Dynamo Pins Dominate the PD Gauntlet

There was a lot of exciting volleyball over Memorial Day Weekend at the Milwaukee Sting Center in Menomonee Falls, WI where we held our 3rd annual Gauntlet. Every time I went to a new court, I would feverishly work to take notes as quickly as I could. I didn't want to miss a thing, although it's impossible not to with so much going on. There were a LOT of dynamic pin hitters and this list certainly isn't conclusive, but it's a start to scratching the surface of the dominant go-to hitters. Here are some of the top dynamo pins from the Gauntlet! Ava Nepkin – 2023 – 6'3 – Outside Hitter – Lincoln Way East (IL) – 1st Alliance 17 Silver – Committed to Loyola University Maryland Nepkin can hit a heavy ball off the opposing block with a violent swing. She is a powerhouse with an explosive vertical, and she plays with intensity and energy that is contagious. Nepkin hits a great cross court deep corner and then the very next rally turns it down the line. She is a 6-rotation outside and pure athlete. Nepkin is also really smart on defense and smooth in her back row attack. [player_tooltip player_id="135962" first="Ava" last="Pratt"] – 2024 – 6'1 – Outside Hitter – Glenbrook South (IL) – Adversity 17 Adidas Pratt takes a monster swing if you give her any space on the net. She can swing over, around, and through the block and makes it look easy. Pratt takes a powerful, yet controlled, swing from nearly anywhere on the court and makes it look easy. She has the ability to put the ball exactly where she wants it every single time. Simply put, she gets the job done. [player_tooltip player_id="178039" first="Hailey" last="Goebel"] – 2025 – 5'10 – Pin Hitter – St. Thomas More (WI) – Milwaukee Sting 15 Black The first thing I noticed about Goebel was how good she was at bettering the ball and how she put up a big block on the right pin. Not only was Goebel solid on either pin, but she's a good communicator. She is explosive and has a really good connection with setters Madison Marx and Elise Hohenwalter. Goebel is very productive and brings a lot of energy on every play. If they are out-of-system they can just put the ball up and she can execute. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> I've really enjoyed watching [player_tooltip player_id="178039" first="Hailey" last="Goebel"] from <a href="https://x.com/MkeSting15Blk?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MkeSting15Blk</a> . She is so💥 and terminates from either pin. <a href="https://x.com/hashtag/PDGauntlet?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PDGauntlet</a> <a href="https://x.com/PrepDigChris?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PrepDigChris</a> <a href="https://x.com/PrepDig?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PrepDig</a> <a href="https://x.com/PrepDigEvents?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PrepDigEvents</a> <a href="https://x.com/PrepDigWI?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PrepDigWI</a> <a href="https://t.co/RKOIjkHlNf">pic.x.com/RKOIjkHlNf</a> — Breit Nelson (@BreitNelson) <a href="https://x.com/BreitNelson/status/1530966203925245955?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 29, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>   Esma Frieden – 2024 – 6'0 – Outside Hitter – Metamora (IL) – Illini Elite 16 Cardinal Frieden is the steady and dependable 6-rotation outside who can put a team on her back and carry a large load. She is equally lethal out of the back row as she is from the front row. Frieden caught my eye in warm-ups, and I knew I was going to need to stick around. She carries herself with confidence and you can see her teammates look to her as a leader. Frieden has top-notch court awareness and an aggressive approach to the game. She is also solid on defense and serve-receive. [player_tooltip player_id="119431" first="Finley" last="Charapata"] – 2023 – 5'11 – Outside Hitter – Appleton North (WI) – FC Elite 17 Navy Wow, Charapata has a whip of an arm and knows how to create a ton of torque for her swing. She is one of the go-to hitters on this FC Elite team and she caught college attention at the Prep Dig Gauntlet. Going into her final high school season, she could see some decent playing time for the Division 1 State Runner-up, Appleton North. [caption id="attachment_199689" align="alignright" width="300"]<img class="wp-image-199689 size-medium" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2022/06/MiElite-15-Mizuno-Isabelle-Busignani-crop-4800x3152-1654275574-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /> [player_tooltip player_id="156287" first="Isabelle" last="Busignani"][/caption] [player_tooltip player_id="156287" first="Isabelle" last="Busignani"] – 2025 – 6'1 - Outside Hitter – Marian (MI) – MiElite 15 Mizuno Busignani is an impressive athlete with a lot of power and control. She is a 6-rotation outside hitter that her setter, Ella Craggs, finds waiting in the split with her arm back and ready to execute a fast tempo ball. Busignani plays with a high IQ and knows her shots available on offense. She can swing from anywhere on the net and has a really high contact point. Busignani is solid in serve-receive and solid in off-blocker defense. She can take a tough attack out of the back row or is smooth transitioning into the attack and takes a great cross body deep roll down the line. [player_tooltip player_id="119402" first="Jackie" last="Yancy"] – 2023 – 6'0 – Outside Hitter - Howards Grove (WI) – FC Elite 17 White – Committed to Michigan Tech Yancy was letting it rip on the outside this weekend. She generates a lot of power and has sound form. Yancy takes an aggressive approach and plays with competitive intensity. She is definitely a player who you can just throw the ball up and let her show you what an athlete can do. [player_tooltip player_id="138657" first="Kenna" last="Wollard"] – 2023 – 6'1 – Outside Hitter – Illinois Valley Central (IL) – Illini Elite 17 Cardinal – Committed to Purdue Wollard takes a really fast and hard swing to beat the block. She is a player who definitely makes you say “Wow!” when she takes a swing. I would even describe her armswing as violent. Wollard knows how to make the big plays and you can throw the ball up and let her just show off her athleticism. She plays with a competitive edge and is a fun player to watch. More Dynamic Pins Abigail Vander Wal – 2025 – 6'3 – Outside Hitter – Timothy Christian (IL) – 1st Alliance 15 Gold <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Abigail Vander Wal with a big kill and her <a href="https://x.com/1stAllianceVBC?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@1stAllianceVBC</a> team goes 🥳! Definitely some fresh moves in this one. Is that a donkey kick? <a href="https://x.com/hashtag/PDGauntlet?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PDGauntlet</a> <a href="https://x.com/PrepDigChris?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PrepDigChris</a> <a href="https://x.com/PrepDigEvents?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PrepDigEvents</a> <a href="https://x.com/PrepDig?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PrepDig</a> <a href="https://x.com/prepdigil?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@prepdigil</a> <a href="https://t.co/kcaBSuCMcu">pic.x.com/kcaBSuCMcu</a> — Breit Nelson (@BreitNelson) <a href="https://x.com/BreitNelson/status/1531431230234836996?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 31, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> [player_tooltip player_id="107899" first="Avery" last="Jesewitz"] – 2024 – 6'3 – Outside Hitter – Wayzata (MN) – Northern Lights 16-1 [caption id="attachment_199691" align="alignleft" width="300"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2022/06/NL-15-1-Ava-Ball-crop-4378x2875-1654275752.jpg"><img class="wp-image-199691 size-medium" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2022/06/NL-15-1-Ava-Ball-crop-4378x2875-1654275752-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a> [player_tooltip player_id="177421" first="Ava" last="Ball"][/caption] [player_tooltip player_id="177421" first="Ava" last="Ball"] – 2025 – 5'11 – Outside Hitter – Nova Classical Academy (MN) – Northern Lights 15-1 [player_tooltip player_id="156298" first="Chloe" last="Giehtbrock"] – 2025 – 5'11 – Pin Hitter – Clarkston (MI) – MiElite 15 Mizuno Claire Van Den Herik – 2024 – 6'0 – Outside Hitter – John Hersey (IL) – 1st Alliance 16 Gold [player_tooltip player_id="135954" first="Ellie" last="White"] – 2024 – 5'11 – Right Side Hitter/Setter – Mother McAuley (IL) – 1st Alliance 16 Gold [caption id="attachment_199692" align="alignright" width="300"]<img class="wp-image-199692 size-medium" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2022/06/New-Wave-16-Tsunami-Emma-Quast.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" /> [player_tooltip player_id="136629" first="Emma" last="Quast"][/caption] [player_tooltip player_id="136629" first="Emma" last="Quast"] – 2024 – 5'9 - Outside Hitter – Hinsdale Central (IL) – New Wave 16 Tsunami [player_tooltip player_id="156284" first="Gabriella" last="Babinski"] – 2025 – 6'1 – Right Side Hitter – South Lyon (MI) – MiElite 15 Mizuno [player_tooltip player_id="117644" first="Hadley" last="Burger"] – 2024 – 5'11 – Right Side Hitter – East Ridge (MN) – Northern Lights 16-1 [player_tooltip player_id="136622" first="Jessica" last="Kurpeikis"] – 2024 – 5'10 – Right Side Hitter – Marist (IL) – Adversity 17 Adidas Katherine Holthaus – 2025 – 5'9 – Outside Hitter – Rocori (MN) – Northern Lights 15-2 [player_tooltip player_id="82908" first="Katherine" last="Lockwood"] – 2023 – 5'10 – Outside Hitter – Menomonee Falls (WI) – Milwaukee Sting 17 Black LaDonna Tranthum – 2025 – 5'8 – Right Side Hitter – Homewood-Flossmoor (IL) – 1st Alliance 15 Gold <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> LaDonna Tranthum can fly on the right side! Out of system is no problem for <a href="https://x.com/1stAllianceVBC?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@1stAllianceVBC</a> 15 Gold.<a href="https://x.com/hashtag/PDGauntlet?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PDGauntlet</a> <a href="https://x.com/PrepDigChris?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PrepDigChris</a> <a href="https://x.com/PrepDig?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PrepDig</a> <a href="https://x.com/PrepDigEvents?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PrepDigEvents</a> <a href="https://x.com/prepdigil?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@prepdigil</a> <a href="https://t.co/eOAXPzbaUC">pic.x.com/eOAXPzbaUC</a> — Breit Nelson (@BreitNelson) <a href="https://x.com/BreitNelson/status/1530603574702620679?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 28, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> [player_tooltip player_id="136854" first="Lola" last="Tortorello"] – 2024 – Right Side Hitter/Setter – Fenwick (IL) – New Wave 16 Tsunami Mary Kate Sheehan – 2023 – 5'10 – Right Side Hitter – Mother McAuley (IL) – 1st Alliance 17 Silver <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Mary Kate Sheehan came in with a clutch 👏 block for <a href="https://x.com/1stAllianceVBC?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@1stAllianceVBC</a> 17 Silver. One of those plays that just makes you wanna roar like a 🦁! 💪 <a href="https://x.com/hashtag/PDGauntlet?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PDGauntlet</a> <a href="https://x.com/PrepDigChris?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PrepDigChris</a> <a href="https://x.com/PrepDigEvents?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PrepDigEvents</a> <a href="https://x.com/PrepDig?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PrepDig</a> <a href="https://x.com/prepdigil?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@prepdigil</a> <a href="https://t.co/691tdRP5G1">pic.x.com/691tdRP5G1</a> — Breit Nelson (@BreitNelson) <a href="https://x.com/BreitNelson/status/1531426377999831041?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 31, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> [player_tooltip player_id="117880" first="Mesaiya" last="Bettis"] – 2025 – 6'0 – Pin Hitter – Burnsville (MN) – Northern Lights 15-1 [player_tooltip player_id="73471" first="Mya" last="Cinnamo"] – 2023 – 5'10 – Pin Hitter – Rosemount (MN) – Northern Lights 17-2 <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Hannah Rich ➡️ Teagan Timperly ➡️ [player_tooltip player_id="73471" first="Mya" last="Cinnamo"] 💥🔥🔥🔥 <a href="https://x.com/hashtag/PDGauntlet?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PDGauntlet</a> <a href="https://x.com/nlightsvball?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@nlightsvball</a> <a href="https://x.com/PrepDigChris?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PrepDigChris</a> <a href="https://x.com/PrepDig?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PrepDig</a> <a href="https://x.com/PrepDigEvents?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PrepDigEvents</a> <a href="https://x.com/PrepDigMN?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PrepDigMN</a> <a href="https://t.co/7kHez9lMCf">pic.x.com/7kHez9lMCf</a> — Breit Nelson (@BreitNelson) <a href="https://x.com/BreitNelson/status/1530559133992247296?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 28, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> [player_tooltip player_id="66316" first="Remi" last="Madison"] – 2023 – 5'10 – Outside Hitter – Grand Blanc Community (MI) – MiElite 17 Mizuno [player_tooltip player_id="135317" first="Taylor" last="Miedema"] – 2024 – 5'10 – Outside Hitter – Southwest Christian (MN) – Northern Lights 16-2 <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Larson with the dig, Kunze-Hoeg with the dish, and with the 💥 for <a href="https://x.com/nlightsvball?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@nlightsvball</a> 16-2 <a href="https://x.com/hashtag/PDGauntlet?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PDGauntlet</a> <a href="https://x.com/PrepDigChris?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PrepDigChris</a> <a href="https://x.com/PrepDig?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PrepDig</a> <a href="https://x.com/PrepDigEvents?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PrepDigEvents</a> <a href="https://x.com/PrepDigMN?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PrepDigMN</a> <a href="https://t.co/cay33jYi0O">pic.x.com/cay33jYi0O</a> — Breit Nelson (@BreitNelson) <a href="https://x.com/BreitNelson/status/1530660320406118402?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 28, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>