Live Eye Team Rankings of Prep Dig Network 16s and 17s

Before we start using this as bulletin board material (and by all means please do), this rankings are from the live eye of what I have seen this season. I have been fortunate enough to cover plenty of these teams in various gyms and convention centers across the Midwest which include seeing Milwaukee Sting 16 and 17 Gold finish in the elite eight of the Triple Crown Invite in Kansas City, Kokoro 17-1 play Wisconsin Juniors 17-1 at the Big City Luau at Shakopee High School in Minnesota and again at The Showcase in the Wisconsin Dells. Michigan volleyball has been fun to dive into as well as I got to see a handful of teams at MEQ this past weekend. Legacy has athletes already committed to top Big Ten programs and if you haven’t seen Julia Bishop set from Michigan Elite 16 Mizuno, its quite a treat. Some of these teams have played against each other. For example, this past weekend I saw EIX defeat Milwaukee Sting 17 Gold in MEQ Gold Pool Play on Sunday. I’ve seen FC Elite 16 Navy defeat MN Select 16-1 back in February at the JVA Jamboree in Milwaukee. The season can be long, there are definitely ups and downs, but here is where I see the top ten of the 16s and 17s of the Prep Dig Network without the rankings of AES or any other predetermined metrics. *I do have to put a disclaimer in here and an apology for the Nebraska teams. I have not seen some of the top squads in Nebraska play live yet, I put Nebraska Premier 16s in here because I saw them play multiple times at Triple Crown. I know Nebraska Elite has some teams that are among some of the best in the Midwest as VC Nebraska, Nebraska Juniors, and plenty of others. 17s <ol> <li>Legacy 17-Elite (MI)</li> <li>Six Pack 17-1 (IA)</li> <li>EIX 17-Teal (IA)</li> <li>Milwaukee Sting 17 Gold (WI)</li> <li>Northern Lights 17-1 (MN)</li> <li>MN Select 17-1 (MN)</li> <li>Capital 17 Adidas (WI) </li> <li>Kokoro 17-1 (MN)</li> <li>MI Elite 17 Mizuno (MI)</li> <li>Wisconsin Juniors 17-1 (WI)</li> </ol> Notables: MVP 17 Blue (WI), FC Elite (WI), CIS (IA), IPVA (IA), Kandi Elite 17-1 (MN), Sting 17 Black (WI) Legacy has some athletes that are just fun to watch with their athleticism. Kendall Murray on the pin is a high flyer who has already committed to Michigan while 6’3 left handed setter, is staying in the Big Ten and going to Northwestern. They also have other athletes heading to South Carolina, West Virginia, Eastern Michigan, and Cornell. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"> Long rally ends with an EIX kill by Kacia Brown a <a href="https://x.com/HailStateVB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@HailStateVB</a> commit <a href="https://t.co/8UjEpRLBza">pic.x.com/8UjEpRLBza</a> — Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) <a href="https://x.com/PrepDigChris/status/1109798790402371584?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 24, 2019</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> Eastern Iowa Xtreme (EIX) has been slowly climbing the mountain with a top four finish at MEQ behind the play of setter, Rylee Fay (Missouri State), Aliyah Carter (Kansas State), and Kacia Brown (Mississippi State). This team is relatively new to playing together and to know the progress they’ve made in the past month, they will be a deadly matchup late in the season. However, they were defeated by Six Pack in the Iowa Regionals where Six Pack earned the National bid. Milwaukee Sting 17 Gold finished second at Blue Grass and was defeated by EIX in power pool play at MEQ, but that was without 6’4 RS/MB Elise Goetzinger who has committed to Kentucky, she flat out owns the net and really presents a lot of matchup problems for opposing outside hitters. As far as the Minnesota teams with Northern Lights, MN Select, and Kokoro it might be to their disadvantage that I’ve seen them play multiple times in different tournaments. I’ve seen them all play where it looks like they could be a top three team, and I’ve also seen them play where they don’t look like they belong in the top ten. However, the most recent was seeing MN Select 17-1 win big match after big match at The Showcase at the Wisconsin Dells where Wisconsin Juniors, Kokoro, and Capital were competing as well. Molly Schultz, a libero committed to Kansas is such a spark plug for this team as well as power at both pins with Elizabeth Helmich (James Madison), Jordan Stalpes (Omaha), and Halle Olson (Florida Atlantic). <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"> This dive...Molly Schultz of <a href="https://x.com/MNSelect?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MNSelect</a> gets a diving kill. She is committed to <a href="https://x.com/KUVolleyball?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@KUVolleyball</a> <a href="https://x.com/hashtag/SCtop10?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SCtop10</a> <a href="https://t.co/vT24yMGxyi">pic.x.com/vT24yMGxyi</a> — Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) <a href="https://x.com/PrepDigChris/status/1101862369683226629?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 2, 2019</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> Capital 17 Adidas out of Madison has two pins that are just absolute firepower in Milla Malik (Buffalo) and KJ McNabb (Loyola-Chicago). When Capital is healthy, they have a lineup where they can score in a variety of ways, always have a back row scoring threat, and their defense is relentless. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"> The roof is on 🔥🔥🔥 Karina Leber is <a href="https://x.com/WiJrs?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@WiJrs</a> <a href="https://t.co/aTSq8uZyaL">pic.x.com/aTSq8uZyaL</a> — Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) <a href="https://x.com/PrepDigChris/status/1102245408770793473?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 3, 2019</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> Wisconsin Juniors is a team that you just don’t enjoy playing, which is a compliment to Juniors because they are so tough out of the middle, and incredibly gritty on defense. Karina Leber leads Juniors offensively and defensively as a 6’3 middle who has committed to Colorado State where she works extremely well with Karlee Lois (Wheeling Jesuit) setting. Amber Bischel is an unsigned libero who is constantly talking to her hitters and is so tough in the backrow. 16s <ol> <li>Milwaukee Sting 16 Gold (MI)</li> <li>NE Premier 16 Gold (NE)</li> <li>Six Pack 16-1 (IA)</li> <li>Northern Lights 16-1 (MN)</li> <li>MN Select 16-1 (MN)</li> <li>MI Elite 16 Mizuno (MI)</li> <li>FaR Out 16 Black (MI)</li> <li>FC Elite 16 Navy (WI)</li> <li>Motion - MVP 16 Blue (WI)</li> <li>CIS 16M (IA)</li> </ol> Notables: Legacy 16-Elite (MI), Kokoro 16-1 (MN), Capital 16 Adidas (WI), Sting 16 Black (WI), Iowa Rockets 16-R (IA) I know Sting has beaten Premier, but I’m pretty sure that Lindsey Krause, the Nebraska commit was at a basketball game. FC Elite has beaten MN Select, but that was without 6’3 outside/right side Sophie Jesewitz who is a matchup nightmare! There are a lot of “What Ifs” in this group and lineup potentials and even the timing of when they played each other that can make a big difference. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"> Off the net, no problem for <a href="https://x.com/GopherVBall?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GopherVBall</a> commit Mckenna Wucherer <a href="https://x.com/stingvb1988?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@stingvb1988</a> <a href="https://t.co/4DYZVuvbh9">pic.x.com/4DYZVuvbh9</a> — Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) <a href="https://x.com/PrepDigChris/status/1097148420941402112?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 17, 2019</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> Sting 16 Gold just earned an Open bid with a third place finish at MEQ with athletes such as Mckenna Wucherer (Minnesota), Emme Bullis (Minnesota), and libero Anna Holland (Seton Hall) who has been a huge impact serve receive, taking pace off the ball, and reading the hitters. Middle blocker Kaitlyn Riley and right side Katie Winkler have been two up and coming prospects where they were on a two’s team last year. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"> Hey don’t forget about #8 <a href="https://x.com/vballphy?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@vballphy</a> for <a href="https://x.com/Premier_VB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Premier_VB</a> - the <a href="https://x.com/VB_Ankeny?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@VB_Ankeny</a> Iowa native is playing lights out. So fun to watch. Committed to <a href="https://x.com/NDvolleyball?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NDvolleyball</a> <a href="https://t.co/S2ym9ig6VB">pic.x.com/S2ym9ig6VB</a> — Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) <a href="https://x.com/PrepDigChris/status/1097217542324740104?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 17, 2019</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> Premier really is quite the team to watch with the power of Krause, but just their overall athleticism with Norah Sis (Creighton) and Phyonna Schrader (Notre Dame). Again, I know Nebraska Elite has a batch of athletes who are right up there with Premier, but I have not seen them play live yet - don't worry, I'll find you Nebraska Elite! Six Pack is one of those teams that is so tough to defend. Jasmine Yamilkoski runs quite the machine of hitters which includes 6’5 outside hitter Eve Magill, a six rotation outside who can do it all, the Creighton commit has a mix of shots from the outside and owns the middle back. A really sneaky attacker out of the middle, has one of the quickest snaps I’ve seen this year is Ashlynn Kuhn is so dangerous on the slide. Literally, get your hands up while protecting the line. MN Select 16-1 is one of those teams that can go either way. I’ll go with what I last saw them which was at the Dells where they won The Showcase which is a huge tournament which included wins against some of the best programs out of Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Illinois. Skylar Gray (Minnesota) is such a sparkplug on the outside the team feeds off her intensity which would include a top 2022 prospect in Kendal Kemp, a 6’6 middle blocker who improves every time she steps on the court. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"> Weidemann to Gray. <a href="https://x.com/MNSelect?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MNSelect</a> taking control of set two. <a href="https://t.co/HPtihflPfW">pic.x.com/HPtihflPfW</a> — Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) <a href="https://x.com/PrepDigChris/status/1092131732340596741?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 3, 2019</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> Michigan Elite 16 Mizuno has incredible depth, but it all starts with their setter Julia Bishop who is the top player in the Class of 2021 for Michigan. She carries herself with such poise and is always under control, but does a great job of connecting with her teammates, getting them involved, and making sure they can terminate. FC Elite 16 Navy is one I would definitely keep an eye on. Before MEQ, they won the Winter Classic and JVA Jamboree in Milwaukee, but MEQ was their first big test against some of the same clubs in the nation. Now they know they can compete against some of the best and with another chance at Northern Lights at the end of April who knows what they will be capable. With two solid setters in Brooke Bolwerk and Kiersten Kraus and multiple “go to” hitters they can be so dangerous in system. Saige Damrow, who is from the Class of 2023 is already on the radar as a top libero prospect without even setting foot in high school yet. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"> And I’m out...<a href="https://x.com/FCEliteVB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FCEliteVB</a> wins 16 Open in a three set thriller over MN Select. What a great weekend! <a href="https://t.co/91xw71lZBt">pic.x.com/91xw71lZBt</a> — Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) <a href="https://x.com/PrepDigChris/status/1092147813524402177?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 3, 2019</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> MVP out of the Milwaukee area had some big wins at the Showcase in the Dells, while CIS finished second at Iowa Regionals and are extremely athletic. Layanna Green in the middle poses a big threat at the net with her quickness and athleticism that can close a block and get to the opposite to run a slide. Overall the 16s division is extremely deep. A team like Iowa Rockets 16-R has the ability to beat some of these top teams, but I stuck to a solid ten. With big tournaments in the next month with The Show Me Qualifier in KC, JVA World Challenge in Louisville, and Northern Lights there are bound to be some fireworks among some of these top teams!