18 Top Players, Teams, and Moments From Windy City Power League
The number 18. Only appropriate for this past weekend at the Windy City Power League as well as the rest of the country with clubs honoring Beth Dunlap of 1st Alliance who recently passed away from injuries suffered in being struck by a car on the way to school. With her high school number of 18, clubs have been doing 18 extra – extra sprints, extra good deeds, the list goes on. At Prep Dig, why not do 18 great things about the Windy City Power League? With some of the top coaches in the country in town to recruit as well as a large pool of players who are considered some of the best in the nation. Here are 18 great things about this league from players to teams and some college coaches in attendance.
1. The Volleyball Community
After the passing of 1st Alliance member Beth Dunlap, the members of 1st Alliance, Downers Grove North High School, and members of the volleyball community were hurting. Seeing the 1st Alliance teams wearing #BethStrong red shirts and other athletes wearing red ribbons in their hair or on their shoes the support throughout the whole day was amazing. Volleyball has such a strong community across the sport and it was very evident on Saturday at Sky High.
Seeing the volleyball community at WCPL come together in support @1stAllianceVBC and @DGNVolleyball after the passing of their teammate, Beth Dunlap, was something I just had to share the story of. The volleyball community will always be there! https://t.co/yRFR5HxxiT
— Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) February 25, 2019
2. Temi Thomas and Charlotte Cronister – Michio 18 National
Thomas and Cronister are staying home, but Big Ten bound heading to play at Northwestern. Thomas brings the thunder from the outside where her approach and swing is always a highlight reel. Mostly hitting over the block, she is always a threat in all six rotations, posing a threat at all times. Her club teammate, Cronister, plays the backrow like a second basemen with quick lateral movement – making difficult plays look relatively easy along with an incredible range. Watch her swing in warm ups and you’d be convinced that she is an outside hitter as well. Great pick up by Northwestern by keeping the home grown talent close!
I know I’m quite the iPhone photographer, but the shutter speed can’t keep up with the swing of Temi Thomas of @MichioChicagoVB who is heading to @NUVball pic.twitter.com/HopprllKwt
— Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) February 23, 2019
3. Sky High 17 Adidas
This team has quite the firepower at all positions. With solid ball control and physical attackers who can put the ball down, along with gritty defense this is one of the better 17s teams I’ve seen play so far this winter. Plus, they are just fun to watch with a lot of communication, passion, and energy that is played all throughout the game.
4. The Dynamic
Some players can just do a little bit of everything, and one of those would be Katie Lanz of Fusion 18 Red. She sets in the backrow and swings hard in the front row. Once she comes back to the service line she has a top spin that slices. She is committed to UNC-Wilmington and I can see where she would just make a gym more competitive with all of her skills. She would be a force on the sand as well!
5. Lions On The Hunt
Lions 15-1 feeds into 1st Alliance and they have been on a tear this whole winter, maintaining a strong tradition at the 15s level winning the Central Zone Invite and only suffering two losses at the prestigious Triple Crown Invite in Kansas City. Their only loss to another 15s team in the WCPL is to Epic 15 Rox. Gillian Grimes at libero can cover quite the area and keeps the offense in system with a consistent first contact. Jordan Walker on the pin plays with such passion and energy, its infectious and she isn’t afraid to take a big swing. They will be extremely competitive come qualifier time this next month.
6. The Quick, Athletic, and Dynamic Middles
Playing the middle is tough. From reading the setter, identifying hitters, and reacting to essentially beat the ball to the spot for a block and then transition to hit is a lot going on all at one time. There were some middles this weekend that were maybe 5’8 or 5’9 and some that were 6’3. Huge gap in height, but they all have the same job, and find a way to get it done. Amayah Jones from Chicago Elite, Alexis Boling of Milwaukee Sting, or Georgianna Barr of Adversity they all have their style and just work. And when you work, the game finds a way to reward you with a chance to swing from your setter, a block, or the perfect overpass for a kill.
7. Uno’s Dynamic Duos
Uno 16-Elite duo on the pin of Jillian Gray and Heidi Bonde are electric with two different styles. Gray is a high flyer who does not get cheated on her swing, she is going to put a dent in the floor or off the block. Bonde is a bit taller and has really great hand contact that is above the block. Her ceiling is so high, a prospect definitely on the rise and will be fun to watch develop her all around game.
8. We’re From Iowa
When you’re from Iowa, there is a certain pride (trust me, I grew up there), and the Iowa Rockets 15R make the drive from Southeast Iowa to compete against some of the best in the Chicagoland. Macy Daufeldt is a 5’10, high flyer who can score on either pin and from the backrow. She plays with an explosiveness that makes it extremely exciting, an anticipation of what could happen next. The also have Kora Ruff who is just steady and a solid all around player who can set in the backrow and swing in the front, extremely high IQ. Calia Clubb can hit on either pin, but plays really high on the right side, providing a strong block and many scoring opportunities. All this comes from a solid first contact which is provided most often by libero Gabrielle Schroeder, extremely dependable holding down the backrow.
Macy Daufeldt can put the ball on the floor from either pin. Rising prospect out of @WestLibAthletic and @IowaRockets pic.twitter.com/4cZExf30io
— Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) February 24, 2019
9. New Club, Big Impact
In covering the Great Lakes Power League and events in Chicago and Milwaukee, I had seen Faith Johnson play multiple times for Sports Performance and this past weekend, I was able to see Johnson play for 1st Alliance 17 Silver. A strong, physical attacker and also the ability to set a big block. She has given her verbal commit to play Division 1 volleyball at Akron.
10. Coaches, Plenty of College Coaches
Some of the top coaches across the country from all levels were in attendance on Saturday, from Calvin College, one of the top Division 3 schools out of Michigan, along with Penn State who has found plenty of success out of the Chicagoland. Here is a list of schools I saw Saturday at Sky High, again there could have been more, but this is who I saw.
Creighton
Loyola (Chicago)
Miami (OH)
Penn State
DePaul
Milwaukee
Northern Illinois
Northwestern
UIC
Marquette
Ferris State
Gustavus Adolphus
Loyola (Maryland)
Illinois State
Toledo
Bradley
Green Bay
Lewis
Western Michigan
Ball State
La Salle
Calvin College
St. Louis
Oakland
Brown
South Dakota State
Virginia
North Carolina
Akron
Michigan Tech
West Virginia
11. The Commander and Quarterback
Sky High 17 Adidas is quite the team with multiple weapons, however the show is ran by Taylor Jakubowski. A quick release, can set multiple tempos, and works extremely well with her middles as well as the rest of her hitters to get the best matchups, Jakubowski is a huge playmaker. She is committed to Seton Hall and had future teammate Anna Holland of Milwaukee Sting in the building as well.
12. Trio of Leftys
There were plenty of leftys in the gym, but not very often will you find three leftys on one team. Milwaukee Sting 16 Gold has Morgan Yenter setting along with Natalie Tesch and Katie Winkler attacking. All of them bring something different to the table. Yenter has been improving each time she steps on the court and can attack on two. Winkler brings a lot of power on the right side, where Tesch can spot the ball anywhere and has provided a spark for Sting in the backrow and from behind the service line.
13. High Flying Lefty on the Right Side (Article Title Photo)
Trinity Sheridan of Sky High Adidas 17 Black might be touching as high as anyone in that gym. The UNLV recruit brings a different dynamic to the game being able to play that high with a left hand on the right side, not something teams are accustomed to seeing. She also can really create a mismatch with her block. I’d be shocked if anyone hit over her block with shot straight down the line, really fun to watch how she can change the game.
Lot of weapons and balance for @ChicagoEliteVBC – keep an eye on some 2022 prospects pic.twitter.com/Dk69405Gnm
— Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) February 23, 2019
14. The Elite of Chicago Elite
The 15s of Chicago Elite have posed quite the threat to plenty of teams in the WCPL. With two big time players on the pin, they always have an outlet to score in Ariana Joubert and Chelsea Thorpe. Joubert has a loose arm with quite the arm swing while Thorpe plays incredibly high and poses a threat to score in the front and backrow. Thats not all to the 15s of Chicago Elite who has a really balanced offensive attack from each position.
15. Club Adversity Making an Impact
Adversity has been a major power on the boys side, but Saturday at Sky High the 16 Adidas and 18 Adidas teams were in the top bracket with the 16s coming out on top Saturday, keeping them in Bracket A with the top 17s and 18s teams in the division. Setter, Ava Tortorello can dish, with solid middles who can run a variety of routes, she is quite the quarterback who is on point getting her hitters in a position to score.
16. Uno 18s – Blend of Finesse and Physicality
I saw the Uno 18 National team play on Saturday where they finished second in Bracket A. Regan Trueblood, an IUPUI commit runs the show with plenty of dynamic athletes to distribute to, featuring two power pin hitters in Lauren Hatch who is heading to South Florida and Bella Zeman who will play at Wofford. Explosive with the ability to hit a variety of shots. Zeman was very lethal out of the backcourt. A steady presence in the backrow is their libero, Nicole Kijowski who will play at SIUE.
17. Battles Within The Clubs
Multiple clubs were in the same bracket with their teams which just goes to show the depth throughout the Chicagoland. These clubs don’t just have their top ten, its more like their top twenty and then some. Epic 15s and 16s seemed to be going back and forth, fighting for the next bracket up, the two teams featured some scrappy and athletic setters in Paige Onjack and London Hatch. The same can be said between Chicago Elite and Club 1, a sea of red between those clubs where they seemed to be facing each other across the net throughout the weekend. Again, the depth is incredible!
18. This Was Only One Gym
Sky High was just one location of the Windy City Power League. There is talent all across the region competing at various locations under the Windy City Power League. With the recent expansion this past year and with the level of competition seen week in and week out this is a sign of great things to come for the continued rich tradition of volleyball in the Great Lakes Region.
Seeing more and more teams and just picturing some of the really solid matchups we’ll have at the @PrepDigEvents Prep Dig Gauntlet June 1 and 2 in Madison @ChicagoEliteVBC @FCEliteVB @NEBJRSVB1 @NewWAVEVB and more! pic.twitter.com/9zJhFau14s
— Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) February 23, 2019