Prep Dig Wisconsin Summer League At MSC: Team Previews and Matchups
Club has wrapped up, 4th of July has come and gone, the focus has now shifted to the upcoming 2018 high school season. Every team having similar goals, but what will separate those teams come October to give them the ultimate chance to play the first weekend in November at the state tournament in Green Bay. Prep Dig will be partnering with Milwaukee Sting for the Prep Dig Milwaukee Sting Summer League which starts Sunday, July 8.
Each week Prep Dig will take a look at matchups that will put top ranked players against each other, club teammates that are now opponents, and a chance for new players to step up in the varsity ranks. At Prep Dig, we pride ourselves on providing the best local media coverage for volleyball that will continue throughout the high school volleyball season.
The league sets up with an A and B division with A being on courts 1-4 and B on courts 5-8 with matches going from 4 PM – 8 PM at the Milwaukee Sting Center in Menomonee Falls. The division of the two leagues at first glance are evenly balanced with talented teams on both sides.
Noteable League A Teams
East Troy – East Troy will have a team that had a bitter taste to end the 2017 season with a loss to Lakeside Lutheran in the sectional semifinal in five sets. A solid Senior crew consisting of Briana Scuric, Matison Jakscht, and Isabelle Martino will lead the Trojans. Scuric will be playing her collegiate volleyball at Northern Illinois. Katie Winkler is a top 20, Class of 2021 prospect who will be a force on the right side at 5’11 and a powerful left handed swing which will add a solid dimension to their offense and defense with her block. Winkler is setting up to have a breakout year in her Sophomore campaign.
Sheboygan North – North had a record breaking 2017 season and is looking for more as they begin their 2018 journey to rack up more wins and tournament titles. Three Seniors have already made their collegiate decisions with middle blocker Kasey Bell heading to Loyola (Chicago), setter Annie Hopp going to NCAA Division 2 Bemidji State (MN), and Dru Kuck who has been a game changer since she was a Freshman will be heading to Wisconsin. The Raiders also have Sophomore Lizzie Binder, a Division 1 prospect who can play on the right or left side. Their first match of the league will be against Brookfield Central who will be looking to replace GMAC Player of the year Miranda Wucherer, but will have incoming Freshman and Minnesota recruit Mckenna Wucherer to fill in.
Waunakee – Coming from the Madison area, Waunakee has a roster loaded with talent and experience starting with Creighton recruit Kiana Schmitt along with fellow Seniors in libero Sarah Malone, Kaleigh Roepke, and Lexi Langendorf. Milla Malik will be entering her Junior year as one of the top outside hitters in the class of 2020. Malik brings a whip of an arm swing and can score points from the front and backrow. The pieces are all there for Waunakee and facing top competition will make them battle tested for those crucial late October matches.
Noteable League B Teams
Rufus King – Don’t sleep on King this season. The Generals will be lead by Alyssa Eske who is heading to Illinois to play volleyball after high school, but is also one of the top beach players in the state. Eske played her club season with Sky High out of Illinois which is always a top program. Look for King to make a push this season, they have had success in basketball and track and will be looking to duplicate the same in volleyball.
Cedarburg – Kiara Reinhardt leads this team in the middle heading into her Junior year already committed to Creighton (would be fun to see her and Kiana Schmitt battle against each other before becoming teammates). The Bulldogs will also have Maddie Barber in the middle and an incoming Freshman outside who is starting to make waves in Aspen Jankowski who could see early action. Incoming Freshmen are allowed to play in summer league tournaments.
Greendale – Greendale is entering this season having played in the last three state tournaments. Kayce Litzau and Nicole Martin have been a part of all of those appearances. Litzau has made her verbal commitment to play at Wichita State following high school. Greendale will also have some gaps to replace, but will still be returning athletic middle Sarah Mattes who will be entering her Junior year.
Week One Matchups To Watch
Menomonee Falls vs. Brookfield East
Two suburban teams that are always competitive in their conference. Ashley Guenveur of Menomonee Falls had a breakout club season and will be heading to Troy in Alabama after her high school career is over and libero Shea Lauria of Brookfield East will be the key to their defense all season.
Waunakee vs. Oconomowoc
Two state tournament teams from last season that will be talented once again. Oconomowoc lost three Division 1 players from their 2017 roster, but will be reloading with a solid core of backrow defenders in Tahya Pozorski and Caitlin Crawford and will still have setter, Tayler Alden who has committed to play at the University of Northern Iowa.
Waukesha West vs. Franklin
Two teams that haven’t made a big splash at the state level, but this could be the year for both of them to break out. West is loaded with a solid Senior class in Anna Nerad, Kaylee Lorincz, and Darragh Dixon. Incoming Sophomore Alexis Boling will be pure power for West and will be a solid combo with the Senior class. Franklin will feature Brianna Merkel, a setter/hitter who is one of the top all around players in the state as well as libero Kaylee Kuecker who has committed to play at UW-Parkside.
Prep Dig Summer League Schedule
Early Summer Wisconsin Volleyball Rankings
Rankings Update: 2019 Athletes On The Rise