These 2s Teams Are Tops In The Region
Scattered throughout the region are some of the top teams in the nation. Household club names like Milwaukee Sting, Northern Lights, Legacy, Michigan Elite, Nebraska Premier, and the list goes on. These are all clubs that are known across the…
Access all of Prep Dig
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingScattered throughout the region are some of the top teams in the nation. Household club names like Milwaukee Sting, Northern Lights, Legacy, Michigan Elite, Nebraska Premier, and the list goes on. These are all clubs that are known across the country, but as good as their top teams are, their 2s and 3s teams are making huge gains and are making an argument to be among the top teams as well, some competing against some of the top open teams.
Northern Lights 18-2 (MN)
This group is full of athletes who are heading to Division 1 and Division 2 schools and can compete among the best. They recently competed in Italy placing second in a high level tournament. Competing at the open level of some top qualifiers, they have racked up some big wins behind two legit middle blockers in Gabrielle McCaa (Boston College) and Claire Neussmeier (Marquette) and Brenna Hesse who is one of the top athletes in her class who will go onto play at Green Bay.
Milwaukee Sting 18 Black (WI)
Sting 18 Black has been battling through injuries all season, but it all came together at USAV Nationals where they placed in the top four of the American Division after being one of the last teams to claim a bid. This team has five D1 athletes, but some of their D2 prospects have been big time steals for their future programs. Kaylee Kuecker is as solid of a libero you’ll find is committed to UW-Parkside and her high school teammate Briana Merkel who can set and swing will be going to Arkansas Tech.
One Wisconsin 18 National
This squad out of the Green Bay/Appleton area brought 7 players to nationals, but that did not prevent them from going to the Gold bracket of Patriot Division. UW-Milwaukee recruit Morgan Thiel who is mostly a libero was able to swing out of the pin and UW-Stevens Point recruit Maria Scherer was the setter running the show the whole weekend.
Legacy 17 National (MI)
Legacy out of the Detroit area is highlighted by Abilene Christian (NCAA D1) commit, Emily Van Dyke, but there are also players on the rise on this team who took 1st at Central Zone and has a bid clinched for Indy in July. Middle blocker Emanuela Gjokaj is a rising prospect that is actually relatively new to national level volleyball as well as up and coming libero Madi Malecki, from the Class of 2021 is a rising on the list of top libero prospects in the state of Michigan.
Milwaukee Sting 16 Black (WI)
Sting 16 Black won the Central Zone Premier Crown and then went on to finish in the top eight of the JVA World Challenge 16 Open Division. The Class of 2021 is loaded at Milwaukee Sting with their 16 Gold team clinching a USAV Open bid and 16 White being one of the top teams in the Badger Region Power League. This team is led by defense with libero Amanda Viel and DS Bella Halcomb. They also have a whole cupboard full of pin hitters who can put the ball away which include Bella Bratzke, Tatum Catalano, Kayla Lewinski, and Kaitlyn Bingham. Many of these athletes served huge roles on their high school teams as Sophomores and have the potential to be breakout stars as they transition into upperclassmen.
Rockwood Thunder 15 Navy (MO)
Rockwood is one of the top clubs out of Missouri near the St. Louis area with 16 teams qualified for nationals which is the tops in the Gateway Region. This past weekend the 15 Navy team qualified for Nationals by earning the “National” bid out of the Gateway Region. This team was able to compete at the Northern Lights Qualifier and after a rough first day was able to close out with give straight victories. Outside hitter, Kaylie Drysdale who can score points from the pin or the backrow. There will be quite a crew wearing the Navy and Silver in Indianapolis come late June.
Nebraska Premier 15 Black (Title Photo)
Nebraska Premier 15 Gold has gotten a lot of pub this season with victories at Triple Crown as well as Crossroads, but they aren’t the only 15s team out of their club to be bringing home the hardware. Premier 15 Black has put together a big season and will be heading to Indy this summer to compete in the USA Division which they earned at Colorado Crossroads. They also earned a runner-up finish at Show Me in the USA division. These athletes with the level of training and top competition they see in their gym day in and day out can compete against some of the best in the region and the country.