Prep Dig March Madness: 64 Teams, Four Regions, One Shining Fictional Moment

March Madness, how we miss thee. With March Madness on an extended spring break this year, at Prep Dig I decided to make our own March Madness with 64 teams from Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. They are split into four regions with each region being named after a player who had a significant impact in their high school, club and college career with The Dana Rettke Region, Lauren Carlini Region, Tori Dixon Region, and Mikaela Foecke Region. Here is what I factored into these matchups and pairings (remember this is a fictional tournament….for now ;) -Seeing the team’s live. I have probably seen 90% of these teams live so far in this club season. Also I did not factor in AES rankings into this as well. I know there are examples of “But, we beat….” - for this fictional tournament, I did not go into total season results along with who was hurt, sick, or not present at the time. -Balance of age groups. I have more in the 18/17s group compared to the 15s teams. For first round matchups, I tried to put teams with someone in their age group similar to a power league (15/16s and 17s/18s), but after the first round its the “Wild West” with multiple age groups battling after each other. -Balance of states. I tried to factor in the top four or five teams (give or take) per state. Iowa is really strong with their 17s age division where the 18s for Illinois are stacked. It really is like March Madness and how it fluctuates from year to year as far as what conferences and regions may have more bids than another. I miss volleyball. We all do. I hurt for these kids because I know how bad they not only want to be back on the court, but also be with their team without a screen. Have fun with this. Make volleyball something to talk about, and I can’t wait to get back in the gym! What’s next? I would love to hear from the readers. Would love to do Twitter polls, Instagram polls, something. We are all craving competition and teams playing together Dana Rettke Region <table> <tbody> <tr> <td> 1 - Adversity 18 Adidas (IL) </td> </tr> <tr> <td> 16 - Iowa Rockets 17R (IA) </td> </tr> <tr> <td> 8 - Northern Lights 16-2 (MN) </td> </tr> <tr> <td> 9 - Milwaukee Sting 16 Black (WI) </td> </tr> <tr> <td> 5 - 1st Alliance 16 Silver (IL) </td> </tr> <tr> <td> 12 - FC Elite 15 Navy (WI) </td> </tr> <tr> <td> 4 - Michio 18 National (IL) </td> </tr> <tr> <td> 13 - Club Ignit 17 Blue (IA) </td> </tr> <tr> <td> 6 - Milwaukee Sting 15 Gold (WI) </td> </tr> <tr> <td> 11 - Iowa Select 16 Mizuno (IA) </td> </tr> <tr> <td> 3 - Club Ignit 16 Blue (IA) </td> </tr> <tr> <td> 14 - Madison United 16 Red (WI) </td> </tr> <tr> <td> 7 - Mizuno M1 17-1 (MN) </td> </tr> <tr> <td> 10 - Wisconsin Juniors 18-1 (WI) </td> </tr> <tr> <td> 2 - MN Select 18-1 (MN) </td> </tr> <tr> <td> 15 - CIA 17 Black (IA) </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> [caption id="attachment_80317" align="alignnone" width="608"] [player_tooltip player_id="61383" first="Leilani" last="Dodson"] of Adversity attacking[/caption]   Lauren Carlini Region <table> <tbody> <tr> <td> 1 - Milwaukee Sting 18 Gold (WI) </td> </tr> <tr> <td> 16 - Kandi Elite 17-1 (MN) </td> </tr> <tr> <td> 8 - VC United 161 (IL) </td> </tr> <tr> <td> 9 - Motion MVP 17 Blue (WI) </td> </tr> <tr> <td> 5 - 1st Alliance 18 Silver (IL) </td> </tr> <tr> <td> 12 - MN Select 17-1 (MN) </td> </tr> <tr> <td> 4 - Mizuno M1 18-1 (MN) </td> </tr> <tr> <td> 13 - Milwaukee Sting 15 Black (WI) </td> </tr> <tr> <td> 6 - Iowa Rockets 16R (IA) </td> </tr> <tr> <td> 11 - Kokoro 15-1 (MN) </td> </tr> <tr> <td> 3 - Six Pack 18U (IA) </td> </tr> <tr> <td> 14 - Northern Lights 17-2 (MN) </td> </tr> <tr> <td> 7 - MN Select 16-1 (MN) </td> </tr> <tr> <td> 10 - Wisconsin Premier 16 Teal (WI) </td> </tr> <tr> <td> 2 - Illini Elite 17 Cardinal (IL) </td> </tr> <tr> <td> 15 - Milwaukee Sting 17 White (WI) </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> [caption id="attachment_86848" align="alignnone" width="551"] Milwaukee Sting 18 Gold[/caption]   Tori Dixon Region <table> <tbody> <tr> <td> 1 - Northern Lights 17-1 (MN) </td> </tr> <tr> <td> 16 - FC Elite 18 Navy (WI) </td> </tr> <tr> <td> 8 - Northern Lights 16-1 (MN) </td> </tr> <tr> <td> 9 - Illini Elite 16 Cardinal (IL) </td> </tr> <tr> <td> 5 - Sky High Adidas 16 Black (IL) </td> </tr> <tr> <td> 12 - Six Pack 16U (IA) </td> </tr> <tr> <td> 4 - CIA 18 Black (IA) </td> </tr> <tr> <td> 13 - Milwaukee Sting 17 Black (WI) </td> </tr> <tr> <td> 6 - Epic United 16 Rox (IL) </td> </tr> <tr> <td> 11 - Northern Lights 15-1 (MN) </td> </tr> <tr> <td> 3 - Fusion 17 Red (IL) </td> </tr> <tr> <td> 14 - Kokoro 18-1 (MN) </td> </tr> <tr> <td> 7 - Milwaukee Sting 16 Gold (WI) </td> </tr> <tr> <td> 10 - VC United 151 (IL) </td> </tr> <tr> <td> 2 - Sky High 18 Adidas (IL) </td> </tr> <tr> <td> 15 - MN Select 16-1 (MN) </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> [caption id="attachment_86849" align="alignnone" width="546"] Northern Lights 17-1[/caption] The Mikaela Foecke Region <table> <tbody> <tr> <td> 1 - Adversity 17 Adidas (IL) </td> </tr> <tr> <td> 16 - Adrenaline 18 Austin (IA) </td> </tr> <tr> <td> 8 - VC United 181 (IL) </td> </tr> <tr> <td> 9 - FC Elite 17 Navy (WI) </td> </tr> <tr> <td> 5 - Six Pack 17U (IA) </td> </tr> <tr> <td> 12 - Michio 16 National (IL) </td> </tr> <tr> <td> 4 - 1st Alliance 17 Silver (IL) </td> </tr> <tr> <td> 13 - Impact 18 National (WI) </td> </tr> <tr> <td> 6 - Iowa Power Plex 17 Black (IA) </td> </tr> <tr> <td> 11 - Vital 18-1 Gold (MN) </td> </tr> <tr> <td> 3 - FC Elite 18 Elite (WI) </td> </tr> <tr> <td> 14 - Milwaukee Sting 15 Black (WI) </td> </tr> <tr> <td> 7 - Capital 18 Adidas (WI) </td> </tr> <tr> <td> 10 - Northern Lights 18-1 (MN) </td> </tr> <tr> <td> 2 - Milwaukee Sting 17 Gold (WI) </td> </tr> <tr> <td> 15 - Chicago Elite 18 Elite (IL) </td> </tr> </tbody> </table>