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 play a big role this weekend but the depth of the field offers no guarantee that any will qualify. Dynasty, A5, Circle City and OT Aaron are all strong contenders as well. Teams like Coast, Wave and AVC Cle are capable of playing the spoiler role and therefore finishing in a bid spot is going to take a bit of good fortune.
Prediction: I’m feeling like KiVA finds its way to the gold medal after defeating Mich Elite in the final as both qualify. Sting ties for third with OT Aaron, which takes the last remaining bid.
*****
16 OPEN
Number of Teams: 48
Number of Bids: 3
Previously-Qualified Teams (1): Mintonette Sports m.61
Vballrecruiter Nationally-Ranked Teams (22):
- 1. Legacy 16-1 Adidas MI
- 3. Mintonette Sports m.61 OH
- 8. Madfrog 16 Green TX
- 9. 1st Alliance 16 Gold IL
- 12. Boiler Jrs 16 Gold IN
- 13. WPVC 16 Armour Black FL
- 14. A5 16-1 Gabe GA
- 17. Wave 16 Scott CA
- 18. Elevation 16 Goller OH
- 19. MN Select 16-1 MN
- 21. Pohaku 16-1 KS
- 26. Academy 16 Diamond NC
- 27. NKYVC 16-1 Tsunami KY
- 28. MKE Sting 16 Gold WI
- 29. AVC Cle 16 Red OH
- 32. Metro 16 Travel DC
- 35. TVC 16 Black OH
- 36. OP2 16-1 Elite OK
- 42. Rev 16-1 Fury IN
- 47. Team Indiana 16-1 Elite IN
- 48. Adidas KiVA 16 Red KY
- 49. Illini Elite 16 Cardinal IL
5-Star Players to Know
- Nadiya Johnson RS Metro 16 Travel
- Genevieve Harris S Academy 16 Diamond
- Kayla Nwabueze MB Legacy 16-1 Adidas
- Ella Andrews MB Legacy 16-1 Adidas
- Gabby Divita OH Legacy 16-1 Adidas
- Elena Hoecke MB MN Select 16-1
- Finley Krystkowiak OH Wave 16 Scott
- Emma Cugino L/DS Mintonette Sports m.61
- Ella Florez S Pohaku 16-1
- Bennett Raterman MB HPSTL 16 Royal
- Caroline Ward RS Boiler Jrs 16 Gold (2027)
4-Star Players to Know
- Bella Lopez RS Madfrog 16 Green
- Gabi Rodriguez L/DS Madfrog 16 Green
- Lily Bosworth MB Illini Elite 16 Cardinal
- Kendall Northern MB Elevation 16 Goller
- Sydney Geslebracht MB Elevation 16 Goller
- Ella Grimes L/DS Elevation 16 Goller
- Sidney Sprada OH Elevation 16 Goller
- Willow Weninger RS Pohaku 16-1
- Morgan Williams OH Metro 16 Travel
- Ryan Sadler OH A5 16-1 Gabe
- Sofia Guerrero-Wilson RS A5 16-1 Gabe
- Linney Tarnow MB 1st Alliance 16 Gold
- Natalie Surges OH 1st Alliance 16 Gold
- Katherine Byergo MB HPSTL 16 Royal
- Eva Long S Legacy 16-1 Adidas
- Meredith Martin L/DS 16-1 Adidas
- Lydia Stahley OH Team Indiana 16 Elite
- Elle Mottola S WPVC 16 Armour Black
- Cassidy Bruns L/DS MKE Sting 16 Gold
- Margaret Czajka MB MKE Sting 16 Gold
- Marlee Sivak OH MKE Sting 16 Gold
- Sara Snowbarger OH Mintonette Sports m.61
- Layla Hoying OH Mintonette Sports m.61
- Mallory Matheny S Mintonette Sports m.61
- Ellie Hepler L/DS Boiler Jrs 16 Gold
- Lexi Shondell S Boiler Jrs 16 Gold
- Cali Foster OH Boiler Jrs 16 Gold
- Reese Resmer MB Boiler Jrs 16 Gold
- Madison Miles OH Boiler Jrs 16 Gold
- Eva Swenson S/RS MN Select 16-1
- Audrey Dyas MB NKYVC 16-1 Tsunami
- Addison Haberthy S Circle City 16 Purple
Outlook: Like 17 Open, it’s crazy to consider that Mintonette is the only club in the division already qualified after winning the Sunshine Classic two weekends ago. The Triple Crown runner-ups haven’t finished lower than third place this year and that would mean trickle down coming into play. One team to watch is Legacy, which is going to be seeking redemption in Indy. Legacy finished first at Triple Crown but caught a tough loss and fell short on tiebreakers at Sunshine and didn’t make it to the gold pools. That makes Legacy very motivated. Overall, it’s a fairly wide-open field with so many relatively evenly matched teams competing. 1st Alliance had a great run at Triple Crown. Madfrog can beat anyone. WPVC was in the bid chase on the final day of Sunshine, as was A5. Boiler Jrs, Wave and Elevation are teams capable of qualifying. The other ranked teams are all strong enough to surprise anyone and cause havoc. It all points to a wild and unpredictable weekend.
Prediction: I’m going with a bit of a shocker as A5 upends Mintonette in the final and earns its bid. The other two bids go to Legacy and Elevation as they tie for third.
