Where Do They Stand? Wisconsin D1 Preseason Top 15

Before we begin any chat on the rankings, lets give a hand to volleyball happening this summer. When school ended (virtually), there were so many variables in the air as far as what any type of volleyball would look like. Some teams had no gym to play in whether it was their school or rules from their county. Other teams could have zero affiliation with their coaches. And then we had the mask mandate. Give credit to these high school athletes. They found a way, they made it happen and it shows they will do what it takes to play the game they love. As for rankings, it’s splitting hairs. I base a lot of these rankings of what I have seen with the live eye as well as having other coaches weigh in. For most summer teams, it varies week to week on who is there and how they play. Two weeks ago, Appleton North wasn’t even top ten in the gym let alone their class, but after a huge tournament win at the Sunset Slam with a state caliber match with Waukesha West, it sealed the deal for a top five spot for those two teams. Why rank? Why not. These teams have found ways to get back on the court and are ready to show the state what they can do. We’re craving conversation about sports, and let that be about volleyball <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Take a look at some clips of teams who will be in the top ten D1 teams in Wisconsin. Lot of great volleyball this summer! <a href="https://t.co/wh6q44IYFs">pic.x.com/wh6q44IYFs</a> — Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) <a href="https://x.com/PrepDigChris/status/1300467966992175105?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 31, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> The only teams in this list I did not see play live this summer were Burlington and Arrowhead, which on paper, those two teams are always going to be in the conversation, especially being the past two state champions. [caption id="attachment_107137" align="alignright" width="449"]<img class=" wp-image-107137" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2020/08/DSC09459.jpg" alt="" width="449" height="299" /> Hartford Union[/caption] #15 - #11 15. Germantown 14. DSHA 13. Hartford Union 12. Sun Prairie 11. Manitowoc Lincoln Most of these teams were able to square off at the Prep Dig Summer League at the Milwaukee Sting Center where they all had flashes of greatness. Sun Prairie was able to play at the Prep Dig Sizzle, The Dells, and the Prep Dig Sunset Slams. Germantown has to powerful pins in Senior and Milwaukee commit [player_tooltip player_id="80721" first="Tatum" last="Catalano"] and one of the top Sophomores in the state in [player_tooltip player_id="61819" first="Lily" last="Wagner"]. Wagner had quite the summer on the beach as well. DSHA is always going to be in the mix. They are solid all around, great defensively, and well coached. Hartford Union has a talented Senior class with Viterbo commit [player_tooltip player_id="33755" first="Martina" last="McGrath"] and all around athlete [player_tooltip player_id="80820" first="Abigail" last="Hoffman"] who can set and swing. Junion [player_tooltip player_id="57247" first="Riley" last="Hamilton"] will be a huge point scorer on the pin as well. Sun Prairie had a solid summer and are so deep with their Senior class. However, the Cardinals will be playing a spring season and lose setter in Kansas State who has transferred to Howards Grove. This spring they will be led by two top recruits heading to Minnesota in [player_tooltip player_id="80740" first="Maggie" last="Allaman"] (St. Thomas) and outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id="80717" first="Payton" last="Addink"] (Minnesota Duluth). Manitowoc Lincoln has quite the outlets on the pin with rising Junior, [player_tooltip player_id="57260" first="Mary" last="Satori"] and major spring in [player_tooltip player_id="57260" first="Mary" last="Satori"]. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> That’s how it’s done...Kettle Moraine! <a href="https://t.co/YdHIJRGl7g">pic.x.com/YdHIJRGl7g</a> — Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) <a href="https://x.com/PrepDigChris/status/1290035973741584384?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 2, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> #10 - #6 10. River Falls 9. Oconomowoc 8. Arrowhead 7. Burlington 6. Kettle Moraine All of these teams were in the state tournament in 2019. All of them had some major loses to graduation, but like any great program there is always the next one in to fill the spot. River Falls will have to replace plenty of points scored as well as their libero, but a talented incoming Sophomore class as well as Minnesota commit [player_tooltip player_id="12959" first="Anna" last="Wolf"] and two year starter [player_tooltip player_id="81259" first="Haley" last="Graetz"] will look to lead the Wildcats. Oconomowoc lost four Division 1 commits, but no worries when you have four really talented pins returning as well as an exciting class of Freshmen in setter Lilly Wagner and middle blocker Anna Bjork. Arrowhead lost Player of the Year [player_tooltip player_id="10329" first="Aubrey" last="Hamilton"] as well as other strong Seniors from their 2019 state championship but return their middle blocking duo in Parkside commit [player_tooltip player_id="56468" first="Lindsay" last="Krznarich"] and Monica LaFleur. [player_tooltip player_id="22404" first="Madison" last="Tolzman"] will look to have a major breakout year on the outside. Burlington will have to replace their All State setter and state tournament veteran in Milwaukee commit [player_tooltip player_id="56004" first="Kaley" last="Blake"], but will return a strong Senior class led by Marquette commit Sam Naber as well as [player_tooltip player_id="80737" first="Mackenzie" last="Leach"] and [player_tooltip player_id="80741" first="Amanda" last="Viel"]. Kettle Moraine gained valuable experience advancing to the state tournament, almost knocking off Oconomowoc and return a strong core fo the 2019 squad including Sophomores [player_tooltip player_id="91875" first="Grace" last="Grocholski"] and libero [player_tooltip player_id="82910" first="Kyleigh" last="Coghlan"]. Senior outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id="56502" first="Robi" last="Binagi"] has had a huge summer as well as [player_tooltip player_id="81303" first="Sophie" last="McCormack"] who is a long and athletic attacker. [caption id="attachment_107138" align="alignright" width="268"]<img class="size-medium wp-image-107138" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2020/08/DSC09554-268x300.jpg" alt="" width="268" height="300" /> [player_tooltip player_id="22407" first="Mckenna" last="Wucherer"][/caption] #5 - #1 5. Waukesha West 4. Appleton North 3. Brookfield Central 2. Pewaukee 1. Sussex Hamilton When it comes to the top teams, balance, depth, and a strong Senior class are incredibly key. All of the top four teams last year had that going for them and Arrowhead and Oconomowoc were glowly with talented Seniors. Waukesha West has North Dakota State recruit tearing up six rotations on the outside while Seton Hall commit [player_tooltip player_id="80716" first="Anna" last="Holland"] controls the backrow. [player_tooltip player_id="56452" first="Abby" last="Fregien"] is extremely high IQ and can score and defend among some of the best out there. Appleton North has Minnesota State-Mankato commit [player_tooltip player_id="80719" first="Brooke" last="Bolwerk"] running the show with four attackers that have to be touching near ten feet, including 1st Team All State returner in [player_tooltip player_id="57241" first="Brianna" last="Cantrell"]. Brookfield Central will rely heavily on Minnesota commit [player_tooltip player_id="22407" first="Mckenna" last="Wucherer"] who is one of the top players in the country along with middle Morgan Daughtery. Pewaukee has shown what they can do with a team full of Seniors and depth, led by Flagler commit [player_tooltip player_id="33732" first="Jordan" last="Berglin"] on the outside and middle blocker Elsa Sheperd. However, Sussex Hamilton has three legit setters in [player_tooltip player_id="56448" first="Janelle" last="Stuempfig"] (Winona State), [player_tooltip player_id="12996" first="Katelyn" last="Lefler"] (Illinois State), and [player_tooltip player_id="57287" first="Tatum" last="Baldwin"]. The Chargers have the most versatile team in the state where one of their biggest challenges is finding what lineup will suit them the best. This core group of Seniors have been on the varsity level since their Sophomore year and have big goals ahead.