 16 Gold</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>16 National&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>1st Alliance 16 Silver</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>MKE Sting 16 Black</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>IA UTD 16 Timmerman</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>1st Alliance Stays On Top </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 1st Alliance Gold and Silver teams advancing to the final 24 come at no surprise.  This is on brand with their entire season.  The 16s group has been really interesting to watch.  16 Gold is led by Illinois commit in [player_tooltip player_id='484408' first='Tatum' last='Kelly'] who is a true maestro of the offense.  Watching her set, she holds the middle so well which allows for her teammates to have plenty of one on one opportunities to attack.  16 Silver has won two USA Qualifiers and has put on quite a season.  Setter [player_tooltip player_id='522629' first='Kelly' last='Ryan'] is so poised and mature and has two terminal pins in [player_tooltip player_id='780221' first='Madeline' last='Maloney'] and [player_tooltip player_id='546199' first='Katelyn' last='Beirne'].  At this point got a game, got a chance! </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Let's Go 16s!&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>For those who aren't as entrenched in the club volleyball world, the open divisions are dominated by mostly California and Texas teams.&nbsp; To have four Iowa, Illinois, and Wisconsin teams is a great showing for the Midwest.&nbsp; Iowa Premier 16-1 and MKE Sting 16 Gold came in as the 47th and 42nd seeds overall.&nbsp; They will now be among the top 24.&nbsp; We were able to see 1st Alliance 16 Gold, Iowa Premier 16-1, and MKE Sting 16 Gold at our Prep Dig Gauntlet - along with Circle City 16 Purple who is also among the top 24 in Open.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>17 National - The Balance</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Teams who advance into the top 24 of National are gritty.&nbsp; Well over the majority have played an open level schedule, they have D1 commits, they know what its like to play against the best.&nbsp; MKE Sting 17 Gold was just on the outside of qualifying open all season.&nbsp; Iowa United 171 Elite won the Iowa Region and was in the gold bracket of 16s last year.&nbsp; [program_tooltip program_id='432009' first='Sky' last='High'] 17 Adidas has played together for a long time, they have [player_tooltip player_id='839949' first='Maizy' last='Agnello'] the Mizzou commit who can score points at will and one of the top 2028s in Illinois in [player_tooltip player_id='546211' first='Sage' last='Olson'] who just committed to Notre Dame.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Pool 7 - USA - Familiar Faces</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We have [program_tooltip program_id='429175' first='VC' last='United'] 171 Elite, [program_tooltip program_id='431948' first='Iowa' last='Rockets'] 17R, and PowerPlex 17 Mendoza.&nbsp; We could have just hosted this in Iowa City for a neutral location with Rockford, Illinois along with Des Moines and Iowa City.&nbsp; These athletes have played each other in the club world the past four years.&nbsp; For PowerPlex and [program_tooltip program_id='431948' first='Iowa' last='Rockets'], they know each other from the Iowa Region as well as the high school courts.&nbsp; I was able to see [program_tooltip program_id='431948' first='Iowa' last='Rockets'] 17R in a three set thriller today and the final play was [player_tooltip player_id='316419' first='Edie' last='Miller'] to [player_tooltip player_id='316380' first='Hadley' last='Miller'] to Hailey Galloway.&nbsp; This has been a combo going since they were in middle school.&nbsp; Galloway is a recent commit to UW-Milwaukee this spring and she is going to be a great fit in the Horizon League.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->