Some Day 1s are fire. Other times they are the spark for the fire for Days 2 and 3. It was latter case on the opening day of the 2023 version of the Show Me Qualifier in Kansas City. It was an especially different beginning in 15 Open from other qualifiers because there were no teams eliminated on Day 1.
There are three, six-team pools in 15 Open and so no teams were cut from bid contention Saturday. The top contenders in Skyline 15 Royal, Pohaku 15-1 and TAV 15 Black combined to go 9-0.
It was the typical format in both 16 and 17 Open. The biggest news was top-seed Nebraska One 16 Synergy going down. Nebraska One is one of two teams in 16 Open with a bid, so there’s nothing to lose so-to-speak for Nebraska One. But Tulsa Power 16-1 pulling off the big upset of the No. 6 team in the nation definitely shakes up the seedings for Day 2.
Tulsa Power takes over the top seed and is now in a pool with AJV 16 Adidas, Premier Nebraska 16 Gold and Six Pack 16. Premier Nebraska already owns a bid and we could’ve seen both previously-qualified teams in the same pool. Instead, Nebraska One is now the No. 4 team in Pool 2, along with Dynasty 16 Black, MAVS KC 16-1 and Adversity 16 Adidas. That’s a tough break for those teams, as Nebraska One should advance and take away a spot from one of three.
Nebraska One wasn’t the only No. 1 team in its pool to fall in 16 Open. Skyline 16 Royal stumbled in its opener against PVA 16 Elite and finished in a three-way tie with PVA and VCNebraska 16 Elite at 2-1. Skyline still wound up first based on tiebreakers though, with PVA taking second place. It was a good day for Iowa Power Plex 16U, which went 2-1 as the No. 4 team in Pool 6. Iowa Power Plex defeated both KC Power 16-1 and Muscle VB 16-1 Black to advance along with 3-0 Northern Lights 16-1.
There were minor upsets and movement in 17 Open. Both Six Pack 17 – in Pool 1 – and Shockwave 17 Black – in Pool 3 – were the only non-Nos. 1 and 2s to advance. They were both the No. 3 team in their respective pools and moved on. OT 17 Felix, VCNebraska 17 Elite and Pohaku 17-1 all lost as No. 1 teams in their respective pools. All three finished second and still advanced.
DAY 1 SHOW STOPPERS
Leah Robinson OH MAVS 816 15-1: Robinson helped her MAVS teammates to a 2-1 mark and are poised to advance from the six-team pool on Day 2. Robinson is a presence on the court with her size. She’s a great offensive option for MAVS and she’s utilized a bunch in the attack.
Rayna Christianson S/RS Northern Lights 15-1: Christianson – a 5-star recruit – and Northern Lights have work to do to break pool after going 1-2 on Day 1. Christianson, with her size and length, is such a factor anywhere she’s on the court. She’s the team’s best scoring threat across the front row and a sound setter in the back.
Anna O’Keefe S Northern Lights 15-1: O’Keefe can keep the offense churning when she checks in. She has good hands and touch.
Romi Chlebecek OH Northern Lights 15-1: Chelbecek is a bit undersized on the left but she doesn’t back down. She stays aggressive and keeps on taking swings and pressuring the defense.
Addison West OH Premier Nebraska 15 Gold: A 3-star recruit, West has tons of potential and will be someone to watch as she keeps adding strength and power. She’s the go-to on the left for this squad and she provides her share of offense.
Paighton Erb MB Premier Nebraska 15 Gold: Erb is another member of the rooster who looks to have lots of upside too as she continues developing. She’s lanky with a quick arm swing and someone defenses need to be ready to get the ball.
Malia Miller OH Integrity 15 Intense Blue: It was our second time seeing Miller this season. Her and her teammates went 2-1 on the opening day and remain alive to break pool on Day 2. She’s a six-rotation go-to hitter. She’s raw and still developing but she is solid across the back row and showed a nice arm.
Carlyle Johnson MB Shockwave 15 Black: Johnson was a factor in the middle as Shockwave went 1-2. She has some height and she was swinging and scoring well.
Taylor Stanley RS Dynasty 15 Black: Stanley made us take notice with her play at the night. She’s a tall right side with huge upside. She has a nice arm and was doing well touching balls at the net.
Makenzie Walsh RS Kairos 15 Alpha: The lefty was a reliable scoring option as Kairos wrapped up the day 1-2 in Pool 3. She has good size and swings well, helping her team open up the attack when she was front row.
Audrey Bassett OH NE Elite 15 Phoenix: Bassett was an outside who was bringing it on the attack. She’s a bit undersized but has a big arm and hits a heavy ball. She isn’t afraid of bigger blocks either and had NE Eilte in contention to upset TAV 15 Black before falling in three.
Taya Thaden MB NE Elite 15 Phoenix: Thaden displayed her scoring ability. Though she didn’t get the ball a lot, the times she did she was effective. She has a quick swing and hits with pace.
Sydney Light MB Iowa Power Plex 15 Black: At 2-1, Iowa Power Plex is looking well to break its pool and make the challenge rounds on Day 2. Light is active in the middle and will get set when in system. She hits out of the middle and runs slide.
Taylor Clarke RS Skyline 15 Royal: Clarke – a 4-star recruit from the Class of 2025 – is a dominant player on the right. She gets up very well and has a lively arm. She gives Skyline plenty of pop on the right.
Skylar Brady OH OP2 15-1: Brady looked to be a valuable piece of the lineup. She’s six-rotation contributor who takes a lot of big swings. She did well tooling and scoring consistently.
Rachel Megna L/DS OP2 15-1: Megna is a scrappy, energetic libero who goes all out in the back row. She was fun to watch make plays and she was passing soundly on first ball touches.
Olivia Branum S OP2 15-1: Branum is a smooth disher with lots of potential. She has nice hands and consistent location and moves well too.
Carly Gilk RS MN Select 16-1: Gilk – a 4-star recruit – is a six-rotation presence. She’s a strong attacker with a big arm and can light up defenses.
Elena Hoecke MB MN Select 16-1: Hoecke – a 4-star recruit from the Class of 2026 – is a next-level player with her strength at the net. She has a massive arm and can bang balls straight down.
Alaina Burns L/DS MN Select 16-1: Burns was putting in work in the back row. Her effort level was high as she was running and chasing down balls and helping keep rallies alive.
Matthea Dalton OH Nebraska One 16 Synergy: Nebraska One has a bid already but did suffer a Day 1 upset at the hands of Tulsa Power 16-1. Regardless, Dalton was showing what she brings to the court. She gets up nicely and takes big cuts at the ball with her big arm.
Adeline Sirbu MB Adversity 16 Adidas: Sirbu is one to keep tabs on. At 6-3, she’s long in the middle and a big factor at the net for Adversity, as she changes the dynamics when she checks in.
Kyndal Carolina L/DS Tulsa Power 16-1: It was a great day for Tulsa Power, which took over the No. 1 seed after toppling Nebraska One. Carolina did her part. She’s a scrappy libero with high energy and she moves very well.
Arriana Brown OH Tulsa Power 16-1: Brown was a big factor in Tulsa’s 3-0 day. She’s the go-to outside with a strong arm and can put down big kills at times to fire up her teammates.
Meg Goodwin S Tulsa Power 16-1: Goodwin did well moving the ball around and getting her various hitters involved. She was also locating consistently.
Kynli Kirkendoll MB Tulsa Power 16-1: Kirkendoll is an athletic middle who was making plays on both sides of the ball. She also moves well.
Marly Burbach S PVA 16 Elite: Burbach did well guiding the attack. She was locating well and showed strong hands dishing far cross court.
Dakota Mitchell L/DS Six Pack 16: Mitchell is a firecracker libero who was passing and defending with the best of them and was part of the reason Six Pack upset NE Elite 16 Maverick to advance.
Kate Shafer S Club Ignit Select 16 Blue: Club Ignit finished in a three-way tie at 1-2 but took third and didn’t advance. Shafter was doing a good job setting. She had a nice release and was locating well.
Layla Pelly MB HP Illinois 16 National: Pelly is an active middle who moves well. She gets up nice and was providing regular offense.
