2017 Asics President's Day Preview - 15-18s Club Divisions

OMAHA – The 2017 Asics President’s Day Classic – a large regional tournament hosted locally by Nebraska Elite – gets underway Saturday at CenturyLink Center and concludes on Monday.

A total of 431 teams from across the country will be competing this weekend. Today, we take a look at the Club Divisions in the 15s-18s division with top teams in each age group as well as top teams from Nebraska and players to watch.

Our preview of the Open Divisions will be posted on Friday.

18 Club Division – 40 teams

#1 seed – Southern Minnesota Volleyball 181 Black

Based out of Rochester, MN, SMV 181 Black isn’t overly big, but the team is athletic with some high-quality talent. Anna Lund is the most athletic of the bunch as the 6-footer jump-touches 9-foot-9. Nebraskans will likely hear Lund’s name a lot in the future as she is committed to Concordia.

#2 seed – Kansas Jets 181

Based out of McPherson, KS, the Kansas Jets are a lot like SMV in that there isn’t overwhelming height, but some capable attackers. Although just 5-foot-5, Karissa Winkel led Beloit, KS, with 327 kills this high school season while 5-11 Rachel Dossett and 5-10 Sydney Mossman each had roughly 200 kills for McPherson during the high school year.

#3 seed – Northern Lights 18-B

Northern Lights always has insane talent on all of its teams and this year is no different. Leah Damerow leads NL 18 Black and is a 6-foot-2 MH/RS that’s committed to Division II power Concordia-St. Paul. Along with 6-2 OH/RS Abigail Loe, who is headed to Carleton College, and 6-2 RS Lauren Wallace, a Minnesota-Crookston recruit. The team also features 6-foot setter Madeline Torve, a St. Cloud State recruit.

Premier 18 Black - #4 seed in 18 Club

The highest seeded Nebraska team in the division, Premier 18 Black might not have the star power of the other top seeds, but is a deep team led by Papillion-LaVista defensive specialist Carly Lindenmeyer and Midland University recruit Elizabeth Dlouhy of Tekamah-Herman.

VCNebraska 18 Elite - #6 seed in 18 Club

As the #6 seed, VCNebraska 18 Elite is a legitimate title contender with all-state setter Emma Thomssen of Lincoln Northeast and Husker walk-on Hayley Densberger leading the way. The team also features Gretna’s Jaiden Sila (Northwestern College), Aurora’s Jasa Scheierman (Colorado Christian) and Wahoo junior Madilyn Larson.

Starlings Omaha 181 - #10 seed in 18 Club

Starlings have just three seniors on its team, but they some good ones in Omaha Northwest duo Addison Schramm at setter and Sydney Vann at OH – both of which are headed to Southeast Nebraska CC. Omaha North libero Rayetta Benson-Redinbaugh is the other senior.

Club Legacy 18 ROX

With Hastings College recruit and reigning Class A Player of the Year Elise Baumann of Millard North, Legacy 18 ROX should be considered dangerous, not to mention it also features Omaha recruit Claire Mountjoy of Elkhorn. Heather Bills, also from Elkhorn, is one of the most underrated seniors in the state as a lefty RS.

Nebraska Juniors 182

Nebraska Juniors 182 is a young team with just one senior – Alaetra Long of Lincoln Southeast – but has some talented juniors, including Meridian all-stater Rylee Pieper and Bishop Neumann’s Jessina Rada.

17 Club Division – 56 teams

#1 seed - Pentagon 17 Orange

Pentagon – based out of Sioux Falls, SD – is led by MH Abi McIlvenna of Tea, SD, while 6-foot-1 Hannah Viet had more than 200 kills this past fall for Parker High School. Setter Hailey Olson, at 5-foot-10, has more than 2,000 career assists for Washington High School in Sioux Falls.

#2 seed - Impact 171

Based out of St. Paul, MN, Impact 171 is led by 5-11 Nicole Demlow, who had more than 100 kills for a 25-3 Nova Classical Academy team during the high school season.

#3 seed - Rise 17s OK

Based out of Oklahoma City, Rise 17s is led by OH Rylee Nickels of Mustang High School and OH/RS Jacy Braziel, who helped lead Community Christian to the Oklahoma 3A state title this fall.

#4 seed – Northern Lights 172

Despite coming in as the #4 seed, the Twin Cities-based team looks to be the favorite to win the division. As state previously, Northern Lights is one of the deepest and best clubs in the nation and its crop of 17s continues that tradition. 6-foot-1 MH/RS Madison Bremer is committed to and 5-11 OH Alyson Murphy is headed to North Dakota State. Kennedy Brady, a 6-1 MH/RS, is headed to Division II power Concordia-St. Paul and 5-foot-8 OH Isabella Erne – who jump-touches 9-10 – is committed to St. Cloud State.

#10 seed - Performance 17 NIKE

The top team from Nebraska in the division is Performance 17 NIKE, led by Papillion-LaVista South’s Peyton Schendt and Morgen Bianchi, Omaha Marian OH Ashtyne Alberts, Omaha Skutt’s Sydney McDermott and Sioux City Heelan MH Sam McCabe.

Nebraska Elite 17 Simul

Led by Omaha Duchesne standout Julianna Kalil & Omaha Gross duo Olivia Galas and Rosa Reed-Bouley Elite Simul is capable of going on a deep run in the division.

Banzai 171

The very underrated Alicia Hogan of Omaha South highlights a talented Banzai team which also includes Bennington defensive standout Bryn Stansberry, Papillion-LaVista’s Megan Helmberger and setter Emma Altman.

Premier 17 Black

Omaha Skutt’s Megan Sutera and the Millard North duo of Claire Andry and Nami Surendranath help lead a Premier squad capable of finding its way into championship contention.

Legacy 17 ROX

There is a lot of Millard North influence on the Legacy 17 ROX squad, highlighted by back row standouts Madison Evans and Megan Hanson as well as setter Marissa Salber. Sabrina Starks of Platteview is one of the state’s most under-the-radar players, as is Arlington’s Shelby Kaup.

16 Club – 64 teams

#1 seed – Northern Lights 162

Jasmine Mulvihill, at 6-foot-1 with a jump touch of 9-9, is a beast at OH/MH for Northern Lights, as is 6-3 MH Jaidyn Spencer, who can touch 9-10.

#2 seed – Colorado North Stars VBC 16 Black

#3 seed - Premier 16 Black

#4 seed – Premier 16 Red

#6 seed – Banzai 161

15 Club – 64 teams

#1 seed – Northern Lights 152

#2 seed - Club North 151 (Missouri)

#3 seed – Colorado Juniors 15 Kirk

#14 seed - Nebraska Elite 15 Chaos