Super Quick Prep Dig Summer League Finals Bracket Preview

The dog days of summer have arrived.  Football practice has started, the wax is fresh and read to go on the gym floor, and the final camps and leagues are winding down.  Here is the ultra quick preview to the final night of the Prep Dig Wisconsin Summer League held at Milwaukee Sting which will feature the top six teams in each division, coming to make a gold bracket consisting of twelve teams with play starting at 4 PM Sunday, August 5.  The league is open to the public, admission is FREE! 

*This preview is written with the assumption all players will be present and at full strength.  The reality of high school volleyball is that at this point in the summer it can be the final chance for players to take a “non-volleyball vacation” or to simply rest after a full season of club followed by camps.  The last thing high school coaches want are players who are still treating a nagging injury or may even need a mental break to come in at full strength.

The Opening Round

Sheboygan North vs. West Bend East

SWCHA vs. Slinger

Germantown vs. Greendale

Kettle Moraine vs. Hartford

Sheboygan North will be one of the favorites to compete for a championship tonight with the powerhouse hitters that include and Kasey Bell, Lizzie Binder, and Dru Kuck (yes, libero Dru Kuck could be playing outside hitter this year).  With veteran Annie Hopp setting and Kuck in the backrow as well as Hope Sholten the Golden Raiders will be a dangerous team once the pieces fall into place.

SWCHA stands for Southeastern Wisconsin Christian Homeschool Athletics and this team is full of athletes at every position.  They are one of the top homeschool programs in the country which competes in the National Christian Homeschool Volleyball Championships where they are ranked as one of the top teams in the Division.  Slinger has setter Alyse Drifka as well as Riley Alton who can swing from anywhere in the front row. This will be quite the first round match that could go either way.

Germantown is full of athletes who are solid all around players.  With Tori Zagorski who can set or hit from the right side with a heavy left handed swing, Sophomore to be Tatum Catalano who brings a high level or speed and dynamic play is ready for a breakout year, and Amber Bischel who is one of the top Junior liberos in the state.  Greendale does have Kayce Litzau who can set and hit. Litzau, a Wichita State recruit, is the type of player who can do so much for a team and will them to a win.

Kettle Moraine has a loaded Sophomore and Junior class as well as Senior Christina Roofe that will be a strong force in the Milwaukee area this year.  They will be squaring off against Hartford, with the graduation of Abby Hamilton could be thought to have a rebuilding year, however with a strong core of backrow players led by Taylor Ohm and some young, talented front row players don’t count them out.

The Quarterfinals – The top two seeds from each division received a bye into the quarterfinals which include Waukesha West, Kettle Moraine Lutheran, Waunakee, and Waterloo.

Waukesha West – Pick your poison.  Between Alexis Boling, Anna Nerad, and Darragh Dixon there are plenty of ways they can attack and score points.  This may be the new name to know in the Milwaukee area this year. With a rigorous schedule throughout the Fall they will be poised to make solid run this Fall.

Kettle Moraine Lutheran – Ari Miller has had a breakout club season and summer, leading the Chargers to a final four finish at the Badger Camp.  The UW Milwaukee recruit will have the supporting cast of Brooke Voigt, Elle Truckenbrod, and Gianna Feld. There may be some new faces this year, but the same high expectations will be there for KML.

Waunakee – This will be an exciting team to watch this year.  Athletic, experienced, and hungry for more after making a historic state run in 2017.  Kiana Schmitt makes such an impact offensively and defensively from the middle and Buffalo recruit Milla Malik is such a factor to score in the front and backrow.  This season will be exciting to see the role players that step up for the Warriors who will have a tough schedule which includes a tournament at Plainfield Central High School in Illinois.

Waterloo – Everyone knows the Mosher name and Sophomore to be Brooke Mosher will be setting and hitting from the outside for the Pirates this season, but will have plenty of young talent which also includes Joslyn Wolff who had 242 kills as a Freshman in 2017.

So Who Wins?

The Final Four

Waukesha West vs. Kettle Moraine Lutheran

Germantown vs. Kettle Moraine

The Finals

Kettle Moraine Lutheran defeats Kettle Moraine