Going Gauntlet | Team Profile: I AM VBC 17 Red

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Prep Dig Gauntlet is mere weeks away and will feature some of the Midwest's top competition. It is the perfect primer for teams heading into Nationals, and I AM VBC 17 Red will be right in the mix of the 17 Open division. This team has had a hugely successful season, a testament to their hard work and dedication. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Some notable tournament finishes include taking 2nd in the Badger Region Qualifier, losing to Sting 17 Gold in 3 sets in the championship. They also took 3rd place in the Liberty Division of the Nike Mideast Qualifier. They also have a handful of championship finishes under their belts, including Badger Region Championships 17 Open and Sky High President's Day. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I AM 17 Red has a number of offensive weapons. [player_tooltip player_id='388454' first='Paige' last='Proefrock'] is an all-around talent with a high volleyball IQ, strong fundamentals, and the ability to control the ball across the entire game. She is a go-to player and leader on the court. Hanna Heitzkey is an absolute powerhouse of a pin hitter who can dominate in the front row. She is tough to stop and sees the block in front of her very well. Right side [player_tooltip player_id='496166' first='Ana' last='Degner'] challenges every opposing pin with her block. She also has a great offensive presence. [player_tooltip player_id='500276' first='Emmalee' last='Heniadis'] plays on the right side and sets herself apart by being fast in transition. She can run multiple balls behind the setter in fast succession and make it look easy. Emmalee has a lethal line shot that can earn a lot of points. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The middles put in a lot of work on this team. [player_tooltip player_id='822553' first='Ava' last='Peterson'] is confident and aggressive at the net. She gets pin-to-pin, closing the block consistently. [player_tooltip player_id='523043' first='Grace' last='Sember'] is a talented blocker as well, with great timing during broken plays. She protects the net fiercely for her team. Both middles work hard in transition and, when they are connecting with setters Camilla and Emree, can manufacture points out of the middle. [player_tooltip player_id='828191' first='Catherine' last='Austin'] rounds out the middles on this team. She has a lot of high-level court experience, including a state runner-up title with Grafton last season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Each of the setters on I AM has their own style. [player_tooltip player_id='435886' first='Camilla' last='Kreif'] is scrappy and runs a fast-tempo offense, always pushing the pace. She is a fearless player who is quick on defense and makes smart decisions. [player_tooltip player_id='454686' first='Emree' last='Kellerman'] has incredibly clean form, a quick touch on the ball, and a neutral posture, making her tough to read. Both setters are awesome at getting the job done and don't hesitate. They are leaders on the court who are always trying to better the ball. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lastly, we have the defenders. Libero [player_tooltip player_id='800624' first='Morgan' last='Vetter']. She puts in the grind in the back row. Her serve receive sets her apart from other liberos in this class. Morgan can cover so much space on serve receive, minimizing aces and taking pressure off her pins. She is a libero who is all in for the team and does all of the little things right. Defensive specialist [player_tooltip player_id='800132' first='Claire' last='Vanden Berg'] is a defensive specialist with high-level court awareness. She runs balls down quickly and is great at covering the end line from corner to corner. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->