Class of 2019: Power at the Pins
The Class of 2019 has developed into a power class, featuring plenty of punch from the players on the pin. With commits going to the Big Ten, SEC, Missouri Valley, Big East, MAC, and Atlantic 10 these Wisconsin Prep players…
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Continue ReadingThe Class of 2019 has developed into a power class, featuring plenty of punch from the players on the pin. With commits going to the Big Ten, SEC, Missouri Valley, Big East, MAC, and Atlantic 10 these Wisconsin Prep players are far from done seeing each other when their high school and club seasons end over a year from now. To be a pin hitter (outside or right side), there are more tools than just hitting the ball as hard as you can. Athletes must be someone who can score from all areas of the court, not just on a free ball to the outside. They have to be the ones who clean up the out of system sets and find a way to put points up. Once the defense has adjusted to the pin, no matter hard you hit, the chance of hitting through a solid block is slim to none. A bag of tricks is needed, a nice cross, line, and roll (and not to mention how to use the block to their advantage). All of these players demonstrate these tools that make them them some of the top prep players in the state.
Addie Barnes – Neenah – FC Elite (Feature Picture Far Left)
Committed to Loyola (Chicago)
Barnes has been on the radar before she even started playing high school volleyball. With her older sister, Haley, being an All State player for Neenah and All Conference for NCAA D1, High Point, Addie had plenty of expectations to live up to. With a state title as a Sophomore and back to back 1st Team All State Honors, she has proven wrong any doubters. With an aggressive approach and a violent swing, Barnes is a point scoring machine from the front or back row. Even with teams expecting her to be set she can quickly make adjustments to rip a shot down line or tool it off high hands. This past high school season she had 465 kills for the Rockets and 313 digs.
Maddie Koch – Ashwaubenon – Wisconsin Volleyball Academy (Feature Picture Middle)
Committed to Purdue
Unlike Barnes, Koch is relatively new to the club volleyball scene, having only played at the National level for one year with WVA 16 Black ( she will play for WVA 18 Black this club season). It didn’t take long for Koch to make a splash to a national audience, especially at the AAU National Tournament. With the frame of a power forward (her three older brothers played basketball for Northern Iowa) and a vertical of a high jumper, Koch is one of the few who can power straight through a block. Her game is pure power, with flashes of greatness that are now turning into consistent moments of greatness. She came out almost nowhere to now heading to the Big 10 in two years. The ceiling is extremely high for the Fox River Classic Conference Co-Player of the Year of what she can do with her physical tools.
Briana Scuric – East Troy – Milwaukee Sting (Feature Picture Far Right)
Committed to Northern Illinois
After the graduation of M.E. Dodge from East Troy, it was up to Brianna Scuric to fill the shoes of the Badger recruit. She has proven herself to be one of the top outsides in the state, with a strong and physical style of play. Scuric was part of the Milwaukee Sting 16 Gold team that finished in the top four of the AAU National Open Championships in Orlando last summer. This past fall for East Troy she had 388 kills, and a .361 hitting efficiency. She was just shy of 300 digs and earned 2nd Team All State. She will once again be a pivotal part of Milwaukee Sting 17 Gold’s success this upcoming club season.
Maggie Cartwright – Kimberly – FC Elite
Committed to Arkansas
When Cartwright approaches to attack it looks like she is going to dunk a basketball. Cartwright has expanded her game over her high school career to be able to play on the outside, right side, and a solid back row player. With her ability to play backrow she is always a threat to score, especially a ball out of system. She was one of the main cogs in Kimberly’s undefeated conference schedule and an appearance in the D1 state tournament where she had 287 kills 310 digs and 48 aces. Much like Koch and the physical tools she possesses, her best volleyball has yet to come.
Lily Welti – Middleton – Wisconsin Volleyball Academy
Committed to St. Louis University
If Cartwright looks like she is going to dunk a basketball when she approaches, then Lily Welti approaches like a running back breaking for a touchdown run with extreme speed and power. At just 5’8, Welti has probably been referred to a bit “undersized” for a D1 outside. Call her undersized, but she is Mighty Mouse with a combination of power and shots that are pointworthy from the pin or middle back. This past season for Middleton, she was an All State Honorable Mention Pick with 347 kills and 326 digs. She will join Koch and play for WVA 18 Black.
Hannah Vanden Berg – Little Chute – FC Elite
Hannah VandenBerg will be staying home to play for Marquette.Committed To Marquette
When Allie Barber at Marquette completes her eligibility, it will be time for Hannah VandenBerg to step in for the Golden Eagles. VandenBerg has been a force at the prep and club level since she was 15 and continues to climb up the ranks. With a high reach, and the ability to play any front row position, Vanden Berg is extremely versatile for her club team, FC Elite, which will be loaded to make a run this upcoming club season. She is extremely consistent with a blend of power and finesse, whatever is needed for the situation. This past season for Little Chute, VandenBerg racked up 596 kills, 333 digs, and 73 aces.
Liz Gregorski – Xavier High School (Appleton) – FC Elite
Committed to Wisconsin
Gregorski rounds out the list of major commits in the Class of 2019 so far. Think of Gregorski as M.E. Dodge 2.0 who is a solid six rotation player. She can play on the left or right side, but one of her strongest parts of her game is her back row play. Besides being a solid player for Xavier and FC Elite, she has also racked up some Beach accolades being on the 2016 JVA Beach Watch List as well as finishing 5th with her partner Chloe Tome.