Live Eye Observations Heading Into Show-Me 15 and 16 Open
It’s Qualifier weekend again and the stakes are high in Kansas City. Teams from across the country will be heading to the Asics Show-Me Qualifier at the Kansas City Convention Center with bids on the line for ages 15-17. This…
Access all of Prep Dig
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingIt’s Qualifier weekend again and the stakes are high in Kansas City. Teams from across the country will be heading to the Asics Show-Me Qualifier at the Kansas City Convention Center with bids on the line for ages 15-17. This is going to be a hectic month with Show-Me, Windy City (two locations, multiple weekends), and Northern Lights (multiple weekends in Omaha), where teams will have a chance to punch their ticket to Vegas.
Here are teams I have seen play live or have seen a majority of their athletes play recently. Athletes from the Twin Cities Metro, Iowa, and the host squads from Kansas City will be sure to be in the hunt in Open Divisions this weekend.
@kcpowervb 15-1 takes the first set. Setter Janelle Green is the maestro. Finding great matchups and has great command of the court. pic.twitter.com/tcAU8FZWdL
— Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) March 13, 2021
KC Power 16-1 and 15-1
I was able to see both of these teams compete at MEQ where they both brought home the title from 15 Open and 16 Open. Top clubs always provide plenty of consistency at all levels and with KC Power, it’s hard not to notice the play of setters Janelle Green and Ella Swindle. Two different styles, but get the job done. Green runs the show, the quarterback of her squad (it’s in her blood) where she knows how to hold the middle, find the one on one matchup, and provide a fire and intensity that is contagious on the court. Swindle is long, athletic, touches high, and is swan like smooth on the court. A quiet intensity where she is the conductor. She’s on point with all of her locations and with her length, she can change the game in so many ways as a setter
In order to succeed at a high level you have to be able to score or have a high IQ out of system. Carlie Cisneros has it down with a top spin to the deep corner for @dynastyvbc pic.twitter.com/4beFNWbiod
— Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) March 13, 2021
Dynasty 15 Black
The best is still to come for this team even though they have already qualified from MEQ and finished third at Big South in Atlanta with their only loss coming to host, A5. The athleticism and length to this team is special. Skylar Pierce has the length and hops where she can pass and attack from everywhere, a top recruit in the Class of 2024. Another top 2024 recruit on this squad is Carlie Cisneros, a springy and dynamic six rotation outside. And can we talk about 2025? Abigail Mullen is a powerful right side on this squad who is quite the physical presence at the net. She will be on the list of plenty of schools that technically can’t talk to her about recruiting for another two years.
Freshman Payton Petersen of DNH is scoring points from everywhere. Such a heavy swing, hits the ball square every time. pic.twitter.com/16MjAfMAXf
— Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) October 10, 2020
The Iowa Kids
The Show Me Qualifier is a popular event for the Iowa clubs where they have the following teams competing at the Open Level
15 Open – Iowa PowerPlex 15U Black, Six Pack, and Club Ignit Select 15 Blue
16 Open – IPVA 16 Black, Iowa PowerPlex 16 Black, and Six Pack
Six Pack 15s and 16s won their age group of the Iowa Regional tournament and have locked in their National bid to Vegas. The Pack 15s have one of the top overall players and athletes in the state (regardless of age) in Payton Petersen. Payton and her twin sister Jadyn Petersen are the daughters of UNI Head Volleyball Coach, Bobbi Petersen. The 16s also have some top athletes in their class with one being Cassidy Hartman. Hartman is a six rotation outside with an electric arm and can score points from anywhere on the court.
The Six Pack 16s edged out Iowa PowerPlex 16 Black in the championship of the Iowa Regional tournament 15-13 in set three. Plex has some of the top players out of Central Iowa with their big point scorer on the pin being Lily Dykstra. Dykstra and Hartman are the types to do it all as outside hitters. Big arms, a great blend of shots and are the type of players who play big in big moments.
Cassidy Hartman of @Liberty_VB is 📈📈📈 she is long, athletic and so terminal. Class of 2023 pin pic.twitter.com/kNaMsbX3QC
— Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) November 2, 2020
Minnesota Squads Look To Make Impact
Minnesota clubs will be making their way down to KC with squads competing in the 15 Open and 16 Open levels with M1, MN Select, and Northern Lights. In the last three years, these clubs have sent a team to the USAV Open level for Nationals. All are out of the Twin Cities metro which is incredibly deep with volleyball talent.
The Northern Lights 16-1 squad will be looking for an open bid with team full of athletes who are measuring six feet or taller. Sydney Schnickels is one of the top prospects out of the Class of 2023 in Minnesota and is a major force o NL the right side. Combine her with the block or Annika Veurink and they are tough to score on with even the best outside hitters. Keep tabs on Stella Swenson and Olivia Swenson. They are dominant at the 16s level and are from the Class of 2024.