The last qualifying weekend is upon us and there is plenty at stake for both participating and observing. The only way into the Open field after this weekend’s Far Western Qualifier in Reno is through the at-large process, where nothing is guaranteed. Many teams are already in that position and that’s why they are anxiously awaiting to see how this weekend plays out. Any at-large candidate which is able to qualify in Reno removes itself from the at-large pool and helps those in need of one, so there are plenty of interested parties. Below, we look at 15-17 Open and see how it might all play out.
17 OPEN
Number of Teams: 29
Number of Bids: 3
Previously-Qualified Teams (3): Co Jrs 17 Kevin; Vision 17 Gold; NorCal 17-1 Black
vballrecruiter.com Nationally-Ranked Teams (8):
- 1. Co Jrs 17 Kevin
- 16. Pohaku 17-1
- 21. Vision 17 Gold
- 27. Madfrog 17 Green
- 38. City 17 Gold
- 44. Arizona Storm 17 Thunder
- 46. Mizuno Long Beach 17 Rockstar
- 50. Academy 17 Diamond
5-Star Athletes to Know:
- Charlie Fuerbringer S/RS Mizuno Long Beach 17 Rockstar (Wisconsin)
- Izzy Starck S/RS Co Jrs 17 Kevin (Penn State)
- Mak Miller MB Pohaku 17-1 (2025)
4-Star Athletes to Know:
- Kennedy Osunsanmi RS City 17 Gold
- Paityn Chapman OH Co Jrs 17 Kevin (Tennessee)
- Blaykli Bobik OH Arizona Storm 17 Thunder (BYU)
- Abby Hoyberg OH SynergyForce 17 Patrick (BYU)
- Madeline Stucky S Norco 17 Black (Wyoming)
- Lainee Pyles OH Madfrog 17 Green (LSU)
- Taylor Williams OH Vision 17 Gold (Duke)
- Maya Baker S Vision 17 Gold (2025)
Outlook/Prediction: It’s exciting (and stressful) times in what should be a fantastic conclusion to the 17 Open qualifying season. With Co Jrs 17 Kevin, Vision 17 Gold and NorCal 17-1 Black having bids, we know all three bids will go out and that trickle down can’t extend past sixth place. NorCal hasn’t shown quite as consistently as Co Jrs and Vision have. It makes it difficult to believe Co Jrs and Vision won’t play a part in trickle down. There’s a pack of five I’m watching for in Pokahu 17-1, Madfrog 17 Green, City 17 Gold, Arizona Storm 17 Thunder and Mizuno Long Beach 17 Rockstar. I think all three bids come from this group. What’s interesting is Pohaku, Storm and Beach have all been one victory away from qualifying already. Pohaku had a chance at MEQ but fell to Boiler Jrs 17 Gold in the fifth-place match. Storm had two shots at Red Rock. First, in a semifinal match against Coast 17-1 and then in a third-place showdown against Wave 17 Juliana. Long Beach recently lost to NorCal in a bid match in Salt Lake. City was also in Salt Lake, where it fought against Beach and NorCal in gold pool action. Meanwhile, Madfrog had a solid ninth-place finish at Lone Star recently and looks poised to get a bid. It’s going to be an intense race for the qualifying spots. It comes down to Co Jrs topping Madfrog in the final. Pohaku and Storm also qualify.
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16 OPEN
Number of Teams: 30
Number of Bids: 3
Previously-Qualified Teams (2): ID Crush 16 Bower; Oaks 16 Gold
vballrecruiter.com Nationally-Ranked Teams (8):
- 29. ID Crush 16 Bower
- 31. Skyline 16 Royal
- 33. Madfrog 16 Green
- 40. NorCal 16-1 Black
- 41. NE Elite 16
- 43. Co Jrs 16 Shannon
- 47. AZ Rev 16 Premier
- 49. Oaks 16 Gold
4-Star Athletes to Know:
- Chichi Nnaji RS Skyline 16 Royal
- Taylor Cook S Skyline 16 Royal
- Bella Ocampo OH Skyline 16 Royal
- Naya Salfiti RS Madfrog 16 Green
- Ashlyn Paymal RS NE Elite 16
- Tenesyn Frye S ID Crush 16 Bower
- Bellamie Beus OH ID Crush 16 Bower (2026)
- Elizabeth Bower L/DS ID Crush 16 Bower (2026)
- Brooklyn Hardy MB ID Crush 16 Bower (2026)
Outlook/Prediction: With just ID Crush 16 Bower and Oaks 16 Gold owning bids, we know all three qualifying spots will be taken. ID Crush is seeking its third qualifier victory of the season after earning gold medals at both PNQ and Salt Lake. There are only two at-larges available and the favorites to receive those are not in attendance here. That means that teams needing bids like Skyline 16 Royal and NorCal 16-1 Black are down to their last chance in all likelihood. Madfrog 16 Green has a case for an at-large bid perhaps but is basically in the same boat in needing to qualify in Reno. Co Jrs 16 Shannon has been near qualifying previously and could find itself breaking through this weekend. Of course, a qualifier could come from outside our Top 50. Spike and Serve 16-1 is one to watch for in that regard, as are ARVC 16 Adidas, KC Power 16 Black and Absolute 16 Black.
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15 OPEN
Number of Teams: 28
Number of Bids: 3
Previously-Qualified Teams (9): SCVC 15 Roxy; Hou Skyline 15 Royal; Club V 15 Ren Reed; AZ Storm 15 Thunder; AP 15 Adidas; Aspire 15 Premier; Academy 15 Diamond; Vision 15 Gold; Mizuno Long Beach 15 Rockstar
vballrecruiter.com Nationally-Ranked Teams (11):
- 9. SCVC 15 Roxy
- 11. AP 15 Adidas
- 13. Hou Skyline 15 Royal
- 15. Forza1 North 15 One
- 16. Arizona Storm 15 Thunder
- 24. Aspire 15 Premier
- 31. Academy 15 Diamond
- 35. Tstreet 15 Curtis
- 38. AZ Rev 15 Premier
- 39. Coast 15 Luis
- 40. Club V 15 Ren Reed
5-Star Athletes to Know:
- Henley Anderson OH AP 15 Adidas
- Audrey Flanagan OH SCVC 15 Roxy
- Brooke Harwood RS/MB Arizona Storm 15 Thunder
4-Star Athletes to Know:
- Erin Clark L/DS/S Aspire 15 Premier
- Nadi’ya Shelby MB Hou Skyline 15 Royal
- Halle Thompson OH Hou Skyline 15 Royal
- Genevieve Harris S Academy 15 Diamond
- Emma Champagne MB/RS Tstreet 15 Curtis
- Milly McGee S SCVC 15 Roxy
Outlook/Prediction: This division has the biggest X factor because of nine qualified teams in the field. Who knows if any bids will go out? If you are a team not attending Far Western and in need of an at-large bid – there are four available – you are certainly rooting for the top eight spots to be filled up by teams with bids. That would expand the at-large field to seven and greatly increase team’s chances of earning one. I don’t think that’ll be the case. There are teams good enough to crack the top eight or better and qualify. Forza1 North 15 One is one. Tstreet 15 Curtis, Coast 15 Luis and AZ Rev 15 Premier are three more. I wouldn’t be surprised to see all three bids still go out. I would expect SCVC 15 Roxy, Hou Skyline 15 Royal, AP 15 Adidas and Arizona Storm 15 Thunder all to factor into the top eight but after that it opens up. In the end, Hou Skyline takes home gold after beating AP in the final. Forza North, Tstreet and AZ Rev all take home bids.
