New Clubs Rise, Familiar Faces Highlight Day 1 Battle at the Bay

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Day one of Battle at the Bay featured plenty of familiar faces, but also some new as we wrap up action from the Resch Expo across from Lambeau Field.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Could it be another Sting 18 Gold vs [program_tooltip program_id='428591' first='FC' last='Elite'] 18 Elite Title Game?&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This qualifier season it has been a back and forth battle between thee two teams. [program_tooltip program_id='428591' first='FC' last='Elite'] 18 Elite leads the series 2.5-2. The reason I put a 2.5 in there is because [program_tooltip program_id='428591' first='FC' last='Elite'] 18 Elite won a one set tiebreaker over Sting at the MidEast Qualifier in March where they punched their open bid. Sting 18 Gold got their open bid in Boston where both of these teams will be among the top group in the country at USAV Nationals in Columbus, Ohio.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With the target on the back of these two teams there are plenty of others in the hunt poised for an upset bid. 608 Juniors had a strong mornkng behind the play or Toledo commit <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='149575' first='Sierra' last='Pertzborn']</strong>. She is long, strong, and extremely dynamic out of the middle where she can do a lot of damage. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='122560' first='Andi' last='Spies']</strong>, one of the top players out of the Class of 2024 does plenty for this team as a setter and right side attacker, responsible for a whole lot of points. Michigan Tech commit <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='119399' first='Amelia' last='Albers']</strong> has competed in numerous Prep Dig events and has provides a lot of consistency in the backrow.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Impact 18 National out of Appleton made quick work or their pool going 6-0 in sets to hold their number one seed. WIAC commits <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='91939' first='Alivia' last='Jeanquart']</strong> (UW-Stevens Point) and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='91933' first='Isabella' last='Grace']</strong> (UW-Eau Claire) had a big day as did 2024 right side <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='122520' first='Claudia' last='Merizon']</strong> who is always explosive with a quick left handed swing.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Gold play continues late Sunday morning with many of these athletes playing their final match in Wisconsin as a high school athlete.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>A New Club “Elevate”ing</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[program_tooltip program_id='428585' first='Elevate' last='VBC'] with athletes ranging from the Tomah to the LaCrosse area had a big day, led by their 18 Black team who will be one to watch in the 17/18 Club Division. <strong>Jayda Berg,</strong> a Winona State commit is a dominant player in the field. 6'2, athletic and left handed, she is a tough match up when it comes to her big swing and solid block. She makes a great combination with setter <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='181735' first='Halie' last='Kapelke']</strong> (Concordia Chicago) who has a great IQ and can be a threat at the net. The Elevate 16 Black team showed plenty of athleticism with a team full of balance. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='435842' first='Vivie' last='Dempsey'] </strong>brought a huge swing from the outside with a ton of physicality while her partner in crime on the outside, <strong>Addison Foor</strong> being a six rotation machine where she and pass and score among the best in the 16 Open field.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Eau Cl<strong>AIR</strong>e</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>AIR VBC 16 Blue out of the Eau Claire area was dominant in the 16 Club level. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='371526' first='Meredith' last='Adams']</strong> is a really dynamic setter. She brings a lot of physicality and a big left handed swing where she can turn and burn to score points on her own. <strong>Hope Bushendorf</strong> was dominant on the right side where she provided a heavy swing that was tough for the other side of the net as well as a strong block. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='447067' first='Ashlynn' last='Schroeder']</strong> provides a lot of length and range as a libero. This team is tough and I know Air as a club is having a season where they are building plenty of momentum in Western Wisconsin. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Other Names To Know&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://x.com/PrepDigChris/status/1649867589038882818?s=20","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <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/1649867589038882818?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='247272' first='Sari' last='Marks'] - Sting United 15 Red&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>So dynamic as a setter/right side, this Sting United team out of the Madison area team has had a huge season. They are in the hunt for a 16 Open title.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='277438' first='Tessa' last='Grogan'] - MWP 15 Elite&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":385043,"width":696,"height":633,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/04/Screen-Shot-2023-04-22-at-7.56.57-PM.png?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-385043" width="696" height="633" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Grogan is a setter who plays with such a spark for [program_tooltip program_id='431537' first='Midwest' last='Penguins']. This is a really athletic squad with a lot of balance.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Sam Fisch and [player_tooltip player_id='119426' first='Riley' last='Laine'] - MKE Sting 18 Black&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This middle blocking duo was on fire today. Both will be heading to make waves in the D2 world with Fisch going to Parkside and Laine going to UIndy. They are so fun to watch.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='345260' first='Bays' last='Keller'] - [program_tooltip program_id='432160' first='[program_tooltip program_id='432076' first='[program_tooltip program_id='430137' first='[program_tooltip program_id='429142' first='[program_tooltip program_id='432160' first='[program_tooltip program_id='432076' first='[program_tooltip program_id='430137' first='[program_tooltip program_id='429142' first='MVP' last='']' last='']' last='']' last='']' last='']' last='']' last='']' last=''] 17 Blue</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Keller knows how to play at a high level. She is the Libero for Oconomowoc where she was part of their state runner up team. She is uber scrappy and covers a ton of court.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":385044,"width":336,"height":308,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/04/Screen-Shot-2023-04-22-at-7.57.21-PM.png?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-385044" width="336" height="308" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='187031' first='Keira' last='Kasten'] - [program_tooltip program_id='432009' first='Sky' last='High'] 18 Black</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kasten has a major spring in her approach and she is a dominant point scorer on the right side. She is committed to Elon.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->