Five 16s Squads Who Turned Heads This Club Season

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>How are we at the end of April? With one more weekend of qualifiers, many teams will head into May taking a bit of a break to then gear up again for the start of the summer.  Over the course of the year there are always athletes and teams who really stand out.  But who are the surprises?  Who are the ones who really stood out?  Jumped off the radar?  Here are a few surprises so far from the 2024 club season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":519194,"width":"456px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/03/DSC05479.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-519194" style="width:456px;height:auto"/></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[program_tooltip program_id='527325' first='Boiler' last='Juniors 16 Gold'] </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Surprise? Not really, but more so in how this team dominated March into April.  This group has always been an open level team, they are always in the hunt, but this team caught fire and went on a tear.  They started March by taking home the 16 Open title at Bluegrass with statement wins over NKYVC, [program_tooltip program_id='430006' first='Illini' last='Elite'], AVC, and Academy.  The following weekend they head into MEQ which is always a loaded field where they finished second overall, with a huge win over Triple Crown winner Legacy in pool play to advance to the gold pool, claiming their bid. To kickoff April, they went to Kansas City and took home the Show Me 16 Open title that included a huge win over Dallas Skyline who won USAV 15 Open last season.  This past weekend they went to Dallas to take on the best in Texas, with their only loss of the weekend coming to TAV 16 Black.  This qualifier schedule was brutal and they definitely emphasized the “GOLD” in [program_tooltip program_id='527325' first='Boiler' last='Juniors 16 Gold'].  This was a good time to be in Lafayette, Indiana this past March and April. This team will compete at AAU and USAV Nationals where they have plenty of experience in big time matches. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":534717,"width":"512px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/04/DSC05806.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-534717" style="width:512px;height:auto"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='261237' first='Harper' last='Goldsmith']</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Vital 16-1 Gold </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Vital 16-1 Gold comes out of Eden Prairie, Minnesota which is a suburb of Minneapolis.  I saw this team live at Triple Crown and I saw them last year at NLQ.  They won their challenge match at Triple Crown and I saw them go toe to toe with Dallas Skyline.  I knew from there they were going to be a problem in the qualifier world.  They have a really dynamic setter in <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='261237' first='Harper' last='Goldsmith']</strong> who is a pure playmaker.  She is such a fun athlete command the court where she can turn nothing into something.  <strong>Ellie Friedrichs</strong> is a really gritty six rotation outside hitter where I was really impressed with her defense out of middle back.  Libero, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='177440' first='Cora' last='Bicknese']</strong> is uber quik, but also under control where she can set the tone with the first contact.  This team got an open bid at Show Me in KC.  See you in Vegas! </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":534720,"width":"611px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/04/DSC05571.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-534720" style="width:611px;height:auto"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Tarnow</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>1st Alliance 16 Gold </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I would put 1st Alliance 16 Gold in the same category as [program_tooltip program_id='527325' first='Boiler' last='Juniors 16 Gold'].  1st Alliance is always among the best in the Midwest and when it comes to qualifier season they are typically in the hunt on day three.  This group was the runner up in the 15 National Division in 2023, but added some big pieces to their 16 Gold team this season.  With new pieces, there are always going to be questions marks.  <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='236692' first='Elle' last='Schara'] </strong>out of Crown Point, Indiana came to 16 Gold and has been a huge impact player.  She is a rising Class of 2026 outside hitter and when an injury occurred, she stepped into set for this team as well.  Dynamic would be an understatement for Schara.  <strong>Natalie Surges </strong>is one of the top pin hitters in Wisconsin where she has provided a spark as well.  “Lynne” <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='323932' first='Carolyn' last='Tarnow']</strong> is developing into one of the top middle blockers in the country out of the Class of 2026, she is physically imposing, but has really shown how she can score in different ways and is a dangerous blocker.  This team took home the title of of the Salt Lake Showdown with huge wins over SCVC, AZ Storm, and Austin Skyline.  They will be back in action in May and will be one of the top teams at the Prep Dig Gauntlet June 8-9. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":507343,"width":"556px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/02/DSC05392.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-507343" style="width:556px;height:auto"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='251333' first='Ellie' last='Stiernagle'] of SPVB</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Sports Performance 16 Elite</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This is another team that had some new pieces to their equation.  <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='328144' first='Haley' last='Burgdorf']</strong> typically played up an age group and is now with her graduating class (2026s), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='325496' first='Cassidy' last='Cage'] </strong>came over from Michio, and this squad played in some high profile events in January and February that included Central Zone and Triple Crown. They were in the final four of Triple Crown.  They most recently took home the 16 Open title at the JVA World Challenge.  Burgdorf has been a big time scorer on the outside as well as a primary passer where she can get setter, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='251333' first='Ellie' last='Stiernagle']</strong> in position to dish to a balanced attack.  Stiernagle is rising among Midwest setters where at 6'2 she has quite a reach, great footwork, and really solid physicality at the net. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":534721,"width":"514px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/04/DSC06903.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-534721" style="width:514px;height:auto"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Masten</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>REV 16-1 Fury </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I remember watching this team last year and again at Central Zone earlier in February and I know they didn't advance into power pools in that event.  However, I watched them over a month later at MEQ and again at Windy City and the improvement of this team was extremely impressive.  They are some high flying athletes who are extremely dynamic.  Outside hitter<strong> [player_tooltip player_id='221477' first='Isabelle' last='Masten']</strong> is someone everyone has to watch.  She is a 5'7 outside hitter who is lightning in a bottle.  She is extremely explosive and just launches off the ground.  She has a really physical and athletic style where she can do everything.  A 2027 to keep tabs on is <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='327227' first='Hayden' last='Mandsager']</strong> who is a 6'1 pin attacker who just has so much power behind her swing.  This is a really scary match up for a lot of teams because they just don't go away and find ways to score points. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->