10 Gritty Athletes who Rocked the PD Resolution
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The Prep Dig Resolution tournament was a weekend full of great volleyball and huge competition. It was awesome to see athletes from 15s through 18s competing under the same roof. Needless to say, I have notes galore on all the…
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Continue ReadingThe Prep Dig Resolution tournament was a weekend full of great volleyball and huge competition. It was awesome to see athletes from 15s through 18s competing under the same roof. Needless to say, I have notes galore on all the talent I witnessed over the course of the weekend.
Gritty athletes are some of my favorites to find. They dig deep in the toughest moments and will do just about anything to keep the ball alive.
Cora Riffle Cora Riffle 5'9" | RS Pewaukee | 2022 WI – Setter – Midwest Penguins 18 Black – Committed to Carroll University
Cora is a talented setter who is very well-rounded. But she adds incredible value to her team in her ability to read the court and lead by example. Cora seems to bring out the competitive edge in those around her and she is always looking to outsmart her opponents. She moves the ball around well and is aggressive at the net.
Paige Boettcher Paige Boettcher 5'8" | OH Germantown | 2025 State WI – Outside Hitter – Milwaukee Sting 15 White
Paige was an impactful player for Sting in all six rotations. She has a massive vertical and a powerful arm swing. She was also dynamic and competitive from the service line. Paige regularly went on runs of three or more serves over the course of the weekend. She earned a lot of points for her team and was one of the leaders for this team when they won the 15 Open Championship.
Jessi Riesterer Jessi Riesterer 5'9" | OH Sussex-Hamilton | 2024 WI – Outside Hitter – Midwest Penguins 16 Black
Jessi has a way of making things work. She has a great vertical and contact on the ball which helps her choose shots. She is very smart about hitting around the block and finding holes in her opponent’s defense. Jessi has a good view of the court and is a very valuable pin to have on your team.
Kinlee Grattan – Setter – Elite Alliance 16-1
Kinlee caught my eye several times throughout the weekend. She has good hands and always seems to get a touch on the ball. She is a powerful setter who can push the ball pin to pin from wherever she is on the court. She also is very diligent about picking up balls on defense and covering her hitters.
Madelyn Abel Madelyn Abel 5'9" | S West Bend West | 2025 State WI – Setter – Wisconsin Premier 15 Teal
Madelyn has super quick hands and is very hard to read. She moves the ball around quickly and efficiently and is always giving her hitters the best possible opportunities to score points. Madelyn also has a lethal serve that puts teams out of system and helps earn her team points.
Briana Binagi Briana Binagi 5'10" | OH Kettle Moraine | 2024 State WI – Outside Hitter – Milwaukee Sting 16 White
Briana adds huge value to this dynamic team. She earns points in all six rotations and is engaged in every play. No matter where she is on the court, she is an option for her setters to use. Briana has great fundamentals and utilizes that to make tough shots look easy. She is valuable on defense and from the service line too.
Lily Shields Lily Shields 5'4" | DS/L Newman Catholic | 2025 State WI – Setter/Libero – Wisconsin Ice 15 National
Lily is an incredibly dynamic athlete who plays both setter and libero for Wisconsin Ice . She excels on defense and picks up some truly amazing balls across the court. Lily is scrappy and gritty and seems to get a touch on everything that comes over the net. As a setter she has good hands and is a fun athlete to watch.
Taylor Larson Taylor Larson 5'6" | OH Menomonee Falls | 2022 State WI – Libero – Wisconsin Premier 18 Teal – Committed to Viterbo
Taylor has a clean platform and is scrappy in the back row. Nothing touches the ground without her making a move for it. She makes huge saves yet has great ball control on serve receive. Taylor reads opponents well and is a very impressive libero whose grit helps make momentum-changing plays on the court.
Claudia Merizon Claudia Merizon 5'6" | RS Neenah | 2024 State WI – Right Side – Impact 17 National
Claudia does a bit of everything for this team. She hits on the right side and plays right back defense opposite the setter. Everything she does though, she does it well. She picks up a lot on defense and has a swing that can power through blocks. Claudia also has a great serve that tends to keep her on the service line for several points in a row.
Andi Spies Andi Spies 5'10" | S Fort Atkinson | 2024 State #135 Nation WI – Setter – Capital 17 Adidas
Andi is just an incredible athlete. She is a natural leader on the court and runs her offense efficiently and without hesitation. She makes smart choices, knows her hitters well, and is hard to read. Andi is always pushing for the next point. She also has a lethal swing and a lot of power as a right-side hitter.