by Austin Kingsley
KANSAS CITY, MO -- North Pacific Juniors’ opening-day journey in Kansas City encapsulates the unpredictable nature of Triple Crown NIT power pools.
The visitors from Salem, Oregon, had already established themselves as top-tier competitors on the national stage. NPJ’s early-season results were highlighted by top-five finishes at qualifiers in Dallas and Chicago.
However, 18 Forefront faced early adversity at NIT after suffering defeats to Tri-State Elite and Tribe to open Saturday’s slate. The team was seeking a positive Day 1 conclusion heading into the finale against VCNebraska 18 Elite. NPJ got exactly what it was looking for: a 2-0 win.
18 Forefront Head Coach Adam Ellis was pleased with his team’s ability to rebound from the early setbacks. He also acknowledged that NPJ’s power pool status allowed the team to experiment with lineups without facing the imminent threat of elimination.
“It’s all about responses, and they had great responses,” Ellis said. “It’s a power pool, so we’re trying different things in the first two [matches]. In the third one, it’s like, ‘hey, let’s get ready for tomorrow.’”
NPJ showed its readiness for Sunday’s stakes by rolling toa Set 1 victory over VCNebraska. Left-side hitters Laura Eichert and Paige Thies had a steady hand in the effort and terminated in seams created by 18 Forefront’s up-tempo offense.
The outside attacker combination exhibited the poise under pressure that Ellis sees in this entire NPJ team.
“They’re clutch. When the game’s on the line, every kid wants the ball in their hands,” Ellis said. “That’s very rare to find.”
18 Forefront’s physicality at the net was similarly uncommon. The team wields a stout rotation of middle blockers, all of whom will see significant action in Kansas City. Taelyn Bentley and Giana Elgarico anchored the net through most of the Saturday finale, while Washington State signee Ziah Sneva was also a factor late in the match.
NPJ needed its full arsenal to contribute as VCNebraska responded with a quick start to Set 2. The match began to skew toward scrappy ball control and defense prowess. Standout libero Reese Sheppard thrived in this environment and provided several key first touches. 18 Forefront also won’t hesitate to deploy defensive specialists like Jackie Carle and Brooklyn Rapp in the starting rotation.
This depth is a hallmark of NPJ’s seasoned lineup. 18Forefront rotated through two setters in Saturday’s match with Lily Mae Buerkle and Kamden Mitchell operating NPJ’s dynamic offense. The team has further firepower to plug into that offense, as Jacqueline Godard and Mylee Blake can play multi-position roles and become go-to hitters.
Even when players were not on the floor, their energy and enthusiasm on the sidelines stood out. Coach Ellis indicated that this positivity was a staple of the club’s culture.
“It’s been like that since 2017, if not prior to that,” Ellis said. “Kids are already hard enough on themselves. They don’t need to be yelled at when they make a mistake.”
A second-set deficit did not deter this upbeat attitude. Instead, NPJ battled back for a dramatic comeback to seal the win. 18 Forefront surged ahead after facing two set points and claimed a 26-24 triumph to win the match.
Despite an 0-2 start, NPJ toppled a VCNebraska team that has secured a pair of prior runner-up finishes at national qualifiers. The outcome signifies a timeless NIT truth: every power pool team is a contender.
Ellis recognizes his team’s potential to make a bracket run, but NPJ’s core values will remain firm regardless.
“We believe the more energy you have, the more fun you have, the better you’re going to be.”
