Next Level and Available 2023s Light Up The Gauntlet
I spent a lot of time watching the 17s play this past weekend at the Prep Dig Gauntlet. The Junior year always fascinates me. I respect the boundaries of these athletes and don't really say much to them, let alone ask them questions about their recruiting process, but I know there is a lot that comes into play. Weighing the options of the level of play, how far away from home are they willing to go, area of study, scholarships, the lists go on and on. I'm not sure if these athletes are ready to commit or are still pretty open heading into the summer, but all I know is that they can play at the next level. As far as the next level? I'm really not into labeling kids as far as what type of “Division” they are. I say this time and time again where I hope kids find a place where they are valued and have a positive experience. This can be at any division, and our Prep Dig Scouts and I always celebrate when we see that commitment post!
Here are 2023s from the Gauntlet (Part 1)
Maeve Welsh - Adversity 17 Adidas
Welsh is a lefty setter and right side that play her way around the court, contributing in a variety of ways for each rotation. She swings on the right side in the front row and sets from the back. Coaches can find her steady and consistent, that seems to be her game where she quietly has a big impact on the game. This was a really dynamic and athletic team to watch who had some big time wins.
Lindsay Umlauf - Adversity 17 Adidas
There is a really high ceiling for Umlauf who is a 6'6 middle blocker for Adversity. Umlauf played out of the middle most of the weekend, but I know she can play right side as well. She had some big time stuff blocks against some powerful attackers where they ball hit the ground before the attacker did. She's long, well trained, always having her hands up and ready. For an opposing attacker, it's a mismatch, she doesn't let herself get tooled. She could be a potential steal at the next level with the type of potential she has.
This was SUCH an AWESOME battle and @1stAllianceVBC 17 Silver's @AvaSchabes and Brooke Gwiazda just got better and better as the match went! #PDGauntlet @PrepDigChris @PrepDig @PrepDigEvents @prepdigil pic.x.com/bfuD3vOuaD
— Breit Nelson (@BreitNelson) May 30, 2022
Ava Schabes - 1st Alliance 17 Silver
Schabes is a true quarterback for her team. 1st Alliance 17 Silver scored a huge win over Michigan Elite 17 Mizuno and went 3-0 on day two defeating Adversity, Illini Elite, and Sting Black. They will definitely be a contender in Indy. Schabes moves extremely well and always has her hands ready for any tempo. She has a lot of attackers to distribute to and defends her position extremely well.
Paige Peterson - Illini Elite 17 Cardinal
I double checked and I couldn't find anywhere that Paige Peterson was committed. She is a really strong athlete as a middle blocker for Illini Elite 17 Cardinal. With two Big Ten commits on the pins, the majority of scoring comes from Kenna Wollard and Lily Barry. However, Peterson is definitely one out of the middle who makes her presence known. She is athletic and can go from pin to pin to close the block as well as transition quickly to be available to attack.
Emily Lavin - MVP 17 Blue
Lavin is a six rotation pin hitter who can play on the outside and can swing on the right side. She can also make solid contact and be a threat from the backcourt too. The name of her game is that she can score points in a variety of ways. She stepped up big for Brookfield Central High School to advance to the final four of Wisconsin's largest class this past fall and is ready for a big senior season.
Kalliann Cook and Hannah Howard - MiElite 17 Mizuno
I really like this DS/L combo for Michigan Elite where these two continue to improve. Cook had the libero jersey on this weekend, but I have seen both play extremely well no matter what jersey they wear. What is so key for college coaches is that for defensive specialists is that if they are the libero or the DS, they are going to get high level play. That is what these two do. They have great body language, positive intangibles, and were taking a lot of pace off the powerful attackers from 1st Alliance 17 Gold. They add a spark to the court.
Emma Larkins and Molly Banta - MiElite 17 Elite
These are two big swings for the Michigan Elite 17 Elite squad who was scrappy throughout the whole weekend. They can change the trajectory of their team with how they can score points with multiple shots. Another key player for 17 Elite is their setter Margo Sudzina who can really get the ball to her attackers to terminate. If there was one thing the Michigan Elite teams showed this weekend is how they are always going to come after attacking.
Kenna Kornely - MKE Sting 17 White
Kornely is lightning in a bottle for this Sting 17 White team. She is electric on the pin and can really hold her own with serve receive and solid defense in the backrow. Sting 17 White competed in the first Prep Dig Tournament of the season, the Prep Dig Resolution in Appleton in late January with Kornely and her team showing great promise. Their team has definitely risen and has great chemistry. They connect extremely well and always come out playing hard.
Mya Cinnamo - Northern Lights 17-2
What an exciting athlete. Cinnamo is a big time high flyer on the pin where she has such an electric style of play. A six rotation outside, Cinnamo can score points from either pin as well as the backrow. She provides a spark for a team who is extremely well trained and disciplined. They are tough to score points against and when they play efficient, they are tough to stop. Their day one pool was a battle where had two tough three set losses to FC Elite and Adversity. They will be one to watch at nationals this month.
Madison Shroba - 1st Alliance 17 Silver (Title Photo)
Shroba has really strong hand contact on the pin where she is going to hit the ball hard and square every time. The 1st Alliance pin hitters are extremely well trained where they have all the tools. They can serve receive, pass, and attack from both pins. Shroba is very steady and consistent where she makes a great outside combo with Loyola (MD) commit Ava Nepkin. With her level of training and consistency, she would be a huge pick up at the next level.
Another 2023 outside to have on the radar is Taylor Tetzlaff. She has stepped up for @stingvb1988 17 Gold #PDGauntlet
— Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) May 30, 2022
Taylor Tetzlaff - MKE 17 Gold
Tetzlaff filled in a big role for Sting with Drake commit Karissa Fortune out this weekend with an injury. Tetzlaff is accustomed to high level training and competition. She can hit all the shots on the outside and can score in a variety of ways, including tooling the block. A player like Tetzlaff is always welcome at the next level because she can do everything really well and can be consistent.
Rachel Koss - FC Elite 17 Navy
Koss has always been a high IQ player who can light up the court with a spark and smile. She is also in the middle of having a big time softball season where she will play to go to the state tournament with her Freedom High School team. FC Elite had quite the pool on Saturday with 1st Alliance, MiElite, and Sting Gold - going to three sets with Elite and Gold. They will head to Indy for USAV Nationals where they will be in the National Division.
Let's show some love for a lefty! New WAVE 17 Tsunami's Colleen Engstler with the deep cross court corner at the #PDGauntlet @PrepDigChris @PrepDig @PrepDigEvents @prepdigil pic.x.com/n06VVz5n3C
— Breit Nelson (@BreitNelson) May 29, 2022
Colleen Engstler - NEW Wave 17 Tsunami
Having a lefty on the team adds a different dynamic to the court where the other side of the net is adjusting. Engstler is a lefty right side who is able to hit a heavy ball, but can also mix a variety of shots to score points. She works hard in transition to get out of her block and then become available to attack. She came up with some big points for New Wave.
