SEATTLE, WA - Apr. 25, 2007
Two Academy teams secured bids for the 2007 Junior Olympics in Minneapolis in early July by winning this weekend's Prime Time tournament. WVBA Mizuno 17 and Mizuno 13 took care of business on Saturday while four other Academy teams came up just short. However, due to KJ 16 Baden qualifying in the Open Division in the Southern CA qualifier on April 15th, WVBA Mizuno 16 will receive the Club National bid for finishing 2nd at Prime Time. Also, Mizuno 15 was informed today (4/25) that they will receive a Club American bid. We now have four teams qualified for JOs in Minneapolis!

WVBA Mizuno 17
Mizuno 17 came into the Prime Time Qualifier ranked 5th and ahead of them was going to be a long day. It started out with a 2-set win over Puget Sound at 9am. With a short rest they went to work against KJVBC 17 Baden and lost in two sets. After they officiated the next match they got their last break of the day. At 2pm they won a close 3-set match against Mukilteo Blue Ice which advanced them to play Tacoma Ice which they won in another close 3-set match.

With leadership coming from the young seniors Alyssa Martin and Amber Nelson, they outlasted KJ 27-25 in the second set. The third set again was just as tight and WVBA held their own and won the third set with a kill from Amber Nelson to force the double-final, a single set to 25.

The last set was very intense with sideout after sideout. With crucial kills from Amber Nelson down the stretch, a net violation by KJ ended the match and gave the JO bid to the hardworking Academy 17s team.

WVBA Mizuno 13
Mizuno 13 had a great day on Saturday beginning with Cascade 13s who they defeated in the 1st round (25-15, 25-13). Olympia 13s were dispatched in the 2nd round (15-24, 25-23, 15-4) and then Olympia came back for another try in the finals. This time WVBA 13s beat them in two sets (25-23; 15-16) to win the bid to Minneapolis.

Coach Maggie Peters said, "It was a rough play day for us. I think the bench's support was the most impressive today - Amy Kneepkin, Haley MacDonald, Priya Hazari and Ku'u Sanford."

"On the court Olivia Magill and Miah Diirell were steady and a strong finish by Hannah Linsenmayer helped lead us to our goal."

WVBA Mizuno 18 finished in 3rd place. They final chance to qualify will come in Reno at the end of April.

WVBA Mizuno 16 finished in 2nd place, losing to KJVBC 16 Baden in the finals. However, Mizuno 16 did receive the bid from KJ after they qualified in the Open Division in Southern CA last weekend.

WVBA Mizuno 15 finished in 2nd place.

WVBA Mizuno 14 has not yet reported in their results.

Final PNQ Results
There were no bids earned in Spokane this year despite some very close calls.

WVBA Mizuno 18 finished just in 6th place in 18 Open. The top four finishers were awarded bids as Colorado Juniors already qualified at Crossroads.

WVBA Mizuno 18-Red finished 21st in the 18 Club Division.

WVBA Mizuno 17 finished 13th in 17 Open/

WVBA Mizuno 16 finished 4th in 16 Open, the top three won bids.

WVBA Mizuno 15 finished 9th in 15 Open.

WVBA Mizuno 14 finished 7th in 14 Open.

WVBA Mizuno 13 finished 3rd in the 13 Club Division (there is no 13 Open Division), but only one team was awarded a bid in Spokane.