20 Athletes, All 2023 From The Midwest – Part 3
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The high school season is just about ready to get started, and while we have a little down time from being in the gym here at prep dig, I’d like to go through my notes over the past year. Sometimes I…
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Continue ReadingThe high school season is just about ready to get started, and while we have a little down time from being in the gym here at prep dig, I’d like to go through my notes over the past year. Sometimes I have so many notes, I just can’t get them all into articles immediately following an event, so I pick a time to find just the right piece for the player. Since the 2023’s will be kicking off their senior season, let’s look at twenty 2023’s who are all from the Midwest.
This lefty has a lot of length and a lot of potential. She is athletic and has a super high contact point, making her a key piece for Kokoro, who finished 3rd overall in the 17s Division at the Mizuno Showcase in early March. Arneson puts up a big block and she has a high ceiling, so the sky is the limit for her!
Highlights
This was another attacker who I saw taking some really big swings from the pins at the Prep Dig Sizzle. Wegand has a great vertical, is very active on the court, and she transitions really well from passing into attacking. She is always available as an outlet out-of-system but always working for that in-system ball as well.
Kapalko has gone from a regular contributor to a key piece of this squad as an efficient outside hitter. She knows how to keep the ball in play as well as when to let ‘er rip. Kopalko does a great job taking the opposing team out-of-system from either pin. With the addition of Hazel Cook Hazel Cook 5’11” | OH Seymour | 2024 State WI , NDA has some decent firepower to work with on their front line.
Melana Pries
Melana Pries
Ottawa Township is out of Illinois and southwest of Chicago. They were a brand new name to the Prep Dig Sizzle. I keep notes on all the players I see at tournaments, and I remember Pries as very springy with a fast armswing. She is a high impact player for her team and a fun athlete to watch.
Steady force! That’s what Kealy is for her team, whether it is for her Kokoro Club team or her River Falls team. She is that steady force pushing and pulling the team forward. Kealy is always thinking about the next play and how to score the next point. She brings a consistent energy that makes her team just continue battling, no matter who they are playing or what the score is. Kealy can run all the tempos and sneak in an attack here and there to keep the defense on their toes.
We all expected Chippewa Falls to be coming into the 2022 season as a potential contender, but it didn’t take long for them to make a statement at the Prep Dig Sizzle that they aren’t just potential, they are a serious contender. Perlberg is a 6-rotation outside hitter who has a whip of an arm. She can power through the split or just simply make it difficult to make a decent play on the ball. She has a variety of shots and can be versatile across the net, especially in serve-receive, making her a stealthy weapon.