The Windy City Qualifier, like Big South, is a convergence of all age groups over one weekend. It’s grown into one of the toughest qualifiers as well in recent years. Below, we look at the 14-17 Open divisions and give a brief rundown, including nationally-ranked teams, players to know as well as our predictions as to what might happen.
17 OPEN
Number of Teams: 31
Number of Bids: 3
Previously-Qualified Teams (1): Circle City 17 Purple
Vballrecruiter Nationally-Ranked Teams (12):
- 5. 1st Alliance 17 Gold IL
- 6. TAV 17 Black TX
- 7. Tribe 17 Elite Cardinal FL
- 12. Legacy 17-1 Adidas MI
- 14. HJV 17 Elite TX
- 15. Nebraska One 17 Synergy NE
- 25. Adrenaline 17 Ben IA
- 28. AVC Cle 17 Red OH
- 30. MAVS KC 17-1 KC
- 36. Alamo 17 Premier TX
- 41. VCNebraska 17 Elite NE
- 47. HPSTL 17 Royal MO
5-Star Players to Know:
- Addy Horner S/RS 1st Alliance 17 Gold (Wisconsin)
- Abby Vander Wal 1st Alliance 17 Gold (Texas)
- Logan Parks S/RS MAVS KC 17-1
- Natalie Wardlow MB Nebraska One 17 Synergy (Wisconsin)
- Kelly Kinney OH Tribe 17 Elite Cardinal (Minnesota)
- Charlotte Glass S Tribe 17 Elite Cardinal (Duke)
- Jordan Taylor MB HJV 17 Elite (Minnesota)
- Campbell Flynn S Legacy 17-1 Adidas (Nebraska)
- Annabelle Groomes S AVC Cle 17 Red (San Diego)
- Megan Fitch OH Alamo 17 Premier (Texas AM)
4-Star Players to Know:
- Emma Parks OH AVC Cle 17 Red (Marquette)
- Brookelyn Hatton L/DS MAVS KC 17-1 (Arizona)
- Olivia Guzman MB Tribe 17 Elite Cardinal
- Zoey Matias L/DS Tribe 17 Elite Cardinal (Missouri)
- Mija Bendziute RS Tribe 17 Elite Cardinal (UCLA)
- Keri Leimbach L/DS Nebraska One 17 Synergy (Nebraska)
- Sydney Bryant OH HJV 17 Elite (Vanderbilt)
- Reese Dunkle MB Circle City 17 Purple (Northwestern)
- Logan Bell OH Circle City 17 Purple (Oregon
- Malorie Boesiger S Nebraska One 17 Synergy (2027)
Outlook: This division is going to be thrilling. There are 12 teams from our Top 50 but only one – Circle City – is qualified. That’s going to make for a wild ride to the finish line to determine the three bids. Circle City, along with TAV, Tribe, Legacy and HJV were all together at Sunshine but none earned bids there. TAV, Tribe, Legacy and HJV are the favorites this weekend to earn bids, right with 1st Alliance. Nebraska One and AVC Cle are certainly capable enough to not allow that to take place. MAVS, Alamo and VCNebraska are teams that can upset anyone and cause havoc as a result.
Prediction: I think Tribe catches fire, beating TAV in the final. Both qualify. 1st Alliance gets by Nebraska One in the third-place match to earn the remaining bid.
*****
16 OPEN
Number of Teams: 27
Number of Bids: 3
Previously-Qualified Teams (2): Mintonette Sports m.61; Madfrog 16 Green
Vballrecruiter Nationally-Ranked Teams (11):
- 1. Mintonette Sports m.61 OH
- 2. Legacy 16-1 Adidas MI
- 9. Madfrog 16 Green TX
- 11. Austin Skyline 16 Royal TX
- 13. 1st Alliance 16 Gold IL
- 22. AVC Cle 16 Red OH
- 30. Rev 16-1 Fury IN
- 45. Tribe 16 Elite Cardinal FL
- 48. TVC 16 Black OH
- 49. OT 16 Roberto FL
- 50. Top Select 16 Elite FL
5-Star Players to Know:
- Gigi Artiles OH Tribe 16 Elite Cardinal
- Gabby Divita OH Legacy 16-1 Adidas
- Ella Andrews MB Legacy 16-1 Adidas
- Kayla Nwabueze MB Legacy 16-1 Adidas
- Emma Cugino L/DS Mintonette Sports m.61
- Henley Anderson OH Austin Skyline 16 Royal
- Riley Malloy OH Austin Skyline 16 Royal
- Bennett Raterman MB HPSTL 16 Royal
4-Star Players to Know:
- Bella Lopez RS Madfrog 16 Green
- Gabi Rodriguez L/DS Madfrog 16 Green
- Lynney 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 Legacy 16-1 Adidas
- Mallory Matheny S Mintonette Sports m.61
- Layla Hoying OH Mintonette Sports m.61
- Sara Snowbarger OH Mintonette Sports m.61
- Mia Gold OH Tribe 16 Elite Cardinal
- Lauren Garcia S/RS Alamo 16 Premier (2027)
Outlook: The 16 Open field is another one set up to deliver the goods. Mintonette is one of 11 ranked teams and is seeking its third qualifier victory to go with Sunshine and MEQ. Madfrog qualified at MEQ and is also safe. After that, the three bids are up for grabs. Legacy has had two prior shots at Sunshine and MEQ but took untimely losses and is still seeking a bid. Austin Skyline is playing in its first qualifier and figures to factor into the mix on the final day. 1st Alliance has been competitive all year and could walk away with a bid. AVC Cle has been playing well of late too and could make a run.
Prediction: It’s a tight field, but I’m picking Madfrog in an upset, taking down Mintonette in the final. Legacy and Austin Skyline tie for third to qualify, while AVC outlasts 1st Alliance for the final bid.
*****
15 OPEN
Number of Teams: 31
Number of Bids: 3
Previously-Qualified Teams (1): Legacy 15-1 Adidas
Vballrecruiter Nationally-Ranked Teams (10):
- 12. Legacy 15-1 Adidas MI
- 21. Premier Nebraska 15 Gold NE
- 23. 1st Alliance 15 Gold IL
- 26. Madfrog 15 Black TX
- 29. Austin Skyline 15 Royal TX
- 33. TAV 15 Fifer TX
- 40. Top Select 15 Elite FL
- 42. Mintonette Sports m.51 OH
- 45. Dynasty 15 Black KS
- 46. HPSTL 15 Royal MO
5-Star Players to Know:
- Peyton Kubik OH Dynasty 15 Black
- Allie Hudgins OH Austin Skyline 15 Royal
4-Star Players to Know:
- Jenny Glushakov RS Top Select 15 Elite
- Kyla Williams MB AVC Cle 15 Red
- Peyton Heatherly S 1st Alliance 15 Gold
- Bryn Meyer RS Mintonette Sports m.51
- Emerson Butler S Austin Skyline 15 Royal
- Reagan Wallraff MB Premier Nebraska 15 Gold
- Kate Kalcynski OH Legacy 15-1 Adidas
- Cynthina Ockerman MB Legacy 15-1 Adidas
Outlook: With Legacy the only team with a bid, 15 Open is going to be incredible to watch play out. That’s because the field is wide open. While there are 10 teams ranked in our Top 50, none are in the Top 10 and that’s going to bring unpredictably to the results. One storyline is watching if Madfrog Black or TAV Fifer can get a bid. They are actually seeded No. 2 and No. 3 respectively. Austin Skyline are Premier Nebraska two more teams to watch for.
Prediction: My choice is Madfrog Black in a surprise, beating Austin Skyline in the final. Legacy and 1st Alliance tie for third, with 1st Alliance bringing home the last bid.
*****
14 OPEN
Number of Teams: 22
Number of Bids: 2
Previously-Qualified Teams (4): Circle City 14 Purple; AVC Cle 14 Red; Tribe 14 Elite Cardinal; HPSTL 14 Royal
Vballrecruiter Nationally-Ranked Teams (10):
- 2. HPSTL 14 Royal MO
- 8. Dynasty 14 Black KS
- 9. Circle City 14 Purple IN
- 14. AVC Cle 14 Red OH
- 15. Legacy 14-1 Adidas MI
- 25. Tribe 14 Elite Cardinal FL
- 26. Alamo 14 Premier TX
- 28. Mintonette Sports m.41 OH
- 39. Boss 14-1 OH
- 47. Sunshine 14 Westside CA
5-Star Players to Know:
- Sarah Albers RS HPSTL 14 Royal
4-Star Players to Know:
- Lia Ray OH Tribe 14 Elite Cardinal
- Carsyn Chitty L/DS Mintonette Sports m.41
- McKenzie Andrews MB Legacy 14-1 Adidas
Outlook: Four of the top six ranked clubs in the field from our Top 50 already have bids. That’s going to open things up for the rest of the group in 15 Open. Dynasty is going to be the leading favorite to grab one of the bids. Legacy is also up there. It’s a really great opportunity for teams to breakthrough and grab a bid. Alamo, Mintonette, Boss, Sunshine or an unranked team could leave happy with a timely victory or two.
Prediction: Circle City finished first at MEQ and I’m going with the club to take home another gold after beating HPSTL in the final. Dynasty and AVC tie for third, with Legacy and Mintonette getting the other two bids.
