More 18’s To Watch At The 2021 Resolution

We will peruse the Badger region to learn about some of the 17/18s teams and rosters that will be competing January 2nd-3rd at the Community First Champion Center. With a fun mix of clubs, we predict an exciting season opener for these teams. We also plan to have plenty of content rolling during the tournament, so keep your eyes peeled for tweets from Prep Dig Wisconsin and your favorite scouts! And, if your team isn't featured today, don't worry! There is more to come and coaches can send previews of your team to <a href="mailto:spikeitdown@hotmail.com">spikeitdown@hotmail.com</a> . Impact 18 National [caption id="attachment_124047" align="alignright" width="300"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2020/12/73-Rachel-Mueller-crop-5748x3775-1609266122.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-124047" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2020/12/73-Rachel-Mueller-crop-5748x3775-1609266122-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a> [player_tooltip player_id="117312" first="Rachel" last="Mueller"] Photo Credit: Breit Nelson[/caption] The team will be directed offensively by Heidi Colburn (2021 – 5'9 – Oshkosh North) and [player_tooltip player_id="80760" first="Kellyn" last="Kennedy"] (2021 – 5'9 – Appleton East). Colburn has a solid volleyball IQ and Kennedy keeps the opposing defense on their toes. Joining them is an absolute superstar personality [player_tooltip player_id="117312" first="Rachel" last="Mueller"] (2021 – 5'9 – Oshkosh West). She is a top-notch defender who is also a big scorer on the pin. Mueller has several shots in her tool belt and will probably be a key pin for Impact. But there is so much more to this team than these three. [player_tooltip player_id="56470" first="Lauren" last="Borchardt"] (St. Norbert) and Natalie Buser (2021 – 5'3 – Oshkosh West) are two keys for Impact. Borchardt is another formidable pin hitter who will play a factor on offense. Buser has been playing with some big talent on her high school squad which will prove beneficial being able to play with solid players year-round. [caption id="attachment_124055" align="alignright" width="300"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2020/12/impact16n-payton-uptagraft-2-crop-1870x1228-1609266604.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-124055" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2020/12/impact16n-payton-uptagraft-2-crop-1870x1228-1609266604-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a> Payton Uptagraft Photo Credit: Breit Nelson[/caption] [player_tooltip player_id="33767" first="Alyssa" last="Koska"] (Maryville), [player_tooltip player_id="118266" first="Emma" last="Mullins"] (2022 – 5'8 – Hortonville), [player_tooltip player_id="80793" first="Rachel" last="Reed"] (2021 – 5'9 - Shawano) and Payton Uptagraft (2022 – 6'0 – Oshkosh North) round out the big weapons. Uptagraft is an above-average defender who blocks and gets so many great touches. Mullins and Reed will benefit from a quick offense Kennedy likes to run. Midwest Penguin 18 Black The sole 18's team in the Penguins program is ready for a final hurrah in 2021. Many of their players weren't able to participate in a true high school season and are licking their chops to compete again. It will be led by 6-rotation right side [player_tooltip player_id="56452" first="Abby" last="Fregien"] (2021 – 5'7 – Waukesha West). She is one of those players who made the most of the season by almost reaching the 1,000 career digs mark. She displays a strong serve, can pass with the best of them, and displays a number of shots. [caption id="attachment_124068" align="alignright" width="300"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2020/12/DSC06957-crop-3687x2421-1609267328.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-124068" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2020/12/DSC06957-crop-3687x2421-1609267328-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a> Ella Chevalier Photo Credit: Breit Nelson[/caption] We also know [player_tooltip player_id="80765" first="Hailey" last="Boelter-Eberhardt"] (2021) is eager to play after Pewaukee opted out of the fall high school season. She will run the team from the setter position. Middle blocker Ella Chevalier (2021 – 5'10 – Hamilton) had a strong high school season taking the Division 1 State Title. Cassandra Luedtke (2021 – Beaver Dam) will be another potential attacker who can swing in the middle as well as the pin. [player_tooltip player_id="80836" first="Brigid" last="Straub"] (2021 – 5'10 – Waukesha South) has the skills to contribute on the pin and defensively. [player_tooltip player_id="80759" first="Haley" last="Allen"] (2021 – 5'9 – Beaver Damn), [player_tooltip player_id="80791" first="Marissa" last="Reynolds"] (2021 – Mukwonago), and [player_tooltip player_id="80805" first="Ally" last="Longden"] (2021 - Pewaukee) will play important roles for 18 Black this year on the pins and defensively. Motion 18 BLU [caption id="attachment_124070" align="alignright" width="300"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2020/12/DSC06984-crop-4047x2657-1609267505.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-124070" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2020/12/DSC06984-crop-4047x2657-1609267505-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a> [player_tooltip player_id="80787" first="Megan" last="Hawthorne"] Photo Credit: Breit Nelson[/caption] Motion has been building quite a reputation the past couple of years. They have many high-level athletes led by a pair of soon-to-be Germantown grads/Bemidji commits [player_tooltip player_id="80761" first="Sophia" last="Brown"] and [player_tooltip player_id="80758" first="Lauren" last="Sitter"]. Brown had a solid high school career and can block with the best of them, while Sitter brings another level of tenacity to the net. On the pins, Motion will have two top scorers in [player_tooltip player_id="80782" first="Makayla" last="Eckel"] (2021 – 5'10 - Bradford) and [player_tooltip player_id="80730" first="Kayla" last="Lewinski"] (University of Mary - ND). Both have shown the ability to score and are smart players who pound the seam or use the block. [player_tooltip player_id="80724" first="Abby" last="Gardner"] (UW-Green Bay) is a strong defender and has a high volleyball IQ partnered with super quick agility. Chloee Epker (2021 – 5'10 – Shoreland Lutheran) is among the top setters in the state and does a great job in set selection. [player_tooltip player_id="80787" first="Megan" last="Hawthorne"] (2021 – Hamilton) will also play an important role on this team after ending her high school career with a state title.