The earlier the national qualifier, the less chance at any trickle down being in play. The later the national qualifier, the greater risk of already qualified teams locking out any bid spots.

The latter was the issues for teams without bids as the SCVA 18s National Qualifier took place March 18-20 at Momentous Sports Center in Irvine. With 13 teams already holding Open bids finishing in the top eight to secure one of the three available was like navigating a landmine field. Only one team – SASVBC 18-1 – did so successfully. The Hawaiian club was seeded second overall and was the only club to earn a bid in So Cal after finishing in fifth place.

With available bids not able to trickle down past eighth place, SASVBC went to bed Saturday night knowing it had gained its Open spot as it was already guaranteed to finish in the top eight by reaching the gold pools.

Meanwhile, Sunshine 18 LA finished on top of the field after defeating Madfrog 18 Green, 25-19, 19-25, 15-6, in the final. It was the only set Sunshine – which qualified in January by winning the Winter Championships in Chicago – lost all weekend. It was also the third time Madfrog has finished runner-up at qualifiers, taking second at Music City and Lone Star as well. Skyline 18 Royal and Coast 18-1 tied for third in So Cal.

As for SAS, it picked the hardest qualifier of the season so far as its one chance at gaining an Open bid but managed to do so in its first and only qualifier it is participating in. SAS swept on Day 1, then swept three Open qualified teams on Day 2 in Absolute Black 18-1, Legacy 18-1 Adidas and A4 Volley 18 Joaco to clinch a spot in the top eight and its bid. SAS fell to Coast and Madfrog in gold pool play before closing out with a one-set victory of Rage Westside 18 Michelle, 25-16.

As long as Devin Kahahawai lines up on the outside SAS has a chance at beating anyone. She’s a game changer at the position and more than capable of pushing the offense to a high level. Fortunately, she doesn’t have to carry all the load herself. Setters Jaclyn Matias and Haiti Tautua’a do a good job of getting others involved too. Maui Robins fills the other outside role, while Grace Fiaseu and Taina Kaauwai are options in the middle. Both right sides – Lucky-Rose Williams and Nicanora Clarke – are physical presences and able to take hard swings.

Sunshine – which finished runner up to Munciana 18 Samurai at Triple Crown – remained undefeated at national qualifiers with its performance in So Cal. The defending 17 Open champions were without middle Lucia Scalamandre – who was away visiting her future school in Princeton. Fortunately for Sunshine, middle Kennedy Hill made her return to the lineup and provided a huge spark with her attacking. Beyond that it was the usual suspects for Sunshine with Elia Rubin and Dani Thomas-Nathan holding down the outside spots, Kerry Keefe the right side and setter Kelly Belardi dishing efficiently to everyone. No team scored more than 16 points against Sunshine in any set until Day 3, when Sunshine opened by sweeping Absolute, 25-22, 25-19.

Madfrog was playing without Maya Duckworth at outside and Mia Moore on the right side and yet managed to find its way into the final without those two key pieces. Madfrog – setting a 5-1 for the first time all season with Harmony Sample – opened Day 2 falling to Rage before bouncing back. Madfrog switched back to a 6-2 with Sample and Mattie Gantt and advanced after sweeping Mizuno Long Beach 18 Rockstar by finishing ahead on tiebreakers in a three-way tie with Rage and Beach.

Madfrog was one the only team to push Sunshine. Outsides Avery Calame and Madeline Pyles had it going in the second set of the finals. As did Sample on the right. Middles Ifenna Cos-Okpalla and Tayah Little were helping slow down the Sunshine attack with their blocking and libero Zoria Heard picking up balls behind them. Madfrog just wasn’t able to sustain the level of play in the third set. But after three second-place showings should be looking at a top-four seed come nationals.

Coast and Skyline agreed to not play the third-place match after finishing in second in their respective gold pools. Skyline, after falling to A4 on Day 1, rebounded on Day 2 by downing Coast, AZ Storm 18 Thunder and Sunshine 18 Westside. Skyline fell to Sunshine in gold play. Skyline has a big arm in outside Emily Hellmuth. The team also has nice options on the pin for setter Rosemary Archer in outsides Lexi Guinn and Janet deMarrais, as well as right side Ava Roberts. Middles Jailen Hurley and Lindsey Harris are capable scorers but Skyline can struggle passing at times which can limit their production. It’s why in certain rotations Skyline uses libero Naylani Feliciano and DS Emily Canaan in a two-girl serve receive.

Coast’s only setbacks occurred to Skyline and then to Madfrog on Day 3. Other than the middle trio of Fatima Sheriff, Bianka Lulic and Olivia Johnson, Coast doesn’t carry much size. Brynne Faltinsky and Dana Branavets are solid all-around players at outside and smart attackers. Setter Faith Tyson also loves to get right side Bella Rittenberg involved as much as possible as she’s the team’s most physical hitter. Coast has a strong libero in Gala Trubint and must rely on its passing and defense to contend with the more offensive teams it faces.

Other than SAS earning its bid and coming in fifth, no other team in the field was able to crack the top 14 that wasn’t already qualified. Absolute and AZ EVJ 18-1 rounded out the top eight. Storm downed Long Beach to win out the flight bracket and take ninth. Beach lost one match through the first two days but caught the short end of the tiebreaker stick and missed gold pools. AZ Sky 18 Gold and Legacy tied for 11th, with A4 finishing in 13th and Club V 18 Ren Reed taking 14th.