Fresh Faces and Familiar Names From The Class of 2023

<p>I simply don’t have enough hours in the day to write about all the athletes I see at big events, showcases, etc.  There are always more players to be covered and sometimes we miss players because they weren’t playing during the match I saw or they were missing because of quarantine or a school competition.  Sometimes I see a player and just keep wondering, how did I not notice them before!<br /> <br /> That’s why we try to get in the gym to see as many players as we can whenever we can!  The Prep Dig Gauntlet was no different as I saw new names being added to my list, as well as new notes being added to familiar names.  Here are some fresh faces and familiar names to know from the Class of 2023.<br /> <br /> <strong><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2021/06/26-Amelia-Albers-Capital-16-Adidas-crop-3954x2596-1623691945.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-145441" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2021/06/26-Amelia-Albers-Capital-16-Adidas-crop-3954x2596-1623691945-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a>[player_tooltip player_id="119399" first="Amelia" last="Albers"] – 2023 – 5’4 – Libero – Stoughton – Capital 16 Adidas<br /> </strong><br /> Albers is strong, reliable, and delivers a solid first contact for her team.  She knows how to get ahead of the play and you find her in just the right spot before the ball gets there. Albers gives her team a whole new level of energy as a great communicator.</p> <p><strong>Anna Kudick – 2023 – Right Side Hitter – Mauston – Madison United 17 Red</strong><br /> <br /> Kudick is a lefty who hits a nice cross-court shot.  She delivers with a strong hand contact, gets to the ball quickly, and is brutal with her forceful arm swing.  Kudick can score in the clutch to add kindling to her team’s fire.</p> <p><strong><img class="size-medium wp-image-145445 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2021/06/12-Anna-Kieselhost-River-Ciy-2.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" />Anna Kieselhorst – 2023 – 5’5 - Libero – Luther Prep - River City 17 Blue</strong><br /> <br /> Kieselhorst is scrappy and quick, as well as having the ability to take a hard swing from a hot hand like [player_tooltip player_id="90597" first="Aida" last="Shadewald"] and keep it in play.  She is consistent, has efficient footwork, creates great platform angles, and is reliable in serve-receive.  Kieselhorst can also take teams out-of-system from the service line with a solid, flat serve.</p> <p><strong>Jenna Pistano – 2023 – Setter – Sauk Prairie – Madison United 17 Red</strong><br /> <br /> Pistano runs the show, along with [player_tooltip player_id="122330" first="Andrea" last="Bortulin"] (2022), for Madison United who has plenty of strong athletes out of the Madison/Milwaukee area.  She has fast hands and a soft delivery. Pistano can run different tempos, and she knows how to get the ball to the hot hand.</p> <p><strong><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-145443" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2021/06/14-Evinae-Jordee-Capital-16-Adidas.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" />[player_tooltip player_id="91952" first="Evinae" last="Jordee"] – 2023 – 5’8 – Setter – Middleton – Capital 16 Adidas</strong><br /> <br /> Jordee is very solid, consistent, and just makes it happen for her team.  She leads by example and with a positive attitude.  Jordee is a top all-around player and you may want to take note of her, not only for her skill on the court, but also her leadership ability.<br /> <br /> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="91883" first="Jordan" last="LaScala"] – 2023 – 5’11 – Outside Hitter – Middleton – Capital 16 Adidas</strong><br /> <br /> LaScala is an extremely consistent six-rotation player.  She isn’t flashy, but she is a controlled  "steady eddy".  LaScala is definitely the player who doesn’t get too high or low but rather keeps her team on track and headed in the right direction.  The last time I saw her play was at the Prep Dig Gauntlet at the end of May, and she does a nice job of using the block, finding the seam, and guiding her team to a big finish in the Championship game.<br /> <br /> <strong><img class="size-medium wp-image-145448 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2021/06/41-Paige-Miller-FC-Elite-16-Navy.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" />[player_tooltip player_id="91878" first="Paige" last="Miller"] – 2023 – 5’8 – Libero – Kaukauna – FC Elite 16 Navy<br /> </strong><br /> Miller is super solid in serve-receive and makes sure to give her setter every option possible.  Miller, along with club teammate [player_tooltip player_id="119396" first="Kennedy" last="Schmitz"] (2023 – 5’2 – Fox Valley Lutheran), make a strong and scrappy defensive duo.  Schmitz does a really nice job of lining herself up around the block to get the best positioning possible.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="82921" first="Kaitlin" last="Schulz"] – 2023 – 5’10 – Outside Hitter – Kimberly – FC Elite 16 Navy<br /> [player_tooltip player_id="82906" first="Sydney" last="Bartels"] – 2023 – 5’9 – Middle Blocker/Right Side Hitter – Freedom – FC Elite 16 Navy</strong><br /> <br /> Schulz and Bartels are both built for speed, physical, and instinctive at the net where they can attack from any zone.  At the Prep Dig Gauntlet, Schulz was on the outside while Bartels was on the right side.  Schulz flies and takes a heavy swing down the line or inside the block.  Bartels is explosive from the pin and super smart with her attack choices.  They both offer a strong block, know how to score points for FC Elite 16 Navy, who has been a formidable foe this past club season.<br /> <br /> <strong><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-145449" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2021/06/15-Payton-Chevalier-FC-Elite-16-Navy.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" />[player_tooltip player_id="91930" first="Payton" last="Chevalier"] – 2023 – 5’10 – Right Side Hitter – Kimberly – FC Elite 16 Navy</strong><br /> <br /> Chevalier can provide a big block on the right side and has experience running routes out of the middle. She mixes things up and knows how to find the open spot by cutting sharp angles, smoking the line, and attacking the corners.  Chevalier is part of a big swinging FC Elite squad where she plays some right side, but last year for Kimberly, I saw her play mainly middle.  She is alarmingly quick and has really progressed over the past couple years.</p>