vballrecruiter.com continues looking at the at-larges pictures, moving on with the 16s division. There are two at-large bids available and with all three bids set to go out at Far Western this coming weekend, that’s all there will be. That narrows it down significantly compared to having eight in 14s and four in 15s. Currently, 27 teams from vballrecruiter.com’s 16s Top 50 National Rankings have qualified in Open. Another four unranked teams also have secured bids. Here’s the full qualified list:
- 1. 1st Alliance 16 Gold (Northern Lights)
- 2. Drive Nation 16 Red (Red Rock)
- 3. Surfside 16 PV Legends (NEQ)
- 4. Arizona Storm 16 Thunder (Red Rock)
- 5. Hou Skyline 16 Royal (Windy City)
- 6. Nebraska One 16 Synergy (Northern Lights)
- 7. HJV 16 Elite (Lone Star)
- 8. OT 16 JP (Windy City)
- 9. TAV 16 Black (Show Me)
- 10. Circle City 16 Purple (MEQ)
- ***
- 11. MKE Sting 16 Gold (MEQ)
- 13. Adidas KiVA 16 Red (MEQ)
- 14. A5 16 Gabe (Big South)
- 15. Tribe 16 Elite Cardinal (Sunshine)
- 18. Austin Skyline 16 Royal (Windy City)
- 20. Wave 16 Kevin (Red Rock)
- 21. Coast 16-1 (PNQ)
- 22. AVC Cle 16 Red (NEQ)
- 23. HPSTL 16 Royal (Sunshine)
- 24. GP 16 Rox (Sunshine)
- ***
- 26. Northern Lights 16-1 (Show Me)
- 27. Premier Nebraska 16 Gold (Northern Lights)
- 28. OT 16 Roberto (Salt Lake)
- 29. ID Crush 16 Bower (PNQ)
- 39. Alamo 16 Premier (Big South)
- 44. MAVS KC 16-1 (Show Me)
- 49. Oaks 16 Gold (PNQ)
- *Vaqueros 16s (Big South)
- *Mizuno Long Beach 16 Rockstar (Salt Lake)
- *Vegas Aces 16 UA (Salt Lake)
- *Triangle 16 Black (NEQ)
*unranked
What’s interesting is a handful of ranked teams which are at Far Western still in search of their bids. That includes:
- 31. Skyline 16 Royal
- 32. AVA TX 16 Adidas
- 33. Madfrog 16 Green
- 40. NorCal 16-1 Black
Madfrog 16 Green was playing well recently at Lone Star and could be one of the three teams leaving town qualified. NorCal 16-1 Black has been close at both PNQ and Salt Lake, while Skyline 16 Royal and AVA TX 16 Adidas have also been in the mix elsewhere. Once you factor in the other teams in Reno also chasing bids like ARVC 16-1 Adidas, AZ Rev 16 Premier, Absolute 16 Black, Forza1 North 16 One, Norco 16-1 Black, Vision 16 Gold and SAS 16-1 it should make for an exciting conclusion to qualifying season.
Here’s the full list of remaining ranked teams without a bid who will have to enter the at-large pool:
- 12. Mich Elite 16 Mizuno
- 19. Legacy 16-1 Adidas
- 30. Dynasty 16 Black
- 34. Team Pineapple 16 Black
- 35. AJV 16 Adidas
- 36. NKYVC 16-1 Tsunami
- 37. Excel 16 National Red
- 38. Rockwood Thunder 16 Elite
- 41. NE Elite 16 Maverick
- 43. Co Jrs 16 Shannon
- 45. No Name 16 Sarah
- 46. Top Select 16 Elite
- 47. AZ Rev 16 Premier
- 48. Elevation 16 Goller
Below, we take a look at the top contenders. With only two bids available, it’s a short list. That’s why Far Western this coming weekend is important if a team like Skyline or Madfrog or both could earn their spots. Legacy 16-1 Adidas and Mich Elite 16 Mizuno appear to be front runners in the at-large scenario. Madfrog is in the hunt but like anyone else in Reno would likely need to get it done this weekend to make the field.
— Legacy 16-1 Adidas (11-12) (5th Sunshine; 5th MEQ; 9th Windy City; 17th Lone Star)
W: AVC; Drive Nation; ID Crush; Long Beach; OT JP; Wave; OT Roberto; Triangle; Tribe (2x); GP
L: KiVA (2x); Circle City; 1st Alliance (2x); OT JP; TAV; Austin Skyline (2x); MKE Sting; HJV; Hou Skyline
— Mich Elite 16 Mizuno (7-9) (9th Big South; 9th NEQ; 13th Sunshine; 5th MEQ)
W: Triangle; Coast; Wave; A5; KiVA; Alamo; Surfside
L: Circle City (2x); OT JP (3x); 1st Alliance; AZ Storm; MKE Sting; Triangle
— Madfrog 16 Green (4-9) (9th Lone Star; 13th Red Rock)
W: TAV; Alamo; Circle City; Oaks
L: Drive Nation (3x); Austin Skyline; HJV; KiVA; ID Crush; TAV; AZ Storm
— AVA TX 16 Adidas (4-9) (9th Red Rock; 13th Big South; 7th Salt Lake; 14th Lone Star)
W: HJV; Alamo; KiVA; GP
L: AZ Storm; Drive Nation (2x); HJV; Skyline; TAV; OT Roberto; Vegas Aces; MAVS
— Dynasty 16 Black (3-9) (9th Sunshine; 15th MEQ; 9th Show Me; 13th Lone Star)
W: Alamo; HJV; Austin Skyline
L: TAV; A5; GP; OT JP; Nebraska One (2x); MAVS; AZ Storm; HJV
— AJV 16 Mizuno (3-12) (7th PNQ; 7th Show Me; 17th Lone Star)
W: Austin Skyline; Premier Nebraska (2x)
L: Austin Skyline (3x); A5; HJV; 1st Alliance; MAVS (2x); Northern Lights; Circle City; Oaks; Coast
— Skyline 16 Royal (1-10) (15th Sunshine; 5th Show Me; 15th Lone Star)
W: Alamo
L: Austin Skyline (2x); Drive Nation; MKE Sting; Nebraska One (2x); Surfside; A5; TAV (2x)
