Roster Additions Put Milwaukee Sting and Northern Lights In Title Contention
Every year Northern Lights out of the Twin Cities and Milwaukee Sting are always in the conversation to be an Open level team with a chance to do some damage come national tournament time. The Northern Lights 17s won an…
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Continue ReadingEvery year Northern Lights out of the Twin Cities and Milwaukee Sting are always in the conversation to be an Open level team with a chance to do some damage come national tournament time. The Northern Lights 17s won an Open title in 2018 and will look to do so again in 2020. However, with a few roster additions for both teams, that could be what puts them over the edge to be the top team at the end of the season.
Milwaukee Sting 18 Gold
Aubrey Hamilton for Milwaukee Sting who will be on 18 Gold.This squad was a 17 Open qualifier last year and took 2018 national champion TAV to the final points of set three. These athletes are committed to top programs across the country and have the big game experience to go with. The new addition to the roster for the 2020 club season is Class of 2022 outside hitter, Mckenna Wucherer, one of the top outside hitters in the country from the Class of 2022 and is committed to Minnesota. Maddie Barber, after playing up on the 18s last season will be joining this group as well, she is committed to Villanova.
The frontline for this team is extremely dynamic and physical with middle blockers and right sides that consist of Kiara Reinhardt (Creighton), Barber, Elise Goetzinger (Kentucky), Elise Schneider (Wofford) and Kelsey Carrington (Oklahoma). The backrow is led by two of the top defenders in Wisconsin who will head Southeast for their college ball in Caitlin Crawford (South Carolina) and Erin Powers (UAB). With experienced setter, Kaley Blake heading to Milwaukee early, it will leave the duties to future Ohio Valley Conference athletes who will likely run a 6-2 in Izzy Schauer (Belmont) and Alyse Drifka (SIUE).
Aubrey Hamilton has been one of the top outside hitters in the region and will be a six rotation threat no matter where she is on the court. She will take her talents to Notre Dame.
Sting 18 Gold will start the season with big Qualifiers in the Girls Winter Championships in Chicago followed by the Northern Lights 18s Qualifier and the Triple Crown Invite in Kansas City.
Northern Lights 17-1
Northern Lights 17-1 will be a really solid blend of speed, power, and overall physicality. One major roster move is Nebraska commit, Kennedi Orr playing for this team after spending the past two seasons maybe two age levels up – she will now be playing with her own class. Orr is as dynamic as they come with the ability to set and swing, but also an IQ that is tough to match. She will bring with her experience from the national title she on the 17s team (as a 15-year-old) two years ago.
On the front line are Ava Moes and Erin Lamb, two SEC bound athletes with Moes heading to Tennessee and Lamb going to Kentucky. Moes is able to play middle and right side where Lamb is extremely quick and springy out of the middle being a major mismatch for the other side of the net. Emma Torstenson is one of the more athletic liberos in the region being 5’10 with a huge range, the Junior is committed to Colorado. One of the top uncommitted athletes on the team would be Lauren Crowl, a top five player out of Minnesota who provides a big block and a heavy swing from the left-handed right side.
Julia HansonNorthern Lights 16-1
This 16’s team qualified for USAV 15 Open last season after taking second in the Northern Lights Qualifier. Minnesota commit, Julia Hanson has always been one of the go-to athletes as a high flying outside hitter, but this year there will be some new athletes on her side of the net who will make a major impact. Kendal Kemp will be joining the team after playing up an age level the past two seasons on MN Select. Kemp is 6’5, recently won a title with Kennedi Orr for Eagan ‘ last=”]’ last=”] High School, and is one of the top middles in the Class of 2023. The 16s from Northern Lights will start their season out with a trip to the Netherland, Germany, and Austria before starting their 2020 season in the states with Qualifiers at Colorado Crossroads, Show-Me, and Northern Lights while also playing at Triple Crown in Kansas City.