Championship Gamechangers at Prep Dig Battle at the Bay

These athletes were some of the best of the best this weekend at the Prep Dig Battle at the Bay held at the Resch Expo across from Lambeau Field. Some of these names are very familiar to the Wisconsin volleyball world, where others are names that the Wisconsin volleyball world needs to know. What was exciting was the passing of the torch was the top 18s in Wisconsin on the brink of finishing their prep careers with other younger age groups who are starting their prep careers, filled with plenty of hope and big dreams. Here are the gamechangers from Battle at the Bay.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://x.com/PrepDigChris/status/1650214469371396096?s=20 </div></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='122560' first='Andi' last='Spies'] - 608 Juniors 18-1   Committed to Middle Tennessee State   The performance of [player_tooltip player_id='122560' first='Andi' last='Spies'] was something special on Sunday. I usually don't watch full matches, but I did get to see the performance of 608 in the semifinals and finals of the 17/18 Open field. Spies has a unique skill set. In the backrow, she is an incredible defender and setter. Her footwork, IQ, smooth release allows for some great matchups that her attackers were able to take advantage of. She's tough to predict, she doesn't give anything away to the opposition. As an attacker, she is a really tough matchup on the right side. Spies is all of 5'9 - 5'10, who can play high above the net with incredible hangtime. She knows when to tip, throw, swing, use the block, you name the shot - she's got it. Defenses can key against her, but she knows where to find the weakness. I will have a 608 special coming out tomorrow, but this team has amazing team chemistry. 18s can be a tough year, some players are still playing to be committed, others are clearly checked out, but this team was playing for each other - that is something special.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://x.com/PrepDigChris/status/1650246702773747712?s=20 </div></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='122483' first='Ella' last='Demetrician'] - [program_tooltip program_id='428591' first='FC' last='Elite'] 18 Elite   Committed to Michigan   Demestrician has been playing at a completely different level this club season.  Her athleticism and physicality has improved and she is playing with such great intensity and a killer instinct. Demetrician has always been solid in every rotation where she can pass, serve receive, and attack, but now she is doing it with an extra level of authority.  The future Michigan recruit is swinging away with a ton of pace which is making it tough for the other side of the net to keep the dig in system or she's taking advantage of the block.  [program_tooltip program_id='428591' first='FC' last='Elite'] 18 Elite will head into Columbus for USAV 18 Nationals as the 15th overall seed and will look to continue their success they found at nationals the past two years.    [player_tooltip player_id='119399' first='Amelia' last='Albers'] and [player_tooltip player_id='149572' first='Eliana' last='Ross'] - 608 Juniors 18-1   Albers - Michigan Tech   Ross - Washington University - St. Louis   This defensive duo was lights out all weekend. They work extremely well together where its virtually a tutorial on how to play defense as a team. If one made a dig the other was following to keep the second touch alive. At this level of 18s, getting a clean dig to the setter is pretty rare especially with how hard these attackers are hitting. With these two, they were able to get a touch and would follow with a really nice second ball to get a hard swing back to the other side. 608 Juniors will be heading to Columbus in the National division where with the momentum they are playing with, they could be in some big matches come late day two into day three.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://x.com/PrepDigChris/status/1650261245969195009?s=20 </div></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='122463' first='Malayna' last='Dins'] - Impact 17 National (UW-Oshkosh)   Sienna Busalacchi - Impact 17 National   Impact 17 National just quietly kept winning, they were a top four seed, but they swept everyone enroute to a 17/18 Championship. I saw this team at our first tournament in January at the Resolution and there has been a really steady improvement where they have found their groove the second half of the season. There is a lot of balance on this team, but two big time players are [player_tooltip player_id='122463' first='Malayna' last='Dins'] and Sienna Busaacchi. Dins has always been high flyer on the pin, she's heading to UW-Oshkosh. Busalacchi preps at Appleton West and has a future at the collegiate level. She is long, strong, and really physical at the net. I really like her demeanor at the net where she plays hard, isn't afraid to swing aggressively, and make the big block.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://x.com/PrepDigChris/status/1650262338501505030?s=20 </div></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='180257' first='Amara' last='Beaudoin'] - [program_tooltip program_id='428662' first='Wisconsin' last='Ice'] 16 National   This 16s field was extremely competitive with all of these teams beating up on each other. A dramatic weekend of three set thrillers which Ice was involved in plenty. Four of their matches were in three sets, and in their championship match they defeated [program_tooltip program_id='431537' first='Midwest' last='Penguins'] 15 Elite who avenged a loss earlier in the weekend winning 29-27, 25-23. Beaudoin is a middle blocker who can do a little bit of everything for Ice. She is a really strong middle blocker who makes a presence offensively and defensively. Her kill on match point to seal the deal was “icing” on the cake for Beaudoin and her [program_tooltip program_id='428662' first='Wisconsin' last='Ice'] 16 National teammates.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://x.com/PrepDig/status/1650567696952467457?s=20 </div></figure>   Kate Moeller - Sting United 16 Red   Sting United 16 Red took home the 16 Club championship in dominant fashion.  This is another team we saw at the Prep Dig Resolution in mid January and they look like a different team with the growth they have made in the past few months.  One player who caught the eye of the Prep Dig Scouts was Kate Moeller.  The lefty right side had the hot hand this weekend where she could score points in multiple ways.  She could hit the angles, find the deep corner, and use the block.  She also provided a big block defensively that made opposing outside attackers think twice about going after her hands.

These athletes were some of the best of the best this weekend at the Prep Dig Battle at the Bay held at the Resch Expo across from Lambeau Field. Some of these names are very familiar to the Wisconsin volleyball world, where others are names that the Wisconsin volleyball world needs to know. What was exciting was the passing of the torch was the top 18s in Wisconsin on the brink of finishing their prep careers with other younger age groups who are starting their prep careers, filled with plenty of hope and big dreams. Here are the gamechangers from Battle at the Bay.