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 the last time Munciana played in a national qualifier having stuck to a JVA/AAU schedule since then. With MKE Sting and 1st Alliance in the semifinals, Team Pineapple also secured a bid by making it to the final four. The final bid went out to Tri-State Elite 18 Blue with its sweep over Six Pack 18, 25-16, 25-9. The two sides tied for fifth with FC Elite 18 Elite and Wave 18 Brennan, both of which already had qualified previously, thus leaving Tri-State and Six Pack going at it for the last qualifying spot.
Congrats to all the winners and qualifiers!!
