20 Impact ’25s from the Prep Dig Gauntlet
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It’s hard to believe the Prep Dig Gauntlet has come and gone. Nationals are closer than ever, and these teams are ready. After three days of great competition among the top teams in the Midwest, I can’t wait to see…
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Continue ReadingIt’s hard to believe the Prep Dig Gauntlet has come and gone. Nationals are closer than ever, and these teams are ready. After three days of great competition among the top teams in the Midwest, I can’t wait to see their success on the national level. Here are some impact ’25s from the Prep Dig Gauntlet.
Ava is one of the top liberos in her class, and she showed just how valuable she is at the Gauntlet. She was a consistent force out of the back row all three days. She puts up great out-of-system balls, has great control and simple movement on serve receive, and is quick and explosive on defense. She balances the different aspects of the position incredibly well and is a fun libero to watch.
Isabella is a high-impact player. She has a lethal top spin serve that stops a lot of teams in their tracks. Her serve is also consistent, something you don’t see much of with a high-level top spin. Isabella was an impact player in the front row as well. She put up a solid block and used her power and court awareness to manufacture points.
Alexandra plays a crisp, clean game of volleyball. She is always in control and places the ball well. Her form is solid, and she runs the court efficiently. She, quite literally, sets her teammates up for success. Alexandra is a leader on the court and puts in full effort on every single play.
Highlights
Tamia is a fearless powerhouse pin. She is not afraid to make aggressive choices with her swing, even in long plays or on tough sets. Tamia earns points and executes well out of serve receive and in transition. She adds value in all six rotations and is a key piece of Adversity’s offense and defense.
Highlights
Once Avery gets going, she is nearly unstoppable. She can simply dominate on the court. Avery is a fun athlete to watch because she makes momentum-changing plays and manufactures points. She has great connections with her setters and is active in defense and serve receive.
Amari Montgomery
Amari Montgomery
Amari is an aggressive middle. She is hungry for the ball and gets up on anything trying to make its way over the net. Whether she is on offense or defense, she has her hands high and works to add value to every point. She is always locked, loaded, and ready to jump or move across the court.
Sadie is a 6-rotation athlete that is consistent and always working hard. She has a good read on offense and defense and great court awareness. Sadie works to limit her errors and is engaged on every point. She puts up big numbers in all of her skills and is a player on the rise.
Ellen is a key offensive weapon on this talented Circle City squad. She has a consistent contact on the ball and a lightning-fast arm swing. This combination allows her to move her shots around with big power. She makes big plays and is always ready for a set. She is also a solid defender that works to get great touches on balls coming over the net.
Highlights
Some of Adalyn’s plays last weekend literally had me cheering from wherever I was taking pictures. Her swings just have that level of impact. She was immediately added to my notes app. Her play is the definition of explosive and she is simply talented. Adalyn plays in all six rotations and is an athlete that would be hard to take off the court.
Highlights
McKenna is a very high-level libero. She reads everything and seems to make the toughest plays look easy. Her volleyball IQ is through the roof, and she is very disciplined in her play. From her serve receive to her defense to her out-of-system sets, she was active in every aspect of the match. She was a key player for MiElite who battled against Sting in the championship match.
Highlights
Ella is a setter to watch. She takes risks yet has great ball control. She is an athlete to her core, and it shows in her endurance and competitive plays on the court. She can push the ball pin to pin from nearly anywhere on the court and trick many opposing blockers with her against-the-grain sets. Ella is gritty and well-rounded and a huge leader on the court.
Amanda Freehill
Amanda Freehill
Amanda has one of the deepest offensive toolboxes I have seen in this class. She can consistently tool the block and place the ball exactly where she wants it. She splits defenders and can hit the deep corner. It is honestly super fun to watch. She plays the match strategically and always looks to the other side of the court.
Elli is a high-flying pin with a big approach and an even bigger swing. She never lays off the gas. Elli is an athlete with huge potential. She executes well on the pin and earns points for her team. She gets a lot of contacts on the ball and is aggressive in everything she does. Elli is a go-to hitter who can be relied upon to make big kills in tight matches.
Myla’s line shot has to be one of the tournament’s most consistent and impressive swings. She always seems to be able to swing right in front of or behind where the setter is standing. She has huge potential as a 6-rotation athlete and has a stellar back-row attack. She is defensively very strong and a consistent force on the court.
Ava is a huge energizer. She is crazy talented as a pin hitter and loves to pound balls. Ava seems to have a ‘go big or go home’ mentality on the court. She can be relied upon to manufacture points and execute in any situation. She is a player to watch and is a key piece of this Northern Lights squad.
Kate is a 6-rotation right side and an offensive weapon. She has a lethal swing out of both the front and back row. Kate is always an option for her setter and is a g0-to hitter. She puts up a huge block and has great timing. Kate gets a lot of touches on blocks and a good number of stuff blocks as well. She impressed me at the Gauntlet.
Jorah is a tall setter with clean form and a quick contact on the ball. She is hard to read and an athlete with huge potential. She moves the ball around efficiently and keeps all of her hitters involved. Jorah sees the court well and feeds her hitters, balancing her offense.
Highlights
Madison played all six rotations throughout the tournament. She is a high-level athlete that has tremendous potential. She was an impact player on offense as well as defense. Besides her incredible talent, what sets Madison apart is her positivity on the court. She is always amping up her team and picking up teammates who need a little extra energy. She is very focused and is clearly a leader for her team.
Gabriella Pitcel Gabriella Pitcel 6’1″ | MB Mukwonago | 2025 State #42 Nation WI wowed me this weekend. I have seen this team play numerous times, and she is always impressive, but her connection with setter Billie Reiter Billie Reiter 5’11” | S Greendale | 2025 State WI was nearly perfect, and she was a go-to hitter on the court. She also put up a solid block. Gabriella is explosive and athletic, with a huge vertical and fast arm swing. She is one of the top athletes in her class and the top-ranked middle.
Ava is a setter whose intangibles are just as valuable as her play. She is a leader that leads by example in her hustle and high level of play. She has a great touch on the ball and is very hard to read. Her jump sets hold opposing blockers and give her hitters opportunities to earn kills. Ava is a reliable setter that spreads her offense and runs the court well.