2022 Northern Lights Qualifier: 18 Open Preview
In case you missed it, we just did a deep dive into the talented, diverse field of teams coming to Omaha this weekend to compete in the 17 Open division of NLQ. At the same time, though, don’t overlook this…
Access all of Prep Dig
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingIn case you missed it, we just did a deep dive into the talented, diverse field of teams coming to Omaha this weekend to compete in the 17 Open division of NLQ. At the same time, though, don’t overlook this year’s stacked field of 18s.
Like we just did with the 17s, we’re going to break it all down. Here’s a quick look at who is making the trip.
Pool 1
We can promise some great volleyball already in Pool 1.
Dynasty 18 Black is going to Omaha having already clinched their bid to Nationals. A brilliant run through this month’s MLK Challenge in Kansas City locked up their postseason trip, so now 18 Black can focus on honing their skills further.
Many worthy opponents look to challenge the Nationals-bound team. Front Range VBC 18-1 is one example. Big-time players on this roster include Utah-bound outside hitter Ashley West, as well as Katie Dalton Katie Dalton 6'1" | OH Chapparral | 2022 #56 Nation CO , a setter who will take her talents to Kansas this fall. I anticipate we’ll be covering plenty more names on this team in the coming days.
HJV 18 Elite is always a team to keep an eye on. Casey Batenhorst Casey Batenhorst 6'1" | S Seven Lakes | 2022 State TX runs a nice offense and has two lethal options at middle blocker in Alexis Roberson Alexis Roberson 6'4" | MB Ridge Point | 2022 State #163 Nation TX and Oluwalade Ogunlana.
Lastly, Virginia Elite 18s brings in a squad full of athletes who are set to make an impact at colleges of all sizes along the East Coast and beyond. Don’t be surprised if a champion comes from this group.
Pool 2
There’s a lot of Midwestern heavy hitters in here.
PVA 18 Elite ought to bring some firepower this weekend. I got to see outside hitter Ava Martin Ava Martin 5'10" | S Bishop Miege | 2024 State #77 Nation KS tear it up with Saint Thomas Aquinas last fall when her high school team made a trip to Omaha. This Creighton commit can crush it.
Premier Nebraska 18 Gold will make the short jaunt to the CHI Health Center to compete in this pool. This team features athletes that I’ve seen dominate the Nebraska high school scene for a long time, and this club season is their one final act together.
Minnesota has a lot of representatives at this event, and Vital 18-1 Gold is another one worth following. Look out for the duo of Cassie Sieling Cassie Sieling 5'10" | DS/L Bloomington Jefferson | 2022 State MN and Ellie Sieling Ellie Sieling 5'10" | OH Bloomington Jefferson | 2022 State MN , who are both headed to in-state Concordia St. Paul.
Austin Skyline 18 Royal completes this set of teams. There are a lot of exciting uncommitted athletes on the roster, too, including Ella Wendel Ella Wendel 6'0" | MB Hendrickson | 2022 State TX and Elena Bilhartz. Skyline will surely look to prove itself this weekend.
Pool 3
Let’s prepare ourselves for the talent set to be on display in Pool 3. There’s a lot to talk about here.
FC Elite 18 Elite‘s lineup is intimidating, to say the least. I’m anxious to get another in-person look at the Appleton North quartet of Brianna Cantrell Brianna Cantrell OH Appleton North | 2022 State #104 Nation WI (East Tennessee State), Kennedy Martin Kennedy Martin 6'6" | OH Nation Ford | 2023 #23 Nation NC (Florida), Berkley Mischler Berkley Mischler 6'1" | MB Appleton North | 2022 State WI (Lipscomb), and 2024 outside hitter Ella Demetrician Ella Demetrician 6'2" | OH Appleton North | 2024 State #40 Nation WI . Wisconsin commit Saige Damrow Saige Damrow 5'8" | DS/L Howards Grove | 2023 State #17 Nation WI will obviously hold things down in the backcourt.
Another formidable group in Pool 3 is Metro VBC 18 Travel. This team features a pair of Big Ten-bound players, with Zaria Ragler Zaria Ragler MB Arundel | 2022 #92 Nation MD headed to Ohio State and Laila Ivey Laila Ivey OH Indian Creek | 2022 #62 Nation MD staying close to home at Maryland.
You can always count on KC Power leaving their mark at these Midwest events, so look out for KC Power 18-1. Setter Sydney Draper Sydney Draper 5'11" | S Pembroke Hill | 2023 State #143 Nation MO will be one of the top 2023s in the 18s division at this event and has already committed to Princeton.
We’ve got another Idaho club making the trip with Idaho ONE 18 Blue. This will be a fun scouting opportunity as we look to find some of the top talent in that state.
Pool 4
Just like one of the pools we featured for the 17s, 18 Open’s fourth pool has three Midwestern teams and one team that’s making quite a trip to be in Omaha.
Northern Lights 18-1 makes its appearance here. Opposite hitter Sienna Ifill Sienna Ifill 6'1" | RS Eagan | 2022 State #83 Nation MN has given us plenty of highlight moments over her prep career and will do it once again with Northern Lights before heading to Marquette.
Kansas City’s Pohaku 18-1 joins the field in this pod. There are still some recruitable athletes on this roster that I’m excited to feature in Omaha.
Club Ignit Select 18 Blue is a team that I’ve featured already this year and got to see last weekend at the Midwest Power League. They’ve already locked up a Nationals bid in 18 USA after soaring through their competition at the MLK Challenge in Kansas City. This squad features some of Iowa’s most dominant 2022s and will surely be a threat in the Open division.
Club V 18 Ren Reed is the one team in Pool 4 that’s embarking on a journey to be here, but this Salt Lake City club cannot be overlooked. The Weber State-bound duo of Saane Katoa and Brielle Rueckert will bring some entertaining volleyball.
Pool 5
One pool to go!
VC United 18-1 Elite brings a wealth of D1 talent to Omaha, including future Marquette teammates Morgan Daugherty Morgan Daugherty 6'2" | MB Brookfield Central | 2022 State #200 Nation WI and Ella Holmstrom Ella Holmstrom 6'1" | OH Guilford | 2022 State #149 Nation IL . Kara Erdmann Kara Erdmann 5'6" | DS/L Forreston | 2022 State IL and Grace Betke Grace Betke DS/L Belvidere North | 2022 State #127 Nation IL also make up an excellent defensive duo in the back row.
We’ve reached Minnesota Select 18-1, and there’s plenty more to get excited about with this team. Elle Cotton Elle Cotton 6'0" | S Elk River | 2022 State MN (Boise State) will call the shots from the setter spot.
Nebraska Elite 18-1 will look to defend their home territory from Pool 5. Once again, these are athletes that I’ve had the privilege of covering for a while. They showed some serious offensive spark at last week’s Midwest Power League and will carry that momentum into NLQ.
Dynasty Academy 18 Adidas rounds out our feature, and they’ll be a fun group to follow. Madison Corf Madison Corf 5'11" | OH Liberty | 2022 State MO is an electric, do-everything outside hitter who will make the move to San Diego State after finishing her club career.