Top Athletes Take The Stage At Tom Larsen Triton Invite
Teams from various parts of Wisconsin will be heading to Green Bay, two months before the state tournament to compete at the Tom Larsen Triton Classic held at Notre Dame Academy just a couple of miles North of the Resch…
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Continue ReadingTeams from various parts of Wisconsin will be heading to Green Bay, two months before the state tournament to compete at the Tom Larsen Triton Classic held at Notre Dame Academy just a couple of miles North of the Resch Center where some of these squads could be playing at on the big stage. Teams competing this weekend will be De Pere, Greendale, Luxemburg-Casco, Pewaukee, Southern Door, Sun Prairie, and Notre Dame. Here are some top players to watch for.
Kendra Dantoin – Southern Door – Senior
So far Dantoin is averaging nearly 3 kills per set so far for Southern Door. She has been a major go-to player her whole career at Southern Door. A bulk of the swings will be heading her way, but with her live arm, she can score points in a variety of ways. Southern Door is sure to sneak up on some teams this season.
Brianna Geurts of De PereBrianna Geurts – De Pere – Junior
Geurts gets better each time she steps on the floor. Her Freshman year she was playing out of the middle and only saw action for three rotations. Now she is playing all the way around and can swing on either pin as well as an outlet in the backrow for the Redbirds. She has a heavy swing and will be tough to defend. De Pere has an extremely athletic lineup and will be very dangerous throughout the year.
Jordan Berglin – Pewaukee – Junior
Berglin, along with Geurts is one of the more improved attackers in the state really soaring up the rankings. Spending time in the middle early in her career, Berglin has found a spot on the pin where she is really athletic and can jump out of the gym. Pewaukee is just getting their season rolling this week, but has plenty of all around weapons they can go to in order to get points on the board.
Elsa Sheperd – Pewaukee – Junior
The Pirates have youth on their side. With plenty of talent underclassmen they will not only be strong this season, but next year as well. Sheperd rules the middle where she is a force offensively and defensively with her block She will be working with two setters in Hailey Boelter-Eberhardt and Katie Gund. Gund is a really dynamic athlete who can play any position the team needs from setting to attacking.
Sarah Mattes – Greendale – Senior
Sarah Mattes of GreendaleGreendale has a roster heavy with Seniors, but Mattes is the go to. With plenty of experience from the state tournament, Mattes uses her athleticism to rule the net. Lateral quickness and a the ability to be able to swing in transition allows her to be an offensive and defensive threat. The Panthers had a strong Day 2 of the Joust and will look to build off that momentum.
Josie Halbelib – Sun Prairie – Junior
The 6’2 left-handed Junior has the ability to score points on her own or dish to plenty of attackers which would include KJ McNabb (Loyola-Chicago) and Payton Addink (UM-Duluth). At their home invite, Halbleib was able to run her middles on a variety of tempos and keep the offense running smoothly. The Cardinals will be a definite favorite to come out on top Saturday.
Kirsten Anderson – Sun Prairie – Senior
Anderson is fundamentally sound where she knows how to find the open spots and has a knack for the timing to be a force at the net defensively. Sun Prairie has a long line up, meaning they can reach high and really create a mismatch for the other side of the net. Anderson is one who is sneaky quick to get up and keep the ball from crossing her side of the net.
Sammy Opichka – Notre Dame Academy – Junior
Katherine Walch, the Senior libero committed to Michigan Tech, has been holding down the backrow most of her career as a Triton. However, there is a new crew up and coming for Notre Dame, one being Sammy Opichka. Opichka is leading the Tritons in kills with nearly three perset and is hitting over .300 as well.
Allie Routhieaux – Luxemburg-Casco – Senior
Routhieaux holds down the bro spot for the Spartans. This team definitely has a solid group of attackers, but they depend on the likes of Routhieaux to get them in system. Routieaux is one of the Seniors for a Senior loaded team that brings plenty of experience. They have large expectations for themselves after falling a match short of the state tournament last season.