Bid Outlook, and Top Players For Open Division At Show-Me Qualifier
Kansas City…we meet again (or should I say “meat” again based on the bbq). With the Show-Me Qualfier going on in Kansas City this weekend, for many of these teams it will be their second trip back after competing in…
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Continue ReadingKansas City…we meet again (or should I say “meat” again based on the bbq). With the Show-Me Qualfier going on in Kansas City this weekend, for many of these teams it will be their second trip back after competing in the same convention center as the Triple Crown Invite to kick off Presidents Day weekend. For some, like Central Iowa Select 15M they will be hoping to pick up the same vibes where they finished second to Nebraska Premier. Other clubs may have some lineup changes, injuries nursing, and for some a ticket already punched to nationals. Here is a quick look at the Open, which is the top division at the Show Me Qualifier in Kansas City this weekend.
15 Open:
Bids Secured: Nebraska Premier, Dynasty (KS), Rockwood Thunder (MO), Lone Star (TX)
Next Highest Seeds: Central Iowa Select , AVC Cleveland
That set and tempo tho…@Premier_VB – 15s semifinal is rolling! pic.twitter.com/6odnYqWgmM
— Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) February 18, 2019
This set up looks all too familiar to Triple Crown. Nebraska Premier is a clear favorite with wins at Triple Crown and Colorado Crossroads with wins over CIS and Dynasty. The tempo Premier runs is ridiculous for a 15s team and are so solid with their ball control they can move the ball from pin to pin allowing them to really mix up their offense. CIS has recent Division 1 commit Lauren Carter, a 5’10 setter who has given her verbal to play for Summit League power Denver University. There is also Hayden Kubik on the pin for CIS who is as good as they come in the Class of 2022 with a thunderous swing, but also an extremely solid all around game to go with. CIS defeated AVC Cleveland in the semifinals of Triple Crown and the two could very well meet again this weekend.
Absolutely loooved watching @MadiKubik play, but Hayden Kubik is not the future, but the NOW! Having such a strong tournament for @CISvolleyball pic.twitter.com/g2VkCKVUFl
— Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) February 18, 2019
You can never count out the Minnesota clubs in Northern Lights 15-1 and MN Select 15-1. Northern Lights finished in the top ten at Colorado Crossroads and have an extremely physical lineup with two right sides that create quite the mismatch on the pin in Kendall Minta and Sienna Ifill at 6’3 and 6’1. Julia Hansen is a high flying pin hitter who can score points at will as well. MN Select is a scrappy crew with libero Jayna Bredenberg and middle blocker Cara Cyr. They also have some significant height in the middle with Emma Goerger and Alexandra Holmgren.
16 Open:
Bids Secured: Nebraska Premier, Dynasty (KS), Rockwood Thunder (MO)
Next Highest Seeds: TStreet (CA), KC Power, AVC Cleveland, Mintonette (OH), and Northern Lights (MN)
Nebraska Premier 16’s will contend for a national championship. Lindsey Krause is a 6’3 outside hitter who has committed to Nebraska and can do it all, what a fun player watch take the court. Phyona Schrader is the top 2021 prospect out of Iowa who plays for Premier and will set at Notre Dame. They also have Norah Sis heading to Creighton, a 6’0 pin hitter. VC Nebraska has setter Elle Glock who has committed to USC and Class of 2022 Nebraska commit Rebekah Allick in the middle.
CIS 16M will be competing in the Open Division and I would not count out this team out of Des Moines. Balance, solid ball control and strong all around defense will make this team a dangerous one. Layanna Green in the middle is a 6’0 middle blocker who may be one of the best athletes in that position in the state. CIS also has Class of 2022 outside hitter Faith DeRonde who has quite an arm and brings an athletic presence to all six rotations.
Northern Lights 16-1 comes in as the top seed in their pool and significant size advantage in the front line, make that their whole team. No one is under 5’11, their libero Emma Torstenson is even 5’11 with incredible range. Watch out for Ava Moes, she was one of the best players in her class this past high school season in Minnesota where she can terminate on either pin. Setter Payton Evanstad has committed to San Diego. MN Select 16-1 is the wild card in this field. After finishing off February with a lot of momentum with a big tournament win with a lot of the top teams in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Illinois they are right there with some of the best 16s. Skylar Gray is the spark that gets this team running on the pin and is six rotation leader committed to Minnesota. There are plenty of athletes at each position with two solid setters from Lakeville South High School (who play with Ava Moes for high school) in Jasmine Weideman and Teagan Starkey. Now bring in the size of Class of 2022 middle blocker Kendal Kemp at 6’6 and pin hitter Sophie Jesewitz who has risen to be one of the top prospects in her class for Minnesota.
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17 Open:
Bids Secured: MAVS (Kansas City Area), KC Power
Next Highest Seeds: Eastern Iowa Xtreme, AVC Cleveland, Shockwave (KS), Northern Lights (MN), HPSTL (MO), Skyline Juniors (TX)
@aliyah_carter22 just getting it done. This is a ridiculous match up for a 2 vs 3 seed in pool play with EIX vs Adversity pic.twitter.com/9VKGBrZTjW
— Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) March 22, 2019
This field is wide open for teams to snag a big. Eastern Iowa Xtreme 17 Teal was so close at MEQ advancing to the final four and was the odd team out of the three who gained bids. This team which is relatively new as far as playing together continues to improve each time they are on the court, but they do have some big time going to players that starts with Aliyah Carter (Kansas State) and Kacia Brown (Mississippi State) on the pin. However, they have Rylee Fay (Missouri State) who really keeps the offense balanced going to big time right side hitter Delaney Rice (St. Louis) and an extremely dependable Class of 2021 recruit Sydney Dennis who will be staying close to home and playing for Iowa.
@6packvbc takes the 17s championship and a National Bid @usavolleyball pic.twitter.com/EmqqNVIlxy
— Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) March 17, 2019
However there are some other Iowa teams who are looking to make some noise starting with Six Pack who beat EIX to win Iowa Regionals. This squad just keeps the pressure on with 6’6 Alayna Yates (Dayton) in the middle and Jada Wills on the pin, they also have Lauren Schrock a 2021 commit to Iowa who can play on the right side. IPVA will be playing open as well with well balance offense with outside hitters Malea Daugherty and Anna Godfredson on the pin and Allena Shimon dishing to 6’3 powerful middle blocker Kara Peter. CIS 17M will be competing in Open as well and will have up and coming pin hitter from Waukee High School, Kate Nelson along with right side/setter Olivia Curry. Keep an eye on 6’3 middle Samantha Hoover, she is a hidden gem that would be such a steal at the next level.
Once again Northern Lights and Minnesota Select have a chance to do some damage. Northern Lights is so balanced, but hard not to draw your attention to Kathleen Bishop who has really burst onto the scene this season as a 6’3 physical right side. MN Select has a four pin hitters heading Division 1 with Jordan Stalpes (Omaha), Halle Olson (Florida Atlantic), Allison Hinze (North Dakota State), and Elizabeth Helmich (James Madison). The one who dishes is setter Olivia Johnson, a scrappy, all out athlete who is still uncommitted.
This dive…Molly Schultz of @MNSelect gets a diving kill. She is committed to @KUVolleyball #SCtop10 pic.twitter.com/vT24yMGxyi
— Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) March 2, 2019