Top Players Equate To Team Success for #PDStatlelineSlam 18s

This weekend’s Stateline Slam in the 18s Division had a new mix of teams with clubs out of Wisconsin and Illinois with athletes committed to D2, D3, and NAIA programs across the region. Wisconsin clubs reigned with three of the top four coming from North of the Illinois/WI border with Xtreme VBC 18 Adidas taking the title. Here are some of your top teams as well as key players who propelled their teams to success over the weekend.   <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Two match winning points in this highlight. Extremely competitive 18s semifinals. 18 🏆 Championship Xtreme VBC 18 Adidas (WI) vs Rapid Fire 18 Black <a href="https://x.com/hashtag/pdstatelineslam?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#pdstatelineslam</a> <a href="https://t.co/fvinzMxNhg">pic.x.com/fvinzMxNhg</a> — Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) <a href="https://x.com/PrepDigChris/status/1490355222409060359?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 6, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> Xtreme VBC 18 Adidas This club out of La Crosse has plenty of firepower and were dominant right from the start. What really separates this team is their ability to control the ball and also spread the other side of the net out with attackers going from pin to pin. Uncommitted 2022 libero, Ellie Kline is a major spark for Xtreme where she is solid in serve receive and is always dependable to get the offense going. Outside hitter Mia Quist (Viterbo), is one who can play six rotations and score from both pins. A middle that might be considered undersized at 5’9 is Harley Bartels. She is extremely athletic and has really great hand contact where she hits it square to the deep corners scoring plenty of points. Anna Hennessy is a Winona State commit and was big time all weekend where she can score points from both pins as well. She knows how to use the block and can take what the defense gives her. Xtreme, which is out of La Crosse, WI with athletes from Wisconsin and Minnesota claimed the 18s title with a three set victory over Rapid Fire in three sets, the third set going 15-13.   <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Rapid Fire 18 Black is firing on all cylinders in set two. Big swings from Alexis Chrappa, Averie Smith, and Kennedy Sowell. <a href="https://x.com/hashtag/pdstatelineslam?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#pdstatelineslam</a> <a href="https://t.co/8rweXKUZq0">pic.x.com/8rweXKUZq0</a> — Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) <a href="https://x.com/PrepDigChris/status/1489972347482386435?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 5, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> Rapid Fire 18 Black Rapid Fire came out blazing defeating top seed Eastside in pool play and then had a big three set win over Air VBC 18 Blue before finishing runner up to Xtreme in the finals. This team is extremely balanced starting with two solid setters in Ellie McManaway and Bella Smith. Their middle attack was on all weekend with two big swings from Averie Smith and Kennedy Sowell. One of the top point scorers in the whole event was Alexis Chrappa. A heavy arm, big time shot maker, she is a fun athlete to watch. Chrappa and Sowell will play at Vincennes University in Indiana, a strong NJCAA program. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Air VBC 18 Blue out of Eau Claire playing with a lot of momentum in the 18 Gold semifinals against Rapid Fire Brenna Bruchert with the big swing and kill <a href="https://x.com/hashtag/pdstatelineslam?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#pdstatelineslam</a> <a href="https://t.co/s4n5emGQ4T">pic.x.com/s4n5emGQ4T</a> — Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) <a href="https://x.com/PrepDigChris/status/1490342637852938240?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 6, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> Air VBC 18 Blue Lot of athletes on this team. Lot of 2022 talent on this team that are still available. Brenna Bruchert out of Eau Calire Memorial has a really heavy swing that she can turn down the line or go hard cross. She has great intangibles, connects well with her teammates, and can play six rotations and can play on the right side as well. Setter, Emma Miller ran the show the whole weekend. She is extremely clean on her release and puts a nice ball up whether its a quick tempo ball to the middle or holding the opposing middle to get a set to her outside attacker. Paige Steinmetz must of had a week off from her hockey team to be able to play in this tournament. The 2024 outside hitter was lights out. She preps at Chippewa Falls who is having a huge offseason and will be ones to watch in the fall in Wisconsin. Lastly, Upper Iowa commit, McKenna Diermeier really controls the tempo of this team. She has such a great first touch, is always talking, communicating to her attackers, and even hearing her talk with her teammates on the sideline, it's always a positive tone. A huge pick up for Upper Iowa out of the Northern Sun Conference. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Cora Riffle of Midwest Penguins 18 Black had been a standout on our Prep Dig Circuit with impressive showings at the <a href="https://x.com/hashtag/pdresolution?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#pdresolution</a> and <a href="https://x.com/hashtag/pdstatelineslam?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#pdstatelineslam</a> she will graduate this year from <a href="https://x.com/pewaukeeGVB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@pewaukeeGVB</a> and head to <a href="https://x.com/Pio_volleyball?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Pio_volleyball</a> <a href="https://t.co/ucmlAigj8o">pic.x.com/ucmlAigj8o</a> — Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) <a href="https://x.com/PrepDigChris/status/1490349407832875016?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 6, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> Cora Riffle - Midwest Penguins 18 Black I was able to see Riffle in the high school season and now this is my second tournament watching her for MWP 18 Black. The Carroll University commit has so many intangibles that are in her team’s favor that she just has a presence on every play. Riffle will set from the backrow and play right side in the front row. She plays with a spark and energy that is contagious, always finding a way to get it done. Penguins had a tough semifinal loss with a 30-28 set two loss to Xtreme, but they have had a first month to their season. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Joelle Harrington finding the open spot for RVA against Xtreme. RVA out to an early lead in set three. <a href="https://x.com/hashtag/pdstatelineslam?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#pdstatelineslam</a> <a href="https://t.co/hdBJHwFJfM">pic.x.com/hdBJHwFJfM</a> — Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) <a href="https://x.com/PrepDigChris/status/1489974672213127168?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 5, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> RVA 16 Pink This team out of Waukesha, WI was a scrappy group, making it into the gold bracket and taking a set off the eventual champion in pool play. They are paced by two solid setters, a libero and attacker that include Joelle Harrington, Hannah Dewhurst, Madeline Barton, and Cassandra Leuty. Leuty definitely lights the spark from the backrow and is present in every play from receiving the first contact to covering the block. Really fun, dynamic team to watch. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Love the command that <a href="https://x.com/Eastsidevbc96?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Eastsidevbc96</a> setter Julieanne Kielion has from her defense to finding open attackers to connecting with everyone on the court. Great pick up for <a href="https://x.com/onuvball?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@onuvball</a><a href="https://x.com/hashtag/pdstatelineslam?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#pdstatelineslam</a> <a href="https://t.co/9PAcl9ZpOT">pic.x.com/9PAcl9ZpOT</a> — Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) <a href="https://x.com/PrepDigChris/status/1490334864381554688?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 6, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> Julieann Kielion - Eastside VBC 18 Ninjas Kielion is definitely a coach on the court where her command and body language speak volumes without saying a whole lot. As a setter, she is well trained, disciplined with great footwork and hands. She is also really effective in scramble type situations where she always finds a way to better the ball. Next year she will suit up for Olivet Nazarene, an NAIA school in Bourbonnais, Illinois.   <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Weekend Recap ✔️<a href="https://x.com/hashtag/PDStatelineSlam?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PDStatelineSlam</a> was a movie! 🚨 Follow <a href="https://x.com/PrepDigEvents?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PrepDigEvents</a> for all event coverage. 🎥 <a href="https://x.com/Johnny_Heuer?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Johnny_Heuer</a> <a href="https://t.co/evx6QrDqbu">pic.x.com/evx6QrDqbu</a> — Prep Dig 🏐 (@PrepDig) <a href="https://x.com/PrepDig/status/1490793771885338626?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 7, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>