The Last Dance for Kansas and Missouri 18s
Nationals are here for the 18s as they play their final junior matches this weekend in Phoenix, Arizona! Many years of hard work and competition come to an end. Many players will continue on to the next level, while some…
Access all of Prep Dig
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingNationals are here for the 18s as they play their final junior matches this weekend in Phoenix, Arizona! Many years of hard work and competition come to an end. Many players will continue on to the next level, while some will be hanging up their knee pads for the last time. Here are the teams and divisions we will see teams in this weekend.
18 Open
Adidas Dynasty 18 Black hopes to end their final season with a bang. Some of these players were part of a national championship team as 11-year-olds. They qualified early in the season and will start day one in Pool 1. A team with a few new faces, Jasmine Dulan Jasmine Dulan 5'7" | OH Blue Valley North | 2022 State KS and Iyannah Jackson Iyannah Jackson 6'0" | MB Lansing | 2022 State KS are mainstays.
PVA 18 Elite will kick off nationals in Pool 2. Like Dynasty, they were part of the musical chairs of players among a few teams but have developed a strong chemistry. Alex Dvorak Alex Dvorak 6'1" | MB Park Hill South | 2022 State MO and Ava Martin Ava Martin 5'10" | S Bishop Miege | 2024 State #77 Nation KS have led this team for years and will try to find success in their last go as teammates.
KC Power 18-1 returns to the open dance after a tough 17s season. This is one of the teams who return just about their entire cast and will look to make a deep run this weekend. Sydney Handel Sydney Handel 5'10" | OH Lee's Summit West | 2022 State MO from the pin and Kamryn Farris Kamryn Farris 5'10" | DS/L Lansing | 2022 State KS defensively look to be catalyst in a strong final tournament.
Dynasty Academy 18-1 made noise last season grabbing an open bid early in the qualifying season. This year their strong season allowed them to snatch up an at-large bid. If you recall, this academy program was developed to give multi-sport athletes the flexibility to do it all and they definitely earned the chance to battle it out one last time from Pool 8. Caitlin Bishop Caitlin Bishop 5'8" | S Lansing | 2022 State KS from the setter position and Madi Corf Madi Corf 5'11" | OH Liberty High School | 2022 MO on the pin have been a strong one-two punch over the last two seasons.
Rockwood Thunder 18 Elite grabbed their bid at the winter championships early in the qualifying season. They are a skilled team defensively, with firepower along the front row. Vanessa Polk Vanessa Polk 6'2" | MB John Burroughs | 2022 State #59 Nation MO is still one of the more dominant players in the juniors game in this age group. Madilyn Sell Madilyn Sell 6'2" | MB Marquette | 2022 State #91 Nation MO isn’t too shabby herself in the middle. Both KC Power and Rockwood will battle it out in Pool 6.
18 National
Pohaku 18-1 jumped on the scene a season ago with one team and quickly has grown into a known entity in the Kansas City region. They earned one of the two National bids from the Heart of America region. They are in Pool 7, along with Missouri for HPSTL 18 Royal. Kate Brown Kate Brown 5'11" | MB Platte County | 2022 State MO and Brooke Leiker Brooke Leiker 6'0" | OH Blue Valley West | 2022 State KS have been positive additions to the program.
Fight Club 18-1 from the South Kansas region will battle in Pool 5. They’ve had a strong season in 2022. Maliyah Johnson Maliyah Johnson 5'8" | OH Hutchinson | 2023 State KS , who had a strong high school season has shined this spring also. Abigail Rose is a strong presence in the middle.
HPSTL 18 Royal is the lone representative from the Gateway Region and has the roster to make some noise in this division. Their qualifying season has been one of quality and consistency. Hayley Baliva Hayley Baliva 6'0" | RS St. Joseph's Academy | 2022 State MO and Anna Sommer Anna Sommer 6'1" | MB Parkway South | 2022 State MO have been mainstays for this team over the years and will be key in any success this team achieves this weekend.
18 USA
417 Juniors 18-1 will participate in the USA division and has the pieces to make a championship run this weekend. Sydney Golden Sydney Golden 5'9" | S Nixa | 2022 State MO is a dynamic setter who will make an immediate impact at Northern Iowa. Tevi Gurley Tevi Gurley 5'10" | OH El Dorado Springs | 2022 State MO had a dominant high school career and has played well on the club circuit. They are in Pool 2.
From the Gateway, Rockwood Thunder 18 Navy is set to go to war in Pool 8 this weekend. They are one of the better “two” teams in the USA division and with players like Kennedy Lane Kennedy Lane 5'9" | OH St. Pius X | 2022 State MO and Rachel Schipper Rachel Schipper 5'8" | S St. Dominic | 2022 State MO they will turn some heads.
18 Liberty
Mizuno Club North 18-1 has been one of our favorite teams to watch over the last couple of seasons. They grabbed their bid early in the year and should be competitive in the Liberty division. They will be in Pool 8, which is made up of four teams. Lia Graham Lia Graham 5'3" | DS/L Plattsburgh | 2022 State MO , Lillian Holden Lillian Holden 6'3" | MB St. Pius X | 2022 State MO , and Ayannah Washington are players who’ve been with this program for years and hope to finish it with a medal.
Mavs 816 18-1 will start their championship journey from Pool 4 starting at 9 am Arizona time. Lacey Higgins Lacey Higgins 5'9" | S Lee's Summit West | 2022 State MO will end a stellar juniors career as one of the top setters in her age group in Kansas City. Olivia Schnick Olivia Schnick OH Summit Christian Academy | 2022 State MO and Madison Freed Madison Freed 5'9" | S Lawrence | 2022 State KS are also two players who can be difference makers this weekend.
Elite VBC 18 Gold will join Club North in Pool 8 as the top seed coming from the Gateway Region. The Millers, Gracie, and Lindsie will look to help Elite hold seed going through day 1.
18 American
Invasion 18-1 were able to earn their bid from a qualifier tournament. We speak on this often but when only one bid is at stake, getting it from the tournament shows your ability to be consistent and strong over three days. Invasion when hot can be a championship-caliber team. They will be in Pool 11 and will feature Addison Baumgartner Addison Baumgartner 5'9" | OH Grain Valley | 2022 State MO and Alexis Nunn Alexis Nunn 5'5" | DS/L Lee's Summit North | 2022 State MO .
Thr33 VBC 18-1 will travel to Phoenix from the Springfield area and play in Pool 12. Hanna Voorhies is a name that’s been featured previously for this squad and she will be a vital part of the team’s success this weekend. They also grabbed their bid from the qualifying tournament season.
PVA 18 National will begin action in Pool 14 after earning a region bid. Abigail Cooper and teammates are set to begin their journey at 9 am on court 4.
From Columbia, Missouri Juniors 18-1 will see action in the American division from Pool 10. They have a strong nucleas led by defender Payton Mitchell Payton Mitchell 5'6" | DS/L Blair Oaks | 2022 State MO and Anna Wekenborg Anna Wekenborg 5'10" | MB Blair Oaks | 2023 State MO .
HPSTL 18 Orange represents Gateway in the American and will see action in Pool 7. Finley Burns Finley Burns 5'5" | DS/L Marquette | 2022 State MO and Audra Gray are some of the players contributing to this roster.
Static 18-1 will be in Pool 8 this weekend.
18 Freedom
North Storm 18-1 will be one of the handfuls of teams from our coverage zone in the Freedom division in Phoenix. Their play begins in the afternoon session from Pool 5 in a 6-team grouping.
Epic 18-1 will be in Pool 7 and will play at 4 pm and will represent the Heart of American Region.
Rockwood Thunder 18 White will represent the Gateway and battle from Pool 6.
From the southern part of the Show-Me State, SEMO Heat will travel west and see action in Pool 5 with the aforementioned North Storm.