This is the second to last weekend for the 18s national qualifiers. When it’s all said and done, the Music City event taking place in New Orleans could prove to be the toughest of them all. Check out why in our write-up below featuring which teams already have bids, which teams are ranked in Vballrecruiter’s Top 50 and what predictions we are making for the competition taking place this Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
18 OPEN
Number of Teams: 29
Number of Bids: 3
Previously-Qualified Teams (11): Academy 18 Diamond: Academy 18 Rage; City 18 Gold; Skyline 18 Royal; Madfrog 18 Green; Metro 18 Travel; OT 18 Roberto; KC Power 18 Black; Rockwood Thunder 18 Elite; TAV 18 Black; Triangle 18 Black
Vballrecruiter Nationally-Ranked Teams (13):
- 1. TAV 18 Black TX
- 2. KC Power 18 Black KS
- 7. Madfrog 18 Green TX
- 9. Triangle 18 Black NC
- 12. Skyline 18 Royal TX
- 14. Academy 18 Rage IN
- 18. City 18 Gold CA
- 21. Rockwood Thunder 18 Elite MO
- 24. OT 18 Roberto FL
- 33. Metro 18 Travel DC
- 34. Miami Hype 18 Emilio FL
- 45. Academy 18 Diamond NC
- 48. SG Elite 18 Rosh CA
5-Star Players to Know:
- Lauren Harden OH Academy 18 Rage (Florida)
- Favor Anyanwu MB TAV 18 Black (USC)
- Camille Edwards S TAV 18 Black (Michigan)
- Jadyn Livings RS MB TAV 18 Black (USC)
- Taylor Yu S SG Elite 18 Rosh (Stanford)
- Suli Davis OH TAV 18 Black (2025, BYU)
- Cari Spears OH TAV 18 Black (2025, Texas)
- Gillian Pitts L/DS TAV 18 Black (2025, Houston)
4-Star Players to Know:
- Kennedy Osunsanmi RS City 18 Gold
- Fallon Stewart OH OT 18 Roberto (Cincinnati)
- Sarah Brodner OH Jupiter Elite (Virginia)
- Kiylah Presley MB Paramount 18 Walter
- Asia Thigpen OH Triangle 18 Black (Kentucky)
- Alayna Smith MB Triangle 18 Black (Illinois)
- Ashlyn Philpot MB Triangle 18 Black (Illinois)
- McKenna Brand L/DS Skyline 18 Royal (UCONN)
- Riley Whitlock RS Boiler Jrs 18 Gold (Ball State)
- Lolo Lambert OH Madfrog 18 Green (Arkansas)
- Kennedy Washington MB Madfrog 18 Green (Kentucky)
- Lillian Croshaw MB Madfrog 18 Green (Illinois State)
- Janelle Green S KC Power 18 Black (Cincinnati)
- Erin Debiec S Metro 18 Travel (Colorado State)
- Mikala Young OH TAV 18 Black (TCU)
- Anna Boatner MB TAV 18 Black (UCSB)
Outlook: There aren’t as many teams as last week’s 18 Open at MEQ. But, with 13 of the 29 teams ranked in our Top 50, plus 11 of those already holding bids, walking away with one of the tickets to nationals is going to be more challenging than perhaps any other 18s qualifier. Not only are there 11 teams already owning bids, but there are powerhouse clubs like TAV, KC Power, Madfrog and Triangle which figure to place highly. With trickle-down only able to extend to eighth place, it’s possible that no bids go out at all. There are currently no at-larges in 18 Open available, but it’s possible this event allows one or more to become available. Only two ranked teams in the field – Miami Hype and SG Elite – don’t have bids. They would have to crack at least the top eight to position themselves to qualify. Given the depth of field here, that’s going to be a challenge for either.
Prediction: I think TAV gets another qualifier victory under its belt, taking down Madfrog in the final in a Texas showdown. KC Power and Academy Rage tie for third. Miami Hype slips into qualifying position and earns the bid, the only one we are predicting to go out.
