April 1, 2023

Some Day 1s are fire. Other times they are the spark for the fire for Days 2 and 3. It was latter case on the opening day of the 2023 version of the Show Me Qualifier in Kansas City. It was an especially different beginning in 15 Open from other qualifiers because there were no teams eliminated on Day 1. There are three, six-team pools in 15 Open and so no teams were cut from bid contention Saturday. The top contenders in Skyline 15 Royal, Pohaku 15-1 and TAV 15 Black combined to go 9-0. It was the typical format in both 16 and 17 Open. The biggest news was top-seed Nebraska One 16 Synergy going down. Nebraska One is one of two teams in 16 Open with a bid, so there’s nothing to lose so-to-speak for Nebraska One. But Tulsa Power 16-1 pulling off the big upset of the No. 6 team in the nation definitely shakes up the seedings for Day 2. Tulsa Power takes over the top seed and is now in a pool with AJV 16 Adidas, Premier Nebraska 16 Gold and Six Pack 16. Premier Nebraska already owns a bid and we could’ve seen both previously-qualified teams in the same pool. Instead, Nebraska One is now the No. 4 team in Pool 2, along with Dynasty 16 Black, MAVS KC 16-1 and Adversity 16 Adidas. That’s a tough break for those teams, as Nebraska One should advance and take away a spot from one of three. Nebraska One wasn’t the only No. 1 team in its pool to fall in 16 Open. Skyline 16 Royal stumbled in its opener against PVA 16 Elite and finished in a three-way tie with PVA and VCNebraska 16 Elite at 2-1. Skyline still wound up first based on tiebreakers though, with PVA taking second place. It was a good day for Iowa Power Plex 16U, which went 2-1 as the No. 4 team in Pool 6. Iowa Power Plex defeated both KC Power 16-1 and Muscle VB 16-1 Black to advance along with 3-0 Northern Lights 16-1. There were minor upsets and movement in 17 Open. Both Six Pack 17 – in Pool 1 – and Shockwave 17 Black – in Pool 3 – were the only non-Nos. 1 and 2s to advance. They were both the No. 3 team in their respective pools and moved on. OT 17 Felix, VCNebraska 17 Elite and Pohaku 17-1 all lost as No. 1 teams in their respective pools. All three finished second and still advanced. DAY 1 SHOW STOPPERS Leah Robinson OH MAVS 816 15-1: Robinson helped her MAVS teammates to a 2-1 mark and are poised to advance from the six-team pool on Day 2. Robinson is a presence on the court with her size. She’s a great offensive option for MAVS and she’s utilized a bunch in the attack. Rayna Christianson S/RS Northern Lights 15-1: Christianson – a 5-star recruit – and Northern Lights have work to do to break pool after going 1-2 on Day 1. Christianson, with her size and length, is such a factor anywhere she’s on the court. She’s the team’s best scoring threat across the front row and a sound setter in the back. Anna O’Keefe S Northern Lights 15-1: O’Keefe can keep the offense churning when she checks in. She has good hands and touch. Romi Chlebecek OH Northern Lights 15-1: Chelbecek is a bit undersized on the left but she doesn’t back down. She stays aggressive and keeps on taking swings and pressuring the defense. Addison West OH Premier Nebraska 15 Gold: A 3-star recruit, West has tons of potential and will be someone to watch as she keeps adding strength and power. She’s the go-to on the left for this squad and she provides her share of offense. Paighton Erb MB Premier Nebraska 15 Gold: Erb is another member of the rooster who looks to have lots of upside too as she continues developing. She’s lanky with a quick arm swing and someone defenses need to be ready to get the ball. Malia Miller OH Integrity 15 Intense Blue: It was our second time seeing Miller this season. Her and her teammates went 2-1 on the opening day and remain alive to break pool on Day 2. She’s a six-rotation go-to hitter. She’s raw and still developing but she is solid across the back row and showed a nice arm. Carlyle Johnson MB Shockwave 15 Black: Johnson was a factor in the middle as Shockwave went 1-2. She has some height and she was swinging and scoring well. Taylor Stanley RS Dynasty 15 Black: Stanley made us take notice with her play at the night. She’s a tall right side with huge upside. She has a nice arm and was doing well touching balls at the net. Makenzie Walsh RS Kairos 15 Alpha: The lefty was a reliable scoring option as Kairos wrapped up the day 1-2 in Pool 3. She has good size and swings well, helping her team open up the attack when she was front row. Audrey Bassett OH NE Elite 15 Phoenix: Bassett was an outside who was bringing it on the attack. She’s a bit undersized but has a big arm and hits a heavy ball. She isn’t afraid of bigger blocks either and had NE Eilte in contention to upset TAV 15 Black before falling in three. Taya Thaden MB NE Elite 15 Phoenix: Thaden displayed her scoring ability. Though she didn’t get the ball a lot, the times she did she was effective. She has a quick swing and hits with pace. Sydney Light MB Iowa Power Plex 15 Black: At 2-1, Iowa Power Plex is looking well to break its pool and make the challenge rounds on Day 2. Light is active in the middle and will get set when in system. She hits out of the middle and runs slide. Taylor Clarke RS Skyline 15 Royal: Clarke – a 4-star recruit