Michigan Takes Over the Mideast Qualifier (Pt. 1)

<p><em><strong>Be sure to follow @lshotvb on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/lshotvb/">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@lshotvb?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc">Tik Tok </a>and <a href="https://x.com/LineShotVBall">Twitter</a> for all things volleyball!</strong></em></p>   <p>–</p>   <p>The Mideast Qualifier is one of the biggest tournaments of the year. With some of the biggest teams from all corners of the country in one place, the state of Michigan was well-represented.</p>   <p>Seemingly just about every club that the mitten state has to offer was on tap for this elite level tournament. With bids to the USAV Girls' Junior National Championships in Dallas on the line, everyone's game was at full force.</p>   <p>We're going to take a look at some of the top performers from MEQ that you don't typically hear about. There were many teams that placed within the top of their age groups and divisions. So, there is plenty of love to go around. </p>   <p>Here's a look at the first half of the players that showed out in Indianapolis.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='762765' first='Natasha' last='Harvey'] - Club Xtreme</h2>   <p>This player has the potential to be a really strong power in the middle within the next few years. And you saw those signs of excellence with Club Xtreme this weekend. [player_tooltip player_id='762765' first='Natasha' last='Harvey'] was a part of the electric Mercy Marlins this fall, and she is another strong player. She has a nice length to her at the net that can close off the net to some great attackers. When she connects with the ball, things can be deadly.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='261175' first='Kendal' last='Quain'] & Addi Vagi - Crank It </h2>   <p>Get you a pair of players that can run the offense and then BE the offense. Both [player_tooltip player_id='261175' first='Kendal' last='Quain'] and Addi Vagi were showing off their complete game all throughout this tournament. Whether one was setting or the other was hitting, these two are instrumental pieces to this team's puzzle. </p>   <p>In the most original form of the 6-2 offense, these two set when they rotated to the back row and then hit when they were at the net. Funny enough, these two were the each other's favorite weapons to use when running the show. They both can take big rips from either pin, scoring at an extremely clip.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='762767' first='Ava' last='McMillin'] - Crank it</h2>   <p>While she is small in stature, [player_tooltip player_id='762767' first='Ava' last='McMillin']'s play is much larger than meets the eye. For Crank It's 16 Black team, McMillin seemed to be the leader of the defense through every part of this team's journey. She is the kind of player that makes the difference. With every dig to every pass she makes, she betters the ball more times than not. </p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Laney Champagne & Adlin Moore - Michigan Elite</h2>   <p>Michigan Elite's 16 National East team came into this tournament on a mission. As the 16 Select's overall #1 seed coming into the tournament, there was a lot to prove. Granted, this was the team's first major tournament of the season. Expectations were high, and they maintained to prove just why they can be considered a top contender in this division.</p>   <p>Two big reasons for this is the offensive play from both Laney Champagne and Adlin Moore. Champagne looks to be this team's go-to scorer when things get tight. She is a pin player that is unafraid to take the big swings and reaps the benefit. As a player that I got to see earlier on in the fall, seeing her growth from then to now is also quite the treat.</p>   <p>For Moore, she is one of the biggest players you may be able to find in this division. At a solid 6'1, maybe even 6'2, Moore controls the net. You can tell that this is an extremely raw player with the potential through the roof! Whenever Moore would connect with the ball, hitting or blocking, it was ELECTRIC!</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Avery Stewart - Michigan Elite</h2>   <p>When Michigan Elite's 16 Elite has the opportunity, they are seeing to get Avery Stewart the ball in the middle. This is a player that has jumped leaps and bounds over the last several months and is showcasing the potential to being an elite level middle. Good off of one foot, good off of two, and a solid blocker, Stewart is an integral part to 16 Elite. Without another big part of their offense this weekend due to the basketball finals, Stewart's step up was a huge part in this team's run to a Gold Bracket Challenge match.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='526553' first='Liv' last='Wender'] & [player_tooltip player_id='455952' first='Sofie' last='Williams'] - Legacy</h2>   <p>This is another pair of players from a 2s squad that had an exciting weekend at MEQ. A part of the many top finishing teams from Michigan, Legacy 16-2 Adidas may have been the highest finishing squad, placing fourth in 16 USA.</p>   <p>Two of the brightest stars on the court came from [player_tooltip player_id='526553' first='Liv' last='Wender'] and [player_tooltip player_id='455952' first='Sofie' last='Williams']. Wender, a seemingly utility at this point, was finding a ton of success running the offense. Wender has been seen in action as an outside hitter, a DS, but was ultimately signed up on this team as a setter. Her do-it-all versatility is something that came up clutch for Legacy time and time again.</p>   <p>For Williams, she is one of the go-to point scorers for this group. Out on the left pin, Williams gets off the ground so well and can fire through a strong ball. Her overall play was another integral part to this team's high finish.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='442613' first='Lily' last='Sukup'] - Five1</h2>   <p>While this weekend wasn't the best of outings for Five1's 17 Black team, if there was one bright spot to highlight, it was the play of [player_tooltip player_id='442613' first='Lily' last='Sukup']. This outside hitter has been really finding her footing as of late. When put in the right situations, Sukup can be an intense scoring weapon. She takes a big load and unleashes on an explosive ball. You could see this many times throughout the weekend as she tried to will her team further.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='470031' first='Avery' last='Kapeller'] & [player_tooltip player_id='586776' first='Lyla' last='Gorny'] - High Performance</h2>   <p>This was one of the first tournaments that we got to see this High Performance squad take on the Open level. Needless to say, they hung around for the bulk of the weekend. A big part in that was the play of [player_tooltip player_id='470031' first='Avery' last='Kapeller'] and [player_tooltip player_id='586776' first='Lyla' last='Gorny'].</p>   <p>Kapeller is this team's driving force to any sort of success. As a six rotation outside hitter relied upon to take a brunt of the offensive and defensive load, she does a real stand up job. Her growth offensively has become really exciting to see unfold as she is finding her range within her sheer power. </p>   <p>For Gorny, while this team may not have to run the middle as often as they may have liked, Gorny makes a lot of her opportunities. She hits the ball with a lot of speed and she is a rather strong blocker, both in her lateral movements as well as her press over the net.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='454368' first='Lexa' last='Pierson'] - L2</h2>   <p>Much like Sukup, this may not have been the best overall outing for L2's 161, but one thing is for certain, [player_tooltip player_id='454368' first='Lexa' last='Pierson'] is a STRONG player. She's the kind of player that you simply cannot take off the court, she just offers too much. Between her offense, her defense and her ability to pass so consistently, Pierson can play the whole game at an extremely high level.</p>   <p></p>

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