Prep Dig Gauntlet Day 2 Wrap-Up

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Get 30% off your first billing cycle with code:&nbsp;howe30&nbsp;in the coupon code area</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>MENOMONEE FALLS, Wis. - </strong>The Prep Dig Gauntlet wrapped up Sunday at three different locations in the area. Champions were crowned in each of the 14-17U age groups with three divisions for the 15-17s.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Iowa teams performed well at the premier event designed to match the region's best in preparation for the national tournaments later this month.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I wrote about squads from the state that I watched on Saturday. You can read that roundup <a href="https://prepdig.com/2026/06/rounding-up-day-1-at-prep-dig-gauntlet/" id="https://prepdig.com/2026/06/rounding-up-day-1-at-prep-dig-gauntlet/">HERE</a>.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I returned to the Milwaukee Sting Center on Sunday. Here's what I saw:&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-Iowa Select 17 Mizuno has enjoyed a strong year. It finished fourth at the Iowa Regional and has qualified for the American Division at the USAV Nationals in Indianapolis.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The highlight of the weekend came Sunday morning against Northern Lights 17-1, which lost in the championship match of the top division here. Select lost to the Minneapolis-based club in three sets, winning the first, 25-17. It came up just short in Set 2, 25-21, and then dropped the third, 15-9.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I saw Select tangle with Sky High Adidas after that. It looked like the emotional loss to Northern Lights created a hangover effect for the Iowa team, but it still battled.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id='490015' first='Mazie' last='Sweers'] was outstanding through six rotations. The same could be said about setter [player_tooltip player_id='490009' first='Leah' last='Caffery']. [player_tooltip player_id='493984' first='Kyla' last='Ramler'] brought her usual two-way talents to the middle of the net, where she teamed up with the powerful [player_tooltip player_id='758798' first='LaTasia' last='Green-Huffman'].&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id='489674' first='Jordan' last='Tegeler'] flashed here explosion and heavy swing, while libero Zoe Perez locked down the back row. [player_tooltip player_id='917987' first='Abren' last='Bazal'], [player_tooltip player_id='946816' first='Abby' last='Dykstra'] and [player_tooltip player_id='949060' first='Reece' last='Harrell'] delivered meaningful contributions.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-I caught Iowa United 16-1 Elite taking on 1st Alliance 16 Silver in the championship match of the second highest division. United pulled out a thrilling three-set victory for the title.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A USAV Nationals qualifier in the Freedom Division, United boasts star power at three important positions. [player_tooltip player_id='516002' first='Julia' last='Schlarbaum'] is a consistently impactful six-rotation outside hitter, which she showed here. [player_tooltip player_id='701976' first='Adelyn' last='Stien'] is one of the state's most well-rounded setters, and libero [player_tooltip player_id='775157' first='Jeorgia' last='Evans'] is cat quick in the back row, allowing for the covering of a large swath of real estate.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>That trio is complemented by a talented group around it. Right-side hitter [player_tooltip player_id='610472' first='Josie' last='Austen'] is getting better every time she competes, this weekend playing the opposite pin and middle hitter, and [player_tooltip player_id='775182' first='Olivia' last='Marais'] is a versatile, powerful front-rower with an ability to be effective at both pins.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='771601' first='Kaitlyn' last='Amman'] proved she's a force to be reckoned with this weekend, getting the job done through six rotations. Short-handed United also received solid performances from long-limbed [player_tooltip player_id='571219' first='Haydin' last='Wauters'] in the middle and [player_tooltip player_id='851203' first='Norah' last='Willey'] in the back row. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-I watched a little bit of [program_tooltip program_id='431948' first='Iowa' last='Rockets'] 17R on Saturday. Sunday, I took in a full match and part of another one. It won the Silver bracket, topping FC Elite 17 Navy in straight sets before dispatching of Circle City 17 Black in a three-setter. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sunday's performance was made more impressive by the Rockets competing without star middle hitter [player_tooltip player_id='493658' first='Hattie' last='Galloway'], who suffered an injury on Saturday, Harper Nicholson and Rainie Pfohl did well in picking up the slack in her absence.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='316419' first='Edie' last='Miller'] and [player_tooltip player_id='316380' first='Hadley' last='Miller'] performed at a high level at libero and setter, respectively. [player_tooltip player_id='555788' first='Kendra' last='Nolton'] has continued developing at the pin and played six rotations this weekend. [player_tooltip player_id='755481' first='Layla' last='Green'] is a jumping jack at the pin with a heavy swing that surprises opponents.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='993804' first='Addison' last='Walter'] has made great strides as an overall volleyball player and is capable of helping Solon in the fall. [player_tooltip player_id='758812' first='Kaylee' last='Hagstrom'] baffled the opposition with a nasty serve.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-I watched all of [program_tooltip program_id='431948' first='Iowa' last='Rockets'] 15R matches during the weekend. While the team did not win, it played some of its best volleyball of the season against a set of foes that represented well why the event is called The Gauntlet.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Libero [player_tooltip player_id='782157' first='Maggie' last='Jensen'] and [player_tooltip player_id='780596' first='Audrey' last='Howe'], a defensive specialist, stood up well against an amazing collection of front rows. Six-rotation outside [player_tooltip player_id='789484' first='Avrielle' last='Ohda'] helped in the back row in addition to ending points from the pin. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='760983' first='Finley' last='Batchelder'], who was coming back from an ankle injury, put the ball down from the outside, while [player_tooltip player_id='931274' first='Emerson' last='Ehrke'] showed off her versatility by taking on reps in the middle along with her normal duties on the right side.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='890305' first='Johanna' last='Shaffer'] and Malia Wedo provided strong play in the middle, particularly in throwing up the block. [player_tooltip player_id='917911' first='Kaylin' last='Davis'] and [player_tooltip player_id='889863' first='Ainsley' last='Conrad'] took care of business in setting up teammates with Davis also getting in swings from the opposite pin.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->