From The Court To The Track – Division 2

This is part 2 of our look at some Wisconsin volleyball players that showed they are more than a “one-trick pony”. On June 1^st and 2^nd athletes from around the state gathered to compete in the WIAA Track and Field State Championship at the University of Wisconsin -La Crosse.  As another sport season has wrapped up for the 2017-2018 school year, we will take a look at some of our top performing multi-sport athletes.  While many young athletes are in pursuit of the Division I athletic scholarship, they sometimes overlook many universities that may be able to offer scholarships between two sports and possibly packaged with academic scholarships that equal a full-ride. Here are some Division 2 Track and Field standouts that made their way to the podium that also make an impact on their high school volleyball teams.

Division 2-

From #2 – Xavier

Rebekah Vande Hey – 2018 – 5’8” – Outside Hitter

Vande Hey started her senior sports campaign helping her team win a conference title, then was a standout in basketball and finished with being the lead-off in 2 relays that reached the podium at the State Championships, as well as placing 6th in the 100 Meter Dash (12.73).  Her relays took 1^st place in the 4×100 Meter Relay (48.87) and 2^nd place in the 4×400 Meter Relay (3:58.60).

From #6 – Edgerton

Ashlyn Oren Ashlyn Oren 5'7" | OH Edgerton | 2018 State WI – 2018 – 5’7” – Outside Hitter

In the fall she led her volleyball team in kills (537), hit a .207, had 73 aces, and 660 digs. This spring she helped her Edgerton Track and Field team to a 6^th place finish at State.  She placed 6^th place in 200 Meter Dash (26.36) and took 1^st in both the High Jump (5-08.00) and the Long Jump (19-01.25).

From #7 -Brodhead

Erin Nyhus – 2018 – 5’8” – Outside Hitter

She excels at a lot, and volleyball and track are no exceptions.  Nyhus was a key piece for her volleyball team as a captain, and also ran the 3^rd leg of the Brodhead/Juda 4×400 relay that placed 4^th at the state championships last weekend (4.02.14). Her standout sport is basketball, and she will be starting her college playing career at UW-Stevens Point in the 2018-2019 season.

From #7 – Edgewood

Caitlin Link Caitlin Link 5'9" | MB Madison Edgewood | 2018 State WI – 2018 – 5’9” – Middle Blocker

Link may be committed to play basketball at Southern Illinois, but she could have definitely been a collegiate multi-sport athlete.  She was the anchor for the 1^st place 4×800 Meter Relay team (9:25.40) and the 6^th place 4×400 Meter Relay team (4:02.99).  She also took 4^th place in the 800 Meter Run (2:19.46).  In the fall she led Crusader volleyball with 207 kills and 78 blocks.

From #9 – Richland Center

Madison Rizner Madison Rizner 5'9" | MB Richland Center | 2018 State WI – 2018 – 5’9” – Middle Blocker

Rizner took care of business last weekend taking 1^st place in the Triple Jump (38-00.75). In the fall she led her team with 401 kills, 91 total blocks, and 383 digs.  Her training with Capital Volleyball Club has landed her a spot with Winona State in the fall.

From # 21 – Aquinas

Lexi Donarski Lexi Donarski 5'11" | OH La Crosse Aquinas | 2020 State WI – 2020 – 5’10” – Outside Hitter

She’s a 3-sport athlete that lead her volleyball team in kills this past season (337) and was hitting a .291, she placed 4^th in the 200 Meter Dash (26.29) and ran as the anchor for her 4×100 relay that placed 2^nd (50.00), BUT she is committed to play basketball at Iowa State.  Donarski would be the definition of a triple threat.

From #25  – Platteville

Skye Digman – 2018 – 5’10” – Middle Blocker

Digman is another triple threat athlete that does it all.  She plans to attend UW-La Crosse and compete in track and field, but this is another individual that should be looked at for being a collegiate multi-sport athlete.  In her senior volleyball campaign, she led her team with 509 kills, 111 blocks, and 37 aces. In the winter she dominated the basketball court, and this spring she placed 3^rd in the Discus Throw (132-11) and placed 4^th in the Shot Put (41-07.75).

From #26 – Little Chute

Olivia Hermsen – 2018 – Outside Hitter

Hermsen was a key contributor in the fall but also dynamite on the track.  She took 5^th place in the Triple Jump (35-00.50) after a great senior campaign where she won the Conference Event Athlete of the Year.

From #31 – Berlin

Paige Krause – 2019 – 5’7” – Outside Hitter

Krause saw some good playing time this past fall, but she will be a key to filling the shoes of Berlin’s graduated outside. Her work in the off-season will be crucial so it doesn’t hurt when she has the opportunity to run the 3^rd leg for the 3^rd place 4×100 Meter Relay team (50.01).

From #31 – Northland Pines

Kirsten Lindemann – 2018 –5’9” – Outside Hitter/Middle Hitter

Lindemann was 2^nd team All-Conference in a tough Great Northern Conference by tallying 86 total blocks and 391 digs for the season.  This spring she used her explosive jumping power to take 4^th place in the High Jump (5-04.00).  I sure hope a college has her on their roster for the 2018 season somewhere!

From #31 – Lakeside Lutheran

Amber Rowoldt Amber Rowoldt 5'11" | OH Lakeside Lutheran | 2018 State WI – 2018 – 5’11” – Outside Hitter

Rowoldt has had one heck of a senior year!  In the fall she led her team with 504 kills to a state title.  In the spring she took 3^rd place in the Triple Jump (36-01.00).  Her work in the off-season playing with Capital Volleyball Club also helped her in landing a spot on the roster for Palm Beach Atlantic in the fall.

From #41 – Random Lake

McKenna Armstrong – 2021 – 5’11” – Middle Blocker

Random Lake volleyball is going to have a strong future if they can capitalize on an athlete like Armstrong.  As a freshman, she was able to gain some invaluable experience being under pressure at this past state meet and came through with a 4^th place finish in the Triple Jump (35-10.75).

From #51 – Bloomer

Grace Post Grace Post 5'10" | OH Bloomer | 2019 State WI – 2019 – 5’10” – Outside Hitter

Post flies high on the court hitting a dangerous 3 ball.  She helped her volleyball team to a conference championship with 294 kills on the season and earned WVCA All-State Honorable Mention.  This spring she helped her team to place 6^th in the 4×100 Meter Relay (50.52) by running the 3^rd leg.  Looks like she could have a dynamite senior year!