Badger Champs 15 Open: 9 Diamonds in the Rough
With talent just oozing out of the Class of 2021, that made the 15 Open division at this past weekend’s Badger Champs something to look forward to. With people already committing to big-name colleges from across the country, it’s hard…
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Continue ReadingWith talent just oozing out of the Class of 2021, that made the 15 Open division at this past weekend’s Badger Champs something to look forward to. With people already committing to big-name colleges from across the country, it’s hard to remember that there’s still so much more talent within this class. The Class of 2021 for the state of Wisconsin screams depth.
Here are 10 players to keep on your radar for the Class of 2021
(OH) Elizabeth Truckenbrod – Hartford 15 Eclipse – Kettle Moraine Lutheran
Only one of two freshmen to play for KML’s varsity team this past fall, Elle has established herself as the future Go-To for KML’s varsity program. Elle is a 6 rotation, versatile outside who can do it all. Her defense is second-to-none; scrappy, filled with heart and disciplined. Her back row attacking is precise and smart; keeps opponents on their toes, forces them to throw up a competent block and often scores points for her team. Elle’s serving is precise and her jump-float is dynamic and deadly. Her in system attacking can occur with consistency from both the outside, right side and even through the middle. Elle is able to face line and cut a ball sharp. She can take full advantage of only a small window of line being given to blow up the opposing right back and to keep defenses on their toes with mixing up off-speed shots after firing at you on all cylinders. Elle is also an up-and-coming basketball name competing on KML’s JV team and is a standout on Wisconsin Impact AAU Basketball. Talk about a loaded schedule!
(L) Clara Hoeksema – Milwaukee Sting 15 White – Sussex Hamilton
Hoeksema comes from a strong connection to volleyball all of her life and it shows in just how intelligently she plays the game. Her control of situations that would cause many liberos to panic and flail limbs allows Hoeksema to shine. She calculates and delivers out of system balls with efficiency and consistency, one area of being a libero that I feel is seldom emphasized in importance, as well as reads opposing hitters with ease, seldom being out of place on defense. On top of that, Hoeksema’s serving is a craft that she honed. Starting in the back of zone 5, facing long and then utilizing her core and body to be able to keep opposing serve receives guessing until the very… last… MOMENT; and suddenly that float serve drops past your platform for an ace.
(OH) Robyn Kirsch – Wisconsin Ice 15 Purple – Wausau West
Kirsch. I just want to start this off by saying that Kirsch can FLY. Kirsch is an outside hitter whom at first glance you wouldn’t think too much due to her average size. However you would be dead wrong. She is as good a passer as a majority of liberos, can swing out of the back row from both the Pipe and the A position with efficiency and aggression. Also, not only does she possess a strong swing with a good vertical, but also has the vision and the smarts to be able to place her swings against some of the best blockers around. Kirsch is going to be a fun player to watch in years to come.
(S) Lily Behrendt – Wisconsin Premier 15 Teal – Whitefish Bay
Behrendt is a setter who embodies the word of “scrappy”. Now, scrappy is typically an attribute best saved for a libero or a defensive position to most. However, in this case, Behrendt is seen taking chances and taking calculated risks. Not falling into the trap of ‘out of system means this option only’ type of predictable setting. No, Behrendt sees a ball going away from it’s “ideal” zone right between MB and RS about 3 feet from the net and flips flow, pushes tempo and precisely finds spots for her hitters at the best times. Behrendt keeps defenses honest and is extremely hard to read. With her athleticism and raw power, Behrendt has the ability to become a force as a setter in the future.
(S) Mariah Best – Wisconsin Juniors 15-1 – Kenosha Tremper
Best is a setter who embodies the word of “control”. When a ball leaves her hands and passes the distance of the net she leaves options for her hitters open everywhere and allows them to choose their shots well. Her ability to keep all in system sets below the height of the antennae without ever showing a sign of panic if the pass isn’t spot in is nearly second to none. There’s a large reason why Juniors 15-1’s this year are able to compete at such a high level, despite not being as large as other teams they may face, and a large reason is Best’s ability to deliver a low tempo ball, from anywhere on the court, to any location with precision and consistency. Watch for Best in the future.
(MB) Lauren Sitter – MVP 15 BLU – Germantown
The 6ft middle from MVP is a player who shows loads of promise from all aspects of the middle position and is continuously showing me her improvement week in and week out. Every time I see Sitter in a new tournament, she’s been able to polish an aspect of her skill set and still add another tool to her arsenal. Sitter is powerful when you need her to be and I will be interested to see where her offensive skill set goes next. However, what makes Sitter extremely dangerous is just how great she is at blocking. Her ability to read the opposing side of the net, take the necessary first step to close the gap and to be dynamic with her arms and her press is second-to-none. Oh, and did I mention she received a training camp invitation for Badger High Performance? Sitter is making strides.
(MB) Clare Wellenstein – 15 ROYAL – Divine Savior Holy Angels
Reigning from the one and only, DSHA, Wellenstein is an absolute force in the middle. Wellenstein has helped ROYAL compete all the way up to the B bracket of 16 GLPL. ROYAL was without one of their top outsides (Holly Henk) and had to step up big time and she surely did.She shined this past weekend nearly averaging 3.2 kills per set against the top teams Wisconsin has to offer. Standing her own against Sting Gold, Juniors 15-1’s and FDL Fusion, her opponents had to find a way to shut her down. Possessing the ability to consistently cut shuts around opposing blocks, find the openings when they were present, beat blocks with a quick tempo at times and also the ability to tip and tool to keep opposing defenses honest, Clare was a force to be reckoned with. Keep Wellenstein on your radar in the future.
(MB) Robi Binagi – Revolution Volleyball Academy – Kettle Moraine
Binagi possesses all of the intangibles of a volleyball athlete in their freshmen year to make watching them develop an exciting thing to unfold. Binagi has a hammer of a swing and reads the opposing blockers with ease. Her ability to swing hard is only coupled by her incredible vertical leap and sheer athleticism. Once Binagi adds a few more swings to her arsenal and continues to hone her blocking game, she will be a fierce offensive weapon from any spot in the front row.
(L) Ella Karll – Adversity VBC –
Karll is everything in a libero that you want them to be; dodge, duck, dip, dive and dodge. Wait, isn’t that Dodgeball? What I meant to say was; passionate, consistent, disciplined, smart and scrappy. Watching Karll this past weekend compete against the top clubs in Wisconsin was a challenge, but she showed up big time when it mattered. Her ability to lay it all on the line for digs on defense against some of the best hitters in the nation who are easily clearing the block on your team and you, as the libero, are still able to step up and dig aggressively against teams like that speaks volumes as to who Karll is as a player and as a person.