While You Were Quiet: Future Combos, Available Liberos, Top 2020s to Watch
Once again another week has gone by in the club volleyball world with Division 1 coaches being “Quiet”. I’m sure for some it’s nice to stay at home, work with their own players, and maybe it allows coaching staffs to…
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Continue ReadingOnce again another week has gone by in the club volleyball world with Division 1 coaches being “Quiet”. I’m sure for some it’s nice to stay at home, work with their own players, and maybe it allows coaching staffs to reevaluate how they will recruit potential athletes. Will there be more of an emphasis on attending club practices? Having athletes on campus for clinics? I know change can be uncomfortable and scary, but it also brings out new ideas and a sense of excitement. No fear, Prep Dig has everything covered on what’s been going on in the world of club volleyball in the upper Midwest. We had Omaha covered with the Northern Lights Qualifier/January Thaw where the first bids were given to the national tournament for 18s. Here are some players, teams, and combinations to take note of from this past weekend.
Future Combinations:
Big qualifiers like this are exciting to see how recruiting classes are going gel together with players from all over the country playing against each other.
Wisconsin: Izzy Ashburn (MN Select 18-1), Devyn Robinson (Iowa PowerPlex 18 Elite Black), and Emma Whitehead (Arizona Storm 18 Elite). Wisconsin is adding some spark to their fire with these athletes who are incredibly dynamic and athletic, not to mention a lot of energy and enthusiasm. Ashburn recently won the Andi Collins Award which goes to the nations top pure setter. I can just picture her setting Devyn Robinson for a kill and the whole Fieldhouse goes crazy for that combination. Whitehead was able to experience some snow being from Arizona. Funny thing was Omaha has much more snow than Madison right now. Whitehead’s club Arizona Storm is fast paced and so athletic, she is coming from a culture that knows how to win.
Purdue: Megan Renner (Iowa PowerPlex 18 Elite Black) and Maddie Koch (FC Elite 18 Navy). Extremely strong, positive body language, and a huge upside. The combination of these two will be so exciting to see progress in their career competing in the Big Ten. Renner commands the court while Koch still has such a huge upside to her game and untapped potential that will be dangerous. Koch recently was named the Gatorade Player of the Year in Wisconsin.
Northern Iowa: Emily Holterhaus (Iowa PowerPlex 18 Elite Black), Emma Schmidt (MN Select 18-1), Maizy Jackson (MN Select 18-2), and Kaylee Donner (Iowa PowerPlex 18 Elite Black). Northern Iowa will always just reload and with the athletes that are coming in they are fundamentally sharp and all will bring something unique to the table. Holterhaus plays in the middle, but could even be effective on the pin while Schmidt plays incredibly high from the rightside. Jackson has a live arm and is a major go to for MN Select 18-2 who earned a bid in the USA Division while Donner is a defensive specialist for Iowa PowerPlex and will be a big contributor throughout the club season. Northern Iowa will also be adding from 2020 Tayler Alden, Prep Dig Wisconsin’s top prospect as a 5’11 left handed setter and Olivia Tjernagel, an extremely dynamic 6’2 middle from High Voltage Volleyball Club in Minnesota.
Marquette: Hannah Vanden Berg (FC Elite 18 Navy), Claire Nuessmeier (Northern Lights 18-2), Ella Foti (Capital 17 Adidas). Hannah Vanden Berg is one of the best athletes in Wisconsin, playing multiple sports, a six rotation outside hitter who could play any position in front row and score from the backcourt with the best of them. She will be heading to Marquette with Claire Nuessmeier from Northern Lights 18-2 who is lightning in bottle with her speed and athleticism out of the middle (hmmmm….starting to see a pattern in what Marquette is looking for). And lastly, Ella Foti is back! Watchout! After being out the past year with a knee injury, she is from the Class of 2021 and playing up with Capital 17 Adidas. At 6’0 tall, touching ten feet, and with footwork and hands with the best of them she is going to be an exciting player to watch get back in the groove throughout this club season, especially setting to the dynamic duo of “McMalik” – KJ McNabb (Loyola Commit) and Milla Malik (Buffalo Commit).
Iowa: Kyndra Hansen (Northern Lights 18-1), Blythe Reints (Northern Lights 18-1), Grace Tubbs (Adrenaline 18 Adidas)
Minnesota: Rachel Kilkelly (Northern Lights 18-1), Ellie Husemann (Northern Lights 18-1), Anna Wolf (MN Select 18-1)
South Dakota: Madison Harms (Nebraska Elite), Aimee Adams (Iowa PowerPlex 18 Elite Black)
Loyola: Addison Barnes (FC Elite 17 Navy), Kayla Kraus (FC Elite 17 Navy), KJ McNabb (Capital Adidas 17)
Milla Malik with the kill for @CapitalVbAll with an already first set win against NE Elite. Opening round of Gold Bracket pic.twitter.com/kC4Rav0CA2
— Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) January 13, 2019
Class of 2019 Liberos That Are Unsigned:
For the Class of 2019, it’s hard not think about the future, especially when the college decision hasn’t quite been made yet. There can be plenty of factors that go into that decision, but for these athletes they would be quite the steal at the next level.
Dru Kuck (Milwaukee Sting 18 Gold) – The former Wisconsin commit is unsigned and still can put a dig in system with the best of them. Kuck brings such a physical and athletic style to left back and covers a wide range. Presidents Day weekend will be fun to see who is on her court making a late push.
Kelsie Sealock (MN Select 18-2) – Sealock is a dynamic all around athlete for MN Select 18-2. An all around six rotation outside hitter at the high school level, she would make a great libero at the next level which she is demonstrating right now. Scrappy and extremely quick she can be a gamechanger.
Kelsie Sealock of @MNSelect is a 2019 unsigned Libero. Can play on the pin too. Definite steal at the next level. pic.twitter.com/7HkqfcqPQC
— Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) January 12, 2019
Sydney Hearn (Adrenaline 18 Adidas) – Hearn just does what she is suppose to. Serve receive and pass the ball. Make it a simple game, nothing too flashy, but just make the plays you need to.
Sarah Malone (Capital 18 Adidas) – Malone has been on the radar for a while for Capital who is very solid in the backrow with Malone and Matison Jakscht, the UW-Milwaukee commit. Malone has always been part of successful teams for club and high school and has a great knack for anticipating the next contact.
Sheridan Dettman (Capital 17 Adidas) – Dettman was an All State libero in Wisconsin this past high school season and even though she is on the 17s team, she is part of the Class of 2019. Takes great pace off the ball and real solid in serve receive she adds another solid dimension to this team.
Kierra Koepke (Motion Volleyball Program 18 Blue) – Koepke was the MVP of the National Homeschool Tournament this past fall and has been a six rotation outside hitter her whole career. Her college career may be at libero. Very athletic and solid in serve receive she would be a great pick up at the D2/D3 level.
Class of 2020 To Keep Tabs On:
Northern Lights 17-1’s and 17-2’s: Northern Lights always produces some of the top talent in the region and some are even top in the country. There are still plenty of athletes who are uncommitted on these two teams that are Division 1 and Division 2 caliber players. Athletic, well trained, and a high IQ for the game they are just fun all around teams to watch.
Kara Peter (IPVA 17 Black, Middle/Right Side) – Peter is extremely physical and athletic at the net. Coming off a state title for Carroll Kuemper this past fall she has the athleticism that will allow her to play at a high level in college. Whether she stays on the middle or right side, I could see her blasting away on the left side as well. The IPVA 17s team was fun to watch with great all around athletes at every position.
Kenzie Foley (MVP (Sioux City) 18 Blue, Outside Hitter) – The 6’0 outside hitter from Sergeant Bluff-Luton has been a major part of her high school’s success the past two seasons that have ended at the state tournament. Foley plays up on the 18s as do most of her teammates at MVP which makes for a dangerous team to watchout for as the season progresses.
Madelyn Mason (Capital Volleyball Academy 17 Adidas, Right Side) – At 6’1 and touching 9’9, Mason puts up a big block and is pretty dynamic with the left handed swing from the right side. CVA Adidas 17s had plenty of weapons all around and some added depth this year which will make for an extremely competitive team in their division.
Sam Gray (Capital Volleyball Academy 17 Navy, Outside Hitter) – Gray has some hops. She can fly and is extremely athletic. At 5’6 and touching 9’7 its just a small sample of the lightning she brings to the court. She was part of a really successful high school season with Watertown this past year. She is a major point scorer for CVA 17 Navy.
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???? https://t.co/5HsmtBvAN6 pic.twitter.com/mRykybgoOh— Prep Dig Events (@PrepDigEvents) January 13, 2019