USAV 18 Open Division Field Begins to Clear Post-MEQ

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!   –   The season is winding down here for the 18s.   For the bulk of the teams playing in the 18s age group, this season is much shorter than any other year. With USAV Nationals being the supreme of the land, that is the goal atop every 18s team list. Get out there and get a bid.   As the season winds down, we are just a month away from the 18s Nationals in Salt Lake City. The Mideast Qualifier acted as one of the last chances for many of these teams to grab their bid. Granted, A LOT of teams in this MEQ 18 Open field already snagged their bid. 13 teams came into the weekend with their ticket punched and three more teams walked out of Indianapolis with theirs.   The 18 Open was truly a must-watch in this top level tournament. As the Mideast Qualifier brings in the best of the best in the country from every division, the 18s feature some of the biggest names in the 2025 class.   <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/03/DSC07192.jpg?w=769" alt="" class="wp-image-763403" style="width:242px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">1st Alliance</figcaption></figure>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">-</h2>   For the third qualifier in as many qualifiers, 1st Alliance 18 Gold managed to hold off the stout competition and walk away with their third Qualifier championship of the season. Obviously, this is a team that has received their bid well in advance to this tournament. But this is quite the feat.   As someone who has watched this team over the last few years and really studied this age group, 1st Alliance has always been THAT top team. However, entering the fold of the 2025 club season, three VERY significant pieces to the puzzle were missing for this team. Abby Vanderwal (Texas), Addy Horner (Wisconsin) and Hannah Kenny (Louisville) have all taken the early grad route. Not only has this left this squad with a lot of question marks at the offensive end, but also the setting position.   Not to worry. however. Where this team has maybe taken a step back on paper offensively, they've upped their game in the 1st contact. Aniya Warren (Wisconsin) has been a sensational workhorse for Alliance every step of the way this season. They've also found themselves utilizing the middle to great effect which has proven to immense success.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">-</h2>   Another cool thing to note from the Mideast Qualifier is that it brings in some of the top clubs in the country that don't typically go the USAV route. Not until these last few years, both KIVA and Munciana were two of the biggest names in the country to totally omit the USAV National route at the 18s level, as well as the rest of the age groups. However, due to the proximity of this tournament as well as the level of competition, it is too much to pass up for both of these clubs. While they are a one and done, both of these clubs know how to get things done!   KIVA was looking to be in a bit of an interesting position coming into day 3. Like I said, this is a one and done type of tournament for this group, without a bid here, they aren't going to SLC. Day 1 and 2 saw KIVA amass a 4-2 record, just narrowly making their way into the gold medal pools for Day 3. But, per usual, this team knows how to turn things on when it all matters the most. Behind the net prowess of [player_tooltip player_id='274410' first='Addison' last='Makun'] (Louisville), KIVA managed to knock off both Wildfire and Adrenaline in pool play. The Adrenaline match proved to be a fun watch as both Makun and Adrenaline's Chloe Meester (Louisville) will be teammates in just a few months.   They would go on to knock out the tournament's overall top seed in Munciana Samurai, handing them their one and only loss of the tournament. With all of the momentum, they'd take it to push 1st Alliance to the brink in the finals, but alas would lose in a valiant effort, 13-15 in the third.   <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/03/DSC07442.jpg?w=769" alt="" class="wp-image-763405" style="width:244px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='443848' first='Carsyn' last='Comer']</figcaption></figure>   Nonetheless, KIVA would make the come back to not only place Runner-Up at MEQ, but to take home the first of three bids.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">-</h2>   And speaking of that Munciana team, they had quite the run at MEQ to not only take a third place finish, but to grab their ticket to Salt Lake City next month.   This team is just so much fun to watch. It is to a lot of praise to KIVA for managing to knock them out when they are such a well-oiled machine. From the pins, this team is as strong as any other in the 18 Open Division. [player_tooltip player_id='152944' first='Charlotte' last='Vinson'] (Indiana) and [player_tooltip player_id='153107' first='Lindsey' last='Mangelson'] (Mississippi State) are absolutely electric. They attack with such range and power. As both can terminate from opposite pins, it really creates quite the tandem to attempt to stop.   In the middle, [player_tooltip player_id='443848' first='Carsyn' last='Comer'] may only be a sophomore here, but she is playing like she is one of the top middle prospects in the senior class. She has the size to compete at the highest levels as well as the intangibles. The IQ and speed are two things that really blow me away when looking at her game comparative to her sophomore counterparts.   While the Samurai were somewhat 'upset' in the semifinals of the tournament, they did manage to walk out with their bid. As the winner of the tournament had their bid, this left both KIVA and Munciana receiving the first two bids of the tournament.   From here, there were four teams that have already received their ticket to nationals, MAVS, Colorado Juniors, Circle City and Adrenaline. The next up, who placed within the top 8 was a tough NKYVC squad. While they've received their bid in the 18 National Division, this should mean their ticket to USAs have been punched.

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