Wrapping Up Windy City NQ 2025

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>CHICAGO - </strong>The Windy City National Qualifier here at McCormick Place wrapped up on Sunday. Teams from around the country competed in the Gold Brackets with USAV National Tournament bids up for grabs. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Iowa teams mixed it up with the best all weekend. Regional champs and the state's two Open Division national qualifiers were in action.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>PowerPlex 17U Wieland took the Iowa title and earned a National Division bid in doing so. With that in hand, it took a run at an Open bid this weekend. It finished 4-5 and in 36th place out of 44 outstanding teams. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I watched PowerPlex 17s Sunday morning when they took down Rocky Elite down in three sets. It was my first in-person scout of this group. It impressed.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='389074' first='Hailey' last='Flanders'] has blossomed into a fine volleyball player. She stands out through six rotations with a mighty swing from the pin and quick actions in the back row. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mia Lei-Butters rates as one of the state's top libero. She's supported in the back row by defensive specialist [player_tooltip player_id='490001' first='Elizabeth' last='Greenfield'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of Iowa's best players, [player_tooltip player_id='261075' first='Kaelyn' last='Wieland'], shares setting duties with [player_tooltip player_id='455732' first='Tessa' last='Holtorf']. They keep the operation running smoothly and consistently. [player_tooltip player_id='389077' first='Brenna' last='Baumgardner'] and [player_tooltip player_id='389078' first='Norah' last='Hany'] form a dynamic duo at middle hitter, one capable of generating a potent attack and delivering on the block. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='443093' first='Maya' last='Ridgeway'] can put the ball down from both pins. [player_tooltip player_id='215427' first='Ava' last='Groeteke'] and [player_tooltip player_id='261087' first='Mia' last='Schluter'] take care of business on the right side. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Iowa Premier 15-1 pocketed a National bid with its regional championship and moved up to an Open bid at last week's Show Me National Qualifier. It took on the Open field here to see if it could keep rolling and finished a respectable 17th. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>PowerPlex 16 Brogean dropped a tough three-setter in the USA Gold Bracket when I was watching Sunday morning. It was pursuing a bid in the division after locking up an American with a runner-up finish at regionals. It ended up fifth</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It's a team with star power capable of making a run at nationals. [player_tooltip player_id='490013' first='Logan' last='Vogt'] continues developing her skills and should be one of Iowa's top overall players during the 2025 prep campaign. [player_tooltip player_id='493601' first='Piper' last='Ladwig'], [player_tooltip player_id='493973' first='Gwen' last='Farley'] and [player_tooltip player_id='490011' first='Leah' last='Janulewicz'] will join her with that distinction.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Iowa United 15-1 came a long way since I saw them at the MLK Classic. I watched it drop a heartbreaking three-setter Sunday but it was an inspired performance. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='516002' first='Julia' last='Schlarbaum'] has improved at a steady rate during the last year. She's added power to her swing, grown taller and increased her vertical leap, while also sharpening her back-row skills. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='540833' first='Izzie' last='McDonald'], [player_tooltip player_id='775157' first='Jeorgia' last='Evans'] and [player_tooltip player_id='555730' first='Taylor' last='Hoskins'] teaming up in the back row gives this team a big lift. [player_tooltip player_id='701976' first='Adelyn' last='Stien'] is a reliable setter, and [player_tooltip player_id='610472' first='Josephine' last='Austen'] has made strides just since the last time I scouted her back in January. [player_tooltip player_id='533845' first='Taylor' last='Otte'] and [player_tooltip player_id='571219' first='Haydin' last='Wauters'] make sure this team is sound at middle hitter through all rotations, [player_tooltip player_id='775182' first='Olivia' last='Marais'] continues progressing with power at the pin.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Iowa United 14-1 Elite, which I watched again on Saturday, tuned up for its challenge in the nationals Open Division by playing in the top division here. Against some of the country's elite squads, it finished fifth.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cyan Blommer and [player_tooltip player_id='754551' first='Zane' last='Ehler'] are playing at a high level every time I scout this squad. Middle hitters [player_tooltip player_id='697463' first='Audrey' last='Small'] and [player_tooltip player_id='750513' first='Caylee' last='Jensen'] are a problem for opponents. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->