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Windy City: Preview and Predictions (FREE)

Qualifying season has eclipsed the halfway point and has entered its final three weekends of the year. The largest one left in sheer size and numbers – especially since it being staged all on one weekend – is the Windy City Qualifier in Chicago. The older ages are especially loaded fields. We take a look at the 14-17 Open divisions and give our take on how they’ll play out.

WINDY CITY QUALIFIER

17 OPEN

Number of Teams: 41

Available Bids: 3

Previously-Qualified Teams (7): OT 17 Aaron; 1st Alliance 17 Gold; NKYVC 17-1 Tsunami; OT 17 Felix; Boiler Jrs 17 Gold; KC Power 17 Black; Rev 17-1 Raptors

vballrecruiter.com Nationally-Ranked Teams (15):

  • 6. OT 17 Aaron
  • 8. 1st Alliance 17 Gold
  • 9. NKYVC 17-1 Tsunami
  • 12. Rockwood Thunder 17 Elite
  • 19. KC Power 17 Black
  • 20. OT 17 Felix
  • 22. HJV 17 Elite
  • 34. MKE Sting 17 Gold
  • 35. Boiler Jrs 17 Gold
  • 36. Miami Hype 17 Emilio
  • 39. AVC Cle 17 Red
  • 40. Elevation 17 Ulland
  • 43. Circle City 17 Purple
  • 45. Mintonette Sports m.71
  • 47. Rev 17-1 Raptors

5-Star Athletes to Know:

4-Star Athletes to Know:

Outlook/Prediction: The trend continues with another packed 17 Open field, following in the footsteps of Show Me and Big South last weekend. With KC Power 17-1 (Show Me) and NKYVC 17-1 Tsunami (Big South) punching their tickets last weekend, it brings the total number of qualified teams to seven. That’s significant because trickle down extends to only eighth place and it’s possible just one Open bid goes out. Of course, that would require all seven qualified teams to place in the top eight. Rockwood Thunder 17 Elite was at Show Me last weekend and was eliminated on Day 2. Rockwood Thunder is certainly looking to close the deal in Chicago but will have to play at a high level in this difficult field. There’s a big bunch of teams to watch out for in terms of qualifying, It includes Six Pack 17, MAVS KC 17-1, Excel 17 National Red, Mintonette Sports m.71, AVC Cle 17 Red, Elevation 17 Ulland, MKE Sting 17 Gold and Miami Hype 17 Emilio. The question is the same with all of them though and that’s can they breakthrough against stiff competition? OT 17 Aaron has performed well all season, as has 1st Alliance 17 Gold and NKYVC 17-1 Tsunami. That trio figures to help with trickle down. So does OT 17 Felix, which played well last weekend at Show and should likely finish in the top eight this coming weekend. The pick to win it is 1st Alliance over NKYVC in the final. Rockwood Thunder, HJV and Elevation all bring home bids.

***

16 OPEN

Number of Teams: 32

Available Bids: 3

Previously-Qualified Teams (4): 1st Alliance 16 Gold; HPSTL 16 Royal; Tribe 16 Elite Cardinal; MKE Sting 16 Gold

vballrecruiter.com Nationally-Ranked Teams (12):

  • 1. 1st Alliance 16 Gold
  • 5. Hou Skyline 16 Royal
  • 7. HJV 16 Elite
  • 8. OT 16 JP
  • 11. MKE Sting 16 Gold
  • 15. Tribe 16 Elite Cardinal
  • 18. Austin Skyline 16 Royal
  • 19. Legacy 16-1 Adidas
  • 22. AVC Cle 16 Red
  • 23. HPSTL 16 Royal
  • 42. FC Elite 16 Navy
  • 48. Elevation 16 Goller

5-Star Athletes to Know:

4-Star Athletes to Know:

Outlook/Prediction: This could be the premier division based on the way it is set up. With four teams owning bids, we know all three bids here are going out. That’s a given. What also makes this division exciting is whereas in 17 Open the heavy-hitters already have bids, there are a few top contenders this weekend that don’t have bids in 16 Open. Tops among them are fifth-ranked Hou Skyline 16 Royal, No. 7 HJV 16 Elite and No. 8 OT 16 JP? It’s quite possible we see all three qualify this weekend. However, No. 18 Austin Skyline 16 Royal, No. 19 Legacy 16-1 Adidas and No. 22 AVC Cle 16 Red should be right there too. It’s all going to come down to how the Day 3 pools break, as usual. Top-ranked 1st Alliance 16 Gold, No. 11 MKE Sting 16 Gold and No. 15 Tribe 15 Elite Cardinal are likely to help create trickle down, as could No. 23 HPSTL 16 Royal. We’ve seen lower-ranked teams breakthrough plenty this year at other qualifiers, but this weekend in this division it’s going to be the higher-ranked teams that handle business. 1st Alliance downs Austin Skyline in the final. Joining Austin Skyline in qualifying are Hou Skyline and OT.

***

15 OPEN

Number of Teams: 23

Available Bids: 3

Previously-Qualified Teams (6): Austin Skyline 15 Royal; Legacy 15-1 Adidas; Mintonette Sports m.51; NKYVC 15-1 Tsunami; Elevation 15 Tony; Boiler Jrs 15 Gold

vballrecruiter.com Nationally-Ranked Teams (12):

  • 2. Mintonette Sports m.51
  • 3. Boiler Jrs 15 Gold
  • 7. Austin Skyline 15 Royal
  • 8. Legacy 15-1 Adidas
  • 12. NKYVC 15-1 Tsunami
  • 19. HJV 15 Elite
  • 21. Elevation 15 Tony
  • 22. AVC Cle 15 Red
  • 34. Michio 15 National
  • 43. Jupiter Elite 15E
  • 48. TVC 15 Black
  • 50. HPSTL 15 Royal

5-Star Athletes to Know:

4-Star Athletes to Know:

Outlook/Prediction: With NKYVC 15-1 Tsunami, Boiler Jrs 15 Gold and Elevation 15 Tony all getting bids last weekend, it doubled the number of qualified teams to six this weekend. That’s a big change, and with three bids available and trickle down only reaching eighth place, it’s possible one bid could back to the at-large pool. The field is very strong and it’s going to take something to get a bid. The final day features two, three-team gold pools. A crazy scenario would all six qualified teams occupying those spots and thus turning the six-team silver bracket into the bid bracket, where the two teams which reach the silver-bracket final qualify. With six qualified teams, we are looking at the silver bracket coming into play more than likely. We could see something like four qualified teams reach the gold pools, with the other two earning bids. In that case, the final bid could be earned through the silver bracket. Regardless, the possibilities are exciting and should produce high drama no matter what. Mintonette Sports m.51, Legacy 15-1 Adidas and Austin Skyline 15 Royal are among the teams with bids to watch for as well. Michio 15 National was knocking on the door last weekend at MEQ and should be among the teams to get a bid at its local qualifier. HJV 15 Elite is another favorite to qualify. As is AVC Cle 15 Red. The final features Legacy beating Austin Skyline for gold. Michio and AVC earn bids, as the third goes back to the at-large pool.

***

14 OPEN

Number of Teams: 16

Available Bids: 2

Previously-Qualified Teams (3): Elevation 14 Molly; HPSTL 14 Royal; OT 14 Laura

vballrecruiter.com Nationally-Ranked Teams (7):

  • 7. OT 14 Laura
  • 11. Elevation 14 Molly
  • 19. HPSTL 14 Royal
  • 20. Legacy 14-1 Adidas
  • 32. Tribe 14 Elite Cardinal
  • 39. Mintonette Sports m.41
  • 46. MKE Sting 14 Gold

4-Star Athletes to Know:

Outlook/Prediction: The 14 Open field is the smallest of them all. With 16 teams participating, two bids are in play. With just three qualified teams in Elevation 14 Molly, HPSTL 14 Royal, OT 14 Laura, trickle down won’t go past fifth place. With the format the way it is, it’s possible both bids could be known before play begins on the final day. Day 3 features one, four-team gold pool. So if two of the three qualified teams make it that far, the other two teams will have bids before first serve. Either way, with the top-ranked teams in Elevation, HPSTL and OT having bids, it’s a perfect chance for other teams to get theirs. Legacy 14-1 Adidas, Tribe 14 Elite Cardinal, Mintonette Sports m.41 and MKE Sting 14 Gold are the other ranked teams to watch for. At the same time, this feels like a spot where an unranked team will come through and qualify. Circle City 14 Purple, Paramount VBC 14s and AVC Cle 14 Red are teams to keep an eye on as well and one of them could surprise. In the end, OT defeats HPSTL for gold. Legacy, Tribe and Mintonette get the bids.

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