Prep Dig Sizzle Full of Talented Hitters

Prep Dig brought back the Varsity and JV Sizzle Tournaments this summer, and it was a hotbed of talented hitters. Heavy hitting teams like Appleton North, Brookfield Central, and Edgewood were just a part of some volleyball super star power to be seen at the Community First Champion Center in Appleton. The list below barely scratches the surface, but we will do our best! [player_tooltip player_id="91887" first="Addison" last="Schmotzer"] – 2023 – 6’2 – Middle Blocker – Edgewood <img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-149086" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2021/07/Edgewood-Addison-Schmotzer.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" /> Schmotzer has been firing on all cylinders this past club season, and I think there are big things ahead for this big swing. She does a really nice job sealing the net and pressing back into the court. The best comes when she runs a 3 route and connects to find a gap between the blockers. When she connects with her setter, it’s magic because she has a nice high contact point with the ability to go over blockers and a fast arm swing to beat most defenders. [player_tooltip player_id="81269" first="Bella" last="Van Lannen"] – 2022 – 6’0 – Right Side Hitter – Appleton North (Committed to Northern Colorado) The Northern Colorado recruit helped her team to a Prep Dig Sizzle bracket win over Brookfield Central in a 3-set win. Van Lannen, an incoming senior, has a solid crew with her and a chance to make a trip to the Resch and win a State Championship in a big way. [player_tooltip player_id="148979" first="Courtney" last="Kirley"] – 2022 – 5’11 – Middle Blocker - Hartford Kirley might be starting her senior season under the radar, but I can’t imagine it will last long. She is really active along the net defensively and offensively. She worked to be available and worked great angles around the block on the attack. Kirley communicated well with her teammates between giving her setters feedback or positive and encouraging talk between plays. [player_tooltip player_id="22407" first="Mckenna" last="Wucherer"] – 2022 – 6’2 – Outside Hitter – Brookfield Central (Committed to Minnesota) The senior will be training with USA Volleyball and has gathered an impressive amount of national accolades and attention after being recruited by Minnesota as an 8th grader. It’s always fun for players from around the state to get to see one of the most physical hitters in the state. She has some height, a big vertical, and she is strong, making her a total package, along with her ability to play defense and the most consistent in serve-receive for Brookfield Central. <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2021/07/AN-Brianna-Cantrell-crop-3810x2502-1626667469.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-149072" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2021/07/AN-Brianna-Cantrell-crop-3810x2502-1626667469-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a> [player_tooltip player_id="57241" first="Brianna" last="Cantrell"] – 2022 – 5’10 – Outside Hitter – Appleton North Cantrell is coming off an Alternate Fall State as a junior and should be a force to reckon with again this fall. She is a big jumper with a live arm. To make things even better, she is strong in serve-receive and defensively. Cantrell is as effective from the back row as she is from the front. [player_tooltip player_id="81254" first="Natalie" last="Ring"] – 2022 – 6’1 – Outside Hitter – Edgewood (Committed to Marquette) This Marquette recruit continues to amaze going into her senior year. She typically has gotten used to playing up with older age groups, so it may be a little different to be the older kid for once. But she’s been playing with a high level of maturity since I first saw her in her 15’s year. Ring just gets better and better and she’s a gamechanger for any team. [player_tooltip player_id="82906" first="Sydney" last="Bartels"] – 2023 – 5’11 – Middle Blocker - Freedom Bartels is a middle you want to watch because she is so fast laterally on defense. She also has the ability to run a number of different routes in front or behind the setter. During her club season, she played some right side, so she definitely can swing from the pins, making her more versatile and valuable as a recruit and teammate. Other Notables: [player_tooltip player_id="81264" first="Ally" last="Barth"] – 2022 – 6’0 – Middle Blocker – Edgewood [player_tooltip player_id="82915" first="Autumn" last="Flynn"] – 2023 – 5’11 – Middle Blocker – Luxemburg-Casco [player_tooltip player_id="118262" first="Cassandra" last="Patchett"] – 2022 – 5’10 – Outside Hitter – Fox Valley Lutheran [player_tooltip player_id="122483" first="Ella" last="Demetrician"] – 2024 – 6’1 – Outside Hitter – Appleton North <img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-149080" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2021/07/LC-Grace-Holschuh.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" /> [player_tooltip player_id="81279" first="Grace" last="Holschuh"] – 2022 – 5’11 – Outside Hitter – Luxemburg-Casco (Committed to UW-Green Bay) [player_tooltip player_id="117354" first="Mickenzi" last="Benter"] – 2022 – 5’9 – Right Side Hitter – Fox Valley Lutheran [player_tooltip player_id="117336" first="Reese" last="Yocum"] – 2022 – 5’10 – Outside Hitter – DeForest (Committed to UW-LaCrosse) [player_tooltip player_id="57247" first="Riley" last="Hamilton"] – 2022 – 5’10 – Outside Hitter – Hartford (Committed to Loyola-Maryland)