Nebraska Elite 15 Matrix Earns 15 Open Bid at Show Me Qualifier
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What a run. Of all the great storylines to come out of the Show Me Qualifier, there are few bigger than the path to a Nationals bid for Nebraska Elite 15 Matrix. Maybe that’s just my Nebraska bias talking, but…
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Continue ReadingWhat a run.
Of all the great storylines to come out of the Show Me Qualifier, there are few bigger than the path to a Nationals bid for Nebraska Elite 15 Matrix.
Maybe that’s just my Nebraska bias talking, but I was so amazed by how much competitive spirit Nebraska Elite showed in Kansas City. These players had an uncanny ability to put hardships behind them, focus on one match at a time, and bring the hype after big moments. It ultimately lifted 15 Matrix to a brand new height.
So, let’s recap this wild journey as Nebraska Elite 15 Matrix clinched a bid to Indianapolis.
How about another team that has had a dream weekend at Show Me: Nebraska Elite 15 Matrix.
In the running for a bid today, and playing with so much FIRE. pic.twitter.com/gIxe4fnGkT
— Austin Kingsley (@KingsleyATK) April 11, 2022
On to Indy
I want to take you back to NLQ last month. It’s an event that probably didn’t go the way 15 Matrix was hoping, with a couple of opening day losses taking the team out of Gold contention early on. However, we can’t forget that the response to this pair of losses was a six-match winning streak that showed what 15 Matrix was capable of. It’s a squad that can get hot at any time.
Bring on the Show Me Qualifier. Though Tulsa Power edged Nebraska Elite in the opening match of the tournament, 15 Matrix would not let history repeat itself. A successful three-match stretch against Boiler Jrs, Ozark Juniors, and IPVA put Nebraska Elite firmly in the bid hunt heading into Sunday.
And, wow, Sunday was a rollercoaster. Another opening defeat to national qualifier Dynasty was quickly remedied by a big bounceback win against MKE Sting. With a second-round pool record of 1-1, 15 Matrix had one opponent left.
What ensued was nothing short of an emotional gauntlet between Nebraska Elite and Premier Nebraska 15 Gold, which also had a 1-1 Sunday record heading into this matchup. It was a classic winner-take-all scenario with a spot in Gold pools on the line between two in-state competitors. It was perfect.
There’s no doubt that this was one of the most intense matches of the weekend. After taking a commanding win in the opening set, 15 Matrix rallied back from a late deficit in the second set. A winning ace sent Nebraska Elite into a frenzy. It was time for Gold pools.
Most intense match of the day!
Nebraska Elite 15 Matrix secures a massive win against Premier Nebraska!
The celebration says it all. pic.twitter.com/i18klZxTTz
— Austin Kingsley (@KingsleyATK) April 10, 2022
As Monday arrived, it became clear that 15 Matrix was going to bring the same fire and energy that we had seen at the end of Sunday’s battle with Premier. With three out of the eight Gold pool competitors having already secured a 15 Open bid, the prospect of securing a trip to Indy was tantalizingly close for Nebraska Elite.
With that in mind, 15 Matrix came out of the gates swinging with a big sweep over MiElite 15 Mizuno, a squad that had just put together a 3-0 run through Sunday pools. There was a quick turnaround, too, with Elite staying on the court to prepare for a matchup with HPSTL 15 Royal. 15 Matrix could have looked fatigued and drained, but this team embraced the challenge. Even after splitting the first two sets with HPSTL, 15 Matrix had enough left in that hype machine to take a deuce victory in the third set and move to 2-0 in Gold pools. A bid was now nearly assured.
Nebraska Elite 15 Matrix does it again!
Incredible three-set win over HPSTL! pic.twitter.com/Kx7c3sVzQn
— Austin Kingsley (@KingsleyATK) April 11, 2022
Though Nebraska Elite came up short in another in-state battle with Nebraska ONE, 15 Matrix had clearly done enough. A third-place finish in an extraordinary Show Me field highlights the dream weekend that 15 Matrix put together in Kansas City.
Leading the Way
Of course, there are so many standouts that deserve credit for the way they stepped up at Show Me.
Ashlyn Paymal Ashlyn Paymal 6'2" | RS Omaha Westside | 2025 State NE had an unbelievable weekend in Kansas City and firmly cemented her place as one of the most lethal attackers in Nebraska’s 2025 class. 15 Matrix does such a good job of finding different ways of getting Paymal the ball, including on the 2 ball and a bunch of other combination plays. I can remember this team calling a timeout up 14-13 in the third set against HPSTL, and you just knew that the last ball had to go to the big arm on the right pin. Paymal got it, and she delivered the winning kill.
And how about the rise of Elizabeth Layson Elizabeth Layson 6'0" | OH Omaha Duchesne | 2025 State NE ? She is an instant spark of energy out on the left side. Her fiery competitiveness is matched by her lightning-fast arm, and she is part of an amazing dual-threat that includes Mattie Dalton Mattie Dalton 5'10" | OH Fremont | 2025 State NE on the outside.
Ball control is also coming along nicely for 15 Matrix. Isabel Junior Isabel Junior 5'8" | DS/L Elkhorn South | 2025 State NE had another standout weekend in the libero jersey and pairs incredibly well with Melody Mayer Melody Mayer 5'7" | DS/L Omaha Marian | 2025 State NE on the end line.
And, at setter, Peyton Meyer Peyton Meyer 6'0" | S Westside | 2025 State NE is quickly finding her rhythm with this team. She pushes tempo so well, can keep her hitters in stride when passes drift on the next, and can easily hold her ground when blocking on the right pin. Once again, Meyer is another player that provides leadership through her energy and clear passion for competing.
Best of all, we’ll have a chance to feature more standouts from this team when we see them in Indianapolis this summer. See you at Nationals!