D1 Attackers Ready To Take Over The Resch

I can hardly wait to see everyone back at the Resch! Quarterfinal play begins Thursday for Girls D1 and the Boys State Tournament. Division 1 has given us some surprises, and yet we are also seeing some perennial powerhouses as well. Here are some of the top attackers you will see on the sport court Thursday. [player_tooltip player_id="119434" first="Abby" last="Alan"] – 2022 – Middle Blocker - Burlington [caption id="attachment_164310" align="alignright" width="300"]<img class="wp-image-164310 size-medium" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2021/11/36-Lydia-Biggin-Sting-17-White-4.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" /> [player_tooltip player_id="81301" first="Lydia" last="Biggin"] Photo Credit: Breit Nelson[/caption] [player_tooltip player_id="81301" first="Lydia" last="Biggin"] – 2022 – 5’10 – Right Side Hitter - Burlington Alan leads a really athletic Burlington squad while recording 40 blocks, 169 kills, and hitting a .308 to get to the Resch. Biggin has plenty of experience at the Resch Center with a consistent deep post season. With over 220 kills on the season and hitting a .355 hitting percentage, she is looking to lead her team back to the Championship after landing as runners-up in 2020. The Demons will have to survive Kettle Moraine before taking on the winner between Oconomowoc and Oak Creek to make it into the Championship match this year. While they are a constant qualifier (8th straight season), they are also coming in as the fourth seed among a tough field of D1 powerhouses. [player_tooltip player_id="122475" first="Anna" last="Bjork"] – 2024 – 6’3 – Middle Blocker - Oconomowoc Oconomowoc has this great blend of youth and knowledge, but no matter the age of the player on the team, they really have a lot of talent. Bjork participated in the USAV National Team Development Program, and she brings a strong intimidating presence at the net. She has been a constant influence for the Raccoons throughout the season. With almost 300 kills this season, Bjork will lead the Coons to the Resch for the fifth time in the past seven years and as the #1 seed. [player_tooltip player_id="81259" first="Haley" last="Graetz"] – 2022 – 6’0 – Middle Blocker – River Falls Committed to George Mason River Falls has been keeping its head down and taking care of business as usual up in the Northwest corner of the state with a 31-3 record. One of the most dangerous offensive threats the Wildcat’s have is Graetz, who is a 6’0 Senior leading the team with nearly three kills per set while hitting a .326. The Wildcats are the six seed and open play Thursday afternoon against Brookfield Central. [caption id="attachment_123871" align="alignright" width="300"]<img class="size-medium wp-image-123871" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2020/12/189-Kennedy-Martin.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" /> [player_tooltip player_id="119394" first="Kennedy" last="Martin"] Photo Credit: Breit Nelson[/caption] [player_tooltip player_id="119394" first="Kennedy" last="Martin"] – 2023 – 6’6 – Pin Hitter – Appleton North Committed to Florida For Appleton North, the kill leaders are senior, [player_tooltip player_id="57241" first="Brianna" last="Cantrell"] and sophomore, [player_tooltip player_id="122483" first="Ella" last="Demetrician"]. However, their third leading terminator and the x-factor for the Lightening is Florida commit, [player_tooltip player_id="119394" first="Kennedy" last="Martin"]. Martin brings an enthusiastic swing that has gotten her 174 kills while hitting a .319. Appleton North was last year’s Alternate Fall Champion and has the second seed going into play on Thursday against Holmen. [player_tooltip player_id="149039" first="Harley" last="Bartels"] – 2022 – 5’9 – Middle Blocker - Holmen Bartels might be one of the best-kept secrets in Western Wisconsin. She’s been averaging about two kills per set for Holmen, and while she may be smaller than most of her counterparts, she is an incredible athlete. Bartels is one piece to the three-headed senior monster that is the Viking attack. Bartels is effective because of the balanced attack along with [player_tooltip player_id="117342" first="Mara" last="Schmidt"] (5’11 – Outside Hitter – Committed to Southern Mississippi Beach) and [player_tooltip player_id="149042" first="Chloe" last="Hammond"] (Right Side Hitter). [player_tooltip player_id="164320" first="Mariena" last="Coon"] – 2022 – 6’2 – Middle Blocker – Oak Creek Coon is another senior to keep tabs on this weekend. Oak Creek may be coming in as the 8 seed, but at this level, anyone can win on any day. The Knights will be going in with a 31-10 record and Coon is nearing 500 career kills and is hitting close to .300 this season. She will be a big key in the Knights’ time at the Resch where they take on Oconomowoc Thursday night. [caption id="attachment_158685" align="alignright" width="300"]<img class="wp-image-158685 size-medium" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2021/09/BC-McKenna-Wucherer.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" /> [player_tooltip player_id="22407" first="Mckenna" last="Wucherer"] Photo Credit: Breit Nelson[/caption] [player_tooltip player_id="22407" first="Mckenna" last="Wucherer"] – 2022 – 6’1 – Outside Hitter – Brookfield Central Committed to Minnesota [player_tooltip player_id="81253" first="Morgan" last="Daugherty"] – 2022 – 6’2 – Middle Blocker – Brookfield Central Committed to Marquette Wucherer has the biggest swing you will see this weekend, and she can terminate from every angle depending on what the defense shows her. She is the epitome of the six-rotation player who can score points out of the backrow, is strong defensively and in serve-receive. Wucherer will be the key to the success for an athletic Brookfield squad, who also features senior setter [player_tooltip player_id="81283" first="Tatum" last="Kebisek"], who can change the game through her set selection and distribution tempo to keep the Lancers firing on all cylinders. The experience Daugherty brings to this team has helped propel the Lancers to its first trip to the Resch. She has over 200 kills and over 60 blocks this season so far while hitting a .320. They will start their weekend play Thursday afternoon against River Falls (#6) as the three seed.