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 HPSTL outlasting Madfrog to win it all at its home qualifier. Madfrog earns a bid. Tying for third and taking home the other two bids is MAVS and Dynasty.
