Highlights, Photos of GJNC Illinois, Iowa, and Wisconsin Athletes

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The last day.&nbsp; This really is bittersweet for me as I do one last day on live coverage for the 2025 club season.&nbsp; I am so fortunate to have the chance to cover volleyball and see athletes from across the country and with that comes a great network of friends and followers.&nbsp; My focus today was on the 16s and 17s in the AM Wave that centered around the <strong>National, American, Patriot,</strong> and a little bit of USA with Illinois, Iowa, and Wisconsin clubs.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The names I have listed below are ones that I thought had an impact in some way during their match.&nbsp; This may have been a string of plays, one play, or even their on court interactions with their teammates.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong><a href="https://www.facebook.com/media/set?vanity=PrepDig&amp;set=a.1398652371932628">PHOTOS - IA, IL, WI - GJNC 16-17 Nat, Amer, Pat</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:table --> <figure class="wp-block-table"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><tbody><tr><td>Name</td><td>Club</td></tr><tr><td>Parker Crims</td><td>1st Alliance 17 Black</td></tr><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='531934' first='Avalyn' last='DeKeyser']</td><td>1st Alliance 16 Black</td></tr><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='582269' first='Sarah' last='Johnson']</td><td>1st Alliance 16 Black</td></tr><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='781334' first='Zion' last='Palmer']</td><td>1st Alliance 16 Black</td></tr><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='529827' first='Farryn' last='Burridge']</td><td>1st Alliance 16 Gold</td></tr><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='529904' first='Moira' last='Quirk']</td><td>1st Alliance 16 Gold</td></tr><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='529792' first='Ainsley' last='Wilson']</td><td>1st Alliance 16 Silver</td></tr><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='529823' first='[player_tooltip player_id='523167' first='Natalie' last='']' last='Bochantin']</td><td>1st Alliance 16 Silver</td></tr><tr><td>Noelle Aprati</td><td>1st Alliance 17 Black</td></tr><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='627433' first='Cayla' last='Prohaska']</td><td>1st Alliance 17 Black</td></tr><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='326067' first='Brooklyn' last='Ritter']</td><td>1st Alliance 17 Silver</td></tr><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='488570' first='Caroline' last='Impey']</td><td>1st Alliance 17 Silver</td></tr><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='323933' first='Kayla' last='Street']</td><td>1st Alliance 17 Silver</td></tr><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='490072' first='Freya' last='McBride']</td><td>[program_tooltip program_id='431567' first='Adversity' last=''] 16 Addias</td></tr><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='529945' first='Caroline' last='Wright']</td><td>[program_tooltip program_id='431567' first='Adversity' last=''] 16 Adidas</td></tr><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='529896' first='Audrina' last='Harvey']</td><td>[program_tooltip program_id='431567' first='Adversity' last=''] 16 Adidas</td></tr><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='233278' first='Amalia' last='Toliopoulos']</td><td>[program_tooltip program_id='431567' first='Adversity' last=''] 17 Adidas</td></tr><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='435899' first='Morgan' last='Vetter']</td><td>I AM VBC 16 Red</td></tr><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='493657' first='Addison' last='Allaman']</td><td>[program_tooltip program_id='431948' first='Iowa' last='Rockets'] 17R</td></tr><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='329851' first='Macie' last='Lupkes']</td><td>[program_tooltip program_id='431948' first='Iowa' last='Rockets'] 17R</td></tr><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='493660' first='Bailey' last='Simpson']</td><td>Iowa United 161 Elite</td></tr><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='389844' first='Bre' last='VanDenTop']</td><td>Midwest Elite 17-1</td></tr><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='389834' first='Ava' last='Lloyd']</td><td>Midwest Elite 17-1</td></tr><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='435888' first='Georgia' last='House']</td><td>MKE Sting 16 Black</td></tr><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='435890' first='Greta' last='Schreiber']</td><td>MKE Sting 16 Black</td></tr><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='509334' first='Emilija' last='Jaunberzina']</td><td>MKE Sting 16 Black</td></tr><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='509343' first='Taylor' last='Wold']</td><td>MKE Sting 16 Gold</td></tr><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='435889' first='Gigi' last='Chasco']</td><td>MKE Sting 16 Gold</td></tr><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='509328' first='Emma' last='Tenhagen']</td><td>MKE Sting 16 Gold</td></tr><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='509337' first='Ella' last='Peirick']</td><td>MKE Sting 16 Gold</td></tr><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='501162' first='Emily' last='Becker']</td><td>MKE Sting 16 Silver</td></tr><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='769244' first='Payton' last='Nelson']</td><td>MKE Sting 16 Silver</td></tr><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='480124' first='Dylan' last='Loftus']</td><td>MKE Sting 16 Silver</td></tr><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='783112' first='Victoria' last='Pierce']</td><td>MKE Sting 16 Silver</td></tr><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='277428' first='Ireland' last='Zyzo']</td><td>MKE Sting 17 Silver</td></tr><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='284070' first='Keiveana' last='Petersons']</td><td>MKE Sting 17 Silver</td></tr><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='493973' first='Gwen' last='Farley']</td><td>PowerPlex 16 Brogean</td></tr><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='394331' first='Maggie' last='Leifker']</td><td>PowerPlex 16 Brogean</td></tr><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='747361' first='Sidney' last='Rogers']</td><td>PowerPlex 16 Brogean</td></tr><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='754242' first='Piper' last='Smith']</td><td>Six Pack 16-1</td></tr><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='389066' first='Cambel' last='Drapeau']</td><td>[program_tooltip program_id='486375' first='Sting' last='United 17 Red']</td></tr><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='388469' first='Kendall' last='Scadden']</td><td>[program_tooltip program_id='486375' first='Sting' last='United 17 Red']</td></tr><tr><td>McKinley Pagel</td><td>[program_tooltip program_id='428662' first='Wisconsin' last='Ice'] 16 NTJ</td></tr><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='397561' first='Kaitlynn' last='Hartnady']</td><td>[program_tooltip program_id='428662' first='Wisconsin' last='Ice'] 17 National</td></tr><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='522223' first='Faith' last='Sperl']</td><td>[program_tooltip program_id='428662' first='Wisconsin' last='Ice'] 17 National</td></tr><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='742583' first='Ruby' last='Rengo']</td><td>[program_tooltip program_id='428662' first='Wisconsin' last='Ice'] 17 National</td></tr></tbody></table></figure> <!-- /wp:table --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='493660' first='Bailey' last='Simpson'] - Iowa United 16 Elite</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I was able to watch Iowa United 161 Elite out of the Iowa City area in a toe to toe contest with NORCO out of the Fort Collins, Colorado area.&nbsp; [player_tooltip player_id='493660' first='Bailey' last='Simpson'] showed plenty of athleticism everywhere along the front line.&nbsp; She is really strong when it comes to a 50/50 joust and I can tell that setter, [player_tooltip player_id='489998' first='Belle' last='Seaman'] shows plenty of trust in Simpson running tempo sets being pulled off the net.&nbsp; Simpson's athleticism and length is something coaches at the next level can take note of along with a big ceiling in her game.&nbsp; Iowa United sits at 5-0 and will be in a gold bracket on Wednesday.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The Middles of 1st Alliance</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I was able to watch 1st Alliance across multiple courts today and I think I wrote down the names of a lot of their middle blockers.  They found ways to make themselves available as attackers and have a high IQ when it comes to being in the right position to block. At the 16s level specifically there was <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='529827' first='Farryn' last='Burridge']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='529904' first='Moira' last='Quirk']</strong>.  Burridge has improved so much over the club season and Quick brings a fire and intensity to the court.  <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='781334' first='Zion' last='Palmer'] </strong>is on 16 Black who is competing in 16 National and has shown a lot of potential.  I saw her run a shoot set and the way she approached and jump definitely made me go “Whoa”.  This 1st Alliance 16 Black team has been having quite the season winning multiple events and are still in gold contention heading into day three.  <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='529792' first='Ainsley' last='Wilson']</strong> of 1st Alliance 16 Silver is 6'4 and has gotten better each time I have seen her take the court.  Her length causes plenty of problems for the other side of the net. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='742583' first='Ruby' last='Rengo'] - [program_tooltip program_id='428662' first='Wisconsin' last='Ice'] 17 National&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='742583' first='Ruby' last='Rengo'] is a late addition to the [program_tooltip program_id='428662' first='Wisconsin' last='Ice'] 17 National team and is a University of Mary commit as a middle blocker.&nbsp; She brings a really athletic style to the middle blocker position where she is so quick to the pins to close the block and is able to jump quick and terminate.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='747361' first='Sidney' last='Rogers'] - PowerPlex 16 Brogean</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This PowerPlex team out of the Des Moines metro is heading into day three with an undefeated record in 16 American and they could be hunting for some big matches on day four.&nbsp; They have two Iowa State commits in [player_tooltip player_id='490013' first='Logan' last='Vogt'] and [player_tooltip player_id='493601' first='Piper' last='Ladwig'], but a new athlete that I saw emerge today is [player_tooltip player_id='747361' first='Sidney' last='Rogers'].&nbsp; She is a powerful middle blocker who approaches with a purpose and causes problems for opposing attackers with her block.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Emma Jaunberzina - MKE Sting 16 Black&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I've seen Emma Jaunberzina play before, this Sting 16 Black team has had a great season and are so scrappy.&nbsp; Jaunberzina is one who has no fear when it comes to taking a big swing on the outside, but was so impressive today was her middle back defense where she was able to prolong multiple rallies with touches to better a ball.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Amalia Tolopoulos - [program_tooltip program_id='431567' first='Adversity' last=''] 17 Adidas</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I really liked the rhythm that Amalia Tolopoulos plays with as a setter for [program_tooltip program_id='431567' first='Adversity' last=''] 17 Adidas.&nbsp; I was able to see her play in the front row and her ability to get out of her block, find the ball from her passer and get her feet and hands to the ball was textbook.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->