April 19, 2023

The final 14s national qualifier is upon us, taking place Saturday-Monday in Reno. The Far Western weekends always take on added significance for those participating because they are the last opportunity for clubs to earn outright Open bids before needing to rely on at-large luck. Of course, there are teams already in the position of needing at-large help because they have already competed in their final qualifiers. With two 14 Open bids on the line and not three this coming weekend, it’ll bring the total number of at-larges in the division to eight. What happens this weekend is obviously going to frame the at-large picture. So far, 22 teams from vballrecruiter.com’s Top 50 14s National Rankings have secured Open bids. Another four unranked teams also have bids. Here’s the full list (with the qualifier the bid was earned): *unranked Of the remaining teams from the Top 50, six are in action this coming weekend at Far Western. That list features: Going off the national rankings, there’s a big gap between the six clubs, with three inside the Top 20 and three ranked near the bottom. There are five qualified teams playing in 14 Open – No. 1 Arizona Storm 14 Elite; No. 8 Mizuno Long Beach 14 Rockstar; No. 9 Drive Nation 14 Red; Absolute 14 Black; and Vision 14 Gold – so trickle down can reach seventh. However, it’s more likely it won’t extend past fifth place. Either way, two bids are going out for sure. If they go to the higher-ranked teams then that is going to help others when it comes to the at-large picture. If not, teams like Forza1 14 One, AZ Rev 14 Premier and Forza1 14 One still figure to sit well when it comes to the at-large scenario. Here is the list of remaining teams from the Top 50 without bids: Below is a breakdown of the top at-large candidates in our estimation. The list is based on qualifier finishes plus record against the Open field. There are 15 teams total, so clearly not all are going to be selected. It’ll be interesting to see how the results of this weekend’s qualifier impacts the list below and what updates will be needed next week. There is a handful of teams which stick out but getting to eight is going to have its challenges, as they are a number of teams which seem evenly bunched together. — Northern Lights 14-1 (4-3) (6th Show Me; 17th NL) W: Academy Diamond (3x); MAVS L: Premier Nebraska (2x); Club V — PVA 14 Elite (2-4) (5th Show Me; 14th MEQ; 9th NL) W: Tribe; Academy Diamond L: Drive Nation; Hou Skyline; Skyline; MAVS — GP 14 Rox (6-10) (14th NL; T5th Big South) W: AZ Sky; MAVS; Academy; Excel; A5; Absolute L: Hou Skyline; Top Select; A5 (2x); AP (2x); Drive Nation; AZ Sky; Vision; Wave — Forza1 14 One (6-11) (5th NL; T7th RRR) W: Wave (3x); Premier Nebraska; MAVS KC; Club V L: Tstreet (4x); Long Beach (2x); Hou Skyline; TAV; Madfrog; Wave; AZ Storm — VCNebraska 14 Elite (4-7) (4th NL; 4th Show Me) W: AP; Premier Nebraska (3x) L: Drive Nation (2x); TAV; Hou Skyline; Academy Diamond; MAVS (2x) — AZ Rev 14 Premier (4-8) (13th RRR) W: AZ Sky (2x); Wave; Premier Nebraska; L: AZ Storm (2x); Drive Nation; TAV; Tstreet; Long Beach; Skyline; AZ Sky — Legacy 14-1 Adidas (3-11) (5th Sunshine; 5th Windy City; 7th NL) W: A5; Elevation (2x) L: Drive Nation; AP (2x); AZ Storm; Skyline; TAV; Tstreet; A5; HPSTL (2x); Lions — Forza1 North 14 One (4-10) (T7th RRR) W: Long Beach; Wave (2x); Club V L: Wave; Long Beach; Tstreet (4x); Madfrog (2x); AZ Storm; Skyline — Mintonette Sports m.41 (3-9) (7th Windy City; 13th Sunshine; 5th MEQ) W: Premier Nebraska; Academy Diamond; Tribe L: AZ Sky; AP; Top Select; MAVS; OT Laura (2x); Skyline; Elevation; Tribe — NKYVC 14-1 Tsunami (1-8) (4th Big South; 21st MEQ) W: Premier Nebraska L: AZ Sky; A5 (2x); Top Select; Long Beach; TAV; HPSTL; Lions — WPVC 14 Armour Black (1-9) (7th Sunshine) W: Top Select L: AP; AZ Sky; Elevation; Premier Nebraska; Skyline; Academy Diamond; Excel; HPSTL; OT Laura — KC Power 14 Black (1-8) (3rd Show Me; 13th MEQ; 13th NL) W: MAVS L: Hou Skyline; TAV; Hou Skyline; OT Laura; SA Jrs; MAVS; Premier Nebraska (2x) — HJV 14 Elite (1-12) (25th MEQ; 18th RRR) W: SA Jrs L: AP (2x); Premier Nebraska; Drive Nation; Hou Skyline; SA Jrs; AZ Storm (2x); Club V; Lions; MAVS; Long Beach — Rockwood Thunder 14 Elite (2-6) (11th NL; 11th Sunshine; 10th MEQ; 14th SLC) W: Academy; A5 L: AP; TAV (2x); Elevation; OT Laura; Skyline — MKE Sting 14 Gold (1-9) (10th Windy City; 15th MEQ; 11th NL) W: Lions L: Premier Nebraska (2x); Skyline; Wave; HPSTL; MAVS; Lions; OT Laura; Drive Nation