Mizuno Showcase: “Under The Radar” Prospects From Four States in the 17s and 18s Division

Hundreds of players were at the Mizuno Showcase, scattered over three sites in  three days.  Overwhelming at first, but I did my homework and was prepared, knowing the big names and go to players for teams heading into the tournament.  However, I went into this tournament with a different lens.  Who are the players that maybe are a little under the radar?  The hidden gems.  There were some players I saw and thought for sure they committed somewhere, but after checking club websites, RichKern, and my above average Google skills I came to the conclusion they were still available to make a decision as to where they will play at the next level.  Here is a recap of some of the under the radar prospects from the 17s and 18s division from the Mizuno Showcase at the Wisconsin Dells.

Alphabetical Order

Kaylissa Arndorfer – Waterloo West (IA) – CIA 17 Black

Middle Blocker – Class of 2019

Ardorfer plays for CIA out of Waterloo, IA and is a long, high motor middle blocker/right side.  CIA has been on the rise as far as clubs in Iowa and in the backyard of UNI.  With her physical tools, the training she will continue to receive through CIA will bring her to a D2/D1 level.  She is very long and with more reps and strength, her offensive will pick up to go along with her solid blocking ability.

Shannon Barrett – New WAVE 17 Tsunami

Right Side – Class of 2019

This New WAVE Tsunami team was very entertaining to watch, so much energy and enthusiam.  I saw them in the JAG and what was a little disadvantage to some of their service games was the lack of room to jump serve.  All teams had to deal with it, but it can be a difference maker at times.  Barrett is a lefty right side with a heavy swing that has plenty of all around tools.  She was a solid point scorer in a key pool play match against Crossfire.  

Ashley East – McFarland – Capital 17 Adidas

Right Side – Class of 2019

At 5’11 and left handed, Ashley East is such a great fit on the right side for the Capital Adidas 17s team that is extremely long and athletic in the front row.  With the majority of the swings going to the pin or the middle with Kiana Schmitt, East is very efficient not to mention putting up a solid block.  She is definitely one to keep on the radar to see how her progression continues.

Coley Haggard – Burlington – Milwaukee Sting 17 White

Outside – Class of 2019

Haggard hits a very heavy ball from the outside for Milwaukee Sting 17 White.  Not quite the six rotation outside yet, but Haggard can play on either pin putting up a strong block and being very terminal.  She has solid year round training having just come off a state title for Burlington and playing for Milwaukee Sting.  With the graduation of Abby Koenen, Burlington will be looking for an outside to step in and score points.

Sami Hilley – Champlin Park (MN) – MN Select 17-1

Middle Blocker – Class of 2020

Yes, she is Wisconsin setter, Sydney Hilley’s sister, however get to know Sami who is physical and powerful out of the middle for MN Select playing up with the 17-1 (Hilley is a 2020 recruit).  She scores points, she works hard, and she knows how to work around a block.  There can be a middle who is 6’2 and jumps out of the gym, but if they hit straight into the block all the numbers don’t mean anything.  Hilley stepped up huge in MN Select’s win over Illini Elite Saturday night, painting the corner multiple times.  She is extremely tough to defend because you take away one side and she hits the other way with no one in that spot.  Your best chance of defending her is having a middle back defender who reads extremely well.  Her style goes so well with the speed that MN Select plays at!

Dara Kane – Normal West (IL) – Illini Elite 17 Cardinal

Setter – Class of 2019

Illini Elite is a physical and strong team and that’s no different with their setter in Kane.  Kane runs a solid 5-1, but besides her solid all around game she is loud, she is a leader, she runs the team.  This is something that must be done if you want to be a setter at an elite level.  She can run the middle, but shoot it to the outside at the last split second.  The strongest part of her game are the intangibles that aren’t necessarily coachable.  She would be a solid catch.

Shea Lauria – Brookfield East – Wisconsin Premier 18 Teal

Libero – Class of 2019

Lauria is a fighter, she plays with spunk, and she makes the routine plays for Premier 18s as a libero as a 2019 recruit.  Premier has been playing with plenty of momentum as of late putting a scare into some teams at the Badger Region qualifier last weekend with a group of a lot of 2019 recruits.  

Kaylee Lorincz – Waukesha West – Motion 17 Blue

Outside Hitter – Class of 2019

Motion 17 Blue vs. Wisconsin Premier 18 Teal was one of the most exciting matches of Saturday morning.  Kaylee Lorincz was solid on the outside for Motion.  At 5’10 and plenty of power, Lorincz was very terminal.  She plays at Waukesha West High School which is having a lot of players playing some solid club ball this off season.  I look for her to have a breakout Senior season at West.

Brookelyn Messenger – Belvidere North (IL) – VC United 18-1

Outside Hitter – Class of 2019

Messenger is an outside hitter that can fly and then terminate with power.  An outside that is well trained with shots and power can also play six rotations.  She would be a little small height wise on the outside for Division 1, but the height at which she contacts and plays is very high.  A former Air Force commit, Messenger’s stock is rising as she continues to get better for VC United.

Mazie Nagel – Stratford – Wisconsin Ice 18 National

Outside Hitter – Class of 2019

Aggressive.  That’s Nagel’s style.  Nagel was part of the Stratford state tournament team that dropped a tough five set match in the semifinals to Eau Claire Regis, with the final set going 19-17.  Nagel had 18 kills that match.  This would be another solid D3 pick up who could play six rotations and contribute right away.  

Annelise Sparks – Maroa-Forsyth – Illini Elite 17 Cardinal

Libero – Class of 2019

Really?  Her last name is Sparks?  There can’t be a better last name for this libero because that’s exactly what she does for her team.  A high motor, running after every ball….that even goes out of play onto the other court.  She is constantly making adjustments, always stopped on contact, and does all the little things a big time libero does from making the routine play, communicating with her teammates, covering every block, and a three point passer on serve receive.

Carissa Sundholm – Wisconsin Lutheran – Milwaukee Sting 17 White

Outside – Class of 2019

Sundholm is the other outside for Milwaukee Sting 17 White which at just 5’9 her height is a little bit deceptive because she has an extremely high contact point with a mix of shots to go with it.  She will team up with Julia Treichel who is having a breakout season for Motion 16 Blue to having a solid upcoming high school season for Wisconsin Lutheran.  This will be a team to watch come high school with plenty of power on the outside along with a solid libero and setter.

Morgan Thiel – Lourdes Academy – WVA 17 Red

Libero – Class of 2019

Thiel was the libero for Lourdes Academy out of Oshkosh in their second consecutive state runner up finish this past fall in D5.  Thiel is a solid serve receiver than can put the routine passes on point.  WVA 17-Red put a lot of pressure on SMV 17 which has plenty of D1 height and physicality.  Thiel would be a solid D3 pick up, and maybe even rise up into the D2 level with the right fit.

Hope Wissbroecker – Rhinelander – Wisconsin Ice 18 National

Middle Blocker – Class of 2018

A gem that comes from the land of “Hodag” in Rhinelander, WI.  What a strong, physical middle for Wisconsin Ice 18 National.  She would be a great D2/D3 fit where she could go and be successful right away.  Tons of raw athleticism, long, and plays high.  She was the Great North Conference Player of the Year averaging over five kills per set and played in the back row as well.