Recapping Day 2 at the Windy City NQ

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>CHICAGO -</strong> It was moving day Saturday at the Windy City National Qualifier here at McCormick Place. Teams determined where they'd line up for Sunday's bracket play, where USAV National Tournament bids will be on the line.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I made my way around the massive event again on Saturday, checking out teams from Iowa, some of whom I'd scouted in person this club season. Other squads I was seeing for the first time. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here's a rundown of what caught my eye: </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>SIX PACK 17</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of the more rewarding parts of covering the club circuit is witnessing a team mature and connect during a season. It's pretty easy identifying the ones with members rowing in the same direction. Six Pack 17 fits into that category. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I scouted this outfit in early January at the Quad Cities Showdown. Four months later, the growth was obvious. It's challenged itself in the Open Division at Windy City, has won four of six matches and advanced to the Gold Medal pools on Sunday morning. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='389014' first='Abby' last='Jensen'] and [player_tooltip player_id='389017' first='Bailey' last='Mullihan'] are two of the volleyball players I most enjoy watching. They play six rotations on this team, doing so with consistency and impacting the match all around the court. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jensen is dynamite in the back row but now slouch hitting outside. Explosion off the floor looks to be coming back for her after returning from a serious knee injury. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mullihan is among the most overlooked players in the state. She could help a lot of college rosters in a multitude of ways. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='215742' first='Carly' last='Wazac'] still is doing damage from the right side. It was good seeing her hit from the other pin, a place where she can be effective.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='389010' first='Annistyn' last='Wedgbury'] is as reliable as any libero in the state. She seems to fine-tune her game each time I watch. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='389009' first='Grace' last='Mullihan'] and [player_tooltip player_id='552892' first='Lindsay' last='Kruse'] are a middle combination that allows opponents no relief. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='261058' first='Brynn' last='Bakula'] and [player_tooltip player_id='389011' first='Alexa' last='Buhman'] share setting duties. They're both steady performers who limited errors. [player_tooltip player_id='753899' first='Kennedy' last='Brant'] is making strides as a right-side hitter.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>IMPACT 17-1 ELITE</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I caught this team at the MLK Classic in Overland Park, Kan. Like Six Pack, it looked so much sharper four months later. It advanced to Sunday's Liberty Division Gold Bracket. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='753974' first='Brynn' last='Roozeboom'] plays six rotations at a high level. She doesn't make many mistakes. Sioux Falls commitment [player_tooltip player_id='261083' first='Maegan' last='Cheeseman'] is rock solid at setter.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A left-handed hammer, [player_tooltip player_id='490014' first='Maliya' last='Cobb'] is a weapon on the right side. Brooklyn Schulte provides power at the pin, and libero [player_tooltip player_id='552904' first='Madison' last='Anselme'] holds down the back row. [player_tooltip player_id='753982' first='Jacey' last='McFarland'] and [player_tooltip player_id='753978' first='Chloe' last='Koch'] complete this well-rounded squad as an impactful, middle-hitter duo. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>319 UNITED SHANNON</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>During my first time scouting this team, I came away impressed with the potential. It's a collection of names to file away for this upcoming prep campaign.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sophia Keys plays six rotations here. Her best asset is her pin attack, but she does everything well. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='552886' first='Avery' last='Corcoran'] is one to watch on the right side. She swings it well but might be even better defensively. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='455735' first='Lilly' last='Fereday'] is a precise setter, and Caitlin Lockert can let it rip from the outside. The 1-2 punch of Malloree Nichols and Baylee Bravender produce in the middle, Ashlee Pierce and Kalena Quigley do the same in sharing the libero jersey. Presley Davison solidifies the back row. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>IMPACT 16-1 ELITE</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ideally, I'd like to be able to see every team in Iowa the way I have Impact 16-1 Elite this season. My first in-person scout was at the MLK Classic in Overland Park, Kan. I then watched them at regionals before another look on Saturday. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It's amazing how much more connected these teams become throughout the season. The pieces move much smoother around the court, and it makes for some high-end volleyball.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Setter [player_tooltip player_id='443125' first='Liv' last='Davis'] is the straw that stirs this drink. She can deliver in all the important aspects of the position, she has a high volleyball IQ and is a vocal leader. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='443086' first='Brynn' last='Cibula'] is one of the state's better all-round players. She has few weaknesses. [player_tooltip player_id='493608' first='Bailey' last='Snyder'] keeps progressing at the pin, and showed here the potential to play six rotations. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='730385' first='Allison' last='Ricke'] and [player_tooltip player_id='493605' first='Kenlie' last='Erickson'] contribute at a high-level as a pair of two-way middle hitters. Reliable libero [player_tooltip player_id='758787' first='Katelyn' last='Mescher'] and [player_tooltip player_id='493615' first='Alexis' last='Theis'], a sound defensively specialist, keep it moving in the back row. [player_tooltip player_id='490004' first='Girona' last='Fengler'] flashes potential at both pins. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>PLATFORM ADIDAS 16</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I saw this team on Saturday for the first time this season. Platform Adidas secured a Liberty bid before play began here this weekend. It was easy to see how.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='555775' first='Alexis' last='Stilwell'] impresses at libero, and [player_tooltip player_id='555777' first='Quinn' last='Schroeder'] stands out on the right side. Middle hitter is in good hands with [player_tooltip player_id='555746' first='Clare' last='Yeggy'] and [player_tooltip player_id='758798' first='LaTasia' last='Green-Huffman'] rotating there. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='555772' first='Grace' last='Danielson'] sets up hitters to make plays. [player_tooltip player_id='555773' first='Liv' last='Barudin'] shines on the attack with a big swing on the outside. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->