Must Know Available 2023s in Illinois, Iowa, and Wisconsin

I know for athletes heading into their senior year the question keeps coming up, “So, whats the plan for next year?”  For some athletes, they might be narrowing their list, others are deciding whether or not to play at the next level, and others might be completely open with what they want.  Of the athletes included in this list, they can absolutely play at the next level.  I'm not sure where they are at in the recruiting process, but I know there is a spot for them at the next level.  I've seen them live at the high school or club courts and they can definitely contribute for a college program.    Iowa   [player_tooltip player_id='79696' first='Ella' last='Meyer'] - Western Dubuque - Six Pack   <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2022/08/DSC01217-scaled-e1661960195111-1020x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-222348" width="279" height="280"/></figure>   Libero   I've seen Meyer play since she was a freshman and took the state tournament by storm with her Western Dubuque squad. She's played in three state tournaments, has one state title, and is accustomed to playing at a high level. I most recently saw her play at a tournament over labor day where she commands the entire court. Her teammate, [player_tooltip player_id='132636' first='Libby' last='Lansing'], is another senior to have on the radar where she is long, athletic, and is so lethal in running a quick tempo with her setters. Athletes who come from a winning culture have such an impact at the next level.   [player_tooltip player_id='79697' first='Monica' last='Morales'] - West Liberty - Iowa Rockets   Libero    Yes, another libero.  Morales has been the starting libero for West Liberty who has been accustomed to state tournament success where they most recently were the Class 3A Runner Up finishers in 2021.  Morales brings a grit to the court where she knows how to get that extra touch to keep a rally alive.  She has played with the top Iowa Rockets team in her age level and has had really strong training her whole career.     <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2022/09/DSC07135.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-226892" width="368" height="245"/><figcaption>Brand</figcaption></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='193158' first='Kameron' last='Brand'] - Mount Vernon - Adrenaline   Libero   Mount Vernon is another top team from the Cedar Rapids area.  Brand is an all around athlete who brings a lot of length and range to the libero position.  She has a very controlled platform and makes a lot of difficult plays look routine.  Her intangibles on the court are extremely positive where she is connecting with her teammates, always talking, making eye contact, and keeping the vibes positive.      [player_tooltip player_id='108440' first='Averi' last='Weichers'] - Waverly-Shell Rock - Six Pack   Middle Blocker   I was extremely impressed with Weichers from the 2021 state tournament where her Waverly-Shell Rock squad were runner up finishers to Western Dubuque in Class 4A.  Weichers brings a physicality to the net as a middle blocker where she can defend and score points.  She's long and athletic where her squad can depend on her to seal the block, but also be available out of transition to find a deep corner.    [player_tooltip player_id='79667' first='Claudia' last='Aschenbrenner'] - Osage - CIA   <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2020/12/Claudia-Aschenbrenner.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-118924" width="295" height="197"/></figure>   Middle Blocker/Pin   Aschenbrenner is one of many talents.  She's going to sing the national anthem to get the game started and then bring the hammer down on the court.  Aschenbrenner has finished every season at a state tournament match where she held up the state championship trophy for her Osage team as a sophomore year.  I've seen her play out of the middle, but I have also seen her take big swings from the pin as well.  And when I say many talents, there's a lot of evidence behind that as she was also her conference's player of the year in basketball, earned all tournament team at the Iowa State Tournament in volleyball in 2021, and was one of the top female vocalists in Iowa from her performance in Mamma Mia.    Wisconsin   [player_tooltip player_id='91952' first='Evinae' last='Jordee'] - Middleton - Capital   Setter   I've seen Jordee play since her sophomore year when Middleton played in the Prep Dig Fall League, our covid season.  Her skill set is extremely dynamic where she can defend, set, and swing on the right side.  The lefty can do it all where she is leading her team to a 13-2 start to their season.  Middleton is one of the favorites in their conference and sectional where they will have some big matches coming up.    Katie Lockwood - Menomonee Falls - Milwaukee Sting   Outside Hitter   Lockwood is always an intense competitor who is going to raise the level of energy on every team she is on.  She has been a fixture for Milwaukee Sting and could see a future at the college level as a outside or even a DS who can provide a swing out of the backrow.  She is currently leading her high school team in kills, averaging four per set.  She has a ton of pop on her swing and a smash mouth style.    [player_tooltip player_id='82936' first='Taylor' last='Tetzlaff'] - Kaukauna - Milwaukee Sting   <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2022/06/Taylor-Tetzlaff-e1663264698107-1024x896.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-201804" width="326" height="285"/><figcaption>Tetzlaff</figcaption></figure>   Outside Hitter   I've seen Tetzlaff play consistently since her 15s year and she has played a variety of positions, but she can score points on the outside and this past high school season she's even played out of the middle.  She has a diverse skill set where she is contributing to her side of the net in a positive way.  She is at just under four kills per set and does it in a variety of ways.  She was part of the MKE Sting 17 Gold team who were the National Division Champions at USAV in Indy this past summer.    [player_tooltip player_id='92020' first='Brianna' last='Brathol'] - River Falls - Kokoro (MN)   Outside Hitter   Brathol has been a key piece to the success of River Falls on the outside.  This group of seniors that Brathol is a part of has put up a lot of wins for this River Falls program who knows how to win and compete at a high level.  She could be a great L2 at the next level or she could even be a ds/libero with her ability to pass and attack out of the backrow.  She will be heading to the Charger Challenge this weekend with her Wildcat teammates where they will take on some of the top teams in Wisconsin.    [player_tooltip player_id='184768' first='Lauren' last='Grier'] - Fond du Lac - Impact   Middle Blocker   Grier popped up on the radar last club season where she was a standout for Impact out of the Appleton area.  The 5'10 Class of 2023 middle blocker is extremely explosive, especially off one foot.  For her Fond du Lac high school team she is averaging nearly three kills per set, hitting .316 and has 32 blocks in this young season.  She is a hidden gem who could have a really sneaky impact at the next level.    Illinois   <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2022/07/31-Vivian-Campbell-1024x680.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-205997" width="335" height="222"/><figcaption>Campbell</figcaption></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='225762' first='Vivian' last='Campbell'] - Oswego East - Sports Performance   Setter   Uber smooth and athletic, Campbell just glides on the court and is a definite floor leader for her high school and club teams. She is extremely well trained and fundamentally sound and playing for a club at Sports Performance, you know she has all the tools that elite setters need. She popped up on the radar for me this summer at the Prep Dig USAV Showcase this past summer and she would be a huge pick up at the next level in so many ways. She is impressive on film and with the live eye bringing a lot of positive intangibles to the court.   [player_tooltip player_id='190743' first='Mia' last='Mattingly'] - Michio - Lincoln Way Central    Middle Blocker   Mattingly brings a blend of speed and power to the middle blocker position where she works extremely hard to seal the block and then be available to attack.  She shows that she can get her feet set, putting up a strong block, and avoids getting tooled by the opposing attacker.  Offensively she as a violent approach and swing, she's looking to score points and knows how to get a solid contact on the ball, but yet she can tip to the open spot.  She would be a great steal for a lot of programs.    [player_tooltip player_id='179686' first='Claire' last='Kennedy'] - Champaign St. Thomas More - Academy   <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2021/04/46_Kennedy_Claire-e1663264960639-1000x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-140034" width="300" height="307"/><figcaption>Umlauf</figcaption></figure>   Libero   [player_tooltip player_id='179686' first='Claire' last='Kennedy'] can compete with the best of liberos in Illinois.  One thing I have noticed watching Kennedy live and on video is how balanced and under control she plays, she brings a calmness to the court that every team needs.  Shes definitely on the radar of plenty of schools, but like most liberos - it can be a waiting game.  Kennedy plays for a top high school program in Illinois is Champaign St. Thomas More and knows what is like to compete for a spot and against other high level athletes.    [player_tooltip player_id='226006' first='Lindsay' last='Umlauf'] - New Trier - Adversity   Middle Blocker/Right Side   At 6'5, Umlauf poses quite the physical presence at the net.  I was able to see her live at the Prep Dig Gauntlet and she improved as the weekend progressed where she was able to connect in the middle and was able to score some big points for Adversity.  She has an incredibly high ceiling and I believe, a really high level of potential at the next level.  Another year of high level club under her belt will do her wonders and will add more physicality to her game where she can be a force at the net offensively and defensively.      [player_tooltip player_id='226353' first='Louisa' last='Battin'] - St. Viator - Top Flight   Setter   Battin really stood out last season when she was on the Top Flight 18 Elite squad.  As a 6'1 setter, she poses the length to be a threat at the net, but she also has the smooth hands to connect with all of her attackers.  She is a little bit of a hidden gem, but could be a gamechanger at the next level.  She can set and swing for her St. Viator high school squad and will team up with UIC commit, Gabi Peter come club season for 2023.  A setter who can do it all always ups the level of play in any gym.

I know for athletes heading into their senior year the question keeps coming up, “So, whats the plan for next year?” For some athletes, they might be narrowing their list, others are deciding whether or not to play at the next level, and others might be completely open with what they want. Of the athletes included in this list, they can absolutely play at the next level. I'm not sure where they are at in the recruiting process, but I know there is a spot for them at the next level. I've seen them live at the high school or club courts and they can definitely contribute for a college program.