Prep Dig Gauntlet Day 2 Wrap-Up

Get 30% off your first billing cycle with code: howe30 in the coupon code area   MENOMONEE FALLS, Wis. - The Prep Dig Gauntlet wrapped up Sunday at three different locations in the area. Champions were crowned in each of the 14-17U age groups with three divisions for the 15-17s.    Iowa teams performed well at the premier event designed to match the region's best in preparation for the national tournaments later this month.    I wrote about squads from the state that I watched on Saturday. You can read that roundup <a href="https://prepdig.com/2026/06/rounding-up-day-1-at-prep-dig-gauntlet/" id="https://prepdig.com/2026/06/rounding-up-day-1-at-prep-dig-gauntlet/">HERE</a>.    I returned to the Milwaukee Sting Center on Sunday. Here's what I saw:    -Iowa Select 17 Mizuno has enjoyed a strong year. It finished fourth at the Iowa Regional and has qualified for the American Division at the USAV Nationals in Indianapolis.    The highlight of the weekend came Sunday morning against Northern Lights 17-1, which lost in the championship match of the top division here. Select lost to the Minneapolis-based club in three sets, winning the first, 25-17. It came up just short in Set 2, 25-21, and then dropped the third, 15-9.    I saw Select tangle with Sky High Adidas after that. It looked like the emotional loss to Northern Lights created a hangover effect for the Iowa team, but it still battled.    Outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id='490015' first='Mazie' last='Sweers'] was outstanding through six rotations. The same could be said about setter [player_tooltip player_id='490009' first='Leah' last='Caffery']. [player_tooltip player_id='493984' first='Kyla' last='Ramler'] brought her usual two-way talents to the middle of the net, where she teamed up with the powerful [player_tooltip player_id='758798' first='LaTasia' last='Green-Huffman'].    Outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id='489674' first='Jordan' last='Tegeler'] flashed here explosion and heavy swing, while libero Zoe Perez locked down the back row. [player_tooltip player_id='917987' first='Abren' last='Bazal'], [player_tooltip player_id='946816' first='Abby' last='Dykstra'] and [player_tooltip player_id='949060' first='Reece' last='Harrell'] delivered meaningful contributions.    -I caught Iowa United 16-1 Elite taking on 1st Alliance 16 Silver in the championship match of the second highest division. United pulled out a thrilling three-set victory for the title.    A USAV Nationals qualifier in the Freedom Division, United boasts star power at three important positions. [player_tooltip player_id='516002' first='Julia' last='Schlarbaum'] is a consistently impactful six-rotation outside hitter, which she showed here. [player_tooltip player_id='701976' first='Adelyn' last='Stien'] is one of the state's most well-rounded setters, and libero [player_tooltip player_id='775157' first='Jeorgia' last='Evans'] is cat quick in the back row, allowing for the covering of a large swath of real estate.    That trio is complemented by a talented group around it. Right-side hitter [player_tooltip player_id='610472' first='Josie' last='Austen'] is getting better every time she competes, this weekend playing the opposite pin and middle hitter, and [player_tooltip player_id='775182' first='Olivia' last='Marais'] is a versatile, powerful front-rower with an ability to be effective at both pins.    [player_tooltip player_id='771601' first='Kaitlyn' last='Amman'] proved she's a force to be reckoned with this weekend, getting the job done through six rotations. Short-handed United also received solid performances from long-limbed [player_tooltip player_id='571219' first='Haydin' last='Wauters'] in the middle and [player_tooltip player_id='851203' first='Norah' last='Willey'] in the back row.   -I watched a little bit of [program_tooltip program_id='431948' first='Iowa' last='Rockets'] 17R on Saturday. Sunday, I took in a full match and part of another one. It won the Silver bracket, topping FC Elite 17 Navy in straight sets before dispatching of Circle City 17 Black in a three-setter.   Sunday's performance was made more impressive by the Rockets competing without star middle hitter [player_tooltip player_id='493658' first='Hattie' last='Galloway'], who suffered an injury on Saturday, Harper Nicholson and Rainie Pfohl did well in picking up the slack in her absence.    [player_tooltip player_id='316419' first='Edie' last='Miller'] and [player_tooltip player_id='316380' first='Hadley' last='Miller'] performed at a high level at libero and setter, respectively. [player_tooltip player_id='555788' first='Kendra' last='Nolton'] has continued developing at the pin and played six rotations this weekend. [player_tooltip player_id='755481' first='Layla' last='Green'] is a jumping jack at the pin with a heavy swing that surprises opponents.    [player_tooltip player_id='993804' first='Addison' last='Walter'] has made great strides as an overall volleyball player and is capable of helping Solon in the fall. [player_tooltip player_id='758812' first='Kaylee' last='Hagstrom'] baffled the opposition with a nasty serve.    -I watched all of [program_tooltip program_id='431948' first='Iowa' last='Rockets'] 15R matches during the weekend. While the team did not win, it played some of its best volleyball of the season against a set of foes that represented well why the event is called The Gauntlet.    Libero [player_tooltip player_id='782157' first='Maggie' last='Jensen'] and [player_tooltip player_id='780596' first='Audrey' last='Howe'], a defensive specialist, stood up well against an amazing collection of front rows. Six-rotation outside [player_tooltip player_id='789484' first='Avrielle' last='Ohda'] helped in the back row in addition to ending points from the pin.   [player_tooltip player_id='760983' first='Finley' last='Batchelder'], who was coming back from an ankle injury, put the ball down from the outside, while [player_tooltip player_id='931274' first='Emerson' last='Ehrke'] showed off her versatility by taking on reps in the middle along with her normal duties on the right side.    [player_tooltip player_id='890305' first='Johanna' last='Shaffer'] and Malia Wedo provided strong play in the middle, particularly in throwing up the block. [player_tooltip player_id='917911' first='Kaylin' last='Davis'] and [player_tooltip player_id='889863' first='Ainsley' last='Conrad'] took care of business in setting up teammates with Davis also getting in swings from the opposite pin.

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