10 Available at Prospects From WVA Scrimmage
What was enjoyable about this event at the WVA Scrimmage this past Sunday was seeing the progression of ages starting with WVA 14 Black, all the way up to the 17s and 18s where many of the athletes have started making their verbal commitment or have signed their national letter of intent to continue their volleyball career. Each age group brings their own dynamic and different obstacles to improve upon each time they step on the court. At the younger level, some of the athletes are extremely raw, polishing their skills and will see a ton of progress from start to finish of their club season. For the older players, they still have time to find the right fit from in a college volleyball program. Here are ten athletes to take a look at from the WVA Scrimmage that are unsigned and worthy of taking a look into at the next level.
2018
Lauren Spaulding – Sheboygan North High School – WVA 18 Black – OH/DS
Very athletic that can play a variety of positions – outside, right side, and defensive specialist. Spalding would be a great fit for an NCAA DIII program with a solid foundation of skills that would automatically make any team better. Playing for WVA 18 Black will allow Spaulding to get plenty of looks on the national scene. A little undersized to play on the outside at a Division II school, but don’t underestimate her well rounded overall game
Katie Hoeffner – Appleton North High School – WVA 18 Black – OH/DS
Hoeffner brings a spark to any team she plays on. She will be playing for WVA 18 Black, and like Spaulding, brings a variety of skills to the court. An All Conference performer in the FVA for Appleton North with state tournament experience from 2016, Hoeffner knows how to be part of a winning culture with experience playing both pins as well as any position in the back row between her high school and club experience.
2019
Sarah Malone – Waunakee High School – Capital 17 Adidas – L/DS
Malone was an all state libero for Waunakee High School which qualified for the WIAA Division 1 state tournament. She will be one of the top liberos at Capital, which has solid liberos at each age division. Malone is very athletic with a lot of range, getting touches on swings you thought for sure would be down. The Class of 2019 is loaded with libero talent across the state and Malone is one to add to that list.
Olivia Olson – New Holstein High School – WVA 17 Black – Setter
Olson looks the part who commands the offense, leads on the court, and is very physical at the net. At just under 6′, Olson puts up a big block and set in transition. As she progresses through her club season, she will continue to improve and be a great prospect for a small D1, for sure D2 school.
Gabby Murray – Xavier High School (Appleton) – WVA 17 Black – MB/OH
Murray has been predominantly a middle blocker her whole career. This weekend, Murray was swinging from the outside. Allie Barber of Marquette was a middle her whole career and then a switch to the outside resulted in her being Player of the Year in the Big East. A switch for Murray could possibly result in more swings. With a high touch and ability to see the whole court this could raise Murray’s stock as a recruit who can play any position in the front row and also run various options as a middle or outside. The combination of Murray and Cece Huhn hitting sets off of Olivia Olson for WVA Black could be a force to be reckoned with.
2020
KJ McNabb – Sun Prairie High School – 16 Capital Adidas – OH
With the graduation of All State outside hitter and Louisville commit, Claire Chaussee, from Sun Prairie High School, there will be plenty of points to replace next year for the Cardinals. KJ McNabb will be ready to step into the role. At the WVA scrimmage, McNabb was all over the court defensively and is a high flyer on the outside. Her energy is incredibly contagious and this team is so fun to watch. McNabb has a variety of shots and is a threat from the back row as well.
Claire Chier – Lourdes Academy (Oshkosh) – WVA 16 Black – RS/S
At 6’3, Chier brings a very interesting skill set to the court with the ability to hit from the right side and has really great hands as well. As a front row player, she puts up a big block and is very strong. For being 6’3, she plays great defense and is able to be very offensive from the backrow without needing to jump in order to avoid a backrow attack. She may not have the footspeed or range that other setters would have, but she adds a very deceptive offensive threat to her side of the court. She was an Honorable Mention All State player at Oshkosh Lourdes, finishing 2nd in the D5 State Tournament.
2021
Morgan Yenter – Oshkosh West High School – WVA 15 Black – S
Evaluating talent at the 15s level can be a little challenging with players who might eventually change positions depending on their club and high school needs and how much growing they have left to do. For Yenter’s case, she has such a great skill set at the setter position for being at the 15s level, not to mention she is left handed and on her way to being 6′ tall. This past season she was an All Conference Setter in the Fox Valley Association with over 600 assists. She will be on the early radar for plenty of college coaches.
Kiersten Kraus – Neenah High School – FC Elite 15 Navy – OH/S
Yes, she is Kayla Kraus‘s sister, however she is a completely different player. Kayla is the scrappy libero committed to Loyola, who plays for FC Elite 17 Navy, but Kiersten can play on either pin or can set. When coaches are evaluating, they are looking for someone who is dynamic and athletic that has the ability to adapt, making adjustments throughout the match or the course of a tournament. Kraus will be able to score points as a setter or pin hitter and will have a positive effect on her team no matter what spot on the court she is on.
Grace Demetrician – Appleton North High School – WVA 15 Black – L/DS
Demetrician is showing flashes of what it takes to be one of the great liberos for the Class of 2021 and has the path paved with training at WVA and Appleton North, which has produced solid defenders as of late. With a natural, solid platform, great court awareness, and the ability to communicate with her teammates Demetrician also has great mobility and athletic ability to make the routine pass, but also the highlight play. With a solid first contact, WVA 15 Black will be able to play to their strengths of dynamic middles in Hattie Bray and Natalie Johanknecht.