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Prep Dig Sizzle Dynamic Defenders

Prep Dig Sizzle Dynamic Defenders
Breit Nelson
Breit Nelson July 21, 2021 @ 02:00 PM
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In this article:

Hannah Soblewski
Hannah Soblewski 5'3" | DS/L | 2023
WI
Halle Runez
Halle Runez 5'4" | DS/L | 2022
WI
Ashton Birr
Ashton Birr 5'4" | DS/L | 2023
WI
Olivia Lasee
Olivia Lasee 6'3" | MB | 2023
WI
Kennedy Schmitz
Kennedy Schmitz 5'2" | DS/L | 2023
WI
Ellie Kline
Ellie Kline 5'4" | DS/L | 2022
WI
Alia Schlimgen
Alia Schlimgen 5'5" | DS/L | 2022
WI
Autumn Flynn
Autumn Flynn 5'11" | MB | 2023
WI
Gwen Crull
Gwen Crull 6'2" | MB | 2023
WI
Saige Damrow
Saige Damrow 5'8" | DS/L | 2023
WI
Stella Zarling
Stella Zarling 5'9" | OH | 2022
WI
Michaela Riege
Michaela Riege 5'7" | DS/L | 2022
WI
Morgan Daugherty
Morgan Daugherty 6'2" | MB | 2022
WI
Madisen Miller
Madisen Miller 5'8" | DS/L | 2022
WI
Karissa Kaminski
Karissa Kaminski 5'9" | DS/L | 2022
WI
<p>Points scored by a big swing get a lot of glory, but nothing quite lifts an entire team like a big defensive play, whether it is relentless defense or a big block.  Defense is only effective when everyone is working on the same page.  The blockers need to set their block so the defense can set up around them, and the communication that needs to happen in order to keep the ball from hitting the floor is imperative.  Here are some athletes who were undeniably exciting on defense. </p> <p><strong><span style="font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-149545" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2021/07/Deforest-Halle-Runez.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" />[player_tooltip player_id="148972" first="Halle" last="Runez"] – 2022 – 5’4 – Libero - DeForest</span></strong><span style="font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"> </span></p> <p><span style="font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">DeForest is extremely scrappy in all positions, and I bet their practices are intensely competitive.  They have some gritty athletes who make some big time contributions especially from the back row.  Runez leads a troop of strong defenders with her solid serve-receive and a ton of talk.  She is a relentless defender and leads by taking action. </span></p> <p><strong><span style="font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">[player_tooltip player_id="149044" first="Hannah" last="Soblewski"] – 2023 – 5’1 – Libero - Horicon</span></strong><span style="font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"> </span></p> <p><span style="font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">Soblewski did a great job releasing into her defensive position, and she always seems to get into the best spot to make a great dig.  She was a great communicator and showed a ton of hustle.  She shows a high volleyball IQ-type player who is one to watch for in 2021. </span></p> <p><strong><span style="font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">[player_tooltip player_id="81261" first="Madisen" last="Miller"] – 2022 – 5’8 – Libero – Appleton North</span></strong><span style="font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"> </span></p> <p><span style="font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">Miller’s style is so consistent and gritty as a libero.  She can cover a large area, connects with her teammates, and is always solid on the second contact when needed.  Appleton North was doing a lot of different things throughout the Sizzle and is looking to work through a lot of different pieces heading into the season.  With a libero like Miller, they are almost always in-system, and she is a really assertive server who can take her team on scoring runs.  </span></p> <p><strong><span style="font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2021/07/LC-Autumn-Flynn-crop-4313x2832-1626893799.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-149561" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2021/07/LC-Autumn-Flynn-crop-4313x2832-1626893799-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a>[player_tooltip player_id="82915" first="Autumn" last="Flynn"] – 2023 – 5’11 – Middle Blocker – Luxemburg-Casco</span></strong><span style="font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"> </span></p> <p><span style="font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">Flynn is connecting with her setter on all tempos right now.  She is physical and an extremely active middle who thrives on being in the middle of all the action.  Flynn can block with some of the best, and her presence at the net really makes opposing hitters think twice about taking a hard swing. </span></p> <p><strong><span style="font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">[player_tooltip player_id="118261" first="Ellie" last="Kline"] – 2022 – 5’3 – Libero – Holmen </span></strong><span style="font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"> </span></p> <p><span style="font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">Kline has always been solid in the back row from being really solid on serve-receive to getting in the right position on defense.  She is playing with a ton of confidence as well as spunk and energy that infuses her team on every level.  Kline plays with a high volleyball IQ and anticipation of the ball.  Holmen was firing on all cylinders on the final day of the Sizzle, which could only happen with a clean first contact that Kline provided.  If Kline and the Holmen setters can keep supplying to all of their hitters, teams won’t know what to expect, making them a very dangerous squad.   </span></p> <p><strong><span style="font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-149547" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2021/07/BC-Morgan-Daugherty-200x300.jpg" alt="" width="200" height="300" />[player_tooltip player_id="81253" first="Morgan" last="Daugherty"] – 2022 – 6’2 – Middle Blocker – Brookfield Central (Committed to Marquette)</span><span style="font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"> </span></strong></p> <p><span style="font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">Daugherty is in a league of her own right now when it comes to middle blockers, and Wisconsin should be proud.  The future Marquette Golden Eagle plays with quickness, strength, and cheers on her teammates each point, helping to create some great energy.  Daugherty is quick from pin to pin, sealing the net to take away most options. Opposing attackers can feel her presence on the court without even seeing her there.  </span></p> <p><strong><span style="font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">[player_tooltip player_id="119395" first="Olivia" last="Lasee"] – 2023 – 6’0 – Middle Blocker – Appleton North</span></strong><span style="font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"> </span></p> <p><span style="font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">She is </span><span style="font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">physical, has confident body language, and resourcefulness to run a number of routes, Lasee is someone who can really make a difference defensively at the net and can create a lot of problems for opposing hitters. She has a long reach and the muscle to create a formidable block. Lasee was put to the test on Thursday, and she didn’t disappoint. </span></p> <p><strong><u><span style="font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">Other Notables: </span></u></strong></p> <p><strong><span style="font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">[player_tooltip player_id="117337" first="Alia" last="Schlimgen"] – 2022 – Libero – Sauk Prairie </span></strong></p> <p><strong><span style="font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">Amber Gonzalez – 2024 – Libero – Mosinee </span></strong></p> <p><strong><span style="font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">[player_tooltip player_id="119398" first="Ashton" last="Birr"] – 2023 – 5’6 – Libero – Pulaski </span></strong></p> <p><strong><span style="font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-149548" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2021/07/TC-Braelyn-Pionke.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" />Braelyn Pionke – 2023 – Middle Blocker – Tri-County </span></strong></p> <p><strong><span style="font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">Dani Kopacz – 2024 – Outside Hitter – Pewaukee </span></strong></p> <p><strong><span style="font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">[player_tooltip player_id="91899" first="Gwen" last="Crull"] – 2023 – 6’1 – Middle Blocker – McFarland </span></strong></p> <p><strong><span style="font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">Jocelyn Feutz – 2022 – 6’0 – Middle Blocker - Pulaski </span></strong></p> <p><strong><span style="font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">[player_tooltip player_id="22384" first="Karissa" last="Kaminski"] – 2022 – 5’8 – Outside Hitter – Howards Grove (Committed to Dayton) </span></strong></p> <p><strong><span style="font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">[player_tooltip player_id="119396" first="Kennedy" last="Schmitz"] – 2023 – 5’2 – Libero – Fox Valley Lutheran </span></strong></p> <p><strong><span style="font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">Lianna Baxter – 2022 – 6’0 – Middle Blocker – Oconto  </span></strong></p> <p><strong><span style="font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">[player_tooltip player_id="57270" first="Michaela" last="Riege"] – 2022 – 5’7 – Libero - Waterloo </span></strong></p> <p><strong><span style="font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">Olivia Swenson – 2022 – 6’0 – Middle Blocker - Seymour </span></strong></p> <p><strong><span style="font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">[player_tooltip player_id="82282" first="Saige" last="Damrow"] – 2023 – 5’8 – Libero – Howards Grove (Committed to Wisconsin) </span></strong></p> <p><strong><span style="font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">Sierra Pertzborn – 2023 – 6’3 – Middle Blocker - Middleton </span></strong></p> <p><strong><span style="font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">[player_tooltip player_id="81333" first="Stella" last="Zarling"] – 2022 – 5’9 – Outside Hitter – Kettle Moraine Lutheran </span></strong></p>
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