Midwest Names To Track at Salt Lake Showdown

Heading West!  There are some high level athletes to track from the Midwest who will be competing in the Salt Lake Showdown.  This is one of the last chances for teams to qualify as well as been seen by college coaches while they go quiet in May.  Here are some Midwest athletes to know in Salt Lake.     [player_tooltip player_id='484174' first='Safia' last='Orucevic'] is going to be suiting up for [program_tooltip program_id='431567' first='Adversity' last=''] 17 Adidas. This has been a breakout team this year where they have claimed an open bid to USAV in Indy. Orucevic can do a little bit of everything where she can score on both pins as well as be utilized in the backrow. She is well trained with an all around skill set with her last two steps extremely quick to the ball.     I was able to watch this 1st Alliance 17 Gold team at MEQ where they earned their open bid to USAV in Indy. This club is accustomed to their top squads getting that open bid and they got theirs at one of the toughest qualifiers in the country. Bozarth was one on the outside who found ways to score points. I noticed how she had a high IQ with her swing, knowing which spots were open, when to swing big while also using her offspeed. She would be a great pick up at the next level with her all around game.     [player_tooltip player_id='511138' first='Amelie' last='Pankonin'] is a top five prospect in Wisconsin's Class of 2027 and is also the best available out of Wisconsin. She is right along the Wisconsin/Minnesota border prepping for River Falls High School while playing club for Northern Lights 17-1. This team picked up an open bid at Show Me in Kansas City. Pankonin has a ton of pop in her swing, she knows how to score points in a high volume. She has proven herself in big moments and will be fun to see her generate momentum into her senior season.     I've been able to see [player_tooltip player_id='529814' first='Jayce' last='Prohaska'] on the club courts for 1st Alliance the past couple seasons. Such a dynamic and electric outside hitter who can find ways to score points from anywhere along the front line. Her 1st Alliance 17 Silver team will utilize her in various routes where she will swing out the middle and right side, but her go to is being able to score on the outside. She is fast to the ball, contacts high, and is able to use her angles as well as going line. She is trained at a high level with 1A and prepping for Mother McAuley who is always one of top high school programs in the state.     [player_tooltip player_id='730948' first='Keira' last='McQuillan'] has asserted herself as one of the top outsides in the Illinois Class of 2028. Even watching her as a 15s last year she showed an exciting ability to score points. This season she has demonstrated an all around game that is electric. She can handle a high volume in serve receive, can be a back court option to score points, and is really smart with her shots on the outside. Her 1st Alliance 16 Gold team has an open bid to USAV nationals, but they will still be hungry for a title in SLC this weekend.     I really enjoy watching liberos who make things look easy, they are consistent and efficient - that's [player_tooltip player_id='522628' first='Hope' last='Garland']. The 1st Alliance 16 Gold libero will be one of the top liberos to track out of the Illinois Class of 2028. 16 Gold has the fourth overall seed in 16 Open and will face a Northern Lights 16-1 squad who will be looking for an open bid. This could also a be a future matchup at the Prep Dig Gauntlet. Garland and her squad will rely on their clean defense, discipline, and consistent play for get to a day three gold bracket.     Iowa Premier will be making the trip to Salt Lake from the Des Moines area where they have an open bid on their mind. This is the top team in the Iowa Region where they already have an national bid to Indy. Wiederin will be a highly sought after 2028 pin attacker. Her length and athleticism is what sets her apart. She is able to use the block to her advantage off a quick tempo shoot to the outside and is able to adjust based on the defense. There is a lot of upside to her game where she has continued to improve each time she steps on the court.     Another pin attacker out of Central Iowa to watch in Salt Lake is [player_tooltip player_id='545971' first='Avery' last='Cordes'] of Iowa Premier 16-1. I have watched Cordes the past two years and have seen her game evolve. On the high school courts, she was on the top team in Iowa as a middle blocker. On the club courts she's been playing on the pin, mostly the right side. With her experience at multiple positions, she reads the court well with a fast arm swing. She is going to be one to watch this weekend where Iowa Premier will be looking to break through to gold pools on day two and beyond.     Northern Lights has really benefitted from Western Wisconsin talent. Another athlete along the Wisconsin/Minnesota border is [player_tooltip player_id='733274' first='Aspen' last='Mullally']. The 2028 pin attacker preps at Hudson High School, right along the Mississippi River. Mullally will be playing for Northern Lights 16-2 where she is going to be one to watch scoring points. She is one of the top 2028s in Wisconsin and on the radar of college coaches this summer. Her athleticism and physicality will be something to watch as she progresses in her all around game.     1W 16-1 will be representing Wisconsin in Salt Lake City this weekend in the 16 USA Division. One of their top attackers will be [player_tooltip player_id='770412' first='Alexia' last='Stephens']. Stephens is also one of the top tennis players in the state. When she is on the outside, her vision and ability to hit shots is the name of her game. She knows how to use the block or avoid it all together to find the open spot. She is also rock solid in serve receive and defense as well.     Another name to know on the 1W 16-2 Elite squad is [player_tooltip player_id='826456' first='Isabelle' last='Pritzl']. She brings a lot of athleticism and physicality to the middle blocker position. She has a knack for the ball when it comes to blocking and is also able to convert when her side is in system.

Heading West! There are some high level athletes to track from the Midwest who will be competing in the Salt Lake Showdown. This is one of the last chances for teams to qualify as well as been seen by college coaches while they go quiet in May. Here are some Midwest athletes to know in Salt Lake.