Day 1 Gauntlet Teams, Players, and Vibes To Know

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Prep Dig Gauntlet is so back and better than ever with some of the top teams in the country in Milwaukee this weekend. I spent the morning at the [program_tooltip program_id='428672' first='Milwaukee' last='Sting'] Center and found myself so involved in each point with the intensity of these matches.&nbsp; Who stood out?&nbsp; What were the moments? What do we need to know from Day 1 of the Prep Dig Gauntlet at the [program_tooltip program_id='428672' first='Milwaukee' last='Sting'] Center.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?vanity=PrepDig&amp;set=a.1377235050741027">AM SHIFT PHOTOS FROM PREP DIG CHRIS</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":781469,"width":"429px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/06/RG1A4525.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-781469" style="width:429px;height:auto"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='412536' first='Kyla' last='Mitchell'] of Miciho</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Michio 16 Blue Smoke</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Wow this team is playing really well.&nbsp; They started off strong with a win over [program_tooltip program_id='428591' first='FC' last='Elite'] 16 Navy and secured a spot in the gold bracket with a win over SPVB 16 Elite.&nbsp; There is just a really relaxed and calm vibe with this team that allows them to execute when things get tight.&nbsp; [player_tooltip player_id='412536' first='Kyla' last='Mitchell'] is asserting herself as a rising recruit nationally in the Class of 2027 where she gets up quick and finds the open court.&nbsp; [player_tooltip player_id='530623' first='Luca' last='Bombacino'] is so electric from the pin and the backrow.&nbsp; She is from Northwest Indiana, a top ten player in the Hoosier state from the Class of 2027.&nbsp; They are playing their best ball of the season and will be fun to see take on championship Sunday.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":781470,"width":"449px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/06/RG1A4697.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-781470" style="width:449px;height:auto"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='546211' first='Sage' last='Olson'] of [program_tooltip program_id='432009' first='Sky' last='High']</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>MKE Sting 16 Gold vs [program_tooltip program_id='432009' first='Sky' last='High'] 16 Elite</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I'll have a full highlight of this match on my Instagram (@PrepDigChrisVB), but I don't think this will do it justice when it comes to the intensity and the emotion of this three set thriller.&nbsp; [player_tooltip player_id='484764' first='Maizy' last='Agnello'] is one of the top outside hitters in the Midwest with her violent arm swing.&nbsp; I knew that was going to be expected, but I was so impressed with the play of their L2, [player_tooltip player_id='325557' first='Bobbi' last='Wire'] and libero [player_tooltip player_id='443054' first='Charlie' last='Fleegle'].&nbsp; They played big in the big moments and went punch for punch with Sting.&nbsp; Another athlete who plays with plenty of swag and grit is [player_tooltip player_id='546211' first='Sage' last='Olson'] who is actually a 2028.&nbsp; She runs a nice offense as a setter and she can swing if she needs to with a quick left hand.&nbsp; [program_tooltip program_id='432009' first='Sky' last='High'] will be heading into the gold bracket of 16 Elite.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":781471,"width":"518px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/06/RG1A4717.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-781471" style="width:518px;height:auto"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='323945' first='Brooklynne' last='Brass'], SPVB</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Elevation 17 Chicas vs. SPVB 17 Elite</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>These teams just don't lose.&nbsp; Sports Performance 17 Elite has many athletes who played up on their 18s team this past season and following the Under Armour Championships they put together a 17 Elite team, consisting of their 2026 grads.&nbsp; They won the Indy Cup a couple weeks ago where Elevation out of Cincinnati has been on a tear, recently winning the players championship in Louisville last weekend.&nbsp; For Sports Performance, [player_tooltip player_id='251333' first='Ellie' last='Stiernagle'], the Northwestern commit was dishing to everyone, the offense was full of synergy where they found ways to score points from everywhere.&nbsp; Penn State commit [player_tooltip player_id='328144' first='Haley' last='Burgdorf'] and Maryland commit [player_tooltip player_id='323945' first='Brooklynne' last='Brass'] where just flying above the net.&nbsp; I was really impressed with the defensive play of Mississippi State commit [player_tooltip player_id='325496' first='Cassidy' last='Cage'] out of the middle.&nbsp; For Elevation, the big name is Kendall Northern, the middle blocker who is heading to Penn State.&nbsp; The way she can reach and make things happen is a cheat code.&nbsp; One athlete who may fly a little under the radar for this team, but is so gritty is outside hitter Sidney Sprada.&nbsp; She swings big, she will fit in so well at Dayton.&nbsp; The two teams split the first two sets and Sports Performance ran away with the third.&nbsp; For as crisp offensively as Sports Performance plays, I was so impressed with the small details of their footwork, how they set their block, and their outsides ran a clinic on how to tool the block.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Sting, 1st Alliance Flex in 17 Open </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>MKE Sting 17 Black and 17 White are advancing to the gold bracket of 17 Open and 1st Alliance 17 Black sailed through with a 3-0 record in pool play.&nbsp; This 17s group for [program_tooltip program_id='428672' first='Milwaukee' last='Sting'] has always been really deep where they have four teams heading to Dallas.&nbsp; In the 17 Black group they have&nbsp; a really dynamic offense where outside [player_tooltip player_id='209368' first='Mia' last='Jannazzo'] is so fun to watch with her mix of shots on the outside.&nbsp; Defensively, they have a back row of Abbigail Bucker and [player_tooltip player_id='249624' first='Addison' last='Bruns'] who are so tough to get out of system.&nbsp; 1st Alliance has plenty of length and physicality combined with really tight ball control that puts them in any match.&nbsp; Pool C was a wild one where we had a 2-1 three way tie with Michio, Top Flight, and Sting White with Top Flight and Sting White heading to gold.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":781472,"width":"541px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/06/RG1A4534.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-781472" style="width:541px;height:auto"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='435850' first='Anabelle' last='Schembra']</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Circle City 16 Purple - Staying On Brand</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I've been watching Circle City pretty closely the past four years and have always been impressed by their “brand” of volleyball I guess you could say where they have solid ball control, play with extreme composure, and run a balanced offense.  Today for the 16 Purple squad, they did just that.  They had [player_tooltip player_id='435850' first='Anabelle' last='Schembra'] running the show as the setter where she is one of the top setters in the Class of 2027 out of Indiana.  There was one play in particular where the opposing side was camping on the middle and Schembra led her a little bit left and [player_tooltip player_id='443864' first='Chloe' last='Moss'] just thumped it.  The small details in their game make a huge difference. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Some New Players On My Radar</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":781474,"width":"437px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/06/RG1A4568-crop-2783x1828-1749330088.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-781474" style="width:437px;height:auto"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='381125' first='Lucinda' last='McCollum']</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='381125' first='Lucinda' last='McCollum'] - Ignite 17 Elite</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>She is wow in terms of her athleticism.&nbsp; She is a springy left handed right side and all of sudden she goes to the backrow and can set.&nbsp; So fun.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='529950' first='Kiersten' last='Cieslinski'] - [program_tooltip program_id='432009' first='Sky' last='High'] 16 Elite</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This&nbsp; middle blocker has such a fast arm. With plenty of length and athleticism, I think her upside is really exciting.&nbsp; She was a big factor for [program_tooltip program_id='432009' first='Sky' last='High'] today and will continue to be this summer.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Aurianna Benshoof - Northern Lights 16-1</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Another middle blocker to know, Benshoof and setter Kaelyn Bjorklund had some really fun connections on the day.&nbsp; She just knows how to hit it square and score points.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->