The first qualifier in the season always brings a lot of optimism, anxiety, and a sense of urgency from all teams knowing this is the first of the last in the 2020 club season. Getting an early bid to nationals takes away the pressure for the rest of the season knowing their is a spot saved for them at Nationals in Reno. For any of these teams, the seeding in the pools is always a coin flip and it doesn’t always come down to how many matches you win, but when you win the matches. For Sting 18 Black and 18 White, not only did win the right matches, but the right sets, yes set wins, resulting in bids to Reno for USAV Nationals May 1-3.
For Sting 18 Black, their opening day pool was a team of three with
Club 1
out of the Chicago area and Club Ignit Select our of the Des Moines Area. The opening match of the tournament was a 2-1 loss to Club Ignit Select, with a three team pool, all matches are three sets to 25. Club Ignit Select would lose to
Club 1
2-1, which set up a key match against
Club 1
to not only win, but to sweep to guarantee a spot in the next round. With set scores in going in favor to Sting 18 Black, 25-20, 25-22, 25-22. With the win, there was a three way tie with three teams at 1-1 and Sting advancing to championship based on set wins along with Club Ignit Select and
Club 1
on the outside looking in to championship pools.
Sting 18 Black would only get stronger throughout the weekend. After another opening round, day two loss to 1st Alliance 18 Black they were once again faced with a must-win scenario defeating OT 18 Jen and Uno 17 Elite to advance to the gold bracket of 18 USA where they would once again see Club Ignit Select who they lost to early on Saturday.
Monday would start with a sweep of Club Ignit Select which would then set up a match with Mizuno M1 171 out of the Minneapolis area. The M1 17s feature a really long and athletic squad that had only one loss over the whole weekend. With a win, Sting 18 Black would punch their ticket to the national tournament. It would be another sweep for Sting by set scores or 25-22, 25-19 securing a bid to Reno.
Sting 18 White celebrates against Impact.
For Sting 18 White, it would be a dominate tournament from start to finish, dropping only one set the entire weekend. Their balance and ball control would give teams problems the entire weekend. The only set they would drop would be to Impact out of the Appleton area on Sunday. Gold bracket play would feature matchups that resulted in wins against Great Lakes region teams in Fierce Elite 18 Adidas and 1st Alliance 18 White. The championship would be against El Paso Top Gun 18-1 who narrowly squeaked by Impact with a three set win and upset Ultimate 18s Asics 18 Gold. Sting 18 White was just too much, sweeping Top Gun 25-13, 25-18, earning the 18 American Championship and a bid to Reno.
What Athletes Led The Way This Weekend?
Committed to Upper Iowa
Pozorski just finds a way to make it happen. She sees the other side of the court extremely well and knows when to attack and when to dish to the open attacker. Setters and attackers are always trying to find their connection this early in the season and Pozorski and Hailey Grochoski were mid-season form running the slide scoring plenty of points.
Paulson attacking
Committed to SIU Edwardsville
Treichel is just electric, she can fly high and really score a lot of points with a big swing on the outside. A six rotation athlete who can contribute in all spots, Treichel is going to be key for Sting 18 Black all season.
Committed to Winona State
Paulson is extremely dynamic on the right side with a big left handed swing. She is also one who can play all the way around and was able to score out of right back as well.
Committed to Pittsburg State
Salzman has been an outside hitter during her career, but just owned the libero position this weekend. Solid in serve receive and with any first contact, her athleticism really allows her to make plays happen.
Sting 18 White
Uncommitted
Johnson is just solid, she knows how to spread the ball around and put up a hittable ball to her attackers. The team chemistry on this team is really solid for being so early in the season, and Johnson is one who can really blend everyone together.
Committed to Kentucky Wesleyan
Rebarchik is one who can contribute offensively and defensively with her ability to score points anyway she can. Rebarchik and
Madelyn Rettler (Upper Iowa) were extremely key for the team the whole weekend.