17 Impact ’24s from the Prep Dig Gauntlet
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It is hard to believe that some athletes in the class of 2024 are in their final club season (for those who graduate early). It was so fun to see the top teams in the Midwest in the same gym.…
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Continue ReadingIt is hard to believe that some athletes in the class of 2024 are in their final club season (for those who graduate early). It was so fun to see the top teams in the Midwest in the same gym. Some of these teams are already playing at an elite level, and I am so excited to see what they will do at the college level. Here are 17 impact 2024s from the Prep Dig Gauntlet.
Jessica is a powerhouse lefty right side that plays all six rotations. She is an impact player that not only excels at the club level but also has huge potential for big success at the collegiate level. As a Wisconsinite, I am pretty excited she will be playing at UW-Green Bay! Her play is dynamic and aggressive, and she knows how to earn points in both the front and back row.
Highlights
Kinsey is a clean setter who pushes balls with a good tempo and is always ready to run down balls. She utilizes every hitter on the court, in the front and back row. Kinsey runs the court with quiet confidence. She rarely makes errors and has good court awareness. She often looks to the other side of the court and spreads her offense well.
Grace takes competitive to a whole new level. At one point in the semi-final match, she was stuff blocked. And while I don’t know the exact stats, I bet she earned the next five points in a row for her team, including kills and aces. In fact, I don’t think she got blocked for the rest of the match. She sees a challenge on the court and faces it head-on. Grace is a huge energizer and powerhouse pin.
Calli is another athlete headed to a Wisconsin school I am amped about. She is gritty and competitive. Calli will be headed to Marquette (my alma mater) and will fit in perfectly with the gritty squad that led them to a historic season last year. Calli plays all six rotations for 1st Alliance and is relentless on the court. She sets in the back row and swings when she is in the front row. She is explosive and aggressive in her play.
Danielle caught my eye because of her insanely high vertical. She is an athlete who can earn points on the pin. She has a powerful swing and moves the ball around with practiced precision. Danielle is aggressive and never backs down after a mistake.
Anna was explosive this weekend. She put up a truly massive block and manufactured points. Her offense is lethal both in front of and behind the setter. She transitioned quickly and was always on the lookout for the block in front of her. She made huge plays and was always fighting for points.
Highlights
Ellie’s play is all about balance. She has a powerful swing while also maintaining good ball control. And she knows when to sink a shot to a smart place and when to fire away on offense. Ellie plays all six rotations and has great endurance and energy on the court. She played with the same intensity on day one as she did on day three.
Highlights
It has been a while since I have seen Jessica play, and she has improved an incredible amount. At the beginning of the season, she was a tall right side with big potential and a great block. Now she is absolutely lethal on offense and puts up an impenetrable block. Her growth this season is impressive, and she is now a key offensive weapon for this Sting squad.
Milica has a huge presence on the court. She is an energizer, a leader, and an athlete who clearly puts in the work both on and off the court. She has huge hustle and works to get a clean second contact on the ball. She is another athlete headed to school in Wisconsin. She is committed to UW-Milwaukee, and I will absolutely be cheering her on at the collegiate level. Her intangibles as a leader set her apart.
Reese was one of the biggest offensive weapons at the tournament. She executed on offense and defense time and time again. Her athleticism and aggressiveness allow her to power through any block that she isn’t hitting over. She has a huge presence on the court, and her plays made me stop and go ‘wow’ at several points throughout the tournament.
Bianca is a defensive specialist/libero by trade but is talented enough to play all six rotations on the pin. She was efficient, consistent, and smart. Bianca excels in defense and serve receive and is quick in transition. Honestly, I never would have known she wasn’t a true six-rotation outside hitter unless it was pointed out to me. She is dynamic and very athletic.
Ella was dominant at the tournament. Once she heated up, she was practically unstoppable. She is aggressive and powerful. Her swings pack a punch. I got to see her play a lot on day 2 and day 3 of the tournament, and she impressed me every time I was on her court. She is an athlete with huge potential to play at the next level.
Jadyn was one of my favorite finds of the tournament. I don’t get to see Northern Lights play very often, and she jumped out at me right away. Her intangibles set her apart. She was always positive and encouraging on the court. She never stopped talking, and she hustled for every ball. She is also a very talented athlete with great ball control and precise placement.
Highlights
Makayla is impressive. She is a six-rotation lefty who plays on the outside. She is very talented in the back row, where she reads quickly and is always ready on serve receive and defense. On offense, she is high-flying and extremely quick. Her arm swing is lightning-fast and she outpaces most blockers.
Georgia was all over the court at the Gauntlet. She was fearless, going up against some of the top hitters in the Midwest. Not only was Georgia a key player for Sting, she was also a huge leader and energizer on the court. She was always ready for whatever came her way and was a fierce defender of the backcourt.
Olivia is an athlete that does it all. She is a high-level setter with clean contact and consistent placement. She feeds her hitters well and spreads her offense. Olivia plays all six rotations, and when she is in the front row, she swings on both pins. She is an impact player that contributes on nearly every point.
Ana is another lefty pin who is explosive and has a lot of power. Her swings pack a punch, and she manufactures points on both pins. She consistently swings on both pins, which is tough to do. Ana is consistent, powerful, efficient, and a go-to hitter for her team.