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April 26, 2023

14 Open At-Large Update

April 26, 2023

The 14s qualifying season wrapped last weekend with both Forza1 14 One and PVA 14 Elite securing Open bids at the Far Western qualifier in Reno. The results further helped shape the at-large picture for the division. There are eight spots still to be filled to complete the field of 36 for this summer in Chicago. Forza and PVA were certainly among the pack of at-large candidates and both had arguments to be selected. With both earning bids in Reno and neither needing an at-large, it opens the door for others who might not have gotten in had Forza and PVA needed at-larges. After updating a few results from last week’s look, we take another glance at the top candidates to receive at-larges based on qualifier results and head-to-head results against the Open field. — Northern Lights 14-1 (4-4) (6th Show Me; 17th NL) W: Academy Diamond (3x); MAVS L: Premier Nebraska (2x); Club V; PVA — GP 14 Rox (6-11) (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; PVA — Forza1 14 One (7-15) (5th NL; T7th RRR; 9th Far Western) W: Wave (3x); Premier Nebraska; MAVS KC; Club V; PVA L: Tstreet (4x); Long Beach (3x); Hou Skyline; TAV; Madfrog; Wave; AZ Storm; Forza North; Vision; Absolute — VCNebraska 14 Elite (4-8) (4th NL; 4th Show Me) W: AP; Premier Nebraska (3x) L: Drive Nation (2x); TAV; Hou Skyline; Academy Diamond; MAVS (2x); PVA — AZ Rev 14 Premier (5-11) (13th RRR; 11th Far Western) W: AZ Sky (2x); Wave; Premier Nebraska; Vision L: AZ Storm (3x); Drive Nation (2x); TAV; Tstreet; Long Beach; Skyline; AZ Sky; Absolute — Legacy 14-1 Adidas (4-11) (5th Sunshine; 5th Windy City; 7th NL) W: A5; Elevation (2x); PVA L: Drive Nation; AP (2x); AZ Storm; Skyline; TAV; Tstreet; A5; HPSTL (2x); Lions — Mintonette Sports m.41 (4-9) (7th Windy City; 13th Sunshine; 5th MEQ) W: Premier Nebraska; Academy Diamond; Tribe; PVA L: AZ Sky; AP; Top Select; MAVS; OT Laura (2x); Skyline; Elevation; Tribe — Rockwood Thunder 14 Elite (3-7) (11th NL; 11th Sunshine; 10th MEQ; 14th SLC) W: Academy; A5; PVA L: AP; TAV (2x); Elevation; OT Laura; Skyline; PVA — Austin Skyline 14 Royal (3-21) (17th Sunshine; 9th MEQ; 11th SLC; 9th Lone Star) W: Hou Skyline; Elevation; SA Jrs L: TAV (2x); Drive Nation (2x); Skyline; A5; AZ Sky; Wave (2x); Academy; Excel; HPSTL (2x); OT Laura; Top Select; Elevation; MAVS; AP; Hou Skyline; Madfrog; Absolute — NKYVC 14-1 Tsunami (2-8) (4th Big South; 21st MEQ) W: Premier Nebraska; PVA L: AZ Sky; A5 (2x); Top Select; Long Beach; TAV; HPSTL; Lions — 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) — MKE Sting 14 Gold (1-9) (10th Windy City; 15th MEQ) W: Lions L: Premier Nebraska (2x); Skyline; Wave; HPSTL; MAVS; Lions; OT Laura; Drive Nation — 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

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USAV 18 Open: Preview And Predictions (FREE)

April 26, 2023

The USAV Girls 18s Junior National Championship is slated for Friday, Saturday and Sunday in Columbus. The 48-team Open field is highlighted by top-ranked and top-seeded Drive Nation 18 Red, which has just one loss entering this weekend’s competition. The lone setback came against AJV 18 Adidas back in January at the Lone Star Classic 18s qualifier. Drive Nation still managed to finish first there, like it has everywhere else. Drive Nation also owns first-place finishes at Triple Crown, Florida Fest and Boston Festival. It clearly makes Drive Nation the favorite, much like Sunshine 18 LA was a season ago in Phoenix. Another top contender is Coast 18-1, which lost to Drive Nation in the final of Triple Crown and spent this past Saturday tuning up with a scrimmage against Club V 18 Ren Reed. Club V made the visit from Utah to So Cal and spent Friday scrimmaging with Tstreet 18 Chandler and Sunshine 18 LA before heading to San Diego to face Coast in a friendly match Saturday. Coast won the tune up in four sets and look to be among the few teams capable of beating Drive Nation. Below, we take a look players to know, the pools and our predictions for how it might all play out. The 48 teams in Open are divided into eight pools of six. The top three advance to challenge rounds. The first-place teams get a bye while the second and third-place teams play crossover matches to make the top 16. The crossover winners then play the pool winners for a spot in the quarterfinals. It all happens very quickly, as virtually every team wakes up on Day 2 with a chance to still break pool but only eight will remain in contention by day’s end. 5-Star Athletes to Know:   4-Star Athletes to Know: *** PREDICTIONS We make our pool-by-pool predictions as to which teams are going to advance. We listed the teams in seeded order with vballrecruiter.com’s national ranking indicated in front. POOL 1   Prediction: Drive Nation 5-0; FC Elite 4-1; AVC Cle 3-2; Long Beach 2-3; CUVC 1-4; SynergyForce 0-5 *** POOL 2   Prediction: Coast 4-1; Elevation 4-1; Arizona Storm 4-1; Madfrog 2-3; MKE Sting 1-4; OPU 0-5 *** POOL 3   Prediction: Wave 5-0; Gainesville 4-1; AZ Rev 3-2; AJV 2-3; MN Select 1-4; EC Power 0-5 *** POOL 4   Prediction: MAVS 4-1; Skyline 4-1; Metro 4-1; Triangle 2-3; Adversity 1-4; A4 0-5 *** POOL 5   Prediction: Sunshine 4-1; A5 4-1; OT 3-2; TAV 2-3; VC United 1-4; OJVA 1-4 *** POOL 6   Prediction: Circle City 5-0; NPJ 4-1; Legacy 3-2; Alamo 2-3; Excel 1-4; Absolute 0-5 *** POOL 7   Prediction: 1st Alliance 4-1; Club V 4-1; HJV 3-2; Rage Westside 2-3; Tribe 1-4; AZ EVJ 1-4 *** POOL 8   Prediction: Mintonette 4-1; Premier Nebraska 4-1; Hou Skyline 4-1; Paramount 1-4; Tstreet 1-4; Northern Lights 1-4 Challenge Rounds: 1 – AZ Rev d Elevation; Drive Nation d AZ Rev 2 – FC Elite d Metro; Coast d Metro 3 – Skyline d AVC Cle; Skyline d Wave 4 – Arizona Storm d Gainesville Jrs; MAVS d Arizona Storm 5 – HJV d NPJ; Sunshine d HJV 6 – A5 d Hou Skyline; A5 d Circle City 7 – Premier Nebraska d OT; 1st Alliance d Premier Nebraska 8 – Club V d Legacy; Club V d Mintonette Quarterfinals: Drive Nation d Club V Coast d 1st Alliance A5 d Skyline MAVS d Sunshine Semifinals: Drive Nation d Sunshine Coast d A5 Final: Coast d Drive Nation

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14 Open At-Large Update

April 26, 2023

The 14s qualifying season wrapped last weekend with both Forza1 14 One and PVA 14 Elite securing Open bids at the Far Western qualifier in Reno. The results further helped shape the at-large picture for the division. There are eight spots still to be filled to complete the field of 36 for this summer in Chicago. Forza and PVA were certainly among the pack of at-large candidates and both had arguments to be selected. With both earning bids in Reno and neither needing an at-large, it opens the door for others who might not have gotten in had Forza and PVA needed at-larges. After updating a few results from last week’s look, we take another glance at the top candidates to receive at-larges based on qualifier results and head-to-head results against the Open field. — Northern Lights 14-1 (4-4) (6th Show Me; 17th NL) W: Academy Diamond (3x); MAVS L: Premier Nebraska (2x); Club V; PVA — GP 14 Rox (6-11) (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; PVA — Forza1 14 One (7-15) (5th NL; T7th RRR; 9th Far Western) W: Wave (3x); Premier Nebraska; MAVS KC; Club V; PVA L: Tstreet (4x); Long Beach (3x); Hou Skyline; TAV; Madfrog; Wave; AZ Storm; Forza North; Vision; Absolute — VCNebraska 14 Elite (4-8) (4th NL; 4th Show Me) W: AP; Premier Nebraska (3x) L: Drive Nation (2x); TAV; Hou Skyline; Academy Diamond; MAVS (2x); PVA — AZ Rev 14 Premier (5-11) (13th RRR; 11th Far Western) W: AZ Sky (2x); Wave; Premier Nebraska; Vision L: AZ Storm (3x); Drive Nation (2x); TAV; Tstreet; Long Beach; Skyline; AZ Sky; Absolute — Legacy 14-1 Adidas (4-11) (5th Sunshine; 5th Windy City; 7th NL) W: A5; Elevation (2x); PVA L: Drive Nation; AP (2x); AZ Storm; Skyline; TAV; Tstreet; A5; HPSTL (2x); Lions — Mintonette Sports m.41 (4-9) (7th Windy City; 13th Sunshine; 5th MEQ) W: Premier Nebraska; Academy Diamond; Tribe; PVA L: AZ Sky; AP; Top Select; MAVS; OT Laura (2x); Skyline; Elevation; Tribe — Rockwood Thunder 14 Elite (3-7) (11th NL; 11th Sunshine; 10th MEQ; 14th SLC) W: Academy; A5; PVA L: AP; TAV (2x); Elevation; OT Laura; Skyline; PVA — Austin Skyline 14 Royal (3-21) (17th Sunshine; 9th MEQ; 11th SLC; 9th Lone Star) W: Hou Skyline; Elevation; SA Jrs L: TAV (2x); Drive Nation (2x); Skyline; A5; AZ Sky; Wave (2x); Academy; Excel; HPSTL (2x); OT Laura; Top Select; Elevation; MAVS; AP; Hou Skyline; Madfrog; Absolute — NKYVC 14-1 Tsunami (2-8) (4th Big South; 21st MEQ) W: Premier Nebraska; PVA L: AZ Sky; A5 (2x); Top Select; Long Beach; TAV; HPSTL; Lions — 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) — MKE Sting 14 Gold (1-9) (10th Windy City; 15th MEQ) W: Lions L: Premier Nebraska (2x); Skyline; Wave; HPSTL; MAVS; Lions; OT Laura; Drive Nation — 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

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USAV 18 Open: Preview And Predictions (FREE)

April 26, 2023

The USAV Girls 18s Junior National Championship is slated for Friday, Saturday and Sunday in Columbus. The 48-team Open field is highlighted by top-ranked and top-seeded Drive Nation 18 Red, which has just one loss entering this weekend’s competition. The lone setback came against AJV 18 Adidas back in January at the Lone Star Classic 18s qualifier. Drive Nation still managed to finish first there, like it has everywhere else. Drive Nation also owns first-place finishes at Triple Crown, Florida Fest and Boston Festival. It clearly makes Drive Nation the favorite, much like Sunshine 18 LA was a season ago in Phoenix. Another top contender is Coast 18-1, which lost to Drive Nation in the final of Triple Crown and spent this past Saturday tuning up with a scrimmage against Club V 18 Ren Reed. Club V made the visit from Utah to So Cal and spent Friday scrimmaging with Tstreet 18 Chandler and Sunshine 18 LA before heading to San Diego to face Coast in a friendly match Saturday. Coast won the tune up in four sets and look to be among the few teams capable of beating Drive Nation. Below, we take a look players to know, the pools and our predictions for how it might all play out. The 48 teams in Open are divided into eight pools of six. The top three advance to challenge rounds. The first-place teams get a bye while the second and third-place teams play crossover matches to make the top 16. The crossover winners then play the pool winners for a spot in the quarterfinals. It all happens very quickly, as virtually every team wakes up on Day 2 with a chance to still break pool but only eight will remain in contention by day’s end. 5-Star Athletes to Know:   4-Star Athletes to Know: *** PREDICTIONS We make our pool-by-pool predictions as to which teams are going to advance. We listed the teams in seeded order with vballrecruiter.com’s national ranking indicated in front. POOL 1   Prediction: Drive Nation 5-0; FC Elite 4-1; AVC Cle 3-2; Long Beach 2-3; CUVC 1-4; SynergyForce 0-5 *** POOL 2   Prediction: Coast 4-1; Elevation 4-1; Arizona Storm 4-1; Madfrog 2-3; MKE Sting 1-4; OPU 0-5 *** POOL 3   Prediction: Wave 5-0; Gainesville 4-1; AZ Rev 3-2; AJV 2-3; MN Select 1-4; EC Power 0-5 *** POOL 4   Prediction: MAVS 4-1; Skyline 4-1; Metro 4-1; Triangle 2-3; Adversity 1-4; A4 0-5 *** POOL 5   Prediction: Sunshine 4-1; A5 4-1; OT 3-2; TAV 2-3; VC United 1-4; OJVA 1-4 *** POOL 6   Prediction: Circle City 5-0; NPJ 4-1; Legacy 3-2; Alamo 2-3; Excel 1-4; Absolute 0-5 *** POOL 7   Prediction: 1st Alliance 4-1; Club V 4-1; HJV 3-2; Rage Westside 2-3; Tribe 1-4; AZ EVJ 1-4 *** POOL 8   Prediction: Mintonette 4-1; Premier Nebraska 4-1; Hou Skyline 4-1; Paramount 1-4; Tstreet 1-4; Northern Lights 1-4 Challenge Rounds: 1 – AZ Rev d Elevation; Drive Nation d AZ Rev 2 – FC Elite d Metro; Coast d Metro 3 – Skyline d AVC Cle; Skyline d Wave 4 – Arizona Storm d Gainesville Jrs; MAVS d Arizona Storm 5 – HJV d NPJ; Sunshine d HJV 6 – A5 d Hou Skyline; A5 d Circle City 7 – Premier Nebraska d OT; 1st Alliance d Premier Nebraska 8 – Club V d Legacy; Club V d Mintonette Quarterfinals: Drive Nation d Club V Coast d 1st Alliance A5 d Skyline MAVS d Sunshine Semifinals: Drive Nation d Sunshine Coast d A5 Final: Coast d Drive Nation

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