New Names On The Rise From Waupaca Boatride Junior Doubles

July is looking a little different this year, and I’m loving it. While I enjoy how it typically “kicks off” the preparation for the high school volleyball season, I truly love how players have found their way to playing outdoors whether it be in the sand or grass. The outdoor game variations give players more touches, teaches them different aspects of the game, and trains them to read the play on the opposing side. With limitations to being in the gym, our players have gotten the opportunity to play other versions and continue to expand their game. Additionally, players may see the many options of playing once high school and college careers wrap up, as well as the additional opportunity to play in college with the expanding collegiate beach volleyball programs. Club is officially done and some summer leagues and camps are in progress. Now that the WIAA says there will be a season, even though delayed, the excitement for the high school season has started. But before we switch gears too much, there were some players competing in doubles at the Waupaca Boatride Tournament that should be on your radar. Some big names were already committed to play indoor and beach, but there were also younger athletes showing what a bright future our area has. Here are a few who will be making a huge impact this fall. [caption id="attachment_102792" align="alignright" width="300"]<img class="size-medium wp-image-102792" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2020/07/DSC04120.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" /> Alyssa Hall[/caption] Alyssa Hall – 2022 – 5’8 – Middle Blocker - Marathon Marathon graduated their 3 top attackers number-wise from their 2019 season, but their returners have the makings to have a really successful season. Hall will step into the middle and fill any graduating gaps they might have. She also passes and defends much better, your typical middle. Her partner, [player_tooltip player_id="90602" first="Vanessa" last="Krueger"], is also her high school setter, and they play in a weekly grass quads league as well, so their connection will be strong by September. The Marawood South will be quite the battle this year with the likes of Stratford, Newman, Auburndale, and Edgar, which all have some key pieces returning. Ava Brunn – 2022 – 5’7 – Outside Hitter – Lake City (MN) Brunn, with Madison Renz, won the 16’s division on July 12th against some stiff competition. Brunn will be entering her junior year, and with all the jumping in the sand, she can fly to the ball. She has a lot of potential to make a huge impact for the Tigers in 2020. [player_tooltip player_id="72796" first="Cassie" last="Sieling"] – 2022 – 5’10 – Libero/Pin Hitter – Jefferson (MN) Jefferson (MN) is going to be loaded with Sieling talent. Cassie was very consistent at Boatride with a lot of positive contacts, strong in serve-receive, and she reads opposing attackers so exceedingly well. With Cassie and her twin sister, Ellie, Jefferson will be extremely tough to beat, especially during the serve and serve-receive game since they get a lot of practice while playing doubles together. [player_tooltip player_id="91876" first="Cordelia" last="Kearns"] – 2023 - 5’10 – Pin Hitter - Oconomowoc Kearns was a key pin hitter for Oconomowoc in 2019. She can terminate from either pin and her sand training is making her even more versatile and solid as a six-rotation player. Even more fun is the history she has with her cousin and doubles partner, [player_tooltip player_id="91918" first="Kallie" last="Feder"], who have been competing together for the past 5 summers. [caption id="attachment_102790" align="alignright" width="300"]<img class="size-medium wp-image-102790" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2020/07/DSC03964.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" /> [player_tooltip player_id="57288" first="Ella" last="Buddenhagen"][/caption] [player_tooltip player_id="57288" first="Ella" last="Buddenhagen"] – 2022 – 5’10 – Outside Hitter - Kimberly Kimberly could be dangerous this year, even after graduating some big swings and their main distributor. Buddenhagen will be one of their pins and is very explosive making her tough to match up against. I really enjoyed seeing Buddenhagen paired with [player_tooltip player_id="57260" first="Mary" last="Satori"] in the 16’s division where they were knocked out of the championship bracket by Kearns/Feder. [player_tooltip player_id="31609" first="Ellie" last="Sieling"] – 2022 – 5’11 – Outside Hitter – Jefferson (MN) Sieling is really smooth in all six rotations and will be a match-up nightmare for opposing blockers. She is a smart, savvy player and shows a lot of athleticism on the court or the sand. Sieling can contribute in many ways and will be a force for her high school team in 2020. Ellie and her sister, Cassie, first competed in the women’s A doubles on Friday and then in 18U on Sunday where they took 2nd behind Cal Poly Beach commit Piper Ferch and Stanford Beach commit Avi Vetter who traveled from Washington to compete. [caption id="attachment_102791" align="alignright" width="300"]<img class="size-medium wp-image-102791" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2020/07/DSC04075.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" /> [player_tooltip player_id="91918" first="Kallie" last="Feder"][/caption] [player_tooltip player_id="91918" first="Kallie" last="Feder"] – 2022 – Defensive Specialist - Watertown Feder definitely provides a boost in the back row for Watertown and will be competing for the Libero position after Dani Weissenrieder graduated. Feder and Kearns made a run in bracket play on Sunday to take a 3rd place finish in the 16’s division. Watertown will be a team that could sneak up and surprise some teams. Feder is an assertive server, active on defense, and is effective in the back row to keep her team in system. Lilly Tome – 2023 – 5’6 – Libero – Wauwatosa East Tome will be one of the top defensive players in the Greater Metro Conference in 2020. She will be looking to keep the Red Raiders in play with her scrappy defense that was on full display at Boatride. Tome is an all-around player who just makes things happen for her team. She’s athletic and competitive, and you can tell Tome has learned from her sister, [player_tooltip player_id="33056" first="Chloe" last="Tome"], who plays for Missouri State beach. An exciting 2020 is ahead to see where Tosa East can go with a lot of returners after a rebuilding season. [player_tooltip player_id="57260" first="Mary" last="Satori"] – 2022 – 5’10 – Middle Blocker/Outside Hitter – Manitowoc Lincoln [player_tooltip player_id="10368" first="Katie" last="DiRaimondo"], Tennessee Tech commit, has been a go-to outside hitter for Manitowoc. It’s time to pass the torch,and Satori is an outstanding middle who could transition into a terminal pin. Satori showed her athleticism at Boatride along with her partner, Buddenhagen. She has the ability to terminate, but she can also create shots in order to score in an array of circumstances. The Ships are young but not short on potential in 2020. [caption id="attachment_102793" align="alignright" width="300"]<img class="size-medium wp-image-102793" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2020/07/DSC04146.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" /> [player_tooltip player_id="90602" first="Vanessa" last="Krueger"][/caption] [player_tooltip player_id="90602" first="Vanessa" last="Krueger"] – 2022 – 5’7 – Pin Hitter - Marathon Krueger was a six-rotation outside hitter for Wisconsin Ice 16 Purple and a setter/right side hitter for Marathon. Needless to say, she can do it all, and it’s because of the time she spends playing outdoors during the summer. At Boatride you could see her dynamic ability to play multiple positions, whether she was passing nails, defending in the backcourt, or terminating at the net. Marathon is extremely lucky as a small school to have the combo of Krueger and Alyssa Hall. They will be a critical additional factor in 2020 for Marathon. [caption id="attachment_101248" align="aligncenter" width="300"]<img class="size-medium wp-image-101248" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2020/07/PDSummerShowcase2_7th-300x150.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="150" /> Photo: Prep Dig[/caption]