Ninety-one teams were entered in the 17 American division, and 1st Alliance White secured the only bid available to the USA Volleyball Junior National Championships June 25-July 4 in Detroit, Michigan.
1st Alliance 17 White went 10-0 on the weekend, winning 20 sets against only 1 loss. Its only close match prior to the championship was a 25-22, 28-26 victory over ICT MAVS 17 Black out of Wichita, Kansas, in a Gold bracket quarterfinal.
1st Alliance 17 White is coached by Kate McGuire. Team members include 5-foot-10 defensive specialist Wren Decker from Nazareth, 5-11 outside hitter Sarah Elliott from Glenbard East, 5-11 middle blocker Sophia Glabus from York and 6-1 middle blocker Brooke Veldman from Chicago Christian.
Also, rightside hitter Katie Doah from Marist, 5-9 setter Emma Hahn from Lyons, 5-11 middle blocker Jade Casper from Downers Grove North, 5-8 setter Allison Brankin from Providence, 5-10 defensive specialist Molly Russell from Naperville North and 6-foot rightside hitter Olivia Kreischer from Hinsdale Central.
Also at the Mideast Qualifier, IL HPSTL 18 Elite, a team out of the St. Louis-based High Performance club composed of Illinois high school players, went 10-0 in the 73-team 18 USA division to secure the only bid available in that division.
IL HPSTL 18 Elite team members are 5-10 middle hitter Kwanisha Carroll-Quarles from Belleville West, 6-1 setter Louise Comerford from Belleville Althoff, 5-9 libero Kaylee Hanger from Belleville West and middle hitter Taylor Litteken.
Also, 5-10 outside hitter Rachel Pranger from Edwardsville, 5-10 outside hitter Elise Smith from O’Fallon, 5-10 setter Patricia Stokes from Murphysboro, 5-8 middle/rightside hitter Maria Valleroy from Columbia and 5-6 libero Megan Woll from Edwardsville.
IL HPSTL 18 Elite beat Upward Stars 18 Corey out of Spartansburg, South Carolina, 27-25, 23-25, 15-10 in the championship match.
In other divisions, 1st Alliance 16 Silver and Sky High Adidas 16 Black (6-2) tied for fifth in 16 Open, Club 1 16 White (6-2) tied for fifth in 16 Select, and 1st Alliance 16 Black (7-1) and Cyclones 16 Black Adidas (7-1) tied for fifth in 16 USA.
Michio Chicago 17 National (5-3) tied for fifth in 17 Open, Ultimate G17 Blue (6-1) tied for fifth in 17 Select, Sky High Adidas 17 Red (6-2) tied for fifth in 17 USA, Cyclones 18 Black Adidas (8-1) tied for fifth in 18 American, and Michio Chicago 18 National (7-1) finished fifth in the 18 Open.