Nine Teams I Need To See Play Again

We're nearly halfway through the 2025 club season and I have a unique privilege of getting to cover teams at the regional level as well as the top open courts at Triple Crown and Qualifiers.  I have seen a whole lot of variety.  I've seen hundreds of players this summer, but who are the teams I need to watch again?  Who are the ones that play with energy?  Who brings the good vives?  Here are some teams of all levels that I need to see play again.    <blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Registration opens tomorrow! High School Summer Tournaments 📍Appleton - July 14 (JV), 15-16 📍Coralville - Aug 5-6 <a href="https://t.co/zo4dx4D7dD">https://t.co/zo4dx4D7dD</a> Registration opens March 1 <a href="https://t.co/NoO9lDe4cy">pic.twitter.com/NoO9lDe4cy</a>— Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) <a href="https://twitter.com/PrepDigChris/status/1895585626327806031?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 28, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/03/RG1A1100.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-756838" style="width:528px;height:auto"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Spiketown 15.1</figcaption></figure>   Spiketown 15.1   I was able to see this team in action at the Prep Dig Resolution in mid January.  The club out of the Neenah area is building some momentum this season and the 15s are making a name for themselves.  They have a rising Class of 2028 outside hitter in [player_tooltip player_id='522525' first='Emma' last='Liebergen'] who is going to be one to watch out of Oshkosh West High School.  Another athlete who is going to be exciting is actually from the Class of 2029 in [player_tooltip player_id='522523' first='Addison' last='Kiekhaefer'].  This setter is extremely dynamic, being a catalyst to get their team going.  They went 6-2 at the Mizuno Showcase and are nearing 30 wins on the season.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/03/RG1A0782.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-756839" style="width:500px;height:auto"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Ellisyn Schultis of [program_tooltip program_id='428591' first='FC' last='Elite'] 16 Navy</figcaption></figure>   [program_tooltip program_id='428591' first='FC' last='Elite'] 16 Navy    This team is so clean and organized.  I know - weird adjectives to describe a volleyball team, but this squad doesn't have a glaring weakness while playing really clean defense.  Their athletes are in the right position to succeed.  One of the top outsides in the Class of 2027 is [player_tooltip player_id='459898' first='Aubrey' last='Frey'] who can score points on the pin as well as the backrow.  Another athlete who has been making waves this season is Ellisyn Schultis.  The sophomore from Fond du Lac High School is someone the other side of the net needs to be aware of.  She has plenty of length and knows how to score points.  They are coming off a Badger Region Qualifier Championship and will be gearing up for Qualifier season where they will head to MEQ in a couple of weeks.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/03/RG1A1903.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-756840" style="width:539px;height:auto"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">ClubRed</figcaption></figure>   ClubRedVB WI 16 National    This team competed in our Prep Dig Minnesota Slam and they dominated.  They have quite the attacking duo of [player_tooltip player_id='565640' first='Alexis' last='Halverson'] and [player_tooltip player_id='564289' first='Britta' last='Olson'].  These 2027 prospects are ones who are sure to be rising and have competed on the big stage of the state tournament.  They are out of the Barron area in Western Wisconsin where they compete in plenty of Minnesota events.  They play with joy, a really exciting team chemistry where you can tell these athletes are having fun on the court while being successful.  They are definitely ones to watch whenever you get the chance.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/03/RG1A1761.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-756842" style="width:463px;height:auto"/></figure>   Iowa PowerPlex 17 Wieland   I was able to see this team play at the Northern Lights Qualifier where they took home the 17 USA crown.  This past weekend they finished in the final four of a highly competitive 17 USA Division of the Sunshine Qualifier.  They will be taking on Iowa Regionals in just over a week which will have a loaded 17s field.  There are two recent verbal commits from this squad in [player_tooltip player_id='261075' first='Kaelyn' last='Wieland'] and [player_tooltip player_id='389074' first='Hailey' last='Flanders'].  Wieland will be heading to Minnesota State Mankato and Flanders is going to Ferris State in Michigan.     <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/02/RG1A1550.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-748557" style="width:541px;height:auto"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='493971' first='Allison' last='Toft'] of Iowa Select </figcaption></figure>   Iowa Select 16 Mizuno   I was so excited to watch Iowa Select 16 Mizuno as well as the other Iowa Select Mizuno teams take on Central Zone in Indianapolis.  Central Zone is one of the top tournaments outside of a qualifier.  The top teams in the Mideast where this 16 Mizuno squad advanced to the gold bracket of the open division with plenty of top 50 teams in the country.  [player_tooltip player_id='490009' first='Leah' last='Caffery'] was quite the maestro to this offense where she knows how to find open attackers.  [player_tooltip player_id='493971' first='Allison' last='Toft'] was also very impressive.  She played out of the middle during the club season last year, but has been playing on the pin a bit this season.  At 6'2, long, athletic, and physical she can contribute anywhere they put her.    [program_tooltip program_id='431567' first='Adversity' last=''] 16 Adidas   This was one of the first courts I stopped at in Triple Crown because I know this team has plenty of firepower.  [player_tooltip player_id='479571' first='Maggie' last='Kurpeikis'] is a unique talent for this team as a six rotation outside hitter.  When watching this team, I put the camera down and just watched.  She looked her setter in the eye saying, “Set me the ball” and sure enough the next ball went to Kurpeikis which resulted in a kill.  This team will be heading into a daunting qualifier schedule where they will be taking on the best in the country.  I know they are up for the challenge.    [program_tooltip program_id='430006' first='Illini' last='Elite'] 16 Cardinal    I have written about this team before and they are ones to watch where they have plenty of Class of 2027 athletes who need to be on the radar.  Like all [program_tooltip program_id='430006' first='Illini' last='Elite'] teams, they play with organization and discipline.  They are well trained and have a really strong fundamental base.  They also have two outside hitters who need to be on the radar of college coaches. [player_tooltip player_id='435843' first='Carly' last='Dawson'] and [player_tooltip player_id='530669' first='Eden' last='Hafermann'] are lethal.  They can pass, serve receive, and score points from the pin along with the backrow.    [program_tooltip program_id='428672' first='Milwaukee' last='Sting'] 15 Gold    I was able to see [program_tooltip program_id='428672' first='Milwaukee' last='Sting'] 15 Gold at Central Zone where they have the makings to have a really big season. They advanced to a challenge match at Triple Crown, they just won the Badger Region Qualifier, and will be taking on MEQ in St. Louis in less than two weeks.  They have made a statement to the region, now they will look to make a statement by looking to claim an open bid. An athlete who is making a name on a national level is [player_tooltip player_id='545505' first='Tegan' last='Loechler'].  She is 6'3 with plenty of length and athleticism as a setter/right side combo player.  This past fall she captured a state title for DSHA and will be one to watch on the open courts during the qualifier season.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/03/RG1A2770.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-756845" style="width:471px;height:auto"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='545946' first='Addison' last='Waldorf'] of Iowa Premier</figcaption></figure>   Iowa Premier 15-1    This team “Battled to Bartle” at Kansas City where they won their challenge pool and crossovers to advance to the Bartle Convention Center for Sunday and Monday of Triple Crown.  This team has a strong chemistry, they play with joy, discipline, and have plenty of attackers who can put the ball to the floor.  [player_tooltip player_id='545971' first='Avery' last='Cordes'] and [player_tooltip player_id='560368' first='Elle' last='Hatlevig'] were some of the top freshmen in the state during the high school season and are carrying that momentum into the club season. [player_tooltip player_id='545946' first='Addison' last='Waldorf'] runs the show for this squad who has a great court sense and high IQ, putting her attackers in a spot to terminate.  They will be in the 15 Open Division at MEQ in just over a week.

We're nearly halfway through the 2025 club season and I have a unique privilege of getting to cover teams at the regional level as well as the top open courts at Triple Crown and Qualifiers. I have seen a whole lot of variety. I've seen hundreds of players this summer, but who are the teams I need to watch again? Who are the ones that play with energy? Who brings the good vives? Here are some teams of all levels that I need to see play again.