11 Athletes Who Exploded onto My Radar at Battle at the Bay
In this article:
Battle at the Bay was a massive success. Teams from across the state (and Sky High in Illinois) traveled to Green Bay for a weekend of competitive volleyball and a lot of fun. Athletes of all ages were playing hard…
Access all of Prep Dig
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingBattle at the Bay was a massive success. Teams from across the state (and Sky High in Illinois) traveled to Green Bay for a weekend of competitive volleyball and a lot of fun. Athletes of all ages were playing hard to help their teams earn wins. It was a blast doing coverage for the tournament.
Here are some athletes who exploded onto my radar throughout the tournament.
Mackenna Shultis Mackenna Shultis OH Fond du Lac | 2026 State WI
Mackenna Shultis Mackenna Shultis OH Fond du Lac | 2026 State WI
Mackenna is an incredibly impressive athlete. She is a setter but also can swing. Mackenna is aggressive on the court, a leader, and naturally athletic. She has great court awareness and is a very offensive setter. She utilizes her hitters well, but isn’t afraid to take risks and put smart tips and swings over in two.
Rebecca Arendt
Rebecca Arendt
What can’t Rebecca do? She may be listed as a setter but she can also swing across the front line. She is a powerhouse player in everything she does. From her deep and powerful float serve to her pass to attack in the front row, Rebecca is a key piece of her team’s play on nearly every point. She was impressive from start to finish.
Vivie Dempsey Vivie Dempsey 5'11" | OH Cashton | 2026 State WI
Vivie Dempsey Vivie Dempsey 5'11" | OH Cashton | 2026 State WI
Vivie is a very talented pin hitter. She is aggressive and explosive in her play. Vivie manufactures points – and does it with power and finesse. She never ends a play without a full on battle to win the point. She is talented in all of her skills and makes momentum-changing plays in competitive matches.
Avery had eye-catching performances throughout the tournament. As a hitter she took big swings and big risks that usually paid off. She is very talented in defense as well, and you don’t want to be on the receiving end of one of her back row attacks. She is well-rounded and very engaged on the court.
Highlights
Gracyn Meyer Gracyn Meyer 6'0" | MB Sauk Prairie | 2025 WI
Gracyn Meyer Gracyn Meyer 6'0" | MB Sauk Prairie | 2025 WI
Gracyn is an offensive and gritty middle. She can find ways to make even the toughest plays work. She also puts up a solid block and is disciplined and fast in her lateral movement across the net. Gracyn is quick in transition and was a go-to hitter on her team.
Emy was a rockstar libero this weekend. She went on numerous big serving runs. She was all over the court working to keep the ball alive. I was so impressed with her ball control, even in chaotic plays and long rallies. Emy stayed cool under pressure and was a huge piece of her team’s championship win in the tournament.
Highlights
Sage August
Sage August
Sage has such a clean platform and great angles. She is hugely valuable in serve receive. She read servers fast and got in front of the ball. Sage’s form was book-perfect on serve receive and she was tough to get balls by. She is also very talented in defense and has great court awareness.
Lily Oberneder Lily Oberneder S Homestead | 2024 WI
Lily Oberneder Lily Oberneder S Homestead | 2024 WI
Lily ran a 5-1 for I AM VBC this weekend and she did a great job. Not only was her play great, her intangibles were equally as valuable. Lily communicated well on the court, hustled on every play, showed a lot of grit in tight matches, and always worked to better the ball. She is a smart setter who moves the ball around well.
Ava Bruley Ava Bruley 5'6" | DS/L Bay Port | 2026 WI
Ava Bruley Ava Bruley 5'6" | DS/L Bay Port | 2026 WI
Ava is a gritty and athletic libero. Her communication skills on the court are next level. She never misses a beat and is always ready for whatever is thrown her way. She is very physical on the court, laying out for tough balls, covering her hitters, and getting in the way of even the toughest swings.
Halie is a setter who is smart and gritty on the court. She has great form, runs a 5-1 while playing up an age division, and is a leader on the court. Halie’s hands are soft as butter, and she moves the ball pin to pin with seeming ease. She also is a huge asset from the service line for Elevate.
Highlights
Lily Noffke
Lily Noffke
Lily played all six rotations as a middle hitter this weekend. She was so consistent and impressive in everything she did. She took great swings in the front row and played consistent and solid defense and serve receive in the back row. Her versatility adds a lot of value when she is on the court.