Prep Dig Gauntlet Previews: Five ’23s to Watch

<p>As the summer club season starts to kick off and athletes are starting to get back into their normal rhythm, we are looking forward to seeing these athletes and their teams return to the court this weekend at the Prep Dig Gauntlet held in Milwaukee. </p> <p>This premier event is the kickoff for Memorial Day weekend at the Milwaukee Sting Volleyball Center and we look forward to seeing teams compete with their full power as most athletes are winding down from their high school seasons that were pushed to the spring. These athletes have been training all year round and finally are returning back to their normal routines, bringing in the heat on the court. </p> <p>We are taking a look at five athletes from <strong>Lions 16-1</strong> and are members of the class of 2023 and what you should be looking forward to this weekend.</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Player's to Watch</strong></span></p> <p><strong>Lauren Kristy- MB</strong></p> <p>Kristy is going to be an athlete you are going to want to stop by and take notes on this weekend as she is a stellar athlete to watch. Standing at 5'9", the middle blocker is a very defensive and motivated player on the court and that is what we are looking for when we notice rising elite athletes. Kristy is a powerful athlete. She is fast, attentive and very aware of her surroundings and is a threat to those that attempt to successfully get a kill. Kristy is not only a powerful blocker, but she has a very strong right swing and can be the sneak attack for her teams offensive plays as they don't typically expect the middle man to be the attacker. Kristy is going to be one you are going to want to watch this weekend. </p> <p><strong>Emily Henning- MB</strong></p> <p>Henning is another blocker you are going to want to watch this weekend. Henning is a special athlete that you will find interesting, simply due to her ability to react rather quickly on the ball and her defensive skills. Henning stands at 5'9" and doesn't let anything stand in her way in keeping the ball from landing in her territory. Henning is a defensive player and her athletic ability does not fail to show that. Henning is attentive and is quick on her feet as she travels along the net with the flow of the ball. Her foundation and fundamental skills show when she's in action on the court and that is something you are not going to want to miss. </p> <p><strong>Kirsten Krammer- OH/DS</strong></p> <p>Krammer is not a new face and is an athlete that you should be relatively familiar with. Krammer is a multi-athlete as she has the athletic ability to play in most positions. Krammer recently saw action in last weekend's Mizuno Tournament and performed relatively well. Krammer has a very powerful and consistent right swing and is a strong defender within her rotation. She is quick and takes the initiative to make and complete a powerful play. There is no doubt that Krammer is a rising athlete and continues to showcase her talent on each court that she steps on. Putting together her speed, her defensive capabilities and height, Krammer is definitely a threat to her opponents and is going to be one to watch this weekend. </p> <p><strong>Brooke Berg- OH/Libero/DS</strong></p> <p>Berg is another athlete who can play in various positions. Berg is going to be an athlete you are going to want to keep up with and see in action as she is both a powerful key component on the offensive side and a key component on defense. Berg stands at 5'9", but has the athletic ability to get low to the ground and is not afraid to dig into the floor when it comes to defending and deflecting the ball back into a live play. In addition, Berg has a strong right swing and is not afraid to unleash that power when need be. Berg is going to be an athlete to watch as she manages to bring the spotlight onto her this weekend. </p> <p><strong>Natalie Cipriano- S/OH/RS</strong></p> <p>Cipriano is going to be an athlete that I see becoming an elite athlete. Standing at 5'7", Cipriano can already have a bit of a height disadvantage, but that doesn't stop her from being a well rounded athlete and one that is able to get up and over the net. She is a soft setter, but is not afraid to unleash the beast when it comes to swinging and getting consistent hits over the net. Last season, Cipriano had 146 kills as a freshman and is only getting started. Cipriano is a very attentive and fast athlete that can follow the ball and move swiftly across the court. Cipriano has the abilities to be a stellar athlete and is already on her way and is going to be an athlete to watch this weekend. </p> <p>&nbsp;</p>