15 Athletes Bound For a Breakout This High School Season

The groupings for all regional and sectionals were released by the WIAA this week.  Meetings and open gyms are starting at the high school level and teams will soon be shifting their focus from the club season to their summer programs full of lifting, agility, camps, and leagues.  The top players are already on the radar, especially in the Class of 2019, but here are some names that will be looking to have a breakout season in their conference and some to the whole state!

Lizzie Binder - Class of 2021 - Sheboygan North - Milwaukee Sting 15 Gold

Binder has been on a tear along with the rest of her club teammates for Milwaukee Sting 15 Gold having most recently won the JVA World Challenge 15 Open Division.  Coming in as Freshman can always be a little bit intimidating adjusting to the high school style of play and high school in itself. Binder will be back for business.  With a solid first contact in Dru Kuck and an experienced setter in Annie Hopp, Sheboygan North has the tools to really make a statement this season. North also has Kasey Bell in the middle, a Loyola-Chicago commit, and with her and Binder at the front row it makes for a physically imposing presence with their swings and blocking!

Adrianne Hagen - Class of 2019 - Hortonville - FC Elite 17 Navy

Hagen may not be the go to player for FC Elite 17 Navy with plenty of power on the pins, but she has been competing against some of the top talent in the region with this team.  Hagen is a long, athletic middle blocker that could also play right side as well. Hortonville has had a program full of athletes and has been competitive in the Fox Valley Association with Appleton North, Kimberly, and Neenah.  Hagen will have to bring an offensive presence in order for the Polar Bears to compete this upcoming fall.

Karlie McNabb - Class of 2020 - Sun Prairie - Capital 16 Adidas

McNabb has been a solid all around player for Capital 16 Adidas all club season, but she will be ready to step into the outside hitter, all around six rotation player for Sun Prairie this Fall.  Sun Prairie was led by two solid outsides the past three years with Claire Chaussee being a three time all state outside hitter. McNabb is well skilled and is an excellent defender on the net and in the back court as well as the ability to score from the front or back row.  The Cardinals may be a little young and inexperienced, but they will be extremely talented.

Kaitlyn Riley - Class of 2021 - Catholic Memorial - Milwaukee Sting 15 Black

Catholic Memorial had a rough start to the 2017 season with plenty of new faces, replacing multiple Division 1 players, and the expectations of being three time defending state champions.  Despite the tough start, they still ended their season in the semifinals at the Resch Center. Riley will be one of the key cogs offensively and defensively in the middle. The soon to be Sophomore is near six feet tall with great athleticism.  CMH has solid defense in Bella Halcomb and setter, Caroline Dragani to bring solid touches at each contact. Look for Riley to be a force to recognize in 2018.

Marissa Kleman - Class of 2020 - La Crosse Logan - VHawk Xtreme 18 National

Kleman is a Division 1 prospect out of Logan High School in La Crosse.  After playing up two levels with VHawk Xtreme, Kleman will be accustomed to a fast paced, highly intense style.  Logan has not been a strong program in the past, but last season as a Sophomore, Kleman had 244 kills and 52 blocks.  Kleman can play in the middle or on the pin, either way she will be one of the go to players to score points in all situations.

Sarah Mattes - Class of 2020 - Greendale - Motion (MVP) 16 Blue

Greendale will be without middle Annie Pulizos (Purdue Northwest commit) this Fall allowing Mattes, an extremely athletic and dynamic middle to step up for the Panthers who will be looking to make their fourth straight state tournament.  Greendale has a very strong Senior class, and Mattes fits perfectly into their style. Her experience of playing in the state tournament as a Sophomore and a solid club season with Motion 16 Blue will give her great momentum heading into the season.  Wichita State commit Kayce Litzau will be a great combination with her as a setter or on the right side.

Carlee Doering - Class of 2020 - Kimberly - FC Elite 16 Navy

Kimberly will be graduating their college bound middle blockers from last year’s FVA conference championship and state tournament team in Emily Scott (Louisville commit) and Brianna Weyenberg (MN Duluth), Kimberly will returning their two outside hitters Maggie Cartwright (Arkansas commit) and Courtney Pearson as well as setter Kalli Mau.  This leaves an opportunity for a middle to step in and contribute right away. Doering has been playing middle for FC Elite 16 Navy. At nearly six feet tall, mobile, and a high snap Doering will be able to step in and be a force to respect with two outside hitters who will score a lot of points.

Taylor Vanden Berg - Class of 2020 - Appleton North - WVA 18 Red

Brooke Bolwerk - Class of 2021 - Appleton North - FC Elite 15 Navy

Appleton North has had a college level setter the past five years and this year the reigns will be between two quality setters in Taylor Vanden Berg and Brooke Bolwerk.  Both are quite opposite of each other. Vanden Berg is a 6’1, physical offensive threat at the net where Bolwerk is 5’6, strong defensively, and pin point placement. North will have a new look this year, but are very well coached and a team that will always depend on solid ball control to compete.

Maddy Dokken - Class of 2020 - Stevens Point - Wisconsin Ice 16 Purple

SPASH has always been a competitive program with the programs in Central and Northern Wisconsin, always in position to make a postseason run.  This year Maddy Dokken, a soon to be Junior will be a go to outside hitter for the Panthers. Dokken has had a solid season for Wisconsin Ice 16 Purple and will be hoping to carry that momentum heading into the high school season.

Jordan Berglin - Class of 2021 - Pewaukee - Midwest Penguins 15 Black

Midwest Penguins 15 Black has been having an extremely strong season, claiming a National Bid defeating FC Elite 15 Navy for the Badger Region Qualifier Title in March.  Berglin is an outside hitter for MWP who has also played a bit of middle. Berglin is a physical attacker that is very terminal. Pewaukee fell one match short of the state tournament last year with a loss to Catholic Memorial in the Sectional Final.  With key returners from last years team returning they are set up for another strong season, this year in Division 1.

Grace Mans - Class of 2019 - Fort Atkinson - FC Elite 17 Navy

Emma Mans - Class of 2021 - Fort Atkinson - FC Elite 15 Navy

Grace and Emma Mans of Fort Atkinson did not play high school volleyball this past season, but with their return to Fort Atkinson, it will provide quite the setter/middle combo with Grace being the setter and Emma being a strong 6’2 middle.  Both have had great success at their levels this past club season at FC Elite. Grace is a solid beach player and Emma has high performance training from last summer. Before the high school season they will be looking to finish strong for FC Elite at USA Volleyball Nationals in Detroit.

Elle Schult - Class of 2019 - Oconomowoc - VC United 18 Elite

In 2017 Oconomowoc was loaded on the pin with Katy Kluge and Amanda Garvens.  This year the Raccoon’s return setter Tayler Alden and middle, Elle Schult who have been playing club together in Rockford, Illinois with VC United.  Schult will be one of the main go to players out of the middle for Oconomowoc who will be looking to make their third state tournament appearance in four years.  Schult had 221 kills and over 100 total blocks and will be a force looking to increase those numbers for her team to get back to the Resch.

Bailey Thompson - Class of 2019 - Mercer - Northwoods Xtreme

Thompson plays for Mercer which is near the Upper Peninsula border who had over 30 wins last year.  An outside for Mercer, but a college prospect as a DS/Libero, Thompson will be one of the key members who will be looking to get Mercer to Green Bay for the state tournament, but in order to do that they will have to go through the defending state champions Clayton in the Sectional Final.