2029s Battled through Weekend 1 of MEQ

<p>It seems like the competition at MEQ was better than ever, and the teams from Wisconsin battled. I was able to watch numerous matches virtually and was impressed by the fight our Wisconsin teams put up and the talent we showcased. Here is a breakdown of the 2029s and some of the teams who battled on weekend 1 of MEQ. </p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">15 Open Division </h2>   <p>We had two teams, Madtown 151 National and [program_tooltip program_id='428672' first='Milwaukee' last='Sting'] 15 Gold, both currently with National Bids, compete in the Open Division. </p>   <p>Madtown went 3-4 on the weekend and placed 27th. I watched a few of their matches, and this is a very talented squad. Setter [player_tooltip player_id='915851' first='Avery' last='Bossingham'] immediately caught my attention for her speed and smart decision-making. She did a great job feeding her middle whenever she could and running fast-tempo plays. I loved her connection with right side [player_tooltip player_id='915853' first='Emma' last='Huggins'] as well who could terminate with a wide variety of shots. The other setter and right side duo, [player_tooltip player_id='915852' first='Emma' last='Crave'] and [player_tooltip player_id='894923' first='Stella' last='Figaro'] were also impressive. [player_tooltip player_id='895978' first='Paetynn' last='Gnatzig'] did an amazing job at libero, especially with her hustle, effort, and ball control when pursuing balls. [player_tooltip player_id='915855' first='Brinley' last='Schwenn'] was an offensive weapon for Madtown on the pin. She made heads-up plays and found great shots with power. She also saw balls coming over the net well and just showed her volleyball IQ throughout the tournament. The middles for Madtown were incredibly involved. [player_tooltip player_id='915802' first='Allie' last='Mamerow'] had a huge impact for her team, as did Whitney Williams.</p>   <p>Sting 15 Gold went 4-4 on the weekend and placed 19th. Five of their matches went to three sets and they were point for point in nearly every match. This team goes all out and won't give up on anything. [player_tooltip player_id='915804' first='Karis' last='Tucker'] was impressive at libero, getting touches on nearly any ball sent her way. Her potential is simply incredible. The space she takes up on the court with her explosive movement and court awareness is amazing to watch. [player_tooltip player_id='745070' first='Avery' last='Bork'] played a consistent and well-rounded game throughout the weekend. She delivered for her team in all six rotations. [player_tooltip player_id='556658' first='Gretchen' last='LaPean'] is a middle to know with length at the net and discipline in transition. Pin hitter [player_tooltip player_id='781698' first='Faith' last='Benson'] made moves on the outside. </p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Players on the Rise</h2>   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='731562' first='Kate' last='Brochtrup'] - Libero - [program_tooltip program_id='428659' first='Wisconsin' last='Blaze'] 15 Black </h3>   <p>As I was watching matches, Kate immediately stood out to me for her clean form and pristine platform. She looked natural yet disciplined in the back row, never missing a beat. Kate played a really clean game and always seemed to be where she needed to be. I was so impressed with her high level of play and court awareness, not only for the ball but also for her teammates. </p>   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Calli Bursa - Outside Hitter - 1W 15-1 Elite</h3>   <p>Calli did really well, knowing what to do with every set. She saw the court well and adjusted her tips and swings accordingly. On an inside set, she could turn it back line, a very tough shot to make. Even when she didn't earn a clean kill, she could get opponents out of system consistently. Calli was aggressive with every shot and played to earn points. She also played in all six rotations, defending the back court and running down corner balls. </p>   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='918331' first='Madeline' last='Sawyer'] - Libero - [program_tooltip program_id='428672' first='Milwaukee' last='Sting'] 15 Black </h3>   <p>Madeline was dominant throughout the tournament. She was relentless and a game-changer for her team. I watched a few matches from this Sting squad, and Madeline seemed to improve every time she stepped on the court. Her speed and ability to anticipate the ball made her increasingly impactful. She rarely made the same mistake twice and put forth all-out effort on every point. </p>   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='781376' first='Ava' last='Komp'] - Right Side - I AM 15 Red</h3>   <p>Ava plays with an aggressive mindset. Her block timing and impact are some of the best I have seen so far this year. She has a natural eye and great discipline on her block that gets in the way of anyone who has the job of playing opposite her. Ava is also a huge piece of I AM's offense, contributing multiple points per set from the right side. </p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Savvy Setters</h2>   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Nyah Gardebrecht - 1W 15-1 Elite</h3>   <p>Nyah stood out to me for her strong connections with her hitters. She fed her middles whenever she got the chance and kept all hitters involved. She had good footwork and was aggressive with her choices. She wasn't afraid to throw a ball back to a team on the first or second contact to earn points. Nyah's competitive mindset didn't waver, and she was always fighting for her team. </p>   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Gwendolyn Hansen - Madtown 152 National </h3>   <p>Gwendolyn ran the court efficiently. She was crazy fast across the court and utilized jump setting to help keep the tempo moving on her sets. Her high-level defense and confidence in delivering for her hitters made her even more impactful. No matter what pass she was handed, Gwendolyn worked to better the ball for her team. </p>   <p></p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Key Offensive Weapons</h2>   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='774914' first='Natalie' last='Tarkowski'] - Outside Hitter - Sting 15 Black </h3>   <p>Natalie is the type of pin hitter who causes problems for other teams. She is aggressive, smart, and can mix up the speed of her shot without giving much away. Natalie is a go-to hitter on her team and a key defensive player as well. Her ability to terminate consistently in out-of-system situations made her even more unstoppable. </p>   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Amelia Voigt - Middle - 1W 15-1 Elite </h3>   <p>Amelia has such a high ceiling. She consistently transitioned from block to hitting and, once she got going, was unstoppable on offense. She has a quick arm swing and outpaces a lot of opposing blockers who try to get in her way. Amelia's involvement in the offense can turn a match because her swings are so tough to defend. She is a middle who will only continue to improve and impress.</p>   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='915810' first='Brooke' last='Vanden Berg'] - Outside Hitter - I AM 15 Red</h3>   <p>Brooke looked better than ever at MEQ, where she helped her team to a 9th-place finish. She is a pin with a deep toolbox of shots and a variety of speeds. Her powerhouse swings, hard cross and down the line, are tough to beat, but she also has some great trick shots as well that make her even harder to defend. She is a very well-rounded athlete who has an impact on nearly every point. </p>

It seems like the competition at MEQ was better than ever, and the teams from Wisconsin battled. I was able to watch numerous matches virtually and was impressed by the fight our Wisconsin teams put up and the talent we showcased. Here is a breakdown of the 2029s and some of the teams who battled on weekend 1 of MEQ.