Big Ten Commits Set To Invade Prep Dig Gauntlet

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We are days away from the Prep Dig Gauntlet and the clash of the titans is about to happen. There are some top prospects in the country from the Class of 2026 who have committed to high level college programs where they will get to go head to head this weekend in Milwaukee. Here are some Big Ten commits that will be coming to the Prep Dig Gauntlet. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":507343,"width":"470px","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:470px;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>SPVB 17 Elite</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sports Performance 17 Elite is going to be a heavy favorite going into AAU Nationals where they will be one of the top seeds in 17 Open.&nbsp; They feature [player_tooltip player_id='323945' first='Brooklynne' last='Brass'] (Maryland), [player_tooltip player_id='328144' first='Haley' last='Burgdorf'] (Penn State), [player_tooltip player_id='325497' first='Elayna' last='Davidson'] (Maryland), and [player_tooltip player_id='251333' first='Ellie' last='Stiernagle'] (Northwestern).&nbsp; And these are only the Big Ten commits.&nbsp; Burgdorf has been on the radar since she walked onto the club courts her 14s year and has been one of the top six rotation outside hitters in the country.&nbsp; She will have a chance for an exciting matchup with her future teammate at Penn State in [player_tooltip player_id='403522' first='Kendall' last='Northern'] out of the Cincinnati area who plays for [program_tooltip program_id='431827' first='Elevation' last=''] 17 Chicas.&nbsp; Brass and Davidson will also see a future teammate from MKE Sting 17 Gold in [player_tooltip player_id='249678' first='Marlee' last='Sivak'].&nbsp; [player_tooltip player_id='251333' first='Ellie' last='Stiernagle'] will be keeping things close to home and heading to Northwestern.&nbsp; Northwestern is bringing in a top Class of 2025 outside hitter in Bella Bullington who was part of SPVB 18 Elite that some of these athletes competed on earlier in the club season.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":765479,"width":"467px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/04/RG1A2430.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-765479" style="width:467px;height:auto"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Elle Schara</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>1st Alliance 17 Gold&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Quite the variety of Big Ten commits coming from 1st Alliance 17 Gold who were the 16 Open runner up finishers in 2024.&nbsp; They bring Carolyn [player_tooltip player_id='547461' first='Lynney' last='Tarnow'] (Wisconsin), [player_tooltip player_id='323925' first='Nikolija' last='Bulatovic'] (Iowa), Elle Schara (Purdue), and [player_tooltip player_id='319759' first='Alaina' last='Pollard'] (Indiana).&nbsp; Tarnow is the top middle blocker in the country from the Class of 2026.&nbsp; She will be training with the U19 National Team that will be going to the U21 Championships.&nbsp; Her length, athleticism, and physicality fits the mold at Wisconsin who have had another 1st Alliance middle blocker in “All Everything” Dana Rettke.&nbsp; Bulatovic continues the pipeline from Chicagoland to Iowa City where they have been building with other Chicago recruits that include Jaimie Marquardt ([program_tooltip program_id='432009' first='Sky' last='High']), Jenna Meitzler ([program_tooltip program_id='432009' first='Sky' last='High']), Milana Moisio ([program_tooltip program_id='431567' first='Adversity' last='']), Hallie Steponaitis (MOD), and Alyssa Worden (Sports Performance).&nbsp; Elle Schara is one of the top outside hitters in Northwest Indiana who finds a way to score points with her power and crafty shots.&nbsp; She is also a high level serve receive and defensive specialist where she could be an option at libero when she heads to Purdue.&nbsp; [player_tooltip player_id='319759' first='Alaina' last='Pollard'] is a physical force at the net with her ability to play out of the middle or as a right side.&nbsp; She touches high, sets a strong block, and knows how to shut down the other side of the net while finding ways to score points for herself as well.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":507101,"width":"436px","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/Marlee-Sivak7.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-507101" style="width:436px;height:auto"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='249678' first='Marlee' last='Sivak']</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>MKE Sting 17 Gold</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[program_tooltip program_id='428672' first='Milwaukee' last='Sting'] 17 Gold grabbed an early open bid in January at the Northern Lights Qualifier and have been building for a strong finish this summer.  They pulled a huge upset last year in 16 Open taking out [program_tooltip program_id='431555' first='Mintonette' last=''] and landing in the gold bracket of 16 Open.  They have two Big Ten commits in [player_tooltip player_id='249678' first='Marlee' last='Sivak'] (Maryland) and Brooke Baldwin (Rutgers).  Sivak is a smooth six rotation outside hitter who can serve receive, defend, and score points out of the back row.  She has been a star for Sting and Oconomowoc High School since she was a freshman.  Sivak won't be the only Sting/Oconomowoc athlete for Maryland.  Class of 2024 setter, Lily Wagner is currently at Maryland and played two years of high school ball with Sivak.  Baldwin is a setter/right side combo player who has a unique all around skill set where she can set and swing at a high level.  Her physicality is elite at the net where she has shown she can run the show and also score points.  </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Madeline Kraft (Madi Kraft) of Northern Lights 17-1 to&nbsp; Minnesota</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Of course a Northern Lights athlete is heading to “The U”.&nbsp; Madi Kraft of Northern Lights 17-1 will be a future Gopher where she is following in the footsteps of plenty of Northern Lights athletes.&nbsp; She is one of the top liberos in the Minnesota Class of 2026.&nbsp; Class of 2025 libero McKenna Garr played for Northern Lights and was a standout at the Prep Dig Gauntlet in years past.&nbsp; She will be starting her freshman season this fall.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":748542,"width":"520px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/02/RG1A1604.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-748542" style="width:520px;height:auto"/></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='403522' first='Kendall' last='Northern'] - [program_tooltip program_id='431827' first='Elevation' last=''] 17 Chicas</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='403522' first='Kendall' last='Northern']&nbsp; might just be one of the most electric athletes coming into Prep Dig Gauntlet this weekend playing for [program_tooltip program_id='431827' first='Elevation' last=''] 17 Chicas. This team has been on a tear the past couple months where they were runner up finishers at Bluegrass, MEQ, Windy City, and took home the Players Championship in Louisville this past weekend. Northern is lethal off a one foot attack where there is no stopping her on a slide.&nbsp; She is so quick laterally and is able to get out of her block and make herself available to her setter for multiple tempos.&nbsp; Her skill set will be an exciting addition to Penn State.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->