Prep Dig Rachel’s Team Superlatives from the Chi-Town Classic

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This weekend was an absolute blast covering the Chi-Town Classic. There is nothing better than getting in the gym, especially covering new teams and athletes. As the weekend went on, I thought of fun superlatives for some of the teams playing. This article covers the 16s and 17s/18s divisions of the tournament!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Toughest Team to Play Against: 606 17 Prime</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This team could have won numerous awards on this list, in my opinion. They were absolutely a blast to watch and never quit. They took [program_tooltip program_id='432009' first='Sky' last='High'] Adidas 17 Onyx and Mindset Premier 17 Red to three sets and lost by two and three points, respectively. Those two teams tied for 3rd place in the tournament. 606 beat TAV 17 Black in three sets on day 1 of the tournament. What sets this team apart is their fearless style of play and dynamic roster of athletes. It seemed that every athlete on this team had good court awareness, game smarts, and a physical and powerful style of play. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><br>[player_tooltip player_id='956305' first='Judeah' last='Miller'] brought unmatched energy to the court. As a middle, she was explosive on both offense and defense. Her vertical was simply incredible, and she put up a massive block. Setter [player_tooltip player_id='968059' first='Kenley' last='Cage'] kept play clean and efficient. She was tough to read, an energizer, and a leader. Fellow setter [player_tooltip player_id='851452' first='Tressa' last='Ramos'] was gritty and made smart decisions, spreading her offense like a seasoned athlete. Pin hitter [player_tooltip player_id='806226' first='Kylie' last='Carter'] was a go-to point earner in the front and back row. She consistently terminated, mixed up her shots, and approached and attacked with confidence, even on out-of-system plays. [player_tooltip player_id='968088' first='Morgan' last='Culbreath'] was a lefty right side who was explosive and dominant. She never missed a beat and had some momentum-changing kills so powerful and energizing, I saw them from two courts away. Libero [player_tooltip player_id='546201' first='Adrianna' last='Ursetta'] held down the back row, keeping her setter in system as much as possible and working hard on every point. She was aided by defensive specialist Leah Harris, who helped protect the back line. Other offensive contributors included middle Kennedi Johnson and pins Kiana Shew, [player_tooltip player_id='968025' first='Layla' last='Flowers'], and Naysa Watkins. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Most Locked-In Squad: Sting 16 White</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This team came in with one mission in mind - win the tournament. They were focused from the very start, and though they had to battle, especially in the semifinals and finals of the tournament, they got the job done. They also got a touch of redemption after beating a very talented I AM 16 Red team in 3. Earlier this season, I AM beat Sting 17-15 in the 3rd set at the Badger Region Qualifier to earn a bid to nationals. Sting got their bid, in the USA division, no less! And 3-set wins over both I AM 16 Red and [program_tooltip program_id='432009' first='Sky' last='High'] Adidas 16 Red in the semifinals and finals, respectively. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This team was absolutely relentless, and every athlete on the roster played a huge part in their success. It was a full team effort, and every player was locked in from start to finish. Middle blocker [player_tooltip player_id='758372' first='Kaydence' last='Johann'] was a breakout star. Her improvement since I saw them play at Winter Classic is incredible. She has a high ceiling and was an unstoppable force on both offense and defense. Pin hitter [player_tooltip player_id='918462' first='Aleeya' last='Minor'] did it all for Sting, earning points and being one of the main serve receivers. Setter [player_tooltip player_id='545517' first='Ellie' last='Hoffman'] was a huge leader for her team. She even played some right side during the tournament and elevated the game whenever she was in. Her communication, court awareness, and execution all made a difference in every match. Fellow setter [player_tooltip player_id='545514' first='Emelia' last='Wagner'] showed her strength as a setter and defender. Libero [player_tooltip player_id='809328' first='Carolyn' last='Gauntt'] was all over the court. She anticipated the ball well and was both consistent and relentless throughout the weekend. Middle [player_tooltip player_id='545506' first='Allison' last='Jochman'], defensive specialist, [player_tooltip player_id='918450' first='Ruth' last='Sadownikow'], and right sides, Briella Barbian and [player_tooltip player_id='918457' first='Everly' last='Habeck'] all continuously leveled up their game. Everly showed a lot of grit, especially in the championship match, earning several kills. Pins [player_tooltip player_id='772830' first='Mya' last='Zukowski'] and [player_tooltip player_id='752004' first='Brynn' last='Basse'] each had unique styles of play that they used to better the team across all six matches. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Most Dominant Performance: Iowa Rockets 17 Red</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Iowa Rockets were the only team across all five divisions that did not drop a single set the entire weekend. They went a clean 12-0 in sets despite some tight competition. This team ran like a well-oiled machine, featuring a great blend of highly talented athletes, strong on-court chemistry, and the ability to make adjustments throughout matches. They were ranked #1 coming into the tournament and never wavered. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Setter Hadley Miller was gritty and focused. She played great defense, was an aggressive server, and delivered high-level and quick-tempo sets. Hadley also consistently took out-of-system swings on the right side, always making herself an option. Hattie Galloway was a dynamic six-rotation athlete playing middle across the front row and out of right back in the back row. No matter where she was, Hattie had a positive impact on the play. She was one of the best blockers in the gym at the Classic. I was really impressed with the explosiveness of pin hitter Kendra Nolton. She balanced good decision-making, clean execution, and powerful swings. She also played six rotations and was relentless with her effort. Pins Layla Green, Harper Nicholson, and Addison Walter each were contributing point earners as well. Addison and Harper each played a few rotations out of the middle as well, showing just how dynamic this team is. Kaylee Hagstrom was a consistent contributor in the back row. Libero Edie Miller was the key to this well-oiled machine, keeping the first contact clean, communicating at a high level, and never letting a ball drop. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Most Resilient Team: I AM VBC 16 Black </h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I have had the chance to see this team play throughout this season, and quite recently at the Madness in Miltown tournament, so I know their talent and energy. They showed some immense resilience this weekend, with only 6 athletes on Saturday and 8 on Sunday. Yet, despite having athletes in all different positions, and never getting a break, they still managed to end the weekend 4-2 and placed 10th of 29 teams. Every point was a team effort. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='918436' first='Sophie' last='Lovejoy'] set a 5-1 and kept every hitter engaged. She worked incredibly hard to set her hitters up for success, even though several weren't typically hitters or in their normal positions. [player_tooltip player_id='912681' first='Aubryn' last='Borkenhagen'] wore the libero uniform on day 2, providing great consistency for I AM throughout the day. Gianna Luaritsen played at DS. Middle McKinley Cornielsen was one of the most consistent point earners for the team and was an energizer and leader as well. Emily Cai was another impact middle who showed discipline in her movement and transition. [player_tooltip player_id='611016' first='Sierra' last='Zoromski'] played on the outside, and all six rotations, and her solid ball control and smart decision-making abilities were felt in nearly every play. Other pins included [player_tooltip player_id='848361' first='Abigail' last='Marti'] and [player_tooltip player_id='918434' first='Brianna' last='Krause'], each taking their share of sets and carrying a key piece of the team's offensive load. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->