May Live Team Rankings – Prep Dig Network 15s, 16s, and 17s

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Welcome to the second addition of the Prep Dig Live Eye Regional Rankings, we include our 15s, more Nebraska clubs, and Missouri as well. A month can match a huge difference in the world of club volleyball, especially during qualifier season.  With top teams starting to get a chance to compete against each other, it allows for plenty of movers and shakers throughout the rankings. With these being “Live Eye”, we don’t base this off an algorithm, or votes casted by an at-large panel.  Is it subjective? Absolutely. Aren’t all rankings? What is exciting about these rankings are so many great teams in our Prep Dig Network, which is getting better as we expand. Rockwood Thunder is a welcome addition out of Missouri. I know there are plenty of clubs in the Kansas City area which based on address and their technical location (such as MAVS and Dynasty), we will include them once we have a Prep Dig Kansas (cough cough - shout out to any potential writers in Kansas).  </span></p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Alayna Yates, <a href="https://x.com/DaytonVB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DaytonVB</a> recruit, so tough to stop in system for <a href="https://x.com/6packvbc?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@6packvbc</a> <a href="https://t.co/4CRxYHGMFw">pic.x.com/4CRxYHGMFw</a></p> — Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) <a href="https://x.com/PrepDigChris/status/1107280266781999104?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 17, 2019</a></blockquote> <p><script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p> <p><strong>17s</strong></p> <ol> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>Six Pack 17-1 (IA)</strong></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>Milwaukee Sting 17 Gold (WI)</strong></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>Legacy 17-Elite (MI)</strong></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>Rockwood Thunder 17 Elite (MO)</strong></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>Northern Lights 17-1 (MN)</strong></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>MN Select 17-1 (MN)</strong></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>NE Premier 17 Gold (NE)</strong></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>HPSTL 17 Royal (MO)</strong></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>NE Elite 17 Frost</strong></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>Capital 17 Adidas (WI)</strong></li> <li><strong>EIX 17-Teal (IA)</strong></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>MI Elite 17 Mizuno (MI)</strong></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>Kokoro 17-1 (MN)</strong></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>VCNebraska 17 Elite (NE</strong></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>Wisconsin Juniors 17-1 (WI)</strong></li> </ol> <p><strong>Notables: </strong></p> <p><strong>Michigan Volleyball Academy (MVA) 17 Black, MVP 17 Blue (WI), FC Elite (WI), CIS (IA), IPVA (IA), Kandi Elite 17-1 (MN), Vital Volleyball (MN), Milwaukee Sting 17 Black</strong></p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Elise Goetzinger of <a href="https://x.com/stingvb1988?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@stingvb1988</a> has evolved so much in the past year. The <a href="https://x.com/KentuckyVB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@KentuckyVB</a> recruit has a bright future! <a href="https://t.co/PQK9hTFwld">pic.x.com/PQK9hTFwld</a></p> — Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) <a href="https://x.com/PrepDigChris/status/1097277516123906048?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 17, 2019</a></blockquote> <p><script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Right now Six Pack is the top team in our network, with Milwaukee Sting right behind them.  This past weekend at the Northern Lights Qualifier, Six Pack suffered only two losses - OT and TAV (two of the top programs in the country) and defeated Legacy and Milwaukee Sting (15-13 in the 3rd set). <strong> Alayna Yates</strong>, the Dayton commit, has been so dominant for the Pack at 6’5 and able to control the net offensively and defensively. Sting is right there with the power of their middles with <strong>Kiara Reinhardt</strong> and <strong>Elise Goetzinger</strong>.  <strong>Erin Powers</strong> has been rock solid at libero and <strong>Kaley Blake</strong>, the UW-Milwaukee recruit just knows how to win on any team she is on. Rockwood was exciting to watch this past weekend with one of the better setters in the tournament in <strong>Abby Lynn</strong>, a Louisiana commit who can do it all from defending, blocking, and scoring points herself.  A wild card team that you can never count on here would be Capital 17 Adidas out of Madison, Wisconsin. Their duo of “McMalik” with <strong>Milla Malik</strong> (Buffalo commit) and <strong>Karlie McNabb</strong> (Loyola-Chicago commit) are dynamite on the pin, playing with such intensity that they are a tough out for any team. </span></p> <p><strong>16s</strong></p> <ol> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>NE Premier 16 Gold (NE)</strong></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>Northern Lights 16-1 (MN)</strong></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>Nebraska Elite 16 2.0 (NE)</strong></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>MI Elite 16 Mizuno (MI)</strong></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>Milwaukee Sting 16 Gold (MI)</strong></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>FaR Out 16 Black (MI)</strong></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>Rockwood Thunder 16 Elite (MO)</strong></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>Six Pack 16-1 (IA)</strong></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>FC Elite 16 Navy (WI)</strong></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>MN Select 16-1 (MN)</strong></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>VCNebraska 16 Elite (NE)</strong></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>CIS 16M (IA)</strong></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>Legacy 16-Elite (MI)</strong></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>Motion - MVP 16 Blue (WI)</strong></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>Iowa Rockets 16R (IA)</strong></li> </ol> <p><strong>Notables: </strong></p> <p><strong>Capital 16 Adidas (WI), Iowa Select 16 Mizuno (IA), Kokoro 16-1 (MN), Sting 16 Black (WI)</strong></p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Watching <a href="https://x.com/Premier_VB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Premier_VB</a> 16s. So physical at the net. Fun to watch! Bench really engaged too! <a href="https://t.co/Ubz5d405q2">pic.x.com/Ubz5d405q2</a></p> — Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) <a href="https://x.com/PrepDigChris/status/1097143208121942017?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 17, 2019</a></blockquote> <p><script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">For some of these teams, it kind of depends how they are playing (although isn't that the case with all teams at this level?).  I’ve seen Milwaukee Sting at their best defeating Colorado Juniors, Adversity (IL), and Mintonette at MEQ.  However, they have also had some let downs where they become very vulnerable, such as ending the weekend at NLQ with losses to Northern Lights, Michigan Elite.  A team that is extremely strong, but still finding a way to find some consistency over the course of a three day tournament. This past weekend was my first chance to see Nebraska Elite live, and wow, what a show with <strong>Allison Gray</strong>, the setter committed to Arizona State and <strong>Rylee Gray,</strong> the middle committed to Nebraska were definitely some of the better players, but they are a really balanced attack overall.  This past weekend at NLQ they had big wins over Michigan Elite and Rockwood. Michigan Elite has a well balanced and fast tempo attack led by setter, J<strong>ulia Bishop</strong> and are on a tear as of late beating FaR Out 16 Black in the championship of Motor City Madness followed by a bid at the Windy City Qualifier the following weekend. FC Elite is a scary team to face across the net with the ability to scrap their way against any team, losing in three tough sets to Northern Lights as well as Six Pack, but then came back to defeat MAVS who later beat them in a tie-breaker set.  To have a team like Iowa Rockets 16R round out the top 15 shows the depth of the 16s and Class of 2021 across the region. Rockets is led by two big time pin hitters in <strong>Martha Pace</strong> and <strong>Elyse Winter,</strong> if they aren’t on your radar as a college coach, they probably need to be. As for the number one team, its really tough to to find a way to beat Nebraska Premier with one of the top outsides in the country with<strong> Lindsey Krause</strong>, who is heading to Nebraska being set up by <strong>Phyona Schrader</strong> who will be heading to Notre Dame. They also have <strong>Nora Sis</strong>, an outside hitter committed to Creighton. </span></p> <p><strong>15s</strong></p> <ol> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>NE Premier 15 Gold (Nebraska) </strong></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>Rockwood Thunder 15 Elite (MO) </strong></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>Northern Lights 15-1 (MN)</strong></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>Nebraska Elite 15 Koa (NE)</strong></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>CIS 15M (IA)</strong></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>MiElite 15 Mizuno (MI)</strong></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>Legacy 15 Elite (MI) </strong></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>Milwaukee Sting 15 Gold (WI)</strong></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>FC Elite 15 Navy (WI)</strong></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>Iowa Rockets 15R (IA)</strong></li> </ol> <p><strong>Notables: Six Pack 15-1 (IA), Capital 15 Adidas (WI), Kokoro 15-1 (MN), MVA 15 Black (MN)</strong></p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">That set and tempo tho...<a href="https://x.com/Premier_VB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Premier_VB</a> - 15s semifinal is rolling! <a href="https://t.co/6odnYqWgmM">pic.x.com/6odnYqWgmM</a></p> — Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) <a href="https://x.com/PrepDigChris/status/1097534607464062978?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 18, 2019</a></blockquote> <p><script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">After watching Premier at Triple Crown and later at Colorado Crossroads, I don’t see a lot of teams who can match their speed and tempo at the 15s level.  They are the typical Nebraska style team that will beat you with serve and serve receive with a full squad who can play defense and setters who always find a one on one match up for their attackers.  Rockwood Thunder is one of the most physical teams behind middle, <strong>Vanessa Polk</strong> and outside hitter <strong>Madison Scheer</strong>. There is such little weakness on that team. Northern Lights has proven they can win the close matches behind the swing on the pin of <strong>Julia Hansen</strong> and on the right side with <strong>Sienna Ifill.</strong>  They defeated Nebraska Elite and FC Elite in three sets at the Northern Lights Qualifier. CIS 15M out of Des Moines finished 2nd at Triple Crown in Kansas City and just out of receiving an Open bid to USAV, they should be a frontrunner on receiving an At-Large based on a large number of quality wins over the course of the season.  MiElite 15 Mizuno has one of the top front lines when you combine pin hitter <strong>Ava Brizard, Kimani Johnson, and Serena Nyambio</strong> may be one of the most balanced and physical frontlines in these rankings. Iowa Rockets 15R round out the top ten with recent commits <strong>Macy Daufeldt (Drake), Alexis Moses (South Dakota),</strong> and one of the top setters in the Class of 2022 in Iowa in <strong>Kora Ruff</strong>.  </span></p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Sienna Ifill with authority. Big time plays by the lefty in crunch time. <a href="https://x.com/nlightsvball?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@nlightsvball</a> <a href="https://x.com/hashtag/PrepDigNLQ?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PrepDigNLQ</a> <a href="https://t.co/nyZGcwAcYt">pic.x.com/nyZGcwAcYt</a></p> — Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) <a href="https://x.com/PrepDigChris/status/1119275326050377729?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 19, 2019</a></blockquote> <p><script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>