BRQ – 17s and 18s Favorites and Contenders

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Badger Region Qualifier is fast approaching.&nbsp; For many of these teams, it will be their first chance to get that bid to Minneapolis, Indianapolis, or Reno.&nbsp; The 11s-13s will play their nationals in June in Minneapolis, 14-17s head to Indianapolis, and the 18s will have their national tournament in late April in Reno.&nbsp; Here is a quick look at what you can expect heading into the Badger Region Qualifier at the Baird Center in Downtown Milwaukee.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>18s</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>The Favorites</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[program_tooltip program_id='428591' first='FC' last='Elite'] 18 Elite</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Madtown 181 National&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[program_tooltip program_id='428672' first='Milwaukee' last='Sting'] 18 Gold got their open bid right away at the Windy City Qualifier in Chicago so they get the weekend off.&nbsp; [program_tooltip program_id='428591' first='FC' last='Elite'] 18 Elite and Madtown 181 National have been playing an open level schedule and even though the win column might not show their power, but seeing them live there is plenty of potential to watch for.&nbsp; [program_tooltip program_id='428591' first='FC' last='Elite'] 18 Elite has multiple wins over top 100 nationally ranked teams, Madtown just came off a 6-2 weekend at Presidents Day in St. Louis where they lost to eventual champion Circle City 18 Purple.&nbsp; [program_tooltip program_id='428591' first='FC' last='Elite'] 18 Elite will use firepower from the outsides in [player_tooltip player_id='459898' first='Aubrey' last='Frey'], Ellyson Schultis, and [player_tooltip player_id='277433' first='Sydnee' last='Nelson'] to score points while Madtown 181 National has [player_tooltip player_id='388467' first='Mallory' last='Hartwig'] and [player_tooltip player_id='345274' first='Lauren' last='Sprague'] who can score in and out of system.&nbsp; Again, don't let the record fool you, both of these teams are loaded with D1 talent and have played against some of the top teams in the country.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Up Next</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>414 18 Elite</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I AM VBC 18 Red</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[program_tooltip program_id='428591' first='FC' last='Elite'] 18 Navy</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[program_tooltip program_id='431537' first='Midwest' last='Penguins'] 18-1</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>MKE Sting 18 Black&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>414 18 Elite has had quite a season so far.&nbsp; They went undefeated and won the Ohio Valley Region 18 Liberty Division.&nbsp; They did face Badger Region opponents in I AM VBC 18 Red and [program_tooltip program_id='428591' first='FC' last='Elite'] 18 Navy at the Windy City Qualifier which resulted in losses, but they did defeat [program_tooltip program_id='431537' first='Midwest' last='Penguins'].&nbsp; Butler commit [player_tooltip player_id='755666' first='Lucy' last='Gray'] will be one to watch who can take control at the net with her block and point scoring ability.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I AM VBC 18 Red has put together a strong season with a top ten finish in their division at the Windy City Qualifier and finished second at the Sky High Presidents Day Tournament.&nbsp; The rise of I AM VBC as a club has been impressive. An athlete to watch would be [player_tooltip player_id='249633' first='Anya' last='Mikhailenko']. She can do a little bit of everything with her all around skill set, she will head to Wash U in St. Louis, among the top D3 programs in the country.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[program_tooltip program_id='428591' first='FC' last='Elite'] 18 Navy earned a bid at the Windy City Qualifier at the beginning of the season, finishing in the top three. They finished 4-3 at the Northern Lights Qualifier where they did lose a head to head match against MKE Sting 18 Black.&nbsp; Recent Upper Iowa commit [player_tooltip player_id='806861' first='Natalie' last='Bystol'] can put up points on the pin.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":948062,"width":"450px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none","align":"right"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2026/02/ZgoncandBruns-crop-1639x1076-1771609217.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-948062" style="width:450px;height:auto"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Zgonc and Bruns</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[program_tooltip program_id='431537' first='Midwest' last='Penguins'] took home the title of the Liberty Division at the Windy City Qualifier, getting their bid to Reno.&nbsp; At the Windy City Qualifier they did drop a pool play match to fellow Badger Region squad 414 18 Elite and defeated MKE Sting 18 White.&nbsp; This is a squad who has played together for years and their team chemistry is always worth a few extra points in tight matches.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>MKE Sting 18 Black has been so close to getting their bid to Reno.&nbsp; They finished 4th at the Windy City Qualifier and Northern Lights Qualifier, just outside of top three which would earn them the bid. Outside of [program_tooltip program_id='428591' first='FC' last='Elite'] 18 Elite and Madtown 181 National they have played the toughest schedule.&nbsp; They have really strong ball control with liberos [player_tooltip player_id='249624' first='Addison' last='Bruns'] and [player_tooltip player_id='249651' first='Emily' last='Zgonc'] who can get their high powered and balanced offense rolling.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>The Dark Horse</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>WI Flight 18 Onyx</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[program_tooltip program_id='428662' first='Wisconsin' last='Ice'] 18 National&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>WI Flight 18 Onyx has been battle tested heading to Windy City Qualifier and St. Louis Presidents Day where they will be ready to compete at the Badger Region Qualifier.&nbsp; Watch for two uncommitted 2027s in [player_tooltip player_id='934871' first='Brooke' last='Johnson'] and [player_tooltip player_id='565667' first='Ella' last='Eckhoff'] who an score points with plenty of power.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[program_tooltip program_id='428662' first='Wisconsin' last='Ice'] 18 National had quite the start to February where they took second in the 18 American Division at the Northern Lights Qualifier and won the Prep Dig Resolution.&nbsp; However, they do have two losses to Badger Region opponents in [program_tooltip program_id='428591' first='FC' last='Elite'] 18 White and 608 Jrs 18-1.&nbsp; They have two St. Olaf commits in [player_tooltip player_id='522221' first='Kaela' last='Clerveaux'] and [player_tooltip player_id='284085' first='Camille' last='Sobolewski'] who can have a big impact.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>17s&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>The Favorites</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>MKE Sting 17 Gold</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Usually there are always a few favorites, but right now MKE Sting 17 Gold is the clear favorite with a target on their back.&nbsp; They have the balance, the ball control, and when it comes to a Region Qualifier this time of year, the fact they are battle tested really tilts in their favor.&nbsp; They defeated I AM VBC 17 Red at the Winter Classic 17/18 Open title 2-0 and followed that up just finishing out of an Open bid at a fourth place finish at the Northern Lights Qualifier.&nbsp; They recently went to Triple Crown where they had a tough power pool round, but bounced back winning their final three of four matches.&nbsp; Setters [player_tooltip player_id='435889' first='Gigi' last='Chasco'] and [player_tooltip player_id='509343' first='Taylor' last='Wold'] have the court presence to get all of their attackers involved with team will be hungry to get that National bid.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Up Next&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":948047,"width":"435px","height":"auto","aspectRatio":"1.5014953078271631","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none","align":"right"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2026/02/RG1A0221.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-948047" style="aspect-ratio:1.5014953078271631;width:435px;height:auto"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='435879' first='Amy' last='Denkert'] of Madtown </figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I AM VBC 17 Red</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Madtown 171 National</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>MKE Sting 17 Black&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I AM VBC 17 Red will be in the mix and will be wanting another chance against MKE Sting 17 Gold.&nbsp; However there are plenty of other teams looking to get to the top of the mountain.&nbsp; I AM VBC 17 Red has balance where they will look to pins [player_tooltip player_id='388454' first='Paige' last='Proefrock'], [player_tooltip player_id='510485' first='Hannah' last='Heitzkey'], and [player_tooltip player_id='496166' first='Ana' last='Degner'] to score points.&nbsp; They recently won the Sky High Presidents Day Classic going 6-0.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Madtown 171 National has played an open schedule at the Northern Lights Qualifier and were recently at Triple Crown in Kansas City.&nbsp; They've taken their lumps, but seeing them play in person there are a lot of wins in their tank for the 2026 season.&nbsp; [player_tooltip player_id='553214' first='Haylin' last='Arnold'] and [player_tooltip player_id='807913' first='Ella' last='Fetherston'] can pack a mean punch on the outside.&nbsp; [player_tooltip player_id='565655' first='Makennah' last='Peterson'] had a major impact for this team as a middle blocker at the Northern Lights Qualifier. Keep setter [player_tooltip player_id='435879' first='Amy' last='Denkert'] on the radar, she just glides on the court.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>These athletes from Sting 17 Black will be ready to prove something at the Badger Region Qualifier.&nbsp; [player_tooltip player_id='435888' first='Georgia' last='House'] is one to watch out of the backrow, the commander of the defense as their libero.&nbsp; [player_tooltip player_id='487025' first='Nicalai' last='Eismann'] will be one to watch as well as a six rotation outside hitter.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>The Dark Horse</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[program_tooltip program_id='428591' first='FC' last='Elite'] 17 Navy</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[program_tooltip program_id='428591' first='FC' last='Elite'] 17 Navy will not have the wins on their record to turn heads, but they did battle hard at Triple Crown this past weekend.&nbsp; They defeated two traditional powers KIVA 17 Red and Munciana.&nbsp; One of their top point scorers will be [player_tooltip player_id='510424' first='Ava' last='Stuebs'], the Concordia St. Paul commit who can score from the front or backrow.&nbsp; [player_tooltip player_id='510430' first='Erin' last='O'Connor'] will be one out of the middle who can contribute with her block or scoring points to the deep corner.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->