Ranked Teams Collide This Weekend at NDA Tom Larsen Invite

Labor Day weekend includes one more trip “Up North”, a day on the lake, or a battle of ranked volleyball teams going head to head. This weekend, Notre Dame Academy in Green Bay will be hosting the Tom Larsen Invite, named after legendary NDA coach, Tom Larsen. This could be a prelude for some of these teams playing in Green Bay two months from now - yes, we just started the season, but the “Gold Ball” will be earned at the Resch Center just across from Lambeau Field on Saturday, November 6. Let the games begin.   Ranked Teams Set To Battle There are two pools of four, making for eight teams, but many of these teams had a solid opening weekend at some of the toughest tournaments in the State. [caption id="attachment_155593" align="aligncenter" width="462"]<img class="wp-image-155593" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2021/09/DSC09084.jpg" alt="" width="462" height="309" /> [player_tooltip player_id="22407" first="Mckenna" last="Wucherer"][/caption] Pool A Brookfield Central Notre Dame Academy Sun Prairie Greendale [caption id="attachment_124445" align="aligncenter" width="300"]<img class="size-medium wp-image-124445" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2020/12/DSC02830-e1630518913446-300x300.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="300" /> [player_tooltip player_id="81273" first="Emma" last="Johnson"][/caption] Pool B Luxemburg-Casco Lakeside Lutheran Xavier De Pere <img class="wp-image-155594 aligncenter" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2021/09/DSC09078.jpg" alt="" width="401" height="269" /> D1 - #2 Brookfield Central The Lancers have the best player in the state and one of the top players in the country with [player_tooltip player_id="22407" first="Mckenna" last="Wucherer"], a Minnesota commit. Wucherer will be taking a bit of a break from her high school team to be playing with the U18 USA National Team at the FIVB U18 World Championships in Mexico, September 20-29. Aside from Wucherer, BC is led by Senior middle, [player_tooltip player_id="81253" first="Morgan" last="Daugherty"] (Marquette) and veteran setter, [player_tooltip player_id="81283" first="Tatum" last="Kebisek"] who always knows how to get her attackers in a position to score. Some new athletes that popped up for BC this past weekend who will be sure to have an impact this season. A Freshman outside hitter who is only going to get better with each touch and time on the court is Emma Koceja, long, athletic, and a high ceilng. Emily Lavin is another athlete who really stepped up at the Joust where she plays with no fear. She has an aggressive swing and will be sure to score points. <img class=" wp-image-155595 aligncenter" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2021/09/DSC01937.jpg" alt="" width="408" height="272" /> D2 - #1 Luxemburg-Casco The Spartans are coming off a tournament championship at Sun Prairie. Division 2 is going to going to beat up on each other the whole season. LC is currently ranked number one, with one loss coming to Edgewood, Pewaukee then beat Edgewood, and LC beat Pewaukee in the championship. [player_tooltip player_id="81273" first="Emma" last="Johnson"], a Green Bay commit is the ultimate quarterback for this offense. With neutral and fast hands, a high IQ, and a solid defensive and net player as well - all things run through Johnson. With another Green Bay commit, Grace Holshuh out with an injury, [player_tooltip player_id="82915" first="Autumn" last="Flynn"], who is a typical middle is now playing on the pin and using her powerful swing to score points. [player_tooltip player_id="91907" first="Kylie" last="Hanson"] is a pure six rotation player who will contribute in all rotations. A 2025 Freshman to watch is Campbell Onell who is a powerful middle blocker. <img class=" wp-image-155596 aligncenter" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2021/09/DSC03542-e1630519353999-300x254.jpg" alt="" width="326" height="276" /> D2 - #7 Lakeside Lutheran Lakeside Lutheran was a state runner up to Luxemburg-Casco in 2020 and return some key players from that squad. They will have a rematch in pool play Saturday morning. Lakeside has one loss on the season, which is to McFarland in the championship match at the UW-Whitewater Tournament. The Warriors are led by two powerful attackers in [player_tooltip player_id="149698" first="Ella" last="DeNoyer"] and Lily Scheutz who are averaging over three kills per set. The first two contacts are extremely solid as well with libero [player_tooltip player_id="91928" first="Cheyenne" last="Johnson"] and setter, [player_tooltip player_id="151419" first="Olivia" last="Bartels"]. <img class=" wp-image-155598 aligncenter" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2021/09/Olivia-Sullivan.jpeg" alt="" width="465" height="310" /> D2 - #10 Notre Dame Academy The Tritons were on fire on day one of the UW-Whitewater Tournament going 4-0 which included a win against the eventual champion, McFarland (McFarland went on a tear after that loss). Depth and balance will be key for this squad who has plenty of potential to score points in all rotations and has a variety of lineups they can use. Senior, [player_tooltip player_id="118259" first="Cadence" last="Maxfield"] was an All-Tournament member at the Warhawk Open where she can set and swing from the right side. Olivia Sullivan was the top Triton attacker with nearly 2.5 kills per set enroute to a Gold Bracket 3rd place finish. <img class=" wp-image-155599 aligncenter" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2021/09/DSC09066-e1630519533126-300x191.jpg" alt="" width="476" height="303" /> D2 - RV Xavier Do not sleep on the Hawks. After a successful weekend at the Joust getting in the power pools, this young squad got a taste of high level volleyball and came up with a huge five set thrilling win over Fox Valley Lutheran Tueday night. FVL was ranked #4 in D2. Xavier has a roster full of sophomores, led by all-around athlete [player_tooltip player_id="122567" first="Halle" last="Vande Hey"] who is averaging nearly three kills per set and is one to know where she is all the time on the court. She can pass and attack from anywhere. [player_tooltip player_id="151738" first="Mattea" last="Kiepert"] will be another Sophomore pin to watch where she was key in their success at the Joust. Sophomore libero, Belle Shea, is rock solid from the backrow and will keep that first contact alive and in system for plenty of opportunities for attackers.