Prep Dig Battle In The Valley 15s: Results & Key Players
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There were nineteen 15’s teams at the Prep Dig Battle In The Valley. Pool play began in the afternoon and was full of exciting matches. The top team from each pool advanced to the Gold Bracket and the second team in…
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Continue ReadingThere were nineteen 15’s teams at the Prep Dig Battle In The Valley. Pool play began in the afternoon and was full of exciting matches. The top team from each pool advanced to the Gold Bracket and the second team in each pool made their way to the Silver Bracket. Those brackets results are stated below.
Gold Bracket
Match 1 ended up being a tight match where Adversity 15-1 lost to Wisconsin Blaze 15 Black to get into the semi-final match. Wisconsin Blaze 15 Black then lost to 262ATTACK 15-Savage and Oak Creek K-Force 15 Blue lost to Wisconsin Ice 15 Purple. In the championship match, 262ATTACK 15-Savage lost to Wisconsin Ice 15 Purple.
1st Place – Wisconsin Ice 15 Purple
Aaliyah Krenn Aaliyah Krenn 6'1" | MB Columbus Catholic | 2024 State WI – 2024 – 6’1 – Middle Blocker/Pin Hitter – Marshfield
Krenn can attack from anywhere along the net and her off blocker defense is really strong with her ability to hand dig and cover a lot of court space. When she connects with her setter, Paige Guld Paige Guld 5'3" | S Newman Catholic | 2024 State WI , it’s like a firework show. Krenn has a high contact point, strong block, and sees the court really well so she knows where to push a ball for the kill.
London Metropulos London Metropulos 6'0" | RS Wittenberg-Birnamwood | 2024 State WI – 2024 – 6’0 – Pin Hitter – Wittenberg-Birnamwood
Metropulos did a little bit of everything this weekend. She took swings from either pin and put up a commanding block in the middle. Metropulos also zone-served with accuracy, showing off her ability to go short and deep corners. She was strong in serve-receive, scrappy on defense and gave her setter another big swinging option from the back row. Oh, and she’s a lefty.
Ava Krueger Ava Krueger 5'8" | OH Marathon | 2024 State WI – 2024 – 5’8 – Outside Hitter/Middle Blocker – Marathon
Krueger can play all six rotations and excels in each one. She can terminate from anywhere on the court because of her high contact point. Krueger’s ceiling for development is even higher than her vertical, and her impact is evident as soon as the match begins. She is dominant with a fast arm, quick foot work, and strong in serve-receive.
2nd Place – 262ATTACK 15-Savage
Aleah Latham – 2024 – Setter Latham caught my eye right away. I love the small spunky setters that can do just about everything. Latham was definitely vital to her team’s success because she simply is everywhere. She is a strong defender, wicked server, takes the ball over on the 2nd contact when she needs to, and runs a variety of tempos with her hitters. Latham makes complex plays look easy.
Natalie Farrugia – 2024 – 6’0 – Middle Blocker At the Battle In The Valley we all got to see some of Farrugia’s outstanding front row skills. She made my list as one to watch and one of the best middles in the 15s division. Farrugia takes a big, aggressive approach, giving her a ton of momentum to go with her super fast arm swing. She does a nice job with eye sequencing and reading where the set will take the ball. This leads to her closing the block and making it look effortless.
3rd Place – Oak Creek K-Force 15 Blue
Ava Hanson – 2024 – Middle Blocker – Oak Creek
Hanson is a really solid athlete. She has sound footwork, great timing, a fast swing, and makes great contact with the ball. Hanson also puts up a solid block that gives her defense a big advantage. She was very consistent and found ways to earn points in every set. Hanson is only a freshman, so I would definitely say she is one to watch for in the future.
Grace Turlais – 2024 – Outside Hitter – Oak Creek
Turlais is really athletic and a solid passer. When she is in the front row, she is dangerous to her opposing teams. Turlais plays all the way around and was vital for her team. You can tell her teammates feed off her confidence, and she is a leader on the court.
4th Place – Wisconsin Blaze 15 Black
Bry Kluess – 2024 – Middle Blocker – Hortonville
Kluess was one of the top middle hitters that I saw in the 15’s division. She had some great blocks, hits, and she was exactly where she needed to be when she needed to be there. Kluess is an impressive young middle with an amazing amount of promise. She dominated in the front row and her powerful swing made her a menace out of the middle.
Margaret Hahnke – 2024 – 5’7 – Outside Hitter – Fox Valley Lutheran
Hahnke is as solid as they come on defense, and she takes a really wicked swing out of the back row. She was playing in top fashion on Saturday and was instrumental in her team making quick work of pool play. Hanhke is a really quick attacker with some power behind her swing.
Ella Hawkins – 2024 – Right Side Hitter – Xavier
Hawkins is a lefty who can be utilized as a right side or a middle blocker and find success. I had fun watching Hawkins on the right side on Saturday. She really has a long reach and impressive arm. Hawkins has a solid lefty swing that gives blockers a fit, and defenders have to fight to get under. She is young, but brave and aggressive.
Silver Bracket
Match 1 showed us Iowa Select 14 Mizuno beat Milwaukee Jr’s 15-Elite. Wisconsin Premier 15 Teal lost the semifinal to Iowa Select 14 Mizuno and Impact 15-National lost to 262ATTACK 15-Power. Iowa Select 14 Mizuno then beat 262ATTACK 15-Power to win the Silver Bracket.
8th Place – Impact 15 National
Lauren Bitters Lauren Bitters 5'7" | S Bay Port | 2024 State WI – 2024 – 5’7 – Setter – Bay Port
Bitters stood out on the court as quick-thinking, determined, and gives her hitters a ton of opportunities. She calls the shots and runs the court with certainty and confidence. Bitters was critical to her team’s success.