Storylines We Would Have Loved In April

I know we can't focus on the “Shoulda, Woulda, Coulda”, but we can still think about all of the events of April and talk about the players who would have made it pretty special. From the JVA World Challenge to Windy City Qualifier and finishing off April with the Northern Lights Qualifier there are plenty of big events that are our favorites. Here is a look at some stories and athletes I would have loved to write about. We will continue to keep plugging away at Prep Dig with reporting on athletes of all levels. The COVID-19 might keep the gyms quiet, but that won't be the case with our Prep Dig Writers. April 2020 Stories VC United 161 and Illini Elite 16 Cardinal Go For Gold at JVA World Challenge The JVA World Challenge is one of the largest tournaments in the country in Louisville traditionally the first weekend in April At the 16s level, VC United and Illini Elite have some tough squads who were in challenge matches at Triple Crown and also had strong finishes at the JVA Showcase in the Dells. Illini Elite has the likes of setter [player_tooltip player_id="61703" first="Caroline" last="Kerr"] and pin [player_tooltip player_id="61711" first="Emma" last="Bleecher"] while VC has two big commits with their pins in [player_tooltip player_id="61624" first="Ella" last="Holmstrom"] (Indiana) and [player_tooltip player_id="61651" first="Kaitlin" last="Leider"] (Bradley). Another athlete to keep tabs on from VC (which they have an all around strong 16s squad) would be middle blocker [player_tooltip player_id="61646" first="Savanah" last="Brandt"],, so strong and physical at the net. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Ruff to Ramsey as Rockets keep rolling <a href="https://x.com/IowaRockets?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@IowaRockets</a> <a href="https://x.com/hashtag/alliteration?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#alliteration</a> 🤓🤓🤓🤓🤓🤓 <a href="https://t.co/ZyHSpAtqoy">pic.x.com/ZyHSpAtqoy</a> — Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) <a href="https://x.com/PrepDigChris/status/1226154456552812546?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 8, 2020</a></blockquote> Iowa Rockets 16R Snag Open Bid Iowa Rockets would be getting all of their athletes in March after plenty of them spent time tearing up the basketball court with multiple honors and even state tournament appearances for January and February. This team is extremely balanced and has one of the top uncommittted setters in the Class of 2022 in [player_tooltip player_id="17325" first="Kora" last="Ruff"]. With plenty of power on their pins with Drake commit, [player_tooltip player_id="17323" first="Macy" last="Daufeldt"], [player_tooltip player_id="79238" first="Ella" last="McLaughlin"], [player_tooltip player_id="17332" first="Calia" last="Clubb"], and [player_tooltip player_id="79243" first="Kelsey" last="Drake"] this team has the balance and tempo to compete with some of the top squads in the nation. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> [player_tooltip player_id="61622" first="Katie" last="Hurta"] - WOW! One of the top players in the Class of 2022 in Illinois. She can set, but dang she can hammer too? 🔨 🔨 🔨 — Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) <a href="https://x.com/PrepDigChris/status/1180304202947538944?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 5, 2019</a></blockquote> Iowa, Illinois 16s Battle It Out At Windy City Qualifier I haven't gone through ALL the schedules (but pretty close) and I was really hoping for quite the battle of local teams to be competing in big matches in the 16s Division at the Windy City Qualifier. 1st Alliance 16 Silver, Sky High 16 Black, and Club Ignit 16 Blue would have all been right there in the thick of everything. Ignit would have the target on their back after winning Triple Crown, but then, they would have been accustomed to playing under those conditions. 1st Alliance and Sky High are definitely USAV Open level teams. [player_tooltip player_id="61622" first="Katie" last="Hurta"] of 1st Alliance is something special to watch with her ability to set and come to the front row and attack. Seeing her and [player_tooltip player_id="17322" first="Hayden" last="Kubik"] of Club Ignit Select is like watching a future match on ESPN. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Been covering these athletes since they burst on to the scene last year at @TCVolleyballNIT - Cinderella no more, <a href="https://x.com/clubignitselect?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@clubignitselect</a> 16 Blue are Champions! 🏆🏆🏆 <a href="https://t.co/wpvaux7WWp">pic.x.com/wpvaux7WWp</a> — Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) <a href="https://x.com/PrepDigChris/status/1229508685401067527?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 17, 2020</a></blockquote> Adversity and Sitng 17s Continue To Trade Matches Adversity I've seen both of these teams play others and each other, and its such fundamentally sound volleyball. Sting 17 Gold already picked up a bid at the NLQ 17s Qualifier early February, where Adversity would definitely be a team in the hunt and most likely pick up a bid somewhere. They could have met at the Windy City Qualifier and could meet at the Prep Dig Gauntlet which will be held at Milwaukee Sting June 13-14. One big pick up for Milwaukee Sting is North Dakota State commit, [player_tooltip player_id="80712" first="Alexis" last="Boling"] who would have been back to full strength after a knee injury forced her to sit out the first part of the club season. A ton of firepower, Boling can contribute from any front row position. Northern Lights 15-1 Wins the 15 Open NLQ Qualifier (Which is rescheduled for June 5-7) This team is scary dangerous with their length with multiple athletes who are above six feet tall and plenty of weapons who can score points, but also defend like crazy. We typically do not start writing about athletes until they enter their Freshman year, but get ready for the Swenson twins, yes the twin sisters who have volleyball lineage running deep including older sister and household Minnesota volleyball name, Samantha Seliger-Swenson. Stella is a 6'0 setter while Olivia is a 6'3 pin attacker. They will be a force to be reckoned with throughout their club and high school career along with the rest of this 15s group at Lights.