Don't Miss these Dynamite Defenders at State

There is no shortage of amazing defenders in the state of Wisconsin. And having the ability to watch the best of the best playing in the State Tournament this week will no doubt be the pinnacle of the season. These athletes are gritty, quick, and willing to throw their bodies across the court at any moment to set their team up for success. <h3>[player_tooltip player_id="81261" first="Madisen" last="Miller"] - Appleton North - Class of 2022</h3> Madisen has been an instrumental piece of this Appleton North team for years and she only continues to improve. She is gritty and scrappy in the back row but excels at reading hitters. Madisen makes some of the toughest digs look easy and is very controlled in the back row. She is also incredibly consistent on serve receive. Madisen was a key player in North’s Alternate Season State Championship earlier this year and continues to have an impact on every single point. <h3>[player_tooltip player_id="118261" first="Ellie" last="Kline"] - Holmen - Class of 2022</h3> [player_tooltip player_id="118261" first="Ellie" last="Kline"] is quick on her feet and reacts to the ball at near superhuman speed. She is always ready for anything that comes her way and is great in coverage, off of tips, and in out-of-system plays. Ellie is scrappy and gritty on the court and will be tough to get past. She is willing to (quite literally) throw herself into the bench or stands in order to get a ball. https://x.com/BreitNelson/status/1415794634438201345 <h3><img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-117169 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2020/11/Kyleigh-Coghlan-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" />[player_tooltip player_id="82910" first="Kyleigh" last="Coghlan"] - Kettle Moraine - Class of 2023</h3> Kyleigh is as scrappy and gritty as they come. She has been the core of this team’s defense this year. In the Lasers four-set win over Wisconsin Lutheran in the Sectional Finals, Kyleigh clocked in 45 digs and 42 service receptions. She is consistent and dependable for this team in the back row. She rarely gets aced and can be very frustrating for opposing hitters to play against! [caption id="attachment_149162" align="alignright" width="150"]<img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-149162" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2021/07/elle-kennedy-TP--150x150.jpeg" alt="" width="150" height="150" /> Photo: Top Performer Prep Dig[/caption] <h3>[player_tooltip player_id="122508" first="Elle" last="Kennedy"] - Howards Grove - Class of 2024</h3> In a team seemingly full of trained liberos, Elle still finds a way to stand out. Along with being a stud passer, she is energetic and positive on the court. She has great fundamentals and it shows in her movement to the ball and platform angles. Elle is also very scrappy. Despite only being a sophomore, she plays with the experience of someone much older. <h3><img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-105338 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2020/08/Adriana-Studer1-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" />[player_tooltip player_id="81255" first="Adriana" last="Studer"] - Lake Country Lutheran - Committed to Villanova</h3> Adriana has been the key to this defense since she was a freshman. She is smart and brings a lot of experience to the court. She is one of the top serve receivers and defenders in the state and will look to earn the second state championship title of her high school career later this week. Her energy and talent on the court are a huge piece of the success of this highly talented team. <h3><img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-105311 alignright" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2020/08/Molly-Berezowitz1-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" />[player_tooltip player_id="91895" first="Molly" last="Berezowitz"] - Burlington - Class of 2023</h3> Molly is scrappy and quick on the court. She reads opposing hitters very well and makes great plays on the ball. Molly has a high volleyball IQ and is very impactful on the court. She protects the backcourt fiercely and adds a lot of value to the Demons volleyball program. Molly is a high-energy athlete that will more than impress at the state tournament later this week. <h4>Other Dynamite Defenders: </h4> [player_tooltip player_id="81331" first="Hadley" last="Strohkirch"] - Oconomowoc - Class of 2022 Ashley Hutter - Pewaukee - Class of 2025 Abi Bannit - River Falls - Class of 2023 Brooke VandeHei - Luxemburg-Casco - Class of 2024 [player_tooltip player_id="149585" first="Riley" last="Angst"] - Brookfield Central - Class of 2023