Top Defenders Taking On Prep Dig Sizzle

The Prep Dig Sizzle is less than a month away at the Community First Champions Center in Appleton with plenty of top area teams making their way to the Fox Valley. Prep Dig and the Champions Center staff have been working together in developing plans to provide the safest and highest quality experience for all athletes involved. With teams coming from across the state as well as Iowa, there will be some top athletes in attendance. Here are some defenders in the backcourt as well as at the net who will be making their presence felt. [player_tooltip player_id="33755" first="Martina" last="McGrath"] - Hartford Union Committed to Viterbro Hard to believe McGrath is entering her Senior year, I’ll be saying that about plenty of these soon to be Seniors after watching them start their careers as 15s. A big block, high touch, and the strength to really make her presence known, she can get a touch on the block or even alter the shot of the opposing side giving her team a chance to speed it up in system. [player_tooltip player_id="80764" first="Grace" last="Demetrician"], [player_tooltip player_id="81261" first="Madisen" last="Miller"] - Appleton North The Lightning have always had a strong presence of ball control. Demetrician will be a Senior while Miller is entering her Junior year. The two have great IQ, anticipation, and know how to take pace off a hard driven ball. The Lightning are returning a store core of athletes off their 2019 state tournament team and will have big goals heading into the 2020 season. [caption id="attachment_96430" align="alignright" width="421"] Morales in black libero jersey for West Liberty at Iowa State Tournament.[/caption] [player_tooltip player_id="79697" first="Monica" last="Morales"] - West Liberty (IA) West Liberty is coming up from the Quad Cities/Iowa City area and they are returning some key players from their Iowa State Tournament team, including their incoming Sophomore Morales. She plays with such a spark and a fire, it’s electric from the backrow. She can make the routine plays look easy as well as the play where she can save it from the stands. The Comets will also have Drake commit, [player_tooltip player_id="17323" first="Macy" last="Daufeldt"] and Upper Iowa commit, [player_tooltip player_id="17227" first="Martha" last="Pace"]. [player_tooltip player_id="81311" first="Alyssa" last="Gaeth"] - Kettle Moraine Lutheran The Chargers are going to be looking to return to state after missing out last year and finishing second the previous season. They have athleticism and plenty of depth. One of their top blockers will be [player_tooltip player_id="81311" first="Alyssa" last="Gaeth"]. Gaeth is long, left handed, and knows how to get from pin to pin or shut it down on the right side. She is one of plenty who will have a defensive presence at the net along with a backcourt of plenty of passers. [caption id="attachment_31285" align="alignright" width="300"] Riege[/caption] [player_tooltip player_id="80755" first="Lauren" last="Elliot"]t , [player_tooltip player_id="27728" first="Brooke" last="Anderson"], [player_tooltip player_id="91914" first="Ava" last="Rank"] - Kimberly The Papermakers lost five Seniors to graduation who had plenty of matches under their belt, but will return their primary passing in Elliot and Anderson who are Seniors and [player_tooltip player_id="91914" first="Ava" last="Rank"] who will be a Sophomore. Between the three, it will give them a chance to stay in system for a new setter and some attackers to put the ball away. [player_tooltip player_id="57270" first="Michaela" last="Riege"] - Waterloo Riege was one of the top dig leaders in the entire state as a Sophomore as Waterloo advanced to the D3 state tournament. They return a full squad of balance and a lot of firepower behind the Seniors [player_tooltip player_id="21869" first="Brooke" last="Mosher"] and Joslynn Wolff. Riege will be commanding the backcourt and will look to continue to provide plenty of options for Mosher who can set as well as Wolff or incoming Sophomore [player_tooltip player_id="91885" first="Sophia" last="Schneider"]. [caption id="attachment_74005" align="alignright" width="300"] [player_tooltip player_id="81255" first="Adriana" last="Studer"][/caption] [player_tooltip player_id="81255" first="Adriana" last="Studer"] - Lake Country Lutheran Studer is one of the top liberos in the Class of 2022 and will most likely step into the libero role at LCL after the graduation of [player_tooltip player_id="80165" first="Rylee" last="Vaughn"] who heads to Winona State. A solid platform, great court awareness, and accustomed to playing at a high level, Studer will be heavily relied upon to play a key role as libero and a leader for the Lightning. Kennedy Schmitz - Fox Valley Lutheran Schmitz is a Class of 2023 libero on the rise where she had over 600 digs last year for FVL going 33-3 in 2019. The Foxes, who are minutes away from the Community First Champions Center will look to defend their home turf. They return an extremely athletic squad who will be looking for a deep post season run.