Week 3 – Wisconsin Preview
With a couple weeks in, teams are finding their groove. Most teams have at least one conference match and have a couple tournaments in. Here are 5 events to keep an eye on for the week of August 27th-31st. A weekend preview will…
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Continue ReadingWith a couple weeks in, teams are finding their groove. Most teams have at least one conference match and have a couple tournaments in. Here are 5 events to keep an eye on for the week of August 27th-31st. A weekend preview will come out later this week.
WAUNAKEE AT DEFOREST – Thursday, September 6th
DeForest (7-5) will host the undefeated Waunakee (15-0) in a conference showdown. They last crossed paths in October, 2017, where Waunakee won in 2 (25-21, 25-21). This may turn into a battle between Kiana Schmitt Kiana Schmitt 6'3" | MB Waunakee | 2019 State WI (2019 – 6’3 – Middle Blocker – Committed to Creighton) and Sopheea Mink Sopheea Mink 6'1" | MB DeForest | 2019 State WI (2019 – 6’1 – Outside Hitter/Middle Blocker – Committed to High Point). Waunakee will have Milla Malik Milla Malik 5'10" | OH Waunakee | 2020 State WI (2020 – 5’10 – Outside Hitter – Committed to Buffalo) to provide a 1-2 punch and DeForest will have Heidi Compe (2019 – 5’11 – Middle Blocker – Not Committed) on the front line defense to slow down Waunakee’s fire power. This should be a fun match-up.
DENMARK AT LITTLE CHUTE – Thursday, September 6th
Denmark (8-3) will go to the home of the undefeated Little Chute Mustangs (12-0) for a conference match-up. Little Chute’s Hannah Vanden Berg Hannah Vanden Berg 6'1" | OH Little Chute | 2019 State WI (2019 – 5’11 – Outside Hitter – Committed to Marquette) and Denmark’s Brittany Kapla (2021 – Not Committed) will be exchanging kills. Kapla has also been the most effective behind the service line for Denmark. The Mustang’s Gabi Roemer (2019 – Setter – Not Committed) has been putting the pressure on behind the service line, as well as their main distributor with 220 assists so far this season.
Abby Maricque (2020 – Not Committed) is the main distributor for Denmark but also leads the Viking’s with 11 blocks. Little Chute has their own junior that commands the net in Marley Johnson (2020 – Middle Blocker – Not Committed), but if Johnson doesn’t block it, Katherine Joten (2020 – Libero – Not Committed) will dig it. She currently leads the Mustangs with 119 digs. Denmark will hold their own on defense with Abigail O’Brien anchoring the defense with 124 digs. This should make for a good match.
KETTLE MORAINE AT ARROWHEAD – Tuesday, September 4th
Arrowhead (15-2) will be hosting Kettle Moraine (5-3) for conference play. It’s no secret that Aubrey Hamilton Aubrey Hamilton 6'0" | OH Arrowhead | 2020 State WI (2020 – 6’2 – Outside Hitter – Committed to Notre Dame) is the main swing for Arrowhead, but the underdog in this match-up is the Laser’s Maddie Seidenberg (2020 – Outside Hitter – Not Committed), who not only leads her team in kills (71) but also in aces (12). Arrowhead’s leader at the service line (18 aces) is also their main distributor, Emma Ruckstadter (2019 – 5’7 – Setter – Not Committed), currently with 214 assists for the season. Kettle Moraine’s offense is run by Claudia Buchholz (2020 – 5’7 – Setter – Not Committed), while the Laser’s defense is held down by Hailey Grocholski Hailey Grocholski 5'11" | MB Kettle Moraine | 2020 State WI (2020 – Middle Blocker – Not Committed) and Megahn Yaresh (2020 – Defensive Specialist/Outside Hitter – Not Committed). Arrowhead’s defense has been led by Katelyn Sesolak (2019 – 6’3 – Right Side/Middle Blocker – Not Committed) and Emily Larson Emily Larson DS/L Arrowhead | 2020 State WI (2020 – 5’5 – Libero – Not Committed).
CLEAR LAKE AT CLAYTON – Tuesday, September 4th
Clear Lake (2-2) is a young group that has been on the rise the past few years with a group of juniors that have been pushing this program. The warriors will be led by juniors Julianna Rosen, Maggie Rosen, and Rayne Vangsness against the reigning state champs, Clayton (6-1). The Bears will be led by an experienced group, including Selena Levendoski Selena Levendoski 5'9" | MB Clayton | 2019 State WI (2019 – 5’9 – Middle Blocker – Not Committed), who is currently averaging almost 6 kills per set, Marissa Gilbertson Marissa Gilbertson 5'5" | OH Clayton | 2019 State WI (2019 – 5’5 – Setter – Not Committed), and Kailey Ketz (2019 – 5’6 – Outside Hitter – Not Committed).
HARTFORD AT CEDARBURG – Tuesday, September 4th
Hartford (6-4) will head to Cedarburg (6-1) for a conference showdown, and this will be quite a showdown between the youth of Hartford’s Riley Hamilton Riley Hamilton 5'10" | OH Hartford | 2022 State WI (2022 – 5’9 – Outside Hitter – Not Committed) and Cedarburg’s experienced Kiara Reinhardt Kiara Reinhardt 6'3" | MB Cedarburg | 2020 State WI (2020 – 6’3 – Middle Blocker – Committed to Creighton), who each lead their teams in kills. Reinhardt also provides the first line of defense as she is averaging almost 3 blocks per match. On Hartford’s front line, Martina McGrath Martina McGrath 6'2" | MB Hartford | 2021 State WI (2021 – 6’0 – Middle Blocker – Not Committed) is taking control at the net, and what she doesn’t stop, Taylor Ohm Taylor Ohm 5'7" | DS/L Hartford Union | 2019 State WI (2019 – 5’7 – Libero – Not Committed) digs. Ohm averages over 7 digs per set and puts the pressure on from behind the service line.
Cedarburg’s defense is anchored by Stephanie Carr (2019 – 5’6 – Defensive Specialist – Not Committed), and their offense is run by Morgan Harrison (2019 – 5’11 – Right Side/Setter – Not Committed). Hartford has a lot of youth but has senior leaders in Ohm and the main distributor, Carly Skaalen (2019 – 5’6 – Setter – Not Committed). Last year Hartford took 2nd in the North Shore Conference but graduated 7 and returned a few key pieces. This should be an interesting match-up!