Thrilling Volleyball Action during the MLK Weekend

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The MLK Tournament showcased thrilling volleyball action, with teams battling hard for top honors. From impressive victories to nail-biting matches, the competition was fierce. Here's a recap of the standout performances and key moments from the weekend, highlighting the determination and skill of the young athletes on the court.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>18 Liberty</strong><br><strong>[program_tooltip program_id='428799' first='Rockwood' last='Thunder'] 18 Navy – 2nd Place</strong><br>[program_tooltip program_id='428799' first='Rockwood' last='Thunder'] 18 Navy had an outstanding weekend in Kansas City, finishing with an impressive 8-1 record and securing the runner-up position against UEPA 18D, with scores of 20-25, 25-13. The semifinals saw 18 Navy outslug 18 UA Tulsa, 2-1 (22-25, 25-14, 15-13), advancing to the finals. Throughout pool play and crossover rounds, Rockwood faced minimal challenges, with only Topeka Impact 18-1 managing to reach 20 points. [player_tooltip player_id='207580' first='Audrey' last='Hackney'] and [player_tooltip player_id='827988' first='Vivian' last='Sharlow'] excelled in orchestrating the offense, while opposite hitters [player_tooltip player_id='229558' first='Maggie' last='Smith'] and [player_tooltip player_id='542220' first='Marlie' last='Karsten'] kept opponents guessing, creating significant openings for the middles and outsides to deliver tremendous attacks. Defensively, [player_tooltip player_id='389497' first='Hannah' last='Patton'], [player_tooltip player_id='807730' first='Chelsea' last='Plunkett'], and [player_tooltip player_id='808062' first='Natalie' last='Frazier'] played with tenacity, ensuring strong passing and defense. With their performance, [program_tooltip program_id='428799' first='Rockwood' last='Thunder'] 18 Navy has secured a berth to Nationals. Congratulations to the team!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>16 Club</strong><br><strong>No Coast 15 Wave – 5th Place</strong><br>No Coast 15 Wave kicked off MLK with a remarkable five straight victories before facing their first setback in a grueling match against PVA 16 Molten from the Heart of America Region, losing 26-28, 25-16, 13-15. However, they bounced back and won their next two matches against Iowa Impact 16 Premier and Peak 16-2, positioning themselves for a quarterfinal clash with 501 Volley 16-1 National. Despite a strong effort, they fell short, finishing in fifth Place after a close match ending in 27-29, 14-25. [player_tooltip player_id='778394' first='Abigail' last='Koelling'] and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='775378' first='Avy' last='Sanders'] </strong>showcased their defensive prowess, while <strong>Maddy Haynes</strong> consistently slammed balls from the outside to [player_tooltip player_id='932142' first='Maha' last='Devrapally'], who held her ground defensively. Although No Coast missed out on a national bid this time, their potential is undeniable, and they're a team to watch in the future.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>FC United 16 Black – 9th Place</strong><br>FC United 16 Black is on the verge of something special, finishing in ninth Place at the tournament. They started strong with two consecutive sweeps but had to battle through three intense three-set matches. In their final game before the tournament concluded, FC United suffered a close loss to Arch City 16, 18-25, 24-26. Nevertheless, they secured a spot in the gold bracket. Their first match in gold resulted in a hard-fought three-set victory over CJV 16 National, before they dropped a game to Club North 16 Mike, 18-25, 22-25. <strong>Bella Vollmer</strong> and <strong>Arden Brewer </strong>were key players in the middle, using their height to disrupt opponents, while <strong>Lacey Appril</strong>l and <strong>Makenna Eckelkamp</strong> contributed significantly on the left pin. With<strong> [player_tooltip player_id='848355' first='Daisy' last='Wengler']</strong> on the opposite side, FC United shows promise for future competitions.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Arch City 16U – 9th Place</strong><br>Arch City was on fire at the MLK Tournament, achieving six straight sweeps before facing an upset against KC [program_tooltip program_id='428794' first='Power' last=''] 16-2, with scores of 29-31, 21-25. <strong>Sophia Feugner</strong> played solidly in the different-colored jersey, while <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='774408' first='Makenzi' last='Foley']</strong> bolstered the backcourt. [player_tooltip player_id='827082' first='Lilliana' last='Wiederkehr'], performing exceptionally on the left pin, consistently scored, and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='897291' first='Kylee' last='Donahue']</strong> started the season strong as the other pin hitter. The anticipation is high for what Arch City will accomplish in the upcoming Gateway League.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Sportsplex Blast Martin Luther King Extravaganza</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>NSSC 17 Nike – 1st Place</strong><br>NSSC 17 Nike triumphed at the Sportsplex Blast Martin Luther King Extravaganza, going undefeated and claiming the title against WB 18 National with scores of 29-27, 14-25, 15-8 in the 17-18 division. Key players <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='475335' first='Olivia' last='Kennedy'], [player_tooltip player_id='812240' first='Cashlynn' last='Sturgeon'], Maggie</strong> <strong>Reinert</strong>, and [player_tooltip player_id='827330' first='Mauriona' last='Menley'] dominated at the net, while <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='796845' first='Mallory' last='Mayberry']</strong> and <strong>Molly Mooty</strong> effectively ran the offense. [player_tooltip player_id='485634' first='Layla' last='Estes'], serving as the libero, played a crucial role in maintaining strong defense, ensuring that NSSC continues to battle for more titles.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Impact VBall Club 16s – 2nd Place</strong><br>Impact VBall Club 16s finished as runners-up, falling to Southern Illinois Wave 16 Black in the finals with scores of 25-22, 22-25, 15-17. After losing to NSSC 16 Nike during pool play on day one, Impact bounced back with a strong performance, defeating NSSC 16 Nike in the semifinals 10-25, 25-21, 15-9 to earn a spot in the title match. <strong>Tinsley Mirly, Madison Hitt-Monroe</strong>, and <strong>Zoe Zahner </strong>played significant roles throughout the tournament, demonstrating their skills and determination.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->