2022 Northern Lights Qualifier: 17 Open Preview
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Bring on the Mizuno Northern Lights Qualifier! The January rendition of NLQ always seems to usher in a huge run of high-stakes tournaments. So, naturally, I’ll be in Omaha to bring you all the headlines and standouts from the weekend.…
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Continue ReadingBring on the Mizuno Northern Lights Qualifier!
The January rendition of NLQ always seems to usher in a huge run of high-stakes tournaments. So, naturally, I’ll be in Omaha to bring you all the headlines and standouts from the weekend.
A big tournament deserves a big preview, and that’s what we’re bringing today. This is also a great chance to get a start on our new national coverage footprint here on Prep Dig. With so many states represented in Omaha, NLQ is a perfect venue to take our coverage to the national stage.
Let’s get you acquainted with some of the pools, starting with 17 Open.
Pool 1
In Pool 1, we already see a nice representation of the wide geographical reach of this event.
MAVS KC 17-1 heads up this group, and this is a team that I’ve already seen excel as 16s last year. Arkansas commit Logan Jones Logan Jones 5'10" | S Carl Junction | 2023 State #57 Nation MO does an excellent job running this fast offense, and “Lo” also has a wealth of options to set in the frontcourt. Right-side hitter Betsy Goodenow has had no shortage of highlight moments in Omaha events.
No Name VBC 17 Doug is another regular NLQ visitor despite coming all the way from Florida. There’s D1 talent aplenty on this roster, too, with Maddie Snider Maddie Snider 6'4" | RS Bishop McLaughlin | 2023 State #99 Nation FL (Florida State) and Ali Waldon Ali Waldon 6'1" | OH Clearwater Central Catholic | 2023 State #136 Nation FL (Mercer) being a pair to watch this weekend.
Keep an eye on FC Elite 17 Navy and UPVBC 17-Adidas in this group. I’ll be learning a lot about these squads as they make a push through a very tough opening group.
Elizabeth Goodenow (13) has been a force on the right pin for MAVS. pic.twitter.com/rW2Zp3lUMZ
— Austin Kingsley (@KingsleyATK) May 15, 2021
Pool 2
This pool has a lot of Midwest flare, and yet another Florida team to follow.
Rockwood Thunder 17 Elite makes an appearance in this group and is joined by cross-state neighbor MAVS 816 17-1. Both of these rosters have a lot of uncommitted 2023s that I’ll be looking out for.
Vital 17-1 Gold joins the fray from Minnesota. Again, recruitable athletes define this squad — and many of these players represent some quality programs on the high school side.
USA South 17 Premier Purple is the Florida entrant in Pool 2. This team has a big, physical presence on the right pin with Laila Mecko at opposite and Jordan Curran at setter.
Pool 3
How about a little East Coast-West Coast action?
Carolina Juniors 17 Alexander, of course, is our eastern representative here. You can always expect a great group of athletes within this club; Logan Henderson and Rachael Sabbagh are a pair worth tracking from 17 Alexander.
It’s a not-so-short hop from North Carolina to California, where you’ll find SynergyForce 17 Jeff. I’ll always encourage California teams to branch out and hit some Midwest events whenever possible, and 17 Jeff will provide an exciting scouting opportunity for those of us looking to learn more about the West Coast scene.
Unsurprisingly, the Midwest can still boast two strong teams in this pool. Northern Lights 17-1 will always be a major contender at the event that bears their name. This particular NL squad has some of the biggest names in Minnesota’s 2023 class, including Tennessee commit Sydney Jaynes Sydney Jaynes 6'0" | OH Northfield | 2023 State #48 Nation MN .
Iowa PowerPlex 17U Elite Black is the other Midwest team here and will help demonstrate the depth of talent from the Hawkeye State.
Pool 4
Three Midwestern teams and one “outsider.”
That one outlier is OTVA 17 J John from Florida, and they’re certainly going to push the other three teams in Pool 4. Cincinnati commit Zeta Washington Zeta Washington 6'1" | MB Ponte Vedra | 2023 State #31 Nation FL is an electric attacker in the middle, while many more uncommitted players will also showcase their skills in Omaha.
I’m excited to get another in-person look at Dynasty 17 Black, and they’ve had a lot of big college commitments since the last time I saw them. Middle blocker Calissa Minatee Calissa Minatee 6'0" | MB North Kansas City | 2023 State #25 Nation MO (Minnesota) and setter Ashley Mullen Ashley Mullen 5'10" | S Liberty | 2023 State #9 Nation MO (UCLA) provide infinite excitement.
HP STL 17 Royal extends Missouri’s reach in this pool, and CIA 17 Black adds to the count from Iowa. As a whole, Pool 4’s potential is undeniable.
Pool 5
We could definitely see an eventual champion emerge from Pool 5.
This is our first chance to mention a Nebraska team: Premier Nebraska 17 Gold. A group of strong outside attackers for 17 Gold will be put to the test this weekend, and I’m anxious to see how they respond.
Texas also enters the conversation with Dallas Skyline 17 Royal. The wealth of D1 commits on this roster will surely draw a lot of eyes to their court. Oregon-bound Becca Kelley Becca Kelley 6'3" | OH Rockwall Heath | 2023 State #126 Nation TX can crush the ball from either pin, and Rutgers commit Krista Dooley Krista Dooley 6'3" | OH Plano East | 2023 State #94 Nation TX can certainly do the same.
Sky High Adidas 17 Elite is in Pool 5 and brings a long history of tournament success to Omaha. Watch out for Avary DeBlieck on this team, a Miami (FL) commit who can hit just about any attack pattern along the net.
More Minnesota talent will be on display in this pool as Mizuno M1 17-1 joins the fray. Plenty of athletes on this team are still navigating their recruiting journies and could take big strides at NLQ.
Pool 6
More serious contenders loom in Pool 6.
Houston Juniors always brings a squad worth watching, and HJV 17 Elite is no exception. This team has a good mixture of committed and uncommitted athletes that we’ll surely be discussing in the days ahead.
Back in my home territory, Nebraska Elite 17-1 has been looking very solid to open the 2022 season and has gained a nice influx of new talent in the offseason. That talent might just come together this weekend for the in-city team.
Idaho Crush 17 Bower is also returning to NLQ. Elite 2024 outside hitter Alex Acevedo is finding her stride with Crush and will bring an instant spark for this 17s team. Look out.
MN Select 17-2 adds yet another Minnesota competitor to the field, so the odds are we’re going to see someone break into bracket play from the North Star State.
Pool 7
Four more big-name clubs round out the field in Pool 7.
MN Select 17-1 clearly has the pieces to make a run in bracket play. Sydney Schnichels Sydney Schnichels 6'4" | OH Wilmar | 2023 State #19 Nation MN , along with the famed 2024 duo of Stella Swenson Stella Swenson 6'1" | S Wayzata | 2024 State #8 Nation MN and Olivia Swenson Olivia Swenson 6'3" | OH Wayzata | 2024 State #98 Nation MN , has made the move to Select this year, and this is a great test for the new-look roster.
Another major threat in this group is 1st Alliance VBC 17 Gold. This team is packed with elite Illinois-area players like Grace Egan Grace Egan 6'1" | OH Sterling | 2023 State #41 Nation IL , Kennedy Wagner Kennedy Wagner 6'1" | OH Valparaiso | 2023 State #24 Nation IN , and Gigi Navarrete. I’m really looking forward to seeing them in action.
We’ve got another Texas representative with Texas Image 17 Asics Black, and Iowa Power 17 Black joins the stout group of teams from the Des Moines area. Whichever squad emerges from this group will have earned it.
Kennedy Wagner Kennedy Wagner 6'1" | OH Valparaiso | 2023 State #24 Nation IN (22) is a pin hitter who makes a lot of things happen for @1stAllianceVBC, including some excellent passing. pic.twitter.com/9mXwSjHCEv
— Austin Kingsley (@KingsleyATK) May 15, 2021