6 Athletes From The PD Gauntlet Ready For A Big Fall

As school and spring sports wrap up, teams that will be heading to Nationals are gearing up and the Gauntlet was a perfect warm-up. I haven’t missed a Gauntlet yet and I think this was our best yet. This tournament put new names on my radar and let me see a lot of talented players outside of Wisconsin. All of these players are still available and gearing up for a really big high school season this fall. Jada James – 2023 – 5’9 - Outside Hitter – Lincoln-Way East (IL) – Adversity 17 Adidas I had fun watching James in a big match. She knows how to elevate and I would actually say she flies. She also has a rocket of an arm and plays with a lot of grit and an aggressive approach to the ball. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Adversity 17 Adidas has a stick of dynamite and her name is <a href="https://x.com/_jadajamess?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@_jadajamess</a> ! <a href="https://x.com/hashtag/PDGauntlet?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PDGauntlet</a> <a href="https://x.com/PrepDigChris?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PrepDigChris</a> <a href="https://x.com/PrepDig?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PrepDig</a> <a href="https://x.com/PrepDigEvents?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PrepDigEvents</a> <a href="https://x.com/prepdigil?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@prepdigil</a> <a href="https://t.co/3W26UdHtnE">pic.x.com/3W26UdHtnE</a> — Breit Nelson (@BreitNelson) <a href="https://x.com/BreitNelson/status/1530564032318648321?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 28, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>   Keira O’Donnell – 2025 – 6’0 – Middle Blocker – Lemont Township (IL) – 1st Alliance 15 Gold O’Donnell may not have been the go-to player for 1st Alliance with some big weapons like Abigail Vander Wal, LaDonna Tranthum, MaTaia Lawson, Sydney Buchanan, and Hannah Kenny, but 1st Alliance does not have an easy schedule and they’ve proven they can hang with the best. This squad has experience playing and winning at a high level as they’ve won the Triple Crown NIT and the Prep Dig Gauntlet. O’Donnell is a middle blocker who could also be a strong right side and make a big impact for Lemont Township as she knows how to get the big block in a big moment. Performing under pressure is such a huge attribute at such a young age. [player_tooltip player_id="110491" first="Leah" last="Richmond"] – 2024 – 5’8 – Setter – Lawrence North (IN) – Academy 16E Yeti Richmond was so good at getting the ball out to her pins quickly and giving them a lot of one-on-one or one-on-none opportunities. Blockers break into a sweat knowing they will have to try and keep up with her. She is extremely athletic and has hot hands like Alaleh Tolliver, Sophie Ledbetter, and Meryl Zunk. Richmond has solid, quick footwork and a quick, clean release.   <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Sophie Ledbetter and <a href="https://x.com/_leahrichmond?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@_leahrichmond</a> were so in sync this weekend. The athleticism of this <a href="https://x.com/TheAcademyVB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TheAcademyVB</a> 16E Yeti was outstanding! <a href="https://x.com/hashtag/PDGauntlet?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PDGauntlet</a> <a href="https://x.com/PrepDigChris?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PrepDigChris</a> <a href="https://x.com/PrepDigEvents?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PrepDigEvents</a> <a href="https://x.com/PrepDig?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PrepDig</a> <a href="https://t.co/hIsmT0gbAa">pic.x.com/hIsmT0gbAa</a> — Breit Nelson (@BreitNelson) <a href="https://x.com/BreitNelson/status/1531410145166737414?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 30, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> [player_tooltip player_id="135950" first="Grace" last="Nelson"] – 2024 – 6’1 – Outside Hitter – Oak Park River Forest (IL) – 1st Alliance 16 Gold I believe Nelson’s phone will be blowing up come June 15th. She is a strong prospect out of River Forest, IL with a heavy swing, and I thought she was going to tear the leather right off the ball. Nelson is part of a 2024 class who hasn’t had a high school season altered in some way due to Covid. With a fast pace and rigorous schedule at 1st Alliance, she is definitely ready for all the pressures of shouldering a high school team deep into the postseason. Grace Turner – 2024 – 6’2 – Middle Blocker –(IL) - Adversity 16 Adidas Adversity is a strong program coming out of Illinois and is always in competition with some of the top teams in the midwest. Turner does a great job of finding high hands and uses the hands. Adversity has played in the Open and recently taken 5th in the Caribbean Girls Volleyball Championships and the Prep Dig Gauntlet. Turner is really solid in the middle with clever timing and powerful blocking. [player_tooltip player_id="178229" first="Maeve" last="Lasky"] – 2025 – 5’11 – Pin Hitter – Oshkosh West (WI) – FC Elite 15 Navy Lasky made her way onto the varsity roster in 2021 as a freshman and will be returning along with a core group, including Avery Pakula, Maddi Choinski, and Emily Blaskowski. This experience and all the growth and development she’s made over the past couple of months will provide Oshkosh West with the potential for a winning season. I believe this will be a big season for Lasky after seeing her come up with some really big plays at the Gauntlet. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> [player_tooltip player_id="178229" first="Maeve" last="Lasky"] gets in on the action for <a href="https://x.com/FCEliteVB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FCEliteVB</a> 15 Navy at the <a href="https://x.com/hashtag/PDGauntlet?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PDGauntlet</a> <a href="https://x.com/PrepDigChris?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PrepDigChris</a> <a href="https://x.com/PrepDig?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PrepDig</a> <a href="https://x.com/PrepDigEvents?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PrepDigEvents</a> <a href="https://x.com/PrepDigWI?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PrepDigWI</a> <a href="https://t.co/MbQRjZK4Oa">pic.x.com/MbQRjZK4Oa</a> — Breit Nelson (@BreitNelson) <a href="https://x.com/BreitNelson/status/1530628957007126530?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 28, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>   Keep These Players On Your Radar: [player_tooltip player_id="156286" first="Alisiya" last="Boedecker"] – 2025 – 5’6 – Setter – Mt. Morris (MI) – MiElite 15 Elite Caitlin O’Neil – 2024 – Setter – Skyline (MI) – MiElite 16 Elite [player_tooltip player_id="156293" first="Ella" last="Craggs"] – 2025 – Setter – Mercy (MI) – MiElite 15 Mizuno [player_tooltip player_id="119431" first="Finley" last="Charapata"] – 2023 – 5’11 – Outside Hitter – Appleton North (WI) – FC Elite 17 Navy [player_tooltip player_id="172209" first="Karley" last="Pretzer"] – 2024 – 5’8 – Outside Hitter – Dakota (MI) – MiElite 16 Elite [player_tooltip player_id="178028" first="Madison" last="Hoppe"] – 2025 – 5’10 – Pin Hitter – Mukwonago (WI) – Milwaukee Sting 15 Gold [player_tooltip player_id="178033" first="Madison" last="Quest"] – 2025 – 6’3 – Outside Hitter – DSHA (WI) – Milwaukee Sting 16 Gold [player_tooltip player_id="91894" first="Rachel" last="Koss"] – 2023 – 5’11 – Setter – Freedom (WI) – FC Elite 17 Navy Reagan Owens – 2025 – 5’3 – Libero – Tri-Valley (IL) – Illini Elite 15 Cardinal [player_tooltip player_id="66316" first="Remi" last="Madison"] – 2023 – 5’10 – Outside Hitter – Grand Blanc (MI) – MiElite 17 Mizuno [player_tooltip player_id="122569" first="Sophia" last="Wendlick"] – 2024 – 6’0 – Pin Hitter – DSHA (WI) – Milwaukee Sting 16 Black [player_tooltip player_id="108714" first="Taryn" last="Rice"] – 2023 – 5’9 – Libero (played Middle Blocker this weekend) – Northville (MI) – MiElite 17 Mizuno