8 Recruitable Championship Juniors
The Junior class is in high recruit mode! All college levels should be in contact and working on finalizing their 2020 rosters and solidifying the offers they make to the 2021 class. Juniors are taking the ACTs, AP courses, and…
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Continue ReadingThe Junior class is in high recruit mode! All college levels should be in contact and working on finalizing their 2020 rosters and solidifying the offers they make to the 2021 class. Juniors are taking the ACTs, AP courses, and wrapping their brains around potential majors. There is more than one division level to look at in college. In fact, there is more than just the NCAA. With NAIA and NJCAA, there really is a spot for everyone to play. Here are a few Juniors that showcased their talent in the WIAA championship matches.
Leah Parnitzke – 5’8 – Setter – Howards Grove
The Tigers had ridiculous defense with Saige Damrow (Wisconsin Commit), Karissa Kaminski (Dayton Commit), as well as the legit Libero, Mackenzie Holzwart. Parnitzke has been training as a setter, but she pulled off some nice defensive plays. Howards Grove is tough to score against with a gritty back row and an offense run by Parnitzke and Emma Baierl.
Jade StefanJade Stefan – 5’8 – Setter/Right Side Hitter – Arrowhead
Stefan and Monica LaFleur hit the starting lineup together in their junior season. Last year Arrowhead operated their offense with the likes of Emma Ruckstadter, who is at Louisville. Stefan is 5’8 and holds her own as a blocker, but she really shines as a scrappy defender. She is a solid all-around athlete with the knowledge to throw the opponent off guard. Stefan would be a great catch at the next level with her athleticism, experience, and skill.
Kaitlyn Bingham – 5’9 – Outside Hitter – Oconomowoc
Bingham showed up on our radar last year during the state tournament and has been a solid force for the Raccoons since. At 5’9, she can play on either pin with a great vertical and has a fast swing. This past summer, Bingham was also selected to attend the Badger Region High Performance camp at UW-Whitewater.
Lainey Dirksmeyer – 5’7 – Right Side Hitter – Catholic Central
Dirksmeyer is so gritty and under the radar. Teams like to target the right back as a weaker defender, but she makes them think twice about doing that. Dirksmeyer was been the third attacker behind Sammie Seib and Katie Goethal for Central. She also has the ability to score from the service line with a nice topspin serve.
Mackenzie HolzwartMackenzie Holzwart – 5’6 – Libero – Howards Grove
Holzwart really burst on to the scene when she led the Tigers’ defense with over 400 digs. She was everywhere she needed to be and saved so many points by keeping the ball in play. Howards Grove is a high volleyball IQ team, and Holzwart helps keep them in system. She is a Libero on the rise in the Class of 2021.
Maddy Near – 5’10 – Middle Blocker – Howards Grove
Near was a huge surprise to me, and man, did she come through in big ways! Near has a plethora of scoring tools for the Tigers, which includes smart tips off the opposing blocks’ hands to find the 4 corner and scoring on a one-foot approach. She hit just over .400 with 191 kills. The combination of Near and Emily Bruckshen was quite the duo in the middle for Howards Grove, who took the Division 3 Championship in dominant fashion.
Monica LaFleurMonica LaFleur – 6’3 – Middle Blocker – Arrowhead
The Warhawk backcourt was on fire at the Resch Center with plenty of seasoned defenders, but LaFleur made her way onto our radar last season and showed everyone what we were talking about when Arrowhead made its way to the big stage. This fall she was a big part of the success of Arrowhead, leading the team with over 50 blocks, and will carry that momentum into the club season. LaFleur hit a .362 with 157 kills, considering they had a go-to like Aubrey Hamilton and high scoring pins, Madi Tolzman and Elise Schneider. Most impressively about LaFleaur is her ability to always be approaching, ready to take a swing, and really knows how to find the corners!
Sammie SeibSammie Seib – 5’8 – Outside Hitter – Catholic Central
Seib is drawing plenty of attention after breaking a record while recording 34 kills in their State semifinal match and has already racked up over 1,400 kills for her career. At 5’8, the athletic Seib can hit a number of shots, including sharp cross or down the line. She is also a six-rotation player that has over 1,000 career digs and is just as much of a threat to score from the backcourt.