MEQ

The second weekend of the Mideast Qualifier features the 14 and 15 Open divisions competing in St. Louis this Friday, Saturday and Sunday. As one would expect of MEQ, both fields are loaded and earning a bid in either is going to be a difficult task. As for the 14s, MEQ is one of three qualifiers taking place this weekend for that age group. Below, we take a glance at both divisions, with nationally-ranked teams, players to know, as well as offer a prediction on what may transpire. 15 OPEN Number of Teams: 48 Number of Bids: 3 Previously-Qualified Teams (1): TAV 15 Black Vballrecruiter Nationally-Ranked Teams (15): 1. TAV 15 Black TX 5. A5 15-1 Kelly GA 6. Skyline 15 Royal TX 10. KC Power 15 Black KS 22. VCNebraska 15 Elite NE 23. 1st Alliance 15 Gold IL 25. MN Select 15-1 MN 29. Austin Skyline 15 Royal TX 31. FH 15 Ikaika-Andy TX 42. Mintonette Sports m.51 OH 44. Elevation 15 Tony OH 45. Dynasty 15 Black KS 46. HPSTL 15 Royal MO 47. Rockwood Thunder 15 Elite MO 49. Peak 15 Black TX   5-Star Players to Know: Peyton Kubik OH Dynasty 15 Black Shaye Witherspoon OH Rockwood Thunder 15 Elite Allie Hudgins OH Austin Skyline 15 Royal Naomi Livings OH/RS TAV 15 Black Nyla Livings MB TAV 15 Black Brynn Stephens S/RS TAV 15 Black Marissa Jones S A5 15-1 Kelly   4-Star Players to Know: McKinley Moser S VCNebraska 15 Elite Kailey Leonard L/DS A5 15-1 Kelly Kylee Evans MB A5 15-1 Kelly Kyla Williams MB AVC Cle 15 Red Peyton Heatherly S 1st Alliance 15 Gold Bryn Meyer RS Mintonette Sports m.51 Lexi Martin OH TAV 15 Black Gentry Barker OH TAV 15 Black Sophee Peterson S/RS TAV 15 Black Mariah Akinsola MB TAV 15 Black Ansley Shafer L/DS TAV 15 Black Emerson Butler S Austin Skyline 15 Royal Ryan Spencer OH Skyline 15 Royal Morgan Meiring OH Elevation 15 Tony   Outlook: Among the items we know for sure is TAV is safe. That’s because our top-ranked club secured its bid to nationals already by finishing runner up at the Sunshine Classic. We also know all three bids are going to be handed out, and that trickle down can’t go beyond fourth place. After that, who knows? It’s a full field with 48 teams and features 15 from our Top 50 national rankings. It should make for a wild ride with lots of twists and turns. A5 and Skyline have delivered consistent results to date and figure to factor in. KC Power was a big surprise with its performance at Triple Crown and will look to back it up with another strong showing this weekend. The rest of the ranked teams are evenly-matched and all figure to show improvement over the course of the last month when most competed at Triple Crown. All it takes at a qualifier like this is an upset on Day 1 or 2 to upend the seedings and force contenders into the same pools. That leads to someone you would expect to be in the hunt getting eliminated earlier than expected and that opens up a spot for an unexpected team to take advantage of. The guess is something along those lines happens here. Prediction: If my predictions play out accordingly, it’s going to be a good weekend for TAV. I picked the club to win both 14 and 16 Open at Northern Lights, and I’m going with TAV to leave with a title in 15 Open as well at MEQ. As for the bids, I’m going with KC Power to finish in second place and earn one of them. Tying for third place and earning the other two bids is going to be Skyline and VCNebraska. ***** 14 OPEN Number of Teams: 28 Number of Bids: 3 Previously-Qualified Teams (1): HPSTL 14 Royal Vballrecruiter Nationally-Ranked Teams (13): 1. Madfrog 14 Green TX 2. HPSTL 14 Royal MO 8. Dynasty 14 Black KS 9. Circle City 14 Purple IN 10. NKYVC 14-1 Tsunami KY 12. Elevation 14 Molly OH 14. AVC Cle 14 Red 16. MAVS KC 14-1 KS 23. HJV 14 Elite TX 28. Mintonette Sports m.41 OH 31. KC Power 14 Black KS 44. ARVC 14-1 Adidas NM 50. TPV 14-Zulu TN   5-Star Players to Know: Sarah Albers RS HPSTL 14 Royal Maya Ogbogu OH Madfrog 14 Green   4-Star Players to Know: Gracie White MB Madfrog 14 Green Olivia Kitur OH Madfrog 14 Green Hayden Thomas MB Madfrog 14 Green Aleyna Bramschreiber S/RS Madfrog 14 Green Nora Goodenow MB MAVS KC 14-1 Jaelyn Jordan S MAVS KC 14-1 Carsyn Chitty L/DS Mintonette Sports m.41 Sade Bello OH HJV 14 Elite   Outlook: Like 15 Open, there is only one team which has a bid already in HPSTL. It creates the same scenario, where teams must finish in the top four to have any shot of qualifying, and that is if HPSTL also finishes in the top four. If not, teams have to finish in the top three to qualify. With 13 teams featured in our Top 50, nearly half the field is in our national rankings. That should make for a competitive weekend, one that is going to make earning a bid tough to accomplish. One thing to watch for is a possible Triple Crown finals rematch between Madfrog and HPSTL. While HPSTL is safe having a bid already, Madfrog is seeking to take care of its qualifying spot in its first effort of the season. Dynasty has been a strong team so far, and Circle City captured the title at Central Zone. Both are real contenders in terms of qualifying. In 14 Open though, the play is unpredictable enough that teams can rise up, pull off upsets and earn bids. NKYVC, Elevation, AVC Cle, MAVS and HJV are all examples of teams that could find themselves in that position. Prediction: My call is going with a reverse of Triple Crown, with

The last day of action brought a ton of excitement and a lot of shakeups at MEQ. You can read about the 16-18 Open semifinals and finals matches in the MEQ: Gold Medal Rundown. And with the qualifier season still early on for the younger ages plenty of bids were awarded. So now let’s talk about the athletes who shined on Day 3. DAY 3 SHOW STOPPERS Macy Hinshaw S Munciana 18 Samurai: Hinshaw, a 4-star Santa Clara signee, is a smooth operator on the court. She is a hustler on the court and shows strong leadership in directing the offense. Spencer Etzler/Addison ApplegateDS Munciana 18 Samurai: Etzer and Applegate, 4-star recruit committed to Texas A&M, were so much fun to watch. Both are defensive specialists who bring explosive defense and steady ball control to their squad. Claire Luoma L MKE Sting 18 Gold: Luoma, a 4-star Clemson signee, is a dynamic player who passes dimes and a scrappy defender who can hit the floor to make a save. Jae Fitting DS MKE Sting 18 Gold: Fitting, a Loyola Chicago signee, is a defense specialist, who makes big plays when needed and holds steady in serve receive. Grace Nelson OH 1st Alliance 18 Gold: Nelson, a 4-star Kansas signee, is a powerful outside who swings with a vengeance. She is also a scrapper defensively. Gretchen Sigman RS Team Pineapple 18 Black: Sigman, 3-star Cincinnati signee, is a lefty who is a firecracker on the court. She gives her squad another go-to option consistently. Logan Bell OH Circle City 17 Purple:  Bell, a 4-star recruit committed to Oregon, glides and flies on the outside. She brings the hammer and a ton of energy to the court. Jumana Martin L CUVC 17 Open: Martin, a 3-star recruit committed to College of Charleston, brings a level of calm, control, and consistency to her side of the court. Miliani Villarreal  L COAST 17-1: Villarreal, a Sacred Heart commit, was electric yesterday. Whether it was ball control, defense, or serving well, she did it all. Jolyna Salas S COAST 17-1: Salas, a Point Loma commit, was dishing her hitters with grace and precision. Hannah Hankerson OH OT 17 T Aaron: Hankerson, a 3-star recruit, is an explosive undersized hitter. She has a quick jump and fast arm and is difficult to time up. Lily Hayes  L OT 17 T Aaron: Hayes, a 3-star recruit committed to Florida, has a laidback demeanor and is super smooth. She rarely misses a play. Abbey Hayes OH Six Pack 17: Hayes, 3-star recruit committed to Creighton, gives plenty to the lineup hitting and defending. She was making plays in the back row and showing off her smarts attacking. Ella Rogers S Six Pack 17: Rogers, a 3-star recruit, has a nice touch and an ability to move the ball around and get her various hitters involved on a consistent basis. Hannah Gardner S CSDP 17 National: Gardner, Missouri State commit, is smooth and has accurate delivery and dishes the ball around with the best of them. Victoria Gray OH OP2 17-1 Elite: Gray, a Rockhurst commit, is a heady scorer who does well taking what the defense gives. She can also connect and unleash when needed. Sydney Bates S Dead Frog 17 Black: Bates, College of Charleston recruit, has nice hands and consistently puts her hitters in good spots to score. Sophia Overholt OH Stars 17 Helle: Overholt is an explosive hitter who hits the line with a vengeance if given the opportunity. Reese Shugart OH Stars 17 Helle: Shugart, a 2026 athlete, has a nice  quick swing and brings heat at times. Caroline Ward RS Boiler Jrs 161E Gold: Ward, a 2027 5-star recruit, makes an impact whenever on the court. She provides a wall on defense and when she connects she hits with a very heavy hand. Lexi Shondell S Boiler Jrs 161E Gold: Shondell, a 4-star recruit, is a smooth setter with great poise. She runs the offense well and keeps defenses on their toes. Sara Snowbarger OH Mintonette Sports – m.61: Snowbarger, a 4-star recruit, is a smart hitter who can menace defenses with her shot variation. She was serving with authority all day. Mallory Matheny S Mintonette Sports – m.61: Matheny, a 4-star recruit, has nice hands and sets a clean ball. She’s accurate and does well moving the ball around and keeping defenses on their toes. Gabi Rodriguez MADFROG 16’S N GREEN: Rodriquez, a 4-star recruit, is fast and covers ground in a hurry. She can be seen flying all over the court in pursuit of the ball. Ruby McDermott L A5 16-1 Gabe: McDermott, a 3-star recruit, is an intense competitor who plays all out and is steady and consistent with her passing.

The final day of competition intensified with fast-paced action and dramatic upsets brought a defining conclusion to the Nike Mideast Qualifier. It was full of high-pace action and nail-biting matches. Add big-time upsets leading into the semifinals created a memorable and remarkable ending. So let’s go! First up let’s talk about 16 Open. With Mintonette Sports m.61 already qualified at Sunshine, A5 16-1 Gabe, Madfrog 16 Green and Boiler Jrs 16 Gold all walked away with bids. In the first semifinals A5 played Mintonette. A5 started off incredibly hot off the play of its middles and right sides swinging away. Mintonette came back swinging and ended up winning in three sets, 15-25, 25-18, 15-8. Mintonette 4-star recruit Sara Snowbarger was on fire and 3-star recruit Alia Schoonover’s quick slide was beyond effective. In the other semifinals Madfrog played  Boiler Jrs. Like the other semifinals the first game had Madfrog storming through to 25 first. Libero Gabi Rodriguez, a 4-star recruit, was scrappy and lights out defensively for Madfrog. But the Boilers came back swinging and ended up winning, 16-25, 25-14, 19-17. Boilers 4-star recruit Madison Miles was contacting the ball high and terminating at high angles The finals had Mintonette facing off against Boiler Jrs. And like the semifinals Mintonette started off a bit slow but ended up on fire winning in theree, 16-25, 25-18, 15-12. Mintonette outside hitter Layla Hoying, a 4-star recruit, and setter Mallory Matheny, a 4-star recruit, led the way topped with big plays from right side Lyla Stewart. For the Boilers setter Lexi Shondell, a 4-star recruit, 2027 right side Caroline Ward, a 5-star recruit, and libero Ellie Hepler, a 4-star recruit, shined. Next up was the 17 Open semifinals. And while there were a few upsets that set up the final four, kudos to all the teams that advanced. And with that being said the top three finishers got the bid (and 3rd place would have to be played out). First up we had Coast 17-1 taking on CUVC 17 Open. For Coast libero Miliani Villarreal, a Sacred Heart commit, was owning the match. Between her serving and scrappy defense she helped lead her squad over CUVC in two 25-12, 25-23. Ironically on the Carolina Union side, libero Jumana Martin, a 3-star recruit committed to College of Charleston, led her squad. In the other semifinals we had Circle City 17 Purple squaring off against OT 17 T Aaron. This match was the 5-1 setters and “undersized” hitters show in my opinion. For Circle City, setter Ava Hunter, a 3-star recruit committed to Loyola Chicago, and outside hitters Raegan Durbin, a 3-star recruit committed to East Tennessee State, and Logan Bell, a 4-star recruit committed to Oregon, led the way. While on the OT side of the net, setter Izzy Mogridge, a 4-star recruit committed to Oregon, outside hitter Hannah Hankerson, a 3-star recruit, and middle blocker Connore Siler-Nixon, a 3-star recruit, helped lead their squad to the win in two, 26-24, 25-22. For the finals OT played Coast. For this match I have to give a shout-out to both liberos and setters on both sides of the net. Coast libero Villarreal and setter Jolyna Salas, a Point Loma commit, AND OT libero Lily Hayes, a 3-star recruit committed to Florida, and Mogridge really did a great job holding down their sides of their court.  Also Coast the pins Juliette D’Eliseo, Ava Poinsett, a 3-star recruit committed to Yale, and Stella Dillon added some serious noise to the court. OT also had some great plays from outside hitters Hankerson and Maggie Dostic, a 3-star recruit committed to Tennessee. In the end OT won in straight sets, 27-25, 25-19. And for bid number No. 3, Circle City ended up claiming it with their win over CUVC, 25-21, 25-17, in the third-place meeting. And last but definitely not least, let’s talk about 18 Open. For the first 18s semifinals we had MKE Sting 18 Gold (already qualified) taking on Team Pineapple 18 Black. Team Pineapple was led by outside Morgan Gaerte, a 5-star Notre Dame signee, and six-rotation right side Gretchen Sigman, a 3-star Cincinnati signee. For Sting libero Claire Luoma, a 4-star Clemson signee, led the way with setters Lilly Wagner, a 4-star Maryland signee, and Emily Bruss, a North Dakota State signee, dishing to their hitters flawlessly. And in the end MKE won in 3, 25-21, 18-25, 15-12. In the other semi we had Munciana 18 Samurai facing previously-qualified 1st Alliance 18 Gold. And this match was absolutely ridiculously fun to watch (in my opinion). 1st Alliance was led by outside hitter Grace Nelson, a 4-star Kansas signee, and setter/outside Ellie White, a 4-star Michigan signee, who, with their teammates, were bringing the fire. However, Municana was able to finish the match in three sets, 25-19, 23-25, 17-15. Municana libero Lola Schumacher, a 5-star Wisconsin signee, and setter Macy Hinshaw, a 4-star Santa Clara signee, did a great job running the show. For the finals it was Munciana taking on MKE Sting. All I can say is the DEFENSE WAS INCREDIBLE in this match.  And while Municana big hitters like Addison Tindall, a 2025 5-star recruit committed to Purdue, Charlotte Vinson, a 4-star Indiana signee, Lindsey Mangelson, a 2025 3-star recruit committed to Mississippi State, were cranking on the pins, Schumacher, defensive specialist Addison Applegate, a 2025 4-star recruit committed to Texas A&M, and defensive specialist Spencer Etzler, another 2025 athlete, shined for their squad. And the same can be said for Sting. Hitters Sophia Wendlick, a 3-star Creighton signee, Anna Bjork, a 4-star Notre Dame signee, and Melia Johnson, a 3-star Mississippi State signee, were all swinging well but it was Luoma and defensive specialist Jae Fitting, a Loyola Chicago signee, who really shined. And in the end Municana won in 3, 22-25, 25-18, 17-15. With its victory at MEQ, Munciana not only secured its bid but with it will be making its first USAV Girls Junior National Championship appearance in 17 years! That’s because that was

Day 2 at the MEQ began with fiery passion, setting a dynamic tone for Saturday’s competition. For the most part, teams held their seeds. However, the day wasn’t without its surprises, as there were some shake-ups heading into Sunday’s gold pools. In the 18 Open division, things took a predictable turn with most of the pools concluding in line with their initial seedings. However, it wasn’t all straightforward — there were a couple of pools where the expected outcomes were turned on their heads. Among them was Team Pineapple 18 Black coming in as the third seed and ending up in the one spot. And in the same pool MKE Sting 18 Gold ended up grabbing the second seed. And in another pool FC Elite 18 Elite took the second seed and advanced to the gold pools. Most of the 17 Open teams either held seed or there was a huge shakeup in the pool. And a reminder MKE Sting 17 Gold is the only team which already has its Open bid so it’s anyone’s game heading into Championship Sunday. The craziest pool (in my opinion) was Pool 6, which featured Adrenaline 17 Ben, Circle City 17 Purple, PVA 17 ELITE, and DYNASTY 17 Black. Dynasty took the top seed out which if you had the chance to watch them play you would see that they are down a middle blocker. THAT BEING SAID between Reese Messer owning jousts as a middle blocker, Hadley Porter doing some amazing acrobatics defensively, and pins Abigail Mullen and Lauren Lopez swinging away, they managed to come out on top. In four out of the six pools the top seed held their spot. That being said WAVE 16-Scott ended up switching seeds with 1st Alliance 16 Gold in their pool and both advanced. Also Academy 16 Diamond and Metro 16 Travel ended up overtaking the second seed in their respective pools. Heading into Sunday only Mintonette Sports m.61 has their open bid so it’s wide open. DAY 2 SHOW STOPPERS Lola Schumacher L Munciana 18 Samurai: Schumacher, a 5-star Wisconsin signee, is a non-stop chatter box on the court. She is smooth and sassy in defense. Jenna Hanes MB WAVE 18-Brennan: Hanes, a 4-star Michigan signee, moves incredibly well laterally along with being quick in the area to attack. Hannah Benjamin OH A5 18-Marc: Benjamin, a 5-star Kentucky signee, was bringing the heat on the outside. She was literally thumping balls on the court. Petra Fritz OH E3VB 18-1: Fritz, a 3-star recruit, has a whip of an arm. She explodes off the ground well too which makes her had to slow down. Eva Finnessy RS MKE Sting 17 Gold: Finnessy is on a team full of studs That being said, she got my attention by consistently swinging well on the right and bringing the heat. Isabella Mogridge S OT 17 T Aaron: Mogridge, a 4-star Oregon commit, is just a flat out competitor. She dishes with authority and finesse. Ryleigh Short OH COAST 17-1: Short is an all-around ball control oriented outside. She adds consistency in serve receive and can put balls when needed. Stella Dillon RS COAST 17-1: Dillion, a 3-star recruit, provides great defense at the net as well as beating defenses with her arm. Quinn Loper OH WAVE 17-Juliana: Loper, a 4-star USC commit, is a strong all-around player with solid ball control skills and she’s a smart hitter who knows how to score in a variety of ways. Chloe Parker MB FC Elite 17 Navy: Parker is a middle with great size who can read well and attack with heat in the middle. Jaelynn Kohli OH Wolf Pack 17 Black: Kohli, a New Mexico State commit, was fun to watch as I walking by her court. She is a wall at the net and can hit not only on the pins but also runs a great slide attack in serve recieve. Ellen Zapp MB Circle City 17 Purple: Zapp, a 3-star recruit, runs a quick middle attack but what makes this so lethal is her ability to turn on a dime. Hadley Porter L DYNASTY 17 Black: Porter, a 3-star recruit, was the queen of acrobatics today. She had no fear making some huge and quite precarious up’s. Sydney Frazier MB M2 Volleyball 17-1: Frazier, a 3-star recruit, has a knack for defense at the net. She is also fast and athletic which makes her lethal offensively. Elle Davis OH KNVBC 17 Showtime: Davis has a powerful arm and can crush balls whether front or back row. Lily Wittgraefe  L CJV 17 Mizuno: Wittgraefe, a 3-star recruit, is a consistent passer who in defense reads and covers well. Caroline Ward RS Boiler Jrs 161E Gold: Ward, a 5-star recruit in the class of 2027, is a gamer who plays with intensity. She has a quick swing and gets after it aggressively. Carolyn Tarnow MB 1st Alliance 16 Gold: Tarnow, a 4-star recruit, has great height and a huge wingspan that helps her not only track a ton of balls defensively but also she has the ability to hit literally over anyone. Amelia Mancino  OH WPVC 16 Armour Black: Mancino, a 3-star recruit, was splitting the seems not only consistently but effectively. Also her top spin jump serve is fun to watch. Alana Whitfield OH/RS Illini Elite 16 Cardinal: Whitfield, a 3-star recruit, is so relaxed and calm in serve receive and then brings the heat on the pins. Tyra McKinnie MB OP2 16-1 Elite: McKinnie was a force in the middle. She was blocking and swinging effectively. And she had a kickset that was money to the outside! Skylar Brady OH OP2 16-1 Elite: Brady, a 3-star recruit, is long and jumps well. She is relentless as she brings the heat over and over. Sarah O’Connor S MJVA 16 Elite: O’Conner is a smooth disher with a soft touch and clean release. She’s also steady with her location. Isabelle Masten OH Rev 16-1 Fury: Masten, a 3-star recruit, is just plain fun to watch. She is an athlete undersized athlete who can fly on the court, along

Let me tell you, the start of the Nike Mideast Qualifier in Indy was an absolute spectacle of star power that took the courts by storm. The level of talent here this weekend is staggering, to say the least. If you had a chance to dive into Chris Tobolski’s MEQ preview, you’d have seen the lineup and known that this tournament was prepped to be an incredible showcase of talent. And while Day One was exciting and filled with great volleyball talent, I couldn’t see everyone play. So needless to say I am looking forward to watching much more action on Day 2. For the most part, “most” top seeds held their seed into Saturday’s pools. In 18 Open, Six Pack 18 and Circle City 18 Purple were the two second seeds in their respective pools which captured the top finish.  In 17 Open, FC Elite 17 Navy and Elevation 17 Cabo were also No. 2 seeds that captured the top finish in their pool. And in 16 Open, Rev 16-1 Fury and NKYVC 16-1 Tsunami were more No. 2 seeds which captured first in their pool. DAY 1 SHOW STOPPERS Ella Holloway RS MemphisVBAcademy 18 Red: Holloway, a 3-star High Point signee, was literally crushing balls on the court. Elizabeth Andrew MB ATHENA VB 18-1 Gold: Andrew, a 5-star Stanford signee, is a huge presence on the court. Whether its offense or defense, Andrew owns it. Delainy Williams S ATHENA VB 18-1 Gold: Williams, a Hobart and William Smith Colleges signee, was running the show for her squad. She is an athlete who has a great touch on the ball. Maya Evens L WAVE 18-Brennan: Evens, a 4-star recruit 2025 committed to Notre Dame, displays a smoothness to the way she plays libero. She’s always under control, makes aggressive plays, and brings energy to the court. Alexis Weinberg OH BVA 18 Elite Hannah: Weiberg was an athlete who got my attention swinging with a vengeance as I walked by court. She hits a high, heavy ball. Grace Killion HPSTL 18 Royal: Killion, a High Point signee, was effective in key moments. She was a go-to offensively over and over again. Hadley Hardersen RS PowerPlex 17U Mendieta: Hardersen is a lefty pin who has a lively arm and when she connected she launched balls past the defense. Mia Clyburn MB CUVC 17 Open: Clyburn, a 3-star Gonzaga commit, is a fast middle blocker who not only swings well but brings a ton of fire to the court. Rebecca Ring OH VC United 171 Elite: Ring, a 4-star recruit committed to NC State, is a six-rotation pin who has a huge presence on the court. She hits a heavy ball and puts up a great block. Sydney Mayfield RS Paramount VBC 17 Nick Paramount: Mayfield was swinging aggressively and challenging bigger blocks with success all day. Alanah Clemente RS Supernova 17 National: Clemente is fun to watch on the court. She is a lefty who explodes off the ground and cranks on the regular. Maya Joska S/RS EU U17-Black Evansville: Joska, a Virginia Tech commit, plays with a lot of passion and energy. She’s feisty as a hitter and smart as a setter. Kate Shafer S Adrenaline 17 Ben: Shafer, a UNI recruit, has a smooth delivery and clean sets. She dishes with consistent accuracy to all her hitters. Chloe Meester OH Adrenaline 17 Ben: Meester, a 3-star recruit committed to Louisville, is an all-out competitor who brings tons of fire to the court. She was hammering balls down everywhere she was set. Brighten Sedmack OH USA South 17 Premier Purp: Sedmack is an undersized outside who jumps well and has a quick arm to beat blocks. Makenna Grimes RS Buckeye 17 Black National: Grimes, a 3-star recruit, is an explosive lefty right side who hits with fire and adds a layer of defense at the net. Emma Parks OH AVC Cle 17 Red: Parks, a 4-star Marquette commit, soars on the outside. She is a smooth outside who can power through the block or just hit over it. Annabelle Groomes S AVC Cle 17 Red: Groomes, a 5-star athlete committed to San Diego, is super smooth and can keep defenses guessing with her ability to set from different positions and angles. Ava Hunter S Circle City 17 Purple: Hunter, a 3-star recruit committed to Loyola Chicago, has a smooth delivery and clean sets. She dishes with consistent accuracy to all her hitters. Isabelle Kremer OH Iowa Rockets 16R: Kremer was showing tremendous potential. She was taking aggressive swings and showcasing a lively arm that was lighting defenses up. Cassidy Bruns L MKE Sting 16 Gold: Bruns, a 4-star recruit, is a gamer with hustle. She does a good job picking up balls coming her way and helping set the defensive tone. Dasia Johnson OH Wildfire 16N Open: Johnson is an athletic undersized outside who brings fire on offense and is quick in defense. Genevieve Harris S Academy 16 Diamond NC: Harris, a 5-star recruit, dishes from pin to pin or from the spectator area to the outside with ease. She dishes her hitters efficiently too. Lindsay Snyder OH Munciana 16 Blaze: Snyder is an undersized outside who brings fire, no fear, and power to the outside. She was lights out swinging. Dawn Moore RS MADFROG 16’S N GREEN: Moore, a 3-star recruit,  is a lefty with a huge vertical and a fast whip of an arm. Meredith Martin L/DS 16-1 Adidas Legacy: Martin, a 4-star recruit, is a defensive anchor with good ball skills who is also steady and consistent in serve receive. Abigail Schoene S/RS Rockwood Thunder 16 Elite: Schoene has great hands and a strong sense on defense when she’s setting. She’s also a reliable scoring option with a great swing who can produce big kills. Nadiya Johnson RS Metro 16 Travel Metro: Johnson, a 5-star recruit, is a presence both offensively and defensively for her squad. The sky is literally the limit for her.

The Mideast Qualifier (MEQ) is always one of the toughest of the season. That distinction won’t change this coming Friday, Saturday and Sunday as the 16-18 Open divisions are set to go at it inside the Indianapolis Convention Center. What makes MEQ such a challenging event is the typical depth of the fields combined with the sheer number of teams. This qualifier most always features 48-team fields, though 18 Open is just shy of that. Toss in the fact that there is just one qualified team in each 16 and 17 Open means we are going to get a powerhouse weekend full of talented teams slugging it out. 18 OPEN Number of Teams: 40 Number of Bids: 3 Previously-Qualified Teams (8): 1st Alliance 18 Gold; Mintonette Sports m.81; Academy 18 Rage; A5 18 Marc; MKE Sting 18 Gold; Wave 18 Brennan; Circle City 18 Purple; FC Elite 18 Elite Vballrecruiter Nationally-Ranked Teams (16): 4. 1st Alliance 18 Gold IL 6. Munciana 18 Samurai IN 8. Tri-State Elite 18 Blue OH 10. Team Pineapple 18 Black IN 14. Academy 18 Rage IN 16. Wave 18 Brennan CA 17. A5 18 Marc GA 25. Mintonette Sports m.81 28. NKYVC 18-1 Tsunami KY 35. MKE Sting 18 Gold WI 39. FC Elite 18 Elite WI 40. OT 18 T Tony FL 46. Six Pack 18 IA 47. VC United 18 Elite IL 49. Circle City 18 Purple IN 50. Adidas KiVA 18 Red KY   5-Star Players to Know Morgan Gaerte OH Team Pineapple 18 Black (Notre Dame) Lola Schumacher L/DS Munciana 18 Samurai (Wisconsin) Lauren Harden OH Academy 18 Rage (Florida) Hannah Benjamin OH A5 18 Marc (Kentucky) Addison Tindall OH Munciana 18 Samurai (2025, Purdue)   4-Star Players to Know Ayen Nhial MB Adidas KiVA 18 Red (James Madison) Payton Petersen OH Six Pack (Louisville) Grace Nelson OH 1st Alliance 18 Gold (Kansas) Ellie White OH 1st Alliance 18 Gold (Michigan) Calli Kenny S/RS 1st Alliance 18 Gold (Marquette) Riley Whitlock RS Boiler Jrs 18 Gold (Ball State) Jenna Hanes MB Wave 18 Brennan (Michigan) Julia Hunt MB NKYVC 18-1 Tsunami (Washington) Elizabeth Tabeling L/DS NKYVC 18-1 Tsunami (Ball State) Claire Luoma L/DS MKE Sting 18 Gold (Clemson) Anna Bjork MB MKE Sting 18 Gold (Notre Dame) Lilly Wagner S MKE Sting 18 Gold (Maryland) Ella Demetrician OH FC Elite 18 Elite (Michigan) Charlotte Vinson OH/RS Munciana 18 Samurai (2025, Indiana) Addison Applegate L/DS Munciana 18 Samurai (2025, Texas AM) Maya Evens L/DS Wave 18 Brennan (2025, Notre Dame) Peyton Carlson L/DS FC Elite 18 Elite (2026)   Outlook: With the 18s nearing the end of qualifying season, there are eight clubs with prior bids. While that is a big enough number to possibly ensure no bids go out – as trickle down doesn’t extend past eighth place – it’s actually not as sizable as recent years when we have seen a dozen qualified teams competing. There is plenty to watch for, starting with the inclusion of Munciana in this year’s event. The club hasn’t attended qualifiers in a long time but has its 18s here this weekend. With it there is a good chance we could see the club finish in a bid position. Another Indiana club that could join Munciana is Team Pineapple, which is coming off its strong finish at Triple Crown. Tri-State Elite also performed well at Triple Crown and certainly could be among the bid winners. That trio of teams are the highest-ranked in the field without bids but will be challenged by clubs like NKYVC, Six Pack, OT Tony, KiVA and VC United. Prediction: As for the winner, I’m picking Tri-State over Team Pineapple in a rematch from the semifinals of Central Zone. Wave and 1st Alliance tie for third place, with Munciana earning the final bid by tying for fifth place. ***** 17 OPEN Number of Teams: 48 Number of Bids: 3 Previously-Qualified Teams (1): MKE Sting 17 Gold Vballrecruiter Nationally-Ranked Teams (15): 1. MKE Sting 17 Gold WI 5. Adidas KiVA 17 Red KY 6. Mich Elite 17 Mizuno MI 9. Legacy 17-1 Adidas MI 13. Dynasty 17 Black KS 16. A5 17-1 Calvin GA 17. Circle City 17 Purple IN 19. Adrenaline 17 Ben IA 23. OT 17 T Aaron FL 24. Coast 17 Rodrigo CA 26. AVC Cle 17 Red OH 30. HPSTL 17 Royal MO 31. Wave 17 Juliana CA 34. CUVC 17 Open NC 49. Academy 17 Tsunami IN   5-Star Players to Know Kristen Simon L/DS Adidas KiVA 17 Red (Wisconsin) Madison Quest OH MKE Sting 17 Gold (Wisconsin) Campbell Flynn S Legacy 17-1 Adidas (Nebraska) Annabelle Groomes S AVC Cle 17 Red (San Diego) Reese Messer S Dynasty 17 Black (USC) Abigail Mullen RS Dynasty 17 Black (USC)   4-Star Players to Know Gabriella Pitcel MB MKE Sting 17 Gold (Illinois) Olivia Durst L/DS MKE Sting 17 Gold (Michigan State) Emma Parks OH AVC Cle 17 Red (Marquette) Isabella Haggard S/RS Adidas KIVA 17 Red (Indiana) Rebecca Ring OH VC United 17 Elite (NC State) Ava Tilden OH NKYVC 17-1 Tsunami (Xavier) Riley McCloskey RS NKYVC 17-1 Tsunami (Memphis) Quinn Loper OH Wave 17 Juliana (USC) Reese Dunkle MB Circle City 17 Purple (Northwestern) Logan Bell OH Circle City 17 Purple (Oregon) Katie Gielas OH Elevation 17 Cabo (FGCU) Izzy Busignani OH Mich Elite 17 Mizuno (Cincinnati) Francesca Popescu L/DS A5 17-1 Calvin (Cal) Abigail Li S A5 17-1 Calvin (SMU) Izzy Mogridge S OT 17 Aaron (Oregon) Sydni Vice OH MJVA 17 Elite (2026) Natalie Carr OH Pitt Elite 17 Elite (2026) Outlook: It’s a bit hard to believe that top-ranked MKE Sting is the only team participating in 17 Open which already has a bid. Given that, trickle-down cannot extend past fourth place and with 15 teams from Vballrecruiter’s Top 50 playing earning a bid is going to be a brutal task. At Triple Crown, KiVA tied for third, Legacy tied for fifth and Mich Elite tied for seventh. Those three are going to

With the Gold Medal Rundown out and the Show Stoppers from Day 1, 2 and 3 highlighted, the final piece of the opening weekend MEQ puzzle is the vballrecruiter.com All-Tournament teams from 16 and 17 Open. With so many talented players performing at a high level, narrowing down the final list was difficult. Ultimately, we made the decision based on our own observations throughout the weekend. 17 OPEN OUTSIDES Skyler Pierce Dynasty 17 Black Kirrah Horne Triangle 17 Black Grace Nelson 1st Alliance 17 Gold Alaleh Tolliver Academy 17 Tsunami MIDDLES Cy Rae Campbell Dynasty 17 Black Ashlyn Philpot Triangle 17 Black Julia Hunt NKYVC 17-1 Tsunami Alexis Alexander Pohaku 17-1 RIGHT SIDES Abigail Mullen Dynasty 17 Black Ryan Hunter Triangle 17 Black Elise Marchal Elevation 17 Ulland SETTER/RIGHT SIDES Izzy Starck Co Jrs 17 Kevin SETTERS Reese Messer Dynasty 17 Black Emily Bobbitt Triangle 17 Black Allie Shondell Boiler Jrs 17 Gold LIBEROS/DSs Ava Falduto 1st Alliance 17 Gold Ryan McAleer Dynasty 17 Black *** 16 OPEN OUTSIDES Madison Quest MKE Sting 16 Gold Kelly Kinney Tribe 16 Elite Cardinal Izzy Busignani Mich Elite 16 Mizuno Lily Dee Davis Austin Skyline 16 Royal Tekoa Barnes Tribe 16 Elite Cardinal MIDDLES Addison Makun Adidas KiVA 16 Red Reese Dunkle Circle City 16 Purple RIGHT SIDES Addison Gaido Austin Skyline 16 Royal SETTER/RIGHT SIDE Isabela Haggard Adidas KiVA 16 Red Lydia Chinchar S/RS No Name 16 Sarah SETTERS Charlotte Glass Tribe 16 Elite Cardinal Campbell Flynn Legacy 16-1 Adidas Ava Hunter S Circle City 16 Purple LIBEROS/DSs Kristen Simon Adidas KiVA 16 Red Zoey Matias Tribe 16 Elite Cardinal Avery Freeman Circle City 16 Purple Callie Krueger Austin Skyline 16 Royal

The intensity went through the roof as teams chased bids on the final day of the opening weekend of the Mideast Qualifier. With the competition elevated, players were stepping up their games too and putting on incredible displays everywhere we looked. Below, we bring you our Day 3 Show Stoppers featuring the players who caught our attention the most. DAY 3 SHOW STOPPERS Kristen Simon L/DS Adidas KiVA 16 Red: A 4-star recruit, Simon was a huge part of the defensive play that helped KiVA to the 16 Open championship. She’s an on-point passer out of serve receive and has great range in the back row defending. Bridget Egan OH Adidas KiVA 16 Red: Egan – a 3-star recruit – was unleashing massive kills at times. She has a whippy arm and when it’s set up in front of her watch out. It’s coming in hot. Emilee Fuller S Adidas KiVA 16 Red: Fuller – a 3-star recruit – is a back row setter who puts up a nice ball. She was locating and connecting well with her hitters. Ava Hunter S Circle City 16 Purple: A 3-star recruit, Hunter is a competitive setter who does a fine job of running the offense. She has great hands and locates consistently while putting her hitters in favorable matchups. Logan Bell OH Circle City 16 Purple: Bell – a 4-star recruit – has a lively arm and jumps well. She was helping power along the Circle City attack on the left by providing a reliable scoring threat. Avery Freeman L/DS Circle City 16 Purple: Freeman – a 3-star recruit – is unflappable in the back row. She’s a no-nonsense libero with a sound platform and strong first-contact skills. Reese Dunkle MB Circle City 16 Purple: Dunkle – a 4-star recruit – brings a net presence to the lineup when she checks in. She’s a legit scoring threat who defenses need to track and she’s also one of the team’s best blockers. Madison Quest OH MKE Sting 16 Gold: Quest – a 5-star recruit – helped MKE Sting earn its bid on Day 3. She’s a real offensive force capable of scoring equally well from the front and back row with her long extension and high contact point. Alicia Beers RS MKE Sting 16 Gold: Beers was a valuable part of the lineup. With Sting running a 6-2, Beers held down one of the right side spots across the front row. Her blocking and scoring were both impactful pieces of Sting’s success. Charlotte Glass S Tribe 16 Elite Cardinal: A 5-star setter, Glass commands the offense like few in the division. She has a great location and puts up a clean, consistent ball while being able to move the ball around and get her various hitters involved. *** Kelly Kinney OH Tribe 16 Elite Cardinal: Another 5-star recruit, Kinney’s a new addition to the lineup this year and has fit in precisely as hoped. She’s a big-hitting, free-swinging outside who has no problem banging down balls. Zoey Matias L/DS Tribe 16 Elite Cardinal: Matias – a 4-star recruit – was part of a strong group of defenders in her age division. She holds down the back row as well as anyone, passing sharply and defending with a fury. Tekoa Barnes OH Tribe 16 Elite Cardinal: Barnes – a 3-star recruit – is instant offense across the front row. She’s a hard-hitting, high-flying outside who bangs balls straight down with electrifying kills. Addison Gaido RS Austin Skyline 16 Royal: Gaido – a 4-star recruit – is a game-changer with her length and reach. At 6-4, she can shut down outsides with her blocking. Offensively, she’s just as difficult to deal with as she can easily go over blocks and finds holes to exploit. Lily Dee Davis OH Austin Skyline 16 Royal: A six-rotation outside and 4-star recruit, Davis is a mainstay on the court. She does a bit of everything for her team, including providing a big arm to be relied on plenty offensively. Campbell Flynn S Legacy 16-1 Adidas: A 5-star recruit, Flynn is an aggressive setter in the front row and even though teams have the scouting report still struggle stopping her from scoring on two. She also puts her hitters in great spots and can help keep the team in system even on off balls with her strong dishing. Devin Dzienny L/DS Legacy 16-1 Adidas: Dzienny – a 3-star recruit – is a scrappy libero willing to make the hustle plays and lay out doing so. Izzy Busignani OH Mich Elite 16 Mizuno: Busignani – a 4-star recruit – is the go-to hitter on the left and gets plenty of swings. She has a strong, fluid swing and generates lots of pace while pressuring defenses. Hailey Campagna OH EliteVBTC 16 Black: Campagna is a physical attacker who doesn’t hold back. She’s a bit undersized but goes right at bigger blockers with aggressive, strong swings. Mia Stahler L/DS EliteVBTC 16 Black: Stahler was another bright spot as EliteVBTC challenged for an Open bid. She is a sound defender and covers the court well. *** Mattea Casale L/DS No Name 16 Sarah: If you like defense, add Casale to the list of liberos who were defensive standouts. She owns the back row and was making plays all over the place. Izzy Starck S/RS Co Jrs 17 Shannon: Starck – a 5-star Penn State commit – and company captured 17 Open. Starck is a flat-out baller who is as competitive as anyone in the gym. She’s a high-level setter and attacker and brings all her dynamic play to the court. Paityn Chapman OH Co Jrs 17 Shannon: Chapman – a 4-star Tennessee commit – was a key factor on Day 3. She was providing a scoring punch and taking bigger, more aggressive swings than the first two days. It led to her scoring a bunch of points. Addie Kanouff RS Co Jrs 17 Shannon: Kanouff – a 3-star Texas Tech commit – was