30+ Midwest Athletes To Know From MEQ 17 USA

MEQ is a bit of a perfect storm to see athletes from across the country. However, I went into the weekend with the lens of seeing as many athletes as possible in the Midwest, with a focus on the 16s and 17s USA Division (I see a lot, but I don't see it all). Here are over 30 prospects to know from the 17 USA Division.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/03/DSC06423.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-523221" style="width:497px;height:auto"/></figure>   Gabby DiMotto - MVP 17 Blue   Outside Hitter   Hits it square everytime. That is what Gaby DiMotto does for her MVP 17 Blue team out of the Milwaukee area. This team has athletes across the board that include UW-Milwaukee commit Ella Schuetz and UW-Green Bay commit Alexis Gardner. DiMotto is a key part to their success not only with her front row play, but she can serve receive, pass, and score from the backrow as well. She is going to have a huge senior season at New Berlin West High School next fall.   Ella Heideman - MVP 17 Blue   Right Side   Having a lefty with a fast arm on the right side adds another dimension to an offense that is always needed. Heideman is so efficient with her movement and swing where she scores a lot of points for MVP. She has a high contact point where she can really terminate going cross court. With the likes of Heideman on the right side and DiMotto and Scheutz on the outside, this really spreads the defense thin along the net creating a lot of one on one matchups.   <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/1768744745658974317?s=20 </div></figure>   Stella Wurm - Boiler Juniors 17 Gold   Libero   So smooth.  Wurm was sure to provide a solid first contact for Boilers whether it was in serve receive or defense.  She showed really efficient footwork and a soft platform which allowed for her setter to get in position to dish to multiple attackers.  This is a really scrappy group that is always a tough draw for opponents.    Isabelle Jackson - Boiler Juniors 17 Gold   Setter   Much like her libero teammate, Isabelle Jackson's game starts with her footwork. She was able to get herself in position to get her hands on the ball instead of relying on the bump set. Receiving the ball high, Jackson was able to use all of her attackers. One of them being Central Michigan commit Taylor Cripe on the outside who is always terminal.   Kayla Birmingham - 1st Alliance 17 Silver   Outside Hitter   Explosive! Birmingham puts so much power into her swing where she has the ability to score a lot of points. She has a fast approach where she uses everything to put into the hand contact. It sounds different when she hits the ball. 1st Alliance 17 Silver can compete with a lot open level teams and has a team of D1 and D2 athletes, Birmingham being one of them. She is going to create a lot of chaos on the other side of the net.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/03/DSC06439.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-523222" style="width:510px;height:auto"/></figure>   Phoebe Shorney - 1st Alliance 17 Silver   Right Side   1st Alliance can put a lot of pressure on the other side of the net with attackers who can terminate at every position. On the right side they have Phoebe Shorney who really drops the hammer. At 6'2, she has the high contact point as well as a fast twitch style where she doesn't need much room to score points. If the opposing blocker cheats in, she will terminate down the line. If they camp on her to the line, she can turn it cross court. With her speed and athleticism, she is a steal at the next level.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/03/DSC06466.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-523223" style="width:509px;height:auto"/></figure>   Layla Pelly - HP Illinois 17 National   Middle Blocker   Class of 2024 - Committed to Barry University   Pelly is a middle blocker from the Class of 2024 Class playing with the 17s this season.  This HP Illinois team had a tough day one going 1-2, but rolled the rest of the tournament.  Pelly was so impressive out of the middle with her leaping ability.  She is so dynamic where she is able to hang in the air to tip, swing, or throw always keeping the other side of the net off balanced.  She has a big time upside to her game that will translate well to Barry University, a D2 school in Miami.    Addison Lampe - HP Illinois 17 National   Libero   So athletic with a ton of range at the libero position, Lampe is one who can cover plenty of ground out of left back. She isn't afraid to take command of the backcourt. She is a junior at Breese Mater Dei which is one of the top high school programs in Class 2A of Illinois who won a state title this past fall. There are multiple athletes on this club team who prep at Breese Mater Dei. Lampe is definitely one to star on UA for 2025 liberos.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/03/DSC06473.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-523225" style="width:501px;height:auto"/></figure>   Maddie Madelynn Mitchell - Madtown 171 National   Outside Hitter   Mitchell is a high flyer. She isn't afraid to go against a big block and let it rip. She is a six rotation outside who can do a little bit of everything. I was impressed with how she could change speeds and angles from the outside. She just adds a spark to her side of the net.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/03/DSC06482.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-523226" style="width:509px;height:auto"/></figure>   Gracyn Meyer - Madtown 171 National   Middle Blocker   Meyer has a huge upside to her game as a 6'1 middle blocker.  She was making an impact with her block and offensive skills as well this past weekend.  Her wingspan is just different as well as having the strength to really put some pop on her swing and be ready for a stuff block.  She works through transition to be available coming out of a block where she can run in front of the setter or go behind to terminate off one foot.    Allison Chapman - Empowered 17 Elite Black   Middle Blocker   I was able to see Chapman during pool play on Saturday for her Empowered team that is out of the Fort Wayne, Indiana area. She is the fast twitch middle blocker who was really impressive with her ability to read the other side of the court to be in position to set the block. Offensively, Chapman is so good off one foot where she can go down the line or switch it back going cross court.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/03/DSC06487.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-523227" style="width:422px;height:auto"/></figure>   Sydney Bates - Dead Frog 17 Black   Setter   Class of 2025 - Committed to College of Charleston   Her hands are soooooo good. Sydney Bates attends Portage North High School in Michigan and has already given her verbal to play at College of Charleston in South Carolina. She has plenty of length and is so smooth with how she can get to the ball and consistently jump set all the tempos. She is a pure playmaker and quarterback for Dead Frog who finished 3rd, earning a USA bid.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/03/DSC06483.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-523228" style="width:443px;height:auto"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Hanks</figcaption></figure>   Taliyah Hanks - Dead Frog 17 Black   Jordyn Hughes - Dead Frog 17 Black   Middle Blocker   This middle blocking duo is dangerous for Dead Frog. Hanks is 6'3, extremely athletic and physical. She has a major presence for this squad where she can block and attack, finding the deep corner with a heavy swing. Hughes is the fast twitch middle blocker who is so quick to close on the pin as well as being terminal off one foot. There were some D1 coaches on this court and rightfully so where these two athletes have a bright future.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/03/DSC06494.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-523229" style="width:471px;height:auto"/></figure>   Maddy Kreider - FC Elite 17 White   Setter   The Queen of the UP! Kreider is from Kingsford, Michigan located in Upper Michigan where she plays her club ball for FC Elite out of Appleton, Wisconsin.  She is highly skilled, she does everything a setter needs to do, but above all her positive intangibles are what set her apart.  She competes, she connects with all of her teammates, she is a fighter.  I am sure she is on the radar of plenty of schools in her part of the state and beyond.  She has an all around game where she could do anything, but her ceiling as a setter is very high and also exciting.    Ali Tylinkski - FC Elite 17 White   Outside Hitter   Tylinksi had an impressive Saturday for FC Elite 17 White who already has a bid to nationals from their performance at the Badger Region championships. Tylinski has plenty of length on the pin where she can be a terminal attacker. She preps at Xavier High School out of Appleton who had back to back state champions in Wisconsin.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/03/DSC06521.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-523230" style="width:491px;height:auto"/></figure>   Audrey Heiring - Wisconsin Juniors 17-1   Outside Hitter   So impressed. Heiring has the length, size, and physicality to be a big time steal at the next level as a six rotation outside. This Wisconsin Juniors 17-1 squad out of the Kenosha area has plenty of athletes from the Class of 2025 who would be a great addition to a college roster. Heiring has a ton of pace coming off of her swing where she does it from the outside as well as middle back. She is the type of attacker that the other side needs to know where she is at for every rotation. She is a junior at Kenosha Christian Life High School.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/03/DSC06525.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-523231" style="width:509px;height:auto"/></figure>   Callie Panasuk - Wisconsin Juniors 17-1   Libero   For evaluating liberos, it can be tough to separate themselves from others.  For Panasuk, I thought she just brought great vibes to the court.  She moves well in left back, she picks up the tips, she is connecting with her teammates in between every play, and is always anticipating what is next.  She preps at Oak Creek High School just South of Milwaukee who is really trending in the right direction in Wisconsin's large school division.    Sarah Pippin - NIVA 17 Purple   Outside Hitter   NIVA is out of Mishawaka, Indiana right along the Indiana/Michigan border.  Pippin preps at Edwardsburg High School out of Michigan and is a terminal outside hitter.  She has a big swing where she can go a variety of angles.  She can go sharp cross, hard down the line, or drop in an offspeed shot where she can score a lot of points in bunches.  There were a lot of dynamic athletes for this NIVA squad.    Isabella McKinney - Illini Elite 17 Black   Right Side   There had to be a little bit of “Luck of the Irish” with a name like McKinney this past weekend. And I just have to say the topspin jump serve is so back for Isabella McKinney who was so impressive on Sunday. She is a lefty right side who has a big swing, she can score a lot of points. She can go line or cross, theres a ton of pace and its tough for the opposing side to get one of her swings up cleanly and in system. She was also able to back to the service line with a big serve and score points as well. Her game just adds another dimension to this entire Illini Elite 17 Black team.   Ellie Barker - Illini Elite 17 Black   Outside Hitter   I think Barker could be a big time steal from the Class of 2025 out of Illinois. She has plenty of length as a 6'2 pin where she is so well trained as an attacker. Her ability to take a variety of approach angles to the ball allows her to hit various spots on the court with a variety of speeds. She is extremely terminal from the right side or outside where she can take what the defense gives her.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2022/12/44-Tina-Barnekova.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-264791" style="width:465px;height:auto"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Tina Barnekova</figcaption></figure>   Tina Barnekova - MI Elite 17 Elite   Pin Attacker   Very dynamic. Barnekova plays with an intensity that is contagious for her team where she's not afraid to take a big swing and get hyped. She was able to attack from multiple positions in the front row where she could be a middle blocker or right side. She was key in their three set win over Top Flight on Saturday which ultimately sent them into the gold pools for Sunday.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/12/221-Brianna-Gritzman-crop-851x559-1710884918.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-523234" style="width:488px;height:auto"/></figure>   Brianna Gritzman - Top Flight 17 Elite   Libero   So smooth. Gritzman plays with a cool, calm, and collected demeanor where she is able to take the first contact with ease. Top Flight is out of Elgin, Illinois - a North Chicago suburb. Gritzman preps at Burlington Central High School. She will be a key piece to the success of Top Flight where she can get them into system to get their well balanced attack rolling where they have some electric pins.   Addison Schoenberger - MKE Sting 17 Black   Middle Blocker/Right Side   MKE Sting 17 Black has had quite a month where they won the St. Louis Presidents Day tournament in 17 Premier and locked in a bid to nationals from the Badger Region Qualifier at the beginning of March.  One athlete to know from this team is Addison Schoenberger who can be utilized as a right side or middle blocker. I was able to see her stuff some key swings against Illini Elite 17 Black Sunday morning.  She has a high touch, but also establishes position to put the ball on the other side of the net on the floor.    Kadie Tarasiewicz - Legacy 17-2   Middle Blocker   So strong and physical out of the middle - Tarasiewicz plays with a fire and intensity that really lights up the court for Legacy 17-2. I was able to see their match when they upset the higher seed, 1st Alliance 17 Silver on Sunday morning. Tarasiewiscz was key those final points where she can close the block and transition to attack a variety of tempos where she knows how to find the open spot.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/03/DSC06554.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-523235" style="width:509px;height:auto"/></figure>   Brooke Hehl - Legacy 17-2   Setter   So smooth. Hehl is the QB1 for the Legacy 17-2 team out of Detroit where she make setting a variety of tempos and attackers look relatively easy. What I was really impressed with was how she could be pulled off the net and she was still connecting with her middles. She is really strong on a scramble situation where she can make something out of nothing. The attackers know she is going to put the ball on the money for them to terminate.   <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/1768987082679071177?s=20 </div></figure>   Claire Payne - NIVA 17 Purple   Middle Blocker - Committed to Appalachian State   Watching Claire Payne, I knew she would be a huge steal at the next level with how dynamic she is out of the middle. She has a lot of speed and a really fast arm where she is a mismatch nightmare for the other side of the net. For college coaches? Too late, she has committed to App State in North Carolina. Her ability to find an open space along the net and make positive things happen is special. When they are in system and she can run a slide, forget about it - she's automatic!   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/03/DSC06563.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-523236" style="width:535px;height:auto"/></figure>   Gracie Furlong - Six Pack 17s   Outside Hitter   Gracie Furlong is quite an athlete who preps at Galena High School in Illinois and plays for Six Pack out of the Cedar Falls/Waterloo, Iowa area. She was part of a Class 1A state championship volleyball team in Illinois and is also a standout basketball player. She is quite a leaper and provides a big swing where she isn't afraid to go for a big block and use the hands to score. She is very fast to the ball with a violent arm swing.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/03/DSC06460.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-523237" style="width:548px;height:auto"/></figure>   Amelia Klenk - Six Pack 17s   Libero   Six Pack has a long line of liberos in their program that have played high level college volleyball. Klenk stood out this weekend for Six Pack who finished second in the USA Division. When this team is healthy and has all of their athletes available they are right there with all of the open level teams. Klenk provides a consistent first contact, is dependable in serve receive and scramble situations, and can put up a clean second ball to her attackers. She is one to watch in Iowa's Class of 2025 after seeing her play this weekend.   <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/1768991953641730527?s=20 </div></figure>   Katelynn Toft - Iowa Select 17 Mizuno   Middle Blocker   Iowa Select comes out of the Quad Cities where they pull from quite a geographical area.  Katelynn Toft is a middle blocker out of Durant High School in Iowa where they are building a strong small school program. This weekend in Indy, Toft showed she could score points at a high level where she connected really well with the tempo coming from her setters.  She was smart in her shot selection on when to tip, go offspeed, and really swing it.  She had a lot of success in their in-state matchup with Six Pack on Sunday.     Gabriella Ragins - Iowa Select 17 Mizuno   Right Side   Ragins preps at Pleasant Valley High School, a large school powerhouse in Iowa where they are consistently playing in big state tournament matches. She is a middle blocker at PV where this past weekend she was on the right side for Select. She can set the block, transition to attack, and hit the ball square with some force where she saw a lot of success taking aggressive swings on Sunday.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/03/DSC06583.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-523238" style="width:560px;height:auto"/></figure>   Lily Jones - Circle City 17 Black   Outside Hitter - **Class of 2026   College coaches can't quite contact Lily Jones just yet where she is a 2026 prospect. She is playing up on Circle City 17 Black where they already have an American bid to nationals. Jones is a 6'1 pin attacker who is very terminal from the right side and the outside. She can serve receive and play six rotations as well. Her arm swing is booming, but she also has the savvy and IQ to score points with a deep tip to the corner or a throw off the block. She is a hidden gem of the 2026s.   <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/1769013566751879521?s=20 </div></figure>   Bradee McDonald - Circle City 17 Black   Libero   After covering certain clubs season after season, you can pick patterns from certain positions from certain clubs.  Bradee McDonald is definitely a Circle City libero.  She has great footwork and platform awareness that all Circle City liberos show.  Her awareness and IQ is on point where she can really anticipate what the other side is doing or can clean up an erratic first pass on her side.  She is a savvy player that teams would love to have.    Hannah Gardner - CSDP 17 National   Setter - Committed to Missouri State   What a weapon.  Gardner is a lefty setter who could distribute, but also score a lot of points on her own.  Each time she jump set, she was a definite threat to score.  CSDP is out of Southwest Missouri where Garner announced her commitment to play for Missouri State in the Missouri Valley Conference.  This is a huge get for the Bears where she is a local prospect out of Kickapoo High School.  She was a major gamechanger for this team where there are multiple athletes from this squad who will be looking to make an impact at the next level.    Olivia Zamis - 1st Alliance 17 Black   Middle Blocker   At 6'3 and quite the wingspan, Zamis has textbook footwork when it comes to closing the block and being an offensive weapon.  She can get on top of the ball for solid hand contact and is able to terminate to the deep corner.  This was a fun 1st Alliance 17 Black team who finished 5-3 on the weekend.    Jenny Buehler - 1st Alliance 17 Black   Outside Hitter   Buehler is a pure point scorer.  She is able to attack on the outside where she packs a punch, but she can also head back to the service line and provide some solid point scoring opportunities as well.  Like most of these 1st Alliance athletes, she is well trained, fundamentally sound, and knows how to play the game the right way. She has the physicality and athleticism to make an impact at the next level.

MEQ is a bit of a perfect storm to see athletes from across the country. However, I went into the weekend with the lens of seeing as many athletes as possible in the Midwest, with a focus on the 16s and 17s USA Division (I see a lot, but I don't see it all). Here are over 30 prospects to know from the 17 USA Division.