Five Day One Matchups To Know at PD Gauntlet

So many great matchups that I can't wait to see happen at the Prep Dig Gauntlet.  I can find a storyline with plenty of them.  Here are five that we might need to take a closer look at.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/04/RG1A2645.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-765892" style="width:482px;height:auto"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Kaeyln Bjorklund of Northern Lights</figcaption></figure>   [program_tooltip program_id='428591' first='FC' last='Elite'] 16 Navy vs. Northern Lights 16-1   This will be an interesting one when it comes to the 16 Elite pool play.  [program_tooltip program_id='428591' first='FC' last='Elite'] 16 Navy beat Northern Lights 16-1 at the Northern Lights Qualifier that ultimately led to an open bid for [program_tooltip program_id='428591' first='FC' last='Elite'].  [program_tooltip program_id='428591' first='FC' last='Elite'] will rely on their balance and clean ball control where [player_tooltip player_id='459898' first='Aubrey' last='Frey'] is playing as a six rotation outside hitter, the top outside hitter in the Wisconsin Class of 2027.  Another athlete is [player_tooltip player_id='510426' first='Ellisyn' last='Shultis'] for [program_tooltip program_id='428591' first='FC' last='Elite'] where she has been soaring up the ranks with her length and athleticism where she finds ways to score points.  Northern Lights has one of the top setter/right side combos in Kaelyn Bjorklund who can score points on her own and can also run the show.  This will be an exciting way to close out the AM Wave on Saturday.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/06/RG1A1792.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-781035" style="width:468px;height:auto"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='209368' first='Mia' last='Jannazzo'] of MKE Sting 17 Black</figcaption></figure>   MKE Sting 17 Black vs. WI Juniors 17-1   A lot of these athletes will see each other during the high school season.  Sting 17 Black has been on fire this season where they have had some high finishes all season, including top five finishes at Northern Lights, Badger Region Qualifier (Champions), Show Me, and the Grand Slam.  They are the top seed in 17 Open.  Their right side/middle combos pose a major presence at the net with [player_tooltip player_id='504161' first='Malena' last='Benz'] (Austin Peay), [player_tooltip player_id='277422' first='Aubrey' last='Hicks'] (Marquette), [player_tooltip player_id='277427' first='Claire' last='Wyma'] (North Alabama), [player_tooltip player_id='502034' first='Lily' last='Smith'], and [player_tooltip player_id='453628' first='Lucy' last='Sarna']. WI Juniors has one of the top setters in the Wisconsin Class of 2026 in Annabelle Cerny (South Alabama) where she is so dynamic and is a physical blocker at the net.  They also have one of the top Wisconsin Class of 2027 liberos in [player_tooltip player_id='376270' first='Ashley' last='Ray'] who has been playing up on this group the past couple years.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/06/RG1A4130.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-781036" style="width:505px;height:auto"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='582261' first='Kolby' last='Ross'] of [program_tooltip program_id='431567' first='Adversity' last='']</figcaption></figure>   [program_tooltip program_id='431948' first='Iowa' last='Rockets'] 15R vs. [program_tooltip program_id='431567' first='Adversity' last=''] 15 Adidas   [program_tooltip program_id='431948' first='Iowa' last='Rockets'] from the Iowa City area has always been a traditional power in the Iowa Region. They earned their USAV bid by placing second at the Show Me Qualifier in the USA Division.  [player_tooltip player_id='730426' first='Hazel' last='Schluckebier'] is one to watch where she is a left handed setter who can run the show and even swing.  Her presence puts a lot of pressure on the other side of the net.  [program_tooltip program_id='431567' first='Adversity' last=''] 15 Adidas out of Chicagoland is a real athletic squad where I was able to see them at the JVA World Challenge and  Windy City Qualifier.  [player_tooltip player_id='582261' first='Kolby' last='Ross'] is an athletic six rotation pin who can defend and score, sparking some energy for her side of the net.  Another athlete for [program_tooltip program_id='431567' first='Adversity' last=''] is from the Class of 2029 in [player_tooltip player_id='546846' first='Haven' last='Enselman'] who can set and swing, incredibly dynamic.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/06/RG1A4276.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-781037" style="width:494px;height:auto"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Evelyn Shirk of 1st Alliance</figcaption></figure>   Iowa Premier 15-1 vs. 1st Alliance 15 Gold   Both of these teams have an open bid where they will be among the best in the country for the 15s in Dallas later this month.  Iowa Premier is from the Des Moines area where this group has stuck together for a couple of years.  [player_tooltip player_id='560368' first='Elle' last='Hatlevig'] is one of the top players from the Iowa Class of 2028, she's a six rotation outside hitter who has a lot of length and athleticism.  She is coming off a top five finish at the Iowa state track meet in the high jump. [player_tooltip player_id='545946' first='Addison' last='Waldorf'] has shown to be a setter college coaches will need to watch this summer.  There is a fun vibe with this team.  1st Alliance 15 Gold punched their ticket to 15 Open at Windy City.  This is very on brand for 1st Alliance to have setters that can also swing and they have two of them in [player_tooltip player_id='484408' first='Tatum' last='Kelly'] and Evelyn Shirk who can do it all.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/06/RG1A1649.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-781038" style="width:468px;height:auto"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Audrey Utterback of Circle City</figcaption></figure>   Circle City 15 Purple vs. MKE Sting 15 Gold   Whenever a Circle City and [program_tooltip program_id='428672' first='Milwaukee' last='Sting'] team have a matchup, we know its going to be good.  Both of these programs have the tradition of producing high level athletes.  Circle City 15 Purple has been on fire all season and they do it with really clean ball control, serve receive, and a balanced offense.  Audrey Utterback is a six rotation outside hitter who makes serve receive look easy, she also knows how to be creative when scoring points.  For MKE Sting 15 Gold, [player_tooltip player_id='545505' first='Tegan' last='Loechler'] is one many will be watching.  She was at the Penn State camp earlier this week and will have quite the recruiting journey that won't officially start for another year.  At 6'3, she can swing on the right side or set.  She makes it happen!

So many great matchups that I can't wait to see happen at the Prep Dig Gauntlet. I can find a storyline with plenty of them. Here are five that we might need to take a closer look at.