Going Gauntlet | Team Profile: FC Elite 17 Navy

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: [program_tooltip program_id='428591' first='FC' last='Elite'] 17 Navy</h2>   Gauntlet Division: 17 Open   USAV Region: Badger   USAV GJNC Qualification: 17 American Division   Overview: Through the Badger Region this team upgraded their previously earned 17 Freedom qualification to the USAV GJNC to 17 American. Their most recent event was the World Challenge in Louisville, KY where they competed in the 17 Premier division. At the conclusion of the three day event, they finished with a 4-3 overall record to place 9th overall. With the PD Gauntlet as their final tune up before USAV nationals, they will arrive in Indy among several teams from across the country competing in the 17 American division. Here are a few key athletes to look for.    Stuebs is a very active pin with good six-rotation skills. The Concordia St-Paul commit is athletic with a dynamic and physical arm in the air. When in rhythm, she brings a relentless effort to swing with big force behind the ball and develops pace. Equally effective is her ability to pull out great touch and finesse through that same approach pattern that can score and keep a defense off balance.     Big Eagle brings stability to her team as their primary setter. Her command of the second contact starts with good footwork in pursuit of the ball. She is quick and efficient in her movement patterns to get to the ball on balance to ensure their quick tempo action floats off hands with good precision. She can sling it in all directions and with good variety from pin to pin, in between, and out of the back row.     O'Connor (*pictured) is athletic with good physicality in her arm work in the air offensively. She is a fluid attacker in her movement patterns around her setter to be able to option a variety of locations with similar terminal results. Through a big runway in her approach action, she has good vision and momentum build to be able to lift and control her arm into space and with complete court range.     Where VanLannen's effort makes the biggest gains for her is in her arm. At 5'11, she continues to prove her ability to score from either side of the floor with an aggressive swing. Her power is generated by the torque she creates with a quick and deliberate bow and arrow in the air that helps with her pace and ability to swing at either edge of the block in front of her.     Patchett's skill set as a left side pin provides a nice complement to the other pieces of this team's effort on both sides of the ball. Her movement is fundamentally sound and efficient to get herself off the net in transition so she can identify the set and build her footwork and momentum to the ball. When she closes well, she gets good lift to be able to contact and strike at the peak of her jump for good pressure and results.     The 5'7 DS/L prospect plays her role with good composure in her ability to track the play and get herself stopped and ready to react. She moves on balance, which allows her to use a full range of skills to make plays. Her platform out front develops good angles to dig high and off the net while she also uses her hands overhead and other emergency skills to create opportunities. VanLannen's patience allows for a bigger effort when needed to pursue with range and quickness.

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.