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Central Zone Preview and Predictions

Usually played at the end of January, this year’s edition of the Central Zone Invitational takes place during the first weekend of February. While the dates have changed, the level of competition has not. It’s an early-season slugfest for those involved as the tournament features many nationally-ranked clubs throughout the 14-18s age groups. Below, we highlight each Open division in those ages with players to watch, a brief outlook and predictions as to which clubs will walk away with a gold medal.

18 OPEN

Number of Teams: 18

vballrecruiter.com Nationally-Ranked Clubs (3):

  • 22. Tri-State Elite 18 Blue OH
    29. KiVA 18 Red KY
    34. Circle City 18 Purple IN

 

vballrecruiter.com 5-star Players in the Field:

 

vballrecruiter.com 4-star Players in the Field:

 

Outlook: The 18 Open division is the smallest of our featured age groups with just 18 teams. Part of the reason is teams that chase USAV Open bids are not participating like they did a year ago, and that has left the field reduced for 2024. However, one big addition comes in the form of Sports Performance, which brought its top two 18s programs. Another difference with the 18s is they are playing a more traditional format, beginning with six, three-team pools. The teams face two rounds of pool play on Day 1 in hopes of making the gold bracket on Day 2.

Prediction: We are watching for KiVA to win it all, beating Sports Performance in the final. Tri-State Elite and Circle City tie for third place.

***
17 OPEN

Number of Teams: 32

vballrecruiter.com Nationally-Ranked Clubs (9):

  • 6. MKE Sting 17 Gold WI
    7. Mich Elite 17 Mizuno MI
    11. AVC Cle 17 Red OH
    15. KiVA 17 Red KY
    18. Circle City 17 Purple IN
    24. Legacy 17-1 Adidas MI
    40. NKYVC 17-1 Tsunami KY
    45. Tri-State 17 Elite Blue OH
    46. Mintonette Sports m.71 OH

 

vballrecruiter.com 5-star Players in the Field:

 

vballrecruiter.com 4-star Players in the Field:

 

Outlook: The 17 Open division has its share of firepower among the 32-team field. First though, let’s talk a little about the format. It’s a lot different than normal as teams begin in one of eight, four-team brackets. The winners of each four-team bracket move into power pools and play for seeding on Day 2, which features a 16-team gold bracket. The rest of the teams go into one of eight, three-team play-in pools. The winners of each play-in pool also advance to the 16-team gold bracket Sunday. Leading the way is MKE Sting, which is coming off a third-place finish at Northern Lights last weekend where the club clinched its 17 Open bid for Nationals. Also in the field last weekend were Mich Elite and NKYVC. Host club Circle City is one to watch for, as is KiVA and AVC. Legacy is capable of doing damage, while Tri-State could certainly play the role of spoiler.

Prediction: We’ll see how much teams who played last weekend have in the tank for Central Zone. While we fully expect MKE Sting and Mich Elite to be in the mix, we are taking Circle City over KiVA in the final. AVC and MKE Sting earn the bronzes.

***
16 OPEN

Number of Teams: 32

vballrecruiter.com Nationally-Ranked Clubs (13):

  • 4. Mintonette Sports m.61 OH
    5. Legacy 16-1 Adidas MI
    8. Boiler Jrs 16 Gold IN
    12. Elevation 16 Goller OH
    16. NKYVC 16-1 Tsunami KY
    18. Tri-State Elite 16 Blue OH
    19. AVC Cle 16 Red OH
    21. Team Pineapple 16 Black IN
    30. MKE Sting 16 Gold WI
    40. Rev 16-1 Fury IN
    41. KiVA 16 Red KY
    43. SPVB 16 Elite IL
    50. Circle City 16 Purple IN

 

vballrecruiter.com 5-star Players in the Field:

 

vballrecruiter.com 4-star Players in the Field:

 

Outlook: With 13 of the 32 teams appearing in our Top 50 National Rankings, 16 Open is the premier division of the weekend. It’s the same format as 17 Open, with clubs opening up in one of eight, four-team brackets and ultimately playing to make the 16-team gold bracket on Day 2. The depth should lead to an action-packed and thrilling two days of competition. Mintonette begins as the top seed and for good reason. The team is once again loaded with talent and among the best in the country. However, with teams like Legacy, Boiler Jrs, Elevation, AVC, NKYVC and Tri-State competing, Mintonette is hardly alone and figures to face a stiff test when it comes to winning it all. Still early in the season, plenty of unknowns exist and it’s a great opportunity for clubs to pull off upsets and make themselves known. The unpredictability of it all is definitely something we are expecting to see over the two days.

Prediction: There’s a lot that can happen but in the end we are going with a slight upset in Elevation winning it all by beating Legacy in the final. Mintonette and Tri-State earn bronzes.

***
15 OPEN

Number of Teams: 32

vballrecruiter.com Nationally-Ranked Clubs (8):

  • 7. Legacy 15-1 Adidas MI
    13. Elevation 15 Tony OH
    26. Munciana 15 Blue IN
    29. KiVA 15 Red KY
    30. Mintonette Sports m.51 OH
    31. Tri-State Elite 15 Blue OH
    39. NKYVC 15-1 Tsunami KY
    44. AVC Cle 15 Red OH

 

vballrecruiter.com 5-star Players in the Field:

 

vballrecruiter.com 4-star Players in the Field:

 

Outlook: With 32 teams, the format is the same as it is for 16 and 17 Open. The field is led by top-seeded Legacy, which is also our highest-ranked team participating. There’s a lot of parity among the ranked teams playing, which likely means teams taking turns beating each other up. It usually leads to a fun and unpredictable ride with so many teams having a legit shot at bringing home the title. Elevation, Munciana, KiVA, Mintonette and Tri-State Elite are all teams capable of walking away victorious.

Prediction: We feel like Legacy will hold its seed and wind up winning it all after beating Tri-State in the final. Elevation and Munciana finish tied for third.

***
14 OPEN

Number of Teams: 27

vballrecruiter.com Nationally-Ranked Clubs (9):

  • 6. NKYVC 14-1 Tsunami KY
    11. AVC Cle 14 Red OH
    13. Elevation 14 Molly OH
    14. Mintonette Sports m.41 OH
    15. Legacy 14-1 Adidas MI
    17. Circle City 14 Purple IN
    21. Munciana 14 Chipmunks IN
    25. KiVA 14 Red KY
    26. MKE Sting 14 Gold WI

 

Players to Watch in the Field

  • Lacey Prather L/DS KiVA 14 Red
    Kayleigh Rogers OH KiVA 14 Red
    Violet Main MB NKYVC 14-1 Tsunami
    Kenadi Sieg L/DS NKYVC 14-1 Tsunami
    Sophia Basham MB Mintonette Sports m.41
    Abigail Cisler L/DS Mintonette Sports m.41
    Carsyn Chitty L/DS Mintonette Sports m.41
    Ella Groff OH Elevation 14 Molly
    Kelsey Green S Elevation 14 Molly
    Avery Brannon MB/RS Elevation 14 Molly
    Addyson Wolfer L/DS Elevation 14 Molly
    Evie Schiller OH Elevation 14 Molly
    Mia Schmitt RS/MB Elevation 14 Molly
    Payton Woodruff S/RS Legacy 14-1 Adidas
    Quinn Nelson OH Legacy 14-1 Adidas
    Ashlyn Pelon L/DS Legacy 14-1 Adidas
    Taylor Wilson L/DS Legacy 14-1 Adidas
    Lauren Sheldon OH Legacy 14-1 Adidas
    McKenzie Andrews MB Legacy 14-1 Adidas
    Blaine Adams OH Circle City 14 Purple
    Mckenna Muncy MB Circle City 14 Purple
    Audrey Utterback OH Circle City 14 Purple
    Addyson Dean MB/OH Team Indiana 14 Elite
    Abbie Powell MB Munciana 14 Chipmunks
    Broke Neale L/DS Munciana 14 Chipmunks
    Eva Clevenger OH Munciana 14 Chipmunks
    Paislee Terry S Munciana 14 Chipmunks
    Charlotte Patton MB Tri-State Elite 14 Blue
    Lowe Long OH Tri-State Elite 14 Blue

 

Outlook: The 14 Open division features more of a traditional format, with the first round featuring nine, three-team pools. There is also a second round of pool play Saturday afternoon. Teams are playing to reach one of the four, three-team pools on Day 2. The winners of the gold pools make the four-team gold bracket. We all know the 14s age group is the most unpredictable of them all because of the younger ages. We’ll see lopsided scores from set-to-set and it makes for a topsy-turvy but enjoyable ride.

Prediction: In the end we are going with AVC to beat out Circle City for gold. Legacy and NKYVC take the bronzes.

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