March 28, 2024

The Windy City Qualifier, like Big South, is a convergence of all age groups over one weekend. It’s grown into one of the toughest qualifiers as well in recent years. Below, we look at the 14-17 Open divisions and give a brief rundown, including nationally-ranked teams, players to know as well as our predictions as to what might happen. 17 OPEN Number of Teams: 31 Number of Bids: 3 Previously-Qualified Teams (1): Circle City 17 Purple Vballrecruiter Nationally-Ranked Teams (12): 5. 1st Alliance 17 Gold IL 6. TAV 17 Black TX 7. Tribe 17 Elite Cardinal FL 12. Legacy 17-1 Adidas MI 14. HJV 17 Elite TX 15. Nebraska One 17 Synergy NE 25. Adrenaline 17 Ben IA 28. AVC Cle 17 Red OH 30. MAVS KC 17-1 KC 36. Alamo 17 Premier TX 41. VCNebraska 17 Elite NE 47. HPSTL 17 Royal MO   5-Star Players to Know: Addy Horner S/RS 1st Alliance 17 Gold (Wisconsin) Abby Vander Wal 1st Alliance 17 Gold (Texas) Logan Parks S/RS MAVS KC 17-1 Natalie Wardlow MB Nebraska One 17 Synergy (Wisconsin) Kelly Kinney OH Tribe 17 Elite Cardinal (Minnesota) Charlotte Glass S Tribe 17 Elite Cardinal (Duke) Jordan Taylor MB HJV 17 Elite (Minnesota) Campbell Flynn S Legacy 17-1 Adidas (Nebraska) Annabelle Groomes S AVC Cle 17 Red (San Diego) Megan Fitch OH Alamo 17 Premier (Texas AM)   4-Star Players to Know: Emma Parks OH AVC Cle 17 Red (Marquette) Brookelyn Hatton L/DS MAVS KC 17-1 (Arizona) Olivia Guzman MB Tribe 17 Elite Cardinal Zoey Matias L/DS Tribe 17 Elite Cardinal (Missouri) Mija Bendziute RS Tribe 17 Elite Cardinal (UCLA) Keri Leimbach L/DS Nebraska One 17 Synergy (Nebraska) Sydney Bryant OH HJV 17 Elite (Vanderbilt) Reese Dunkle MB Circle City 17 Purple (Northwestern) Logan Bell OH Circle City 17 Purple (Oregon Malorie Boesiger S Nebraska One 17 Synergy (2027)   Outlook: This division is going to be thrilling. There are 12 teams from our Top 50 but only one – Circle City – is qualified. That’s going to make for a wild ride to the finish line to determine the three bids. Circle City, along with TAV, Tribe, Legacy and HJV were all together at Sunshine but none earned bids there. TAV, Tribe, Legacy and HJV are the favorites this weekend to earn bids, right with 1st Alliance. Nebraska One and AVC Cle are certainly capable enough to not allow that to take place. MAVS, Alamo and VCNebraska are teams that can upset anyone and cause havoc as a result. Prediction: I think Tribe catches fire, beating TAV in the final. Both qualify. 1st Alliance gets by Nebraska One in the third-place match to earn the remaining bid. ***** 16 OPEN Number of Teams: 27 Number of Bids: 3 Previously-Qualified Teams (2): Mintonette Sports m.61; Madfrog 16 Green Vballrecruiter Nationally-Ranked Teams (11): 1. Mintonette Sports m.61 OH 2. Legacy 16-1 Adidas MI 9. Madfrog 16 Green TX 11. Austin Skyline 16 Royal TX 13. 1st Alliance 16 Gold IL 22. AVC Cle 16 Red OH 30. Rev 16-1 Fury IN 45. Tribe 16 Elite Cardinal FL 48. TVC 16 Black OH 49. OT 16 Roberto FL 50. Top Select 16 Elite FL   5-Star Players to Know: Gigi Artiles OH Tribe 16 Elite Cardinal Gabby Divita OH Legacy 16-1 Adidas Ella Andrews MB Legacy 16-1 Adidas Kayla Nwabueze MB Legacy 16-1 Adidas Emma Cugino L/DS Mintonette Sports m.61 Henley Anderson OH Austin Skyline 16 Royal Riley Malloy OH Austin Skyline 16 Royal Bennett Raterman MB HPSTL 16 Royal   4-Star Players to Know: Bella Lopez RS Madfrog 16 Green Gabi Rodriguez L/DS Madfrog 16 Green Lynney Tarnow MB 1st Alliance 16 Gold Natalie Surges OH 1st Alliance 16 Gold Katherine Byergo MB HPSTL 16 Royal Eva Long S Legacy 16-1 Adidas Meredith Martin L/DS Legacy 16-1 Adidas Mallory Matheny S Mintonette Sports m.61 Layla Hoying OH Mintonette Sports m.61 Sara Snowbarger OH Mintonette Sports m.61 Mia Gold OH Tribe 16 Elite Cardinal Lauren Garcia S/RS Alamo 16 Premier (2027)   Outlook: The 16 Open field is another one set up to deliver the goods. Mintonette is one of 11 ranked teams and is seeking its third qualifier victory to go with Sunshine and MEQ. Madfrog qualified at MEQ and is also safe. After that, the three bids are up for grabs. Legacy has had two prior shots at Sunshine and MEQ but took untimely losses and is still seeking a bid. Austin Skyline is playing in its first qualifier and figures to factor into the mix on the final day. 1st Alliance has been competitive all year and could walk away with a bid. AVC Cle has been playing well of late too and could make a run. Prediction: It’s a tight field, but I’m picking Madfrog in an upset, taking down Mintonette in the final. Legacy and Austin Skyline tie for third to qualify, while AVC outlasts 1st Alliance for the final bid. ***** 15 OPEN Number of Teams: 31 Number of Bids: 3 Previously-Qualified Teams (1): Legacy 15-1 Adidas Vballrecruiter Nationally-Ranked Teams (10): 12. Legacy 15-1 Adidas MI 21. Premier Nebraska 15 Gold NE 23. 1st Alliance 15 Gold IL 26. Madfrog 15 Black TX 29. Austin Skyline 15 Royal TX 33. TAV 15 Fifer TX 40. Top Select 15 Elite FL 42. Mintonette Sports m.51 OH 45. Dynasty 15 Black KS 46. HPSTL 15 Royal MO   5-Star Players to Know: Peyton Kubik OH Dynasty 15 Black Allie Hudgins OH Austin Skyline 15 Royal   4-Star Players to Know: Jenny Glushakov RS Top Select 15 Elite Kyla Williams MB AVC Cle 15 Red Peyton Heatherly S 1st Alliance 15 Gold Bryn Meyer RS Mintonette Sports m.51 Emerson Butler S Austin Skyline 15 Royal Reagan Wallraff MB Premier Nebraska 15 Gold Kate Kalcynski OH Legacy 15-1 Adidas Cynthina Ockerman MB Legacy 15-1 Adidas   Outlook: With Legacy the only team with a bid, 15 Open is going to be incredible to watch play out. That’s because the field