Storylines To Follow Heading Into The Prep Dig Battle at the Bay

<p>There is always something interesting going on behind the rosters. I love hearing the interesting stories and connections within a team as well as between teams. As we approach the Prep Dig Battle at the Bay I thought I'd take a peek at what our attending teams have been up to!</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">A Family Affair</h2>   <p>Coaches love finding a coach's kid because a lot of times they have a better understanding of all the things that go into coaching, skill development, and team dynamics. [program_tooltip program_id='428591' first='FC' last='Elite'] 18 Navy has a father/daughter duo with Hank Koss as an assistant coach and [player_tooltip player_id='91894' first='Rachel' last='Koss'] who can run an offense. Now, I don't know this for sure but I suspect there is another family influence when we look at the Elite Alliance 17-1 team. We have Daniel and Adrianna Reinhart as the coaches and Ashlyn Reinhart as a player. I think it's a safe bet there may be some family ties in there. A pair that I DO know are related are the IMPACTful duo of Denise Kapalko and her daughter, Wisconsin Lutheran commit, Mya Kapalko. </p>   <p>[program_tooltip program_id='428662' first='Wisconsin' last='Ice'] has a couple mother/daughter combos including former UW-Whitewater All-American, Lynn (Olson) Krueger and her daughter, [player_tooltip player_id='122517' first='Ava' last='Krueger'] on 17 National. Assistant coach Kim Beaudoin assists for 16 National while daughter, [player_tooltip player_id='180257' first='Amara' last='Beaudoin'] is a rising middle. Ice also has a father/daughter group with 16 Purple. Tony Hollander and his daughter, Makenzie Hollander coach while the younger daughter, Taylor Hollander has played a number of positions for this group. There is also an unconventional sister connection on 16 National with [player_tooltip player_id='180603' first='Eiley' last='Schoeneman'] and "sister" (foreign exchange student) Marta Company-Hernandez. </p>   <p>[program_tooltip program_id='431537' first='Midwest' last='Penguins'] 15 Elite has a pair including head coach, Patty Witon and her daughter [player_tooltip player_id='277437' first='Olivia' last='Witon']. And I don't know for sure but I have a sneaking suspicion Sting United 15 Red has a pair that includes coach and former Badger, Meggan (Kohnen) Oeth, and player, Addi Oeth. Wisconsin Premier 16 Teal has coaches, Sue and Amber Baker, as a mother/daughter coaching duo. </p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Full Representation</h2>   <p>There will be teams from every region of Wisconsin. Metro Milwaukee will be sending teams from 262 Attack, Adversity, [program_tooltip program_id='428594' first='[program_tooltip program_id='428594' first='G-Force' last='']' last=''], Jr. Red Knight, [program_tooltip program_id='431537' first='Midwest' last='Penguins'], [program_tooltip program_id='428672' first='Milwaukee' last='Sting'], Motion, and Wisconsin Premier volleyball clubs. Also coming from the southeast portion of Wisconsin clubs that are sending teams include I AM and River City. Local and Northeast clubs will be represented by [program_tooltip program_id='428591' first='FC' last='Elite'], [program_tooltip program_id='431937' first='Fond' last='du Lac Fusion'], FVP, Heat, Impact, One Wisconsin, [program_tooltip program_id='431932' first='South' last='Shore Slam'], [program_tooltip program_id='431945' first='Valley' last='Velocity'], [program_tooltip program_id='431577' first='Westside' last='Slam'], [program_tooltip program_id='428659' first='Wisconsin' last='Blaze'], and [program_tooltip program_id='432016' first='Wisconsin' last='Shock']. </p>   <p>The northwest will be represented by Air, Elevate, [program_tooltip program_id='428662' first='Wisconsin' last='Ice'], and Xtreme volleyball clubs. The southwest including the Madison area will be represented by 608 Juniors, [program_tooltip program_id='428577' first='[program_tooltip program_id='428577' first='Crossfire' last='']' last=''], and Infinity clubs. Aside from team out of state these teams may have the longest travel time.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Returning Champs</h2>   <p>We had the inaugural Battle at the Bay in 2022 and we have some champions returning to try to make it back-to-back championships! Last year, [program_tooltip program_id='428591' first='FC' last='Elite'] 18 Elite took the title along with returners [player_tooltip player_id='122483' first='Ella' last='Demetrician'], [player_tooltip player_id='91880' first='Kyla' last='Dunaway'], [player_tooltip player_id='82915' first='Autumn' last='Flynn'], and [player_tooltip player_id='122502' first='Bryn' last='Janke']. Meanwhile, in 2022 the 13's division was won by [program_tooltip program_id='431937' first='Fond' last='du Lac Fusion'] 13 Purple and their 14 Purple return this year along with Claire Braatz, Allison Buelow, Kylee Haller, Kendall Nelson, Ellisyn Shultis, and [player_tooltip player_id='877375' first='Kaitlyn' last='Winter'].</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://x.com/BreitNelson/status/1510621597400543241 </div></figure>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Seeing Double</h2>   <p>Nope! You aren't seeing double, there really are two! Elevate 18 Black has a set of 2024 twins, #10 Gina Klum is a defensive specialist while #15 Tricia Klum is a setter. If you turn to the afternoon wave you will find [program_tooltip program_id='428662' first='Wisconsin' last='Ice'] 16 National's Ari and [player_tooltip player_id='178296' first='Sade' last='Partlow'] on either pin. </p>

There is always something interesting going on behind the rosters. I love hearing the interesting stories and connections within a team as well as between teams. As we approach the Prep Dig Battle at the Bay I thought I'd take a peek at what our attending teams have been up to!