What Commits Are Coming To NLQ 17 Open?

Some of the top players in the country will be heading to the Northern Lights Qualifier in Minneapolis this weekend.  With that brings some nationally ranked players who have already made their verbal for the next level. Who are some of these commits?  Where are they heading?     The future Pitt Panther will be an imposing presence at the Northern Lights Qualifier for her AVC 17 Red squad out of the Cleveland area. Williams has spent time with the Youth National teams and with how physical and dynamic she is - the other side has to know where she is at all times. She can get from pin to pin, she can attack off one foot and has the blend of speed and power that is at a different level. She is the top prospect coming out of Ohio in the Class of 2027.     Kentucky knows how to find em. Ellyson Randolph will be competing for Academy 17 Diamond out of North Carolina where her point scoring ability will put this team in the hunt for an early 17 Open bid. Her contact point is high where she brings such a heavy swing from the pin. At 6'2, she has the tools to really take over a match with an incredibly high ceiling at the next level.     Arizona Storm 17 Thunder may need the winter coats when they head to Minneapolis for the Northern Lights Qualifier this weekend. Pulelehua Laikona is one of the top liberos in the field and will be heading to Big Ten country as she has given her verbal to play at Nebraska. Laikona just has a natural feel for the game where there are plays you just say “How did she do that?”. She anticipates at a high level, beats the ball to the spot, and does more than get a touch. She is able to anticipate and keep her side of the net in system. Storm should be one of the favorites for the weekend at NLQ.     Another Pitt commit is in the house this weekend for the Northern Lights Qualifier. Peyton Kubik of Dynasty 17 Black out of Kansas City will make the trip to Minneapolis. Dynasty is a perennial contender in the Open field and they will look to grab an early bid. Kubik will be a key piece to their success as a six rotation outside hitter. She is a blend of power and finesse where she can just shred a defense from the outside, but can essentially score from anywhere on the court.     A scrappy libero to keep tabs on over the weekend is Gemma Hopkins. She is an Arkansas commit who will be looking to light a spark for Houston Juniors 17 Elite. HJV typically brings their teams to Minneapolis for this event where they are always in the hunt. This year will be no different. With the likes of Hopkins providing a clean first touch, the balance of this offense can really click. There are still some high level athletes on this team uncommitted who will be key to watch.     Another high level libero to watch this weekend would be Elizabeth Bower of Idaho Crush 17 Bower. There have been plenty of Bower's who have gone though the Idado Crush program and Elzabeth is the next in line. She gave her verbal commit to play for Louisville this summer. Aside from her libero ability, her athleticism is top notch. She could pick any sport or position and find a way to be one of the best. Her energy and intensity will raise the level of play for her squad who always seems to be a day three gold contender.     Sophia Austen is one of three Iowa State commits from Iowa who will be in action this weekend at the Northern Lights Qualifier. She is a six rotation outside hitter who preps at Iowa City West where she led her squad to a state tournament appearance this past fall. There is a maturity to her game where she knows how to make the smart shots, she's efficient from the outside, can handle a high volume of serve receive, and can score points out of the backrow. This is a team who has their eyes on the prize of getting an open bid and will look to do so this weekend.     Abby Miller is a small town product from Western Wisconsin who plays her club ball in St. Paul, Minnesota for Kokoro. She is committed to St. Thomas University in St. Paul. I was able to see Miller play live for the first time at the Wisconsin state tournament where her Barron High School team took home the D3 state championship. Miller has a soft platform, it looks so natural and easy for her to provide a clean first contact. I was able to see this Kokoro team at the Winter Classic in Milwaukee and there is some firepower among this lineup that can be led in the backrow by Miller.     Addison Kelenic has always had a major presence during her career as a middle blocker. She is the top middle in the Wisconsin Class of 2027 and will be key for MKE Sting 17 Gold this weekend. She gave her verbal commit to Wake Forest this past summer. With a heavy swing and big block, Kelenic can attack off one foot or run multiple tempos in front of her setter where she has high level court vision. She has a state title under her belt and will look to get Sting into the open level at nationals.     Ellery DeBoer's entire club career she's played up and age group and now she gets to play with her class. The MN Select 17-1 setter committed to Michigan State early this summer which sparked other big commits for the Spartans. DeBoer is the type of athlete you can build around. From her footwork, hands, and physicality - she has a mature sense of the game. She also brings discipline to the court where you know she's going to make the right play at the right time. With her addition to this 17s team, there is going to be some excitement as well as something to prove for these athletes.     Another stellar setter from Minnesota is Kaelyn Bjorklund who will suit up for Northern Lights 17-1. What a dynamic player who can set and swing when needed. She was an early summer commit to Clemson. She most recently won Gatorade Player of the Year for the state of Minnesota. She led her team to a Minnesota large class state title. This is the home tournament for Northern Lights where this group of 17s were the national division champions in 2025 at USAV Nationals.     Watch out for Nebraska One 17 Synergy. They have the top three prospects from Nebraska's Class of 2027 and one of the top 2028s in the country. Reagan Wallraff will stay close to home as she gave her verbal to Creighton this past summer. What a pick up for the Bluejays as they continue to pull in top instate athletes. Wallraff makes for quite a combination with setter Malorie Boesiger who is committed to Nebraska. I would say this team is is one of the more dangerous matchups all weekend at NLQ. They can pass, dish, and terminate from all positions on the court.     Another future Gopher will be coming to her future home in McKinley Moser of VCN out of Lincoln, Nebraska. Moser is a setter I would call “crafty”. She is a pure playmaker where she can find a way to feed her middles when she is pulled off the net. She disguises her sets extremely well, leaving the defense off balanced. She is accustomed to playing and training at a high level. She is not going to be the tallest setter at the net, but with her vert, athleticism, and physicality she can take it on her own scoring points on the second contact.

Some of the top players in the country will be heading to the Northern Lights Qualifier in Minneapolis this weekend. With that brings some nationally ranked players who have already made their verbal for the next level. Who are some of these commits? Where are they heading?