Going Gauntlet | Team Profile: 1st Alliance 17 Silver

Prep Dig has a growing presence in the competition space with several branded tournaments offering great competition and overall experience. The "Prep Dig Gauntlet" is a marquee event annually and one that continues to increase in strength of competing teams, some of the best regionally and nationally across multiple age groups and divisions. This year's event takes place June 6-7 in Menomonee Falls, WI. Stay connected to PD as several teams will be profiled in preparation for this banger of a tournament.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Team Profile: 1st Alliance 17 Silver</h2>   Gauntlet Division: 17 Open   USAV Region: Great Lakes   Key 2026 Results: Windy City Power League (7th, 17/18 Open); Great Lakes Regional Championships (5th, 17 Open); MEQ (3rd, 17 USA); Windy City NQ (5th, 17 USA); Indy Cup (5th; 17/18 Open)    A 6'0, Prohaska is a terminal threat from anywhere across the net. She jumps well, opens her shoulders, and can deliver good force on the ball with good control of her wrist and follow through to drive the ball through space. The varied attack points she can score through require a lot of awareness on the other side of the net to try to slow her down. She is currently ranked #39 in the Prep Dig 2027 Illinois class.     Gray is an effective hitter at the left pin as she closes her footwork well to the ball to be able to get up on balance. She has good vision and maxmizes that balance and lift with good range to swing through the space she sees. She can drive the ball with good speed while also making good adjustments to turn it towards the edges of the block. Gray can impact the game with her defense as well as she has good length and range while able to read and fill space through her reactions during point flow coming across the net.     Williams has good presence in the front row as a middle hitter and blocker. At 6'1, her length is a key part of her effort as her contact point on the ball is high when on time and in rhythm. Her range of offense includes impact both in front and overhead of her setter off one foot. Defensively, she anticipates well to make good moves with her footwork while driving up well using her arms for lift and to get her hands over the net. She is #63 in the current Prep Dig 2027 rankings for Illinois.     Matkejka recently announced her commitment to Saginaw Valley. A 5'10 pin hitter, she has good six-rotation tools as a passer and attacker. Through aggressive arm action in the air, Matejka is terminal with good movement and control, especially when her feet get to the ball with the line available to her on the outiside edge of the block. She is currently ranked #82 for the 2027 Illinois class by Prep Dig.     Deshields made the club switch this season from her home state of Indiana to 1st Alliance. The 6'1 middle continues to up her game and development through the rigor of their training and their schedule for tournament play. She is athletic and moves well, especially on the defensive side as she can elevate and penetrate her hands quickly with good control and force at the tape. Offensively, she can be a factor through different attack points as she gets up well for a high contact point.    Additional Contributors | Position | PD Illinois Rank | Commitment   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='851239' first='Catherine' last='Daniels'] - S</li> </ul>   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='582269' first='Sarah' last='Johnson'] - DS/L</li> </ul>   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='806901' first='Nicole' last='Liu'] - OH</li> </ul>   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='895447' first='Penelope' last='Park'] - S</li> </ul>   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='443056' first='Claire' last='Weathers'] - DS/L</li> </ul>

Prep Dig has a growing presence in the competition space with several branded tournaments offering great competition and overall experience. The "Prep Dig Gauntlet" is a marquee event annually and one that continues to increase in strength of competing teams, some of the best regionally and nationally across multiple age groups and divisions. This year's event takes place June 6-7 in Menomonee Falls, WI. Stay connected to PD as several teams will be profiled in preparation for this banger of a tournament.