12 Super Strategic Players From The Mizuno Showcase

The Mizuno Showcase Tournament was packed with gifted players from the 15 through 18s division. There were players who turned heads with power, but I always love the super sneaky, strategic play. Here are some players who showed that they know how to play the strategic game at the Mizuno Showcase in Wisconsin Dells. Alyssa Wickersheim – 2022 – 5’8 – Outside Hitter – Woodstock North (IL) – VCU 183 Elite – Committed to NIACC Wickersheim is a 6-rotation player who can take a rip on the ball out of the back row and also takes a smart shot when the set is off. She’s a fun, dynamic player to watch with a lot of energy. Wickersheim is aggressive at the net and really good at adjusting her power and placement to work around the opponents’ blockers. <img class="size-medium wp-image-166480 alignright" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2021/11/48-Caitlyn-Pernsteiner.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" />Caitlyn Pernsteiner – 2023 – 6’1 – Outside Hitter – Marshfield (WI) – One Wisconsin Point 17 Mizuno She can take a heavy swing but also uses smart shots and knows when to tip. The last time I saw Pernsteiner, she was swinging out of the middle, but I liked seeing her take swings from the pin at the Showcase. She can swing well from anywhere on the net and is dangerous when she clicks with her setter. Pernsteiner’s experience in the middle also makes her a solid block who is hard to get past. Chloe Anderson – 2023 – 6’0 – Middle Blocker – Romeoville (IL) – SPVB 18 Red Anderson puts up a really big block that has to stress out the opposing hitters. I wasn’t surprised when I read she touches 10 ft. She also does a really nice job of seeing the play develop on the other side and knowing what options are left for the setter once the pass is made. She makes a smart first step out of a very balanced stance and is quick and explosive to the ball. Anderson is athletic and very quick in her lateral movement from pin to pin. Chloe Reiser – 2023 – 5’7 – Outside Hitter – Decorah (IA) – SMV 18-1 Black Reiser really knows how to work around a block and still have a heavy swing. She has a good elevation and solid contact on the ball to give her consistency. Reiser adds power to the pin for SMV, and she still has potential to grow while she is playing up an age. <img class="size-medium wp-image-158961 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2021/09/Waterloo-Michaela-Riege.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" />Michaela Riege – 2022 – 5’7 – Libero – Waterloo (WI) – Madtown 181 National – Committed to Bryant & Stratton Riege knows how to take the pace off a hard-driven attack. She is a solid libero who has sound form, strong angles, and consistency in serve-receive. Riege has the experience to lead the back court and make the scrappy play that sparks a big rally. She communicates well with her hitters in order to strategize and make adjustments if needed. Emma Van Regenmorter – 2023 – 5’11 – Middle Blocker – Baltic (SD) – Pentagon 17 Orange Van Regenmorter is a middle you can always count on because she takes the bold and powerful swing and mixes it up with the incredibly well-placed tip. She is poised and confident in her attack choices when she cuts back against the path of the ball or puts up the big block that stops the opponent’s charge. <img class="size-medium wp-image-129877 alignright" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2021/02/Shelby-Kimm.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" />Shelby Kimm – 2023 – 5’10 – Outside Hitter – Iowa City Liberty (IA) – Iowa Rockets 17R Kimm was really dynamic at the Mizuno Showcase with a great mix of power and strategy with her attack. She has a volatile approach, elevates, and gets a great contact on the ball. Kimm has a wicked snap on the ball, and she knows how to produce points. Kenzie Roettger – 2022 – 6’0 – Middle Blocker – Concordia Academy (MN) – Kokoro 18-1s – Committed to UM-Duluth Roettger has a super fast armswing and uses a range of different hitting tools in order to score. She first caught my eye with her high contact and intimidating block at the net. Roettger gets a ton of block touches, and she is super involved on and off the court. <img class="size-medium wp-image-129589 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2021/02/Sylvia-Hasz.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" />Sylvia Hasz – 2022 – 6’1 – Setter – Rochelle (IL) – VCU 182 Elite – Committed to Eastern Illinois You can’t deny Hasz has great hands and court awareness. But she not only has the physical talent, but she also has a high volleyball IQ to move the ball around and use every area of the net. Hasz knows how to read opponents, make smart setting choices, and works with a savviness that makes her dangerous. Marley Aune – 2022 – 6’1 – Middle Blocker – Avail (MN) – Crossfire 18-1s Aune was a huge force to be reckoned with at the net. She put a lot of pressure on opposing hitters, as well as took a big swing herself. Aune was consistently impactful and talked all the way through a rally. She rarely made mistakes and had some really great swings while I was watching. <img class="size-medium wp-image-159650 alignright" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2021/10/M-Vanessa-Krueger-4-crop-4658x3059-1633133897-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" />Vanessa Krueger – 2022 – 5’7 – Libero/Pin Hitter – Marathon (WI) – Wisconsin Ice 18 Prep Krueger stands out with her ability to read the other side of the net, as well as her speed she exhiibits. She has a quick reaction time and gets a touch on just about everything that crosses the net. Krueger is gritty and stepped up to take strategic swings on the pin on Friday when her team was in need. Morgan Kealy – 2023 – 5’10 – Setter – River Falls (WI) – Kokoro 17-1s (title photo) Kealy really has great court awareness and knows exactly where she is and where the ball needs to go. Her sets are clean, consistent, and every hitter’s dream. Kealy has quick footwork, quick decisions, and moves the ball around really well.