Kluge Leads Top Available Prospects From Class of 2018

Chris Fitzgerald December 5, 2017 @ 01:17 PM

Yes, there are still not just some good, but some great players that are available from the Class of 2018. With college coaches switching, college players graduating, getting injured, or transferring brings a whole new need for college coaches when the club season starts. This is also a chance for NCAA DII, NCAA DIII, and NAIA schools to pick up someone who could be a great fit for their program. This can be a risk for coaches and athletes to find something relatively late, but players such as Nicole Shanahan from Oconomowoc found her way onto the Badger roster committing late as a walk-on and Jenna Miller, an Appleton North standout was picked up late by UW-Milwaukee last year after the high school season. Here is a quick write up of some available players who are uncommitted heading into the 2018 club season, starting with highly rated Katy Kluge from Oconomowoc and Motion (MVP), a great catch for anyone! Katy Kluge - Oconomowoc - Motion (MVP) - OH The difference between Kluge and some of the to players who are committed, well there isn’t a whole lot. Kluge could be a bit undersized for a major D1 school to contribute right away, but she is a high flyer and can hit a shot anywhere on the court. Watching her play, she can rip a shot down the line, hit a solid tempo set, and is an eraser for a ball that is out of system. Overall, Kluge is a great athlete with fire and spunk to light up her teammates around her. She was Co-Player of the Year of the Classic 8 Conference of suburban Milwaukee schools. This past year for Oconomowoc, which were state semifinalists, Kluge had 404 kills and 344 digs. A solid pick up at ANY level. Grace Campbell - Green Bay Notre Dame - Green Bay Power - OH/RS Campbell has been a consistent pin on the outside for Notre Dame Academy with state tournament appearances the past two years, with a state finals appearance her junior year. This past season, Campbell was name Co-Player of the Year for the Fox River Classic Conference which is no slouch. At 5’10, and a high contact point, she was able to collect 457 kills for the Tritons. Campbell would be a great pick up for a DIII school that could contribute right away from either pin. Makenna Berry - Brookfield East - Midwest Penguins - Libero Berry was voted First Team All Greater Metro Conference which is no easy task with the likes of DSHA, Brookfield Central, Menomonee Falls, and West Allis Hale. She was also a Scholar Athlete which features the athletes with a 3.5 GPA or higher. This past season at East, Berry had 689 digs which breaks down into 5.9 dig/set. With her ability to command the backrow as well as a high IQ on and off and the court, this would be a solid pick up at multiple levels. Lizzie Lightner - Kewauskum - Club WILD/ Milwaukee Sting - MB/Pin Lightner may be a little bit under the radar heading into this club season. Playing for Milwaukee Sting 18 Black will give her a lot of exposure for a late pick up for someone looking for a middle blocker. With a high reach, athleticism, and experience with playing with the Badger Region High Performance team she has a great foundation for collegiate coaches to work with. Lightner is definitely one whose best volleyball is ahead of her. Brianna Weyenberg - Kimberly - Wisconsin Volleyball Academy - MB At 6’1, Weyenberg is your prototypical middle blocker who has played high level club and high school volleyball the past two seasons. She was a force in the middle for Kimberly, along with Emily Scott that led the Papermakers to a 9-0 FVA record and an appearance at the WIAA State Tournament. This past season Weyenberg had 149 kills and 64 total blocks. She can paint corners on the quick and can approach off one foot. She will be playing for Wisconsin Volleyball Academy 18 Black.