Uncommitted 2022’s Excel at the Prep Dig Gauntlet
The Prep Dig Gauntlet featured some really high end athletes from Wisconsin and Illinois. There was Elevate from the LaCrosse area, FC Elite from the Fox Valley area, Capital from the Madison area, Illini Elite and Sky High out of…
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Continue ReadingThe Prep Dig Gauntlet featured some really high end athletes from Wisconsin and Illinois. There was Elevate from the LaCrosse area, FC Elite from the Fox Valley area, Capital from the Madison area,
Illini Elite
and
Sky High
out of Illinois. Teams from different areas have dealt with such different restrictions this past year, so it was great to see players with the option of wearing their masks. I will never take seeing faces for granted again! The level of volleyball and energy in the Sting Center was extremely high.
It was great to see these players in person and get a better idea of the true impact they have on the court. College coaches, take note, these players came to compete and have been honing their skills to make the very best of their senior seasons.
Arianna Knowles – 6’1 – Middle Blocker – Grayslake North (IL) – Sky High Adidas 17-1 NS
Young middles could learn from watching Knowles. She approaches and transitions so swiftly and she makes herself available to attack. Knowles is unrelenting as a blocker going from pin to pin to close the block. Being a middle blocker is difficult because they need to be everywhere and see everything. Knowles is such a fun athlete to watch as she came up with some really big swings in their quarterfinal match. She showed that she could hit the 5 corner twice then cut the angle the opposite way. Knowles did a really nice job working around the blocking, taking aggressive swings and scoring a lot of points.
Abby Savatski Abby Savatski 6'1" | MB Mukwonago | 2022 State WI – 6’1 – Middle Blocker – Mukwonago – RVA G17 Navy
Just a couple years ago, we barely knew Savatski, but at the Gauntlet there was a whole new level of confidence in her play. The development, control, and overall dependability she demonstrated as middle blocker was really fun to watch. Savatski commanded the net and moved the ball from sideline to sideline while also pounding the crud out of the 5 corner. A number of times I found myself describing her as “unstoppable” in my notes.
Chloe Werner Chloe Werner 5'10" | RS Waterford | 2022 State WI – 5’10 – Right Side Hitter – Waterford – Sting Burlington United 17 Orange
Werner is a well-built X-Factor for Burlington on their way to national competition in Louisville and Vegas. She’s a solid and powerful right side, who is solid defensively at the net. Werner is well trained, well coached, and she can slay anywhere across the net. She hits the hard angle across her body and can really elevate and go hard line for the deep corner shot. She works really well with setter Josie Johnson Josie Johnson 5'6" | S Waterford | 2022 State WI , and they can connect in a number of ways whether Werner is running a route in front or behind Johnson. Sometimes she would just come out of nowhere for a big swing. Werner is poised to have a huge year as she has really developed into a strong and physical player.
Gianna Vollrath Gianna Vollrath 6'1" | MB Fall Creek | 2022 State WI – 6’1 – Middle Blocker – Fall Creek – FC Elite 17 Navy
Vollrath has some electric stuff when she powers through the block. She is creative in how she can score points while running slides and other smart routes depending on the pass. Vollrath takes big swings with a lot of power, making her very hard to stop.
Grace Minder – 6’2 – Middle Blocker – Sacred Hearth-Griffin – Illini Elite 17 White (IL)
Minder is definitely one you want to watch live. Her positive body language screams leader and she plays with an extremely high IQ. Minder closes the block and then on the offensive side of the ball, she hits a really nice gap. This is not easily done as it requires great timing and a strong connection with your setter. Minder knows how to find ways to score!
Katie Breier Katie Breier 6'0" | MB Sussex Hamilton | 2022 State WI – 6’0 – Middle Blocker – Hamilton – Milwaukee Sting 17 White
Sting brought the most power and excitement to the gym this past weekend, resulting in some really great celebratory photos. It wasn’t just the photos though, they brought the game to back it up. Breier is a powerful middle who was really effective on the net. She is a blocking machine but could also turn to smoke the 1 corner or hit a variety of spots on the court with a heavy swing. When Sting is in-system, they are really tough to stop with their middle blocking duo which also includes Rory Griffin Rory Griffin MB West Bend West | 2022 State WI .
Lydia Bilitz – Outside Hitter/Defensive Specialist – Lakeside Lutheran – Sting Madison United 17 Red
Bilitz showed off with some really strong off-blocker defense along with controlled and well-placed swings. I can see how she would be the libero you need to take care of all the routine stuff. Bilitz would be a nice boost to a program’s culture with her work ethic, leading by example, and positive body language towards her teammates.
Sydnie Williams – 5’10 – Outside Hitter – Champaign Central – Illini Elite 17 White (IL)
Williams can score points from anywhere along the net. With her volleyball IQ and aggressive play at the net, she puts her team in position to compete with a very tough Gauntlet 17/18s division. Williams is really good at mixing up between the hard swings and tips that go just barely over the block.
Megan Margolis – 5’10 – Setter – Lake Forest – Sky High Adidas 17-1 NS (IL)
This 5’10 setter can do just about anything from scoring points, setting, and supporting her teammates. While watching this Sky High team, you could see how they bring so much energy to compete for every point. Margolis’ height alone will give her some decent options at the next level, but her skill set will double that.
Other Notables:
Abigail Ferriss – 5’10 – Outside Hitter – Buffalo Grove – Sky High Adidas 17-1 NS (IL)
Cara Murdock – 5’6 – Libero – New Trier – Sky High Adidas 17-1 NS (IL)
Ella Denoyer – Middle Blocker – Lakeside Lutheran – Sting Madison United 17 Red
Emilie Planert Emilie Planert 6'1" | MB West De Pere | 2022 State WI – 6’1 – Middle Blocker – West De Pere – FC Elite 17 Navy
Emma Johnson Emma Johnson 5'10" | S Luxemburg-Casco | 2022 State WI – 5’10 – Setter – Luxemburg-Casco – FC Elite 17 Navy
Izzy Stark Izzy Stark 5'11" | RS Mukwonago | 2022 State WI – 5’11 – Right Side Hitter – Mukwonago – RVA G17 Navy
Kara Schmit
Kara
Schmit
5'8" | OH
DSHA | 2022
State
WI
– 5’8 – Outside Hitter – DSHA – Milwaukee Sting 17 White
Cassandra Alsum Cassandra Alsum 5'9" | OH Randolph | 2022 State WI – 5’10 – Outside Hitter – Randolph – Milwaukee Sting 17 White
Lauren Foerster Lauren Foerster 5'10" | OH Westosha Central | 2022 State WI – 5’10 – Outside Hitter – Westosha Central – Sky High Adidas 17-1 NS
Lydia Biggin Lydia Biggin 5'10" | RS Burlington | 2022 State WI – 5’10 – Right Side Hitter – Burlington – Milwaukee Sting 17 White
Madelyn Weyda Madelyn Weyda 5'10" | DS/L Germantown | 2022 State WI – 5’10 – Libero – Germantown – Milwaukee Sting 17 White
Mckenzie Gruner Mckenzie Gruner 6'1" | MB Baraboo | 2022 State WI – 6’1 – Middle Blocker – Baraboo – Sting Madison United 17 Red
Kayla Wigley Kayla Wigley 5'10" | OH Wisconsin Lutheran | 2022 State WI – 5’10 – Outside Hitter – Wisconsin Lutheran – Milwaukee Sting 17 White
Peyton Como Peyton Como 5'4" | DS/L Wauwatosa West | 2022 State WI – 5’4 – Libero – Wauwatosa West – RVA G17 Navy
Rory Griffin Rory Griffin MB West Bend West | 2022 State WI – Middle Blocker – West Bend West – Milwaukee Sting 17 White
Sophie McCormack Sophie McCormack 6'0" | OH Kettle Moraine | 2022 State WI – 6’0 – Outside Hitter – Kettle Moraine – Sting Burlington United 17 Orange