Top Moments That Were The Prep Dig Top 250

There were so many times throughout the Top 250 where I just said, “Wow”!  Sometimes it was a series of plays, one big swing, or a crazy dive that kept the ball alive, and I felt like I was scrambling to take notes, videos, and pictures of ALL the amazing action.  But in the end, these players/groups are what stood out and stuck.  I could probably make this an eight-part series, but I will try to stick to some BIG highlights that were the 2020 Prep Dig Top 250.   Claire AmmeraalClaireAmmeraalSMadison LaFollette | 2022StateWI Is A Total Game Changer  Ammeraal (2022 – 6’1 – Setter – Madison La Follette – Capital) has been on our radar since the inception of Prep Dig Wisconsin.  Her first big moment may have been the first time she made the Badger High Performance Camp.  Ammeraal is a long, athletic, physical setter who knows just how to pick apart the defense with her attacking, jump setting, and finding the right angles. I have no doubt her stats are impressive.  Ammeraal will be a HUGE pickup for any college program and I can’t wait to see where she chooses to go.  Crossing Borders  Lily BechinaLilyBechinaSIL Photo Credit: Breit Nelson I’m always excited to see our Wisconsin kids, but we had quite a few players that came from other states to participate in our event. Lily BechinaLilyBechinaSIL (2022 – 5’11 – Setter – Jonas College Prep – Chicago Elite) was part of a good size group from Illinois that came to play, including Lily Boland (2022 – 5’5 – Libero – Loyola Academy – Chicago Elite) who showed the gym how it’s done when playing hand-to-hand combat with a crazy hand dig which scored a point for her side.  Cailyn Harrington (2022 – 5’6 – Setter – Saint Vaitor – MOD VBC) moves super smooth, gets her feet to the ball and has a fast armswing, while Tricia Kennedy (2023 – 6’2 – Middle Blocker – Cary Grove – Sky High) showed us her booming swing.    [player_tooltip player_id="61726" first="Kiya" last="Levy"] Photo Credit:Breit Nelson Kiya LevyKiyaLevy6'0" | MBSt. Ignatius College Prep | 2022IL (2022 – 6’0 – Middle Blocker – St. Ignatius College Prep – Chicago Elite VBC) has a heavy swing that just gave off a different sound when she contacted the ball out of the middle, along with an explosive Saniya Spalding (2022 – 5’10 – Middle Blocker – Merrillville – Chicago Elite).  One of the best setters in the gym during the second session was Ava SchabesAvaSchabes5'9" | SWhitney Young High School | 2023IL (2023 – 5’9 – Setter – Chicago – 1st Alliance VBC), while from Iowa we had Maggie Johnson (2024 – 5’10 – Middle Blocker – Assumption HS Davenport – Iowa Select) who showed off her explosive quick armswing.  Masters of Middle Back  Loving how @ellademetrician made this dig look easy at the Top 250 Expo pic.twitter.com/Kh3aJaR8hk — PrepDigRachel (@prepdigrachel) November 26, 2020 I’ve seen Ella Demitrician play plenty of times over the past couple of months, and her contact point and swings from the pin are some of the best in the state. In game play, opposing hitters were trying to hit the corners, but she was owning the deep court and making it look so effortless,  Isabelle Shea (2024 – Libero – Oshkosh West – FC Elite) gave 110% hustle and gets so many amazing touches to keep the ball in play.  Alexah MellenbergerAlexahMellenberger5'8" | OHNew Glarus | 2021StateWI (2021 – 5’8 – Pin Hitter – New Glarus – Capital) showed us great court movement and that she is crazy fast with super hustle to cover 75% of the court.    Alia SchlimgenAliaSchlimgen5'5" | DS/LSauk Prairie | 2022StateWI (2023 – 5’5 – Libero – Sauk Prairie – Capital) operates so smoothly and hustles to cover both corners, as well as diving for the short shot to keep the ball in play.  I was lucky enough to officiate Gilman a couple times this year and got to see Gracie TallierGracieTallier5'7" | OHGilman | 2023StateWI (2023 – 5’7 – Libero – Wisconsin Ice), and she is such a quick defender.  Tallier can get balls that no one else can.   I’ve been able to see Dylan WallDylanWall5'8" | DS/LSPASH | 2021StateWI (2021 – 5’8 – Pin Hitter – SPASH – One Wisconsin) play in a grass quads league, as well as at some Fall Tournaments, and I’ve seen how tenacious she can be on defense.  Wall does not let a ball drop without extreme hustle.  Elle Kennedy (2024 – 5’5 – Libero – Sheboygan North – Milwaukee Sting) is skilled and shows a ton of energy and hustle to get the job done.  I love seeing new faces, or nowadays, eyes.  Georgia Koscielak (2024 – 5’6 – Libero – WFB – Milwaukee Sting) is new on my radar and she is super scrappy, will play any position you want, and just goes after it.  Reaching New Heights  [player_tooltip player_id="81262" first="Berkley" last="Mischler"] Photo Credit: Breit Nelson When I think of highflyers, I can’t help but think back to players like Lexi DonarskiLexiDonarski5'11" | OHLa Crosse Aquinas | 2020StateWI of whom we’ve captured pictures at the State Tournament with her shoulders over the net.  I was so impressed by some of the explosive athletes we saw at the Top 250.  You just can’t ignore these players because they are playing way above the tape.  Berkley MischlerBerkleyMischlerMBAppleton North | 2022StateWI (2022 – 6’1 – Middle Blocker – Milwaukee Sting) has been a high contact player out of Appleton North, but joining her last weekend were players like Abbi Martin (2022 – 6’0 – Middle Blocker – Mosinee – Wisconsin Ice), Monika StevensMonikaStevens6'0" | MBLittle Chute | 2023StateWI (2023 – 6’1 – Middle Blocker – Little Chute – FC Elite), and Gwen CrullGwenCrull6'1" | MBMcFarland | 2023StateWI (2023 – 6’1 – Middle Blocker – McFarland – Balance) who have grown from defensive blockers to dynamic offensive threats.  Top Talent  [player_tooltip player_id="80729" first="Molly" last="Lawlis"] Photo Credit: Breit Nelson There was so much talent in the gym for both sessions it was almost overwhelming.  There are so many elite athletes who will be looking for a college program to call home and extend their playing careers four more years.  It was just fun to see top recruits such as Molly LawlisMollyLawlis5'10" | MBPacelli | 2021StateWI (2021 – 5’10 – Middle Blocker – Pacelli – Wisconsin Ice) with the super fast armswing and hard cutting angle.  Then there is Sydney LewellinSydneyLewellinSLake Mills | 2022StateWI (2022 – 5’11 – Setter – Lake Mills – Milwaukee Sting) who has great hands, a wicked lefty swing, and always a killer instinct and can really do anything.  Then there are the two big swings from the class of 2023 that make everything look easy, have a high contact point, and a monster swing from Kyla DunawayKylaDunaway6'3" | RSKimberly | 2023StateWI (6’3 – Pin Hitter – Kimberly – Milwaukee Sting) and Kennedy Martin (6’5 – Pin Hitter – De Pere – FC Elite).