Prep Dig Gauntlet Returning Players to Watch – Part 1

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There will be plenty of exciting volleyball happening this weekend at the Milwaukee Sting Center as Prep Dig has pulled some heavy-hitting squads from the midwest to compete and prepare for their final leg of the 2023 club season. I thought I'd take a look back at my notes from last year and see who caught my attention and who I might want to look for this year! I love seeing progress!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">1st Alliance 17 Gold</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["135950"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Nelson grabs your attention right away with her ability to almost tear the leather off the ball.  She was dynamic as a sophomore and I can't wait to see what her time as an upper-classmen has created.  This will be an exciting attacker to follow through the tournament.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["135954"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"I remember White as being one of those players every coach wishes they had 4 of.  She has great hands and is super athletic.  White is fast, explosive, and takes an aggressive approach.  She also has a number of shots and knows just when to use them.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":2,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-646ee766689e1"} /--> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">1st Alliance 16 Gold</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://x.com/BreitNelson/status/1531431230234836996","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/BreitNelson/status/1531431230234836996 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["203428"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Vander Wal is a force and she is sure to be getting some calls on June 15th.  She has a really high contact and hits the ball hard over most blockers.  Vander Wal take a big swing and also has a nice controlled pass in serve receive.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["260949"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"Tranthum is a really explosive jumper.  She does a great job of getting her arms up early and taking a fast swing on the ball.  I can't wait to see how she is developing as she prepares for her junior season.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["288645"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"I believe I saw O'Donnell play as a middle blocker last year but it looks like she may have made the move to the right side.  One thing that stuck out to me last year about her was her ability to make a big block in the big moments.  She stayed disciplined and strong and got the job done.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":3,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-646ee76668aa4"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://x.com/BreitNelson/status/1530603574702620679","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/BreitNelson/status/1530603574702620679 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[program_tooltip program_id='431567' first='[program_tooltip program_id='431567' first='[program_tooltip program_id='431567' first='Adversity' last='']' last='']' last=''] 17 Adidas</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["135959"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Jones is still reppin' #20 and I hope she still has the big violent swing she was taking last year.  I can only imagine how another year of training, and maturity (mentally and physically) has elevated her game.  I can't wait to see it in person!","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["304216"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"Gabuzzi caught my eye in the middle last year as an attacker that had good vision and spacing.  She saw the block in front of her and worked around it well.  Gabuzzi was not afraid to speed up her armswing and terminate before the other team knew what was coming.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["135961"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"May is this quick libero that moves effortlessly wherever the ball is going.  She is sound in serve receive and gets a ton of touches on defense.  Her superpower, is her great coverage of her hitters.  Nothing drops on her side.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":3,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-646ee76668b50"} /--> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[program_tooltip program_id='430006' first='Illini' last='Elite'] 17 Cardinal</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["136638"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Ogunleye was a middle blocker that made really smart plays and quick reactions at the net.  Offensively she can take a really fast swing that you have to make sure and not blink or you will miss it.  Ogunleye also has a really great handtime and she will just chill and wait on a hitter to secure the block.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["304222"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"Hernandez is steady and constistent making her a dream for the 1st contact taker of the team.  She is a strong communicator and not much gets past her.  I would love to see Hernandez really coming into her own as a dynamic defender heading into her senior season.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":2,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-646ee76668bc8"} /-->