New Names, Big Impacts on Highly Ranked WI Squads

We know the top teams, we know a lot of the top players, but if teams are among the best in their division, there is more than one player who is making an impact. Here are some high impact athletes who are maybe a little new to the high school volleyball team playing for team who will be playing in some big matches next month in their road to the Resch.   <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2022/06/Olivia-Neumann1-e1664393711557-1024x1013.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-199273" width="240" height="238"/><figcaption>Neumann</figcaption></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='122526' first='Olivia' last='Neumann'] - Xavier   Junior - Middle Blocker   Xavier out of Appleton has raced out to a 25-4 record and the number one ranking in D2 behind a balanced attack and a lot of sophomores and juniors contributing to the cause.  Nuemann is 6'2 and extremely physical at the net where she leads the team in blocks with a total of 36.  She is a recent commit to Green Bay, who has picked up a lot of talented in state 2024 commits that include [player_tooltip player_id='180367' first='Gillian' last='Koning'] and [player_tooltip player_id='181747' first='Diane' last='Pichelman'].     [player_tooltip player_id='249678' first='Marlee' last='Sivak'] - Oconomowoc   Freshman - Outside Hitter   Another top tier athlete has entered the chat at Oconomowoc. I was able to see Sivak at the Charger Challenge and she is going to be a problem for opponents the next four years. She is long, athletic, and a pure point scorer. She was part of a really talented Sting Gold 14s team who was one of the top teams in the country last club season. She can play all six rotations and is part of a team that is 31-1, holding the top ranking in D1 that also includes two big tournament wins at the Charger Challenge and The Sprawl where they held off DSHA in the championship of both events.     <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2022/09/DSC07323.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-228029" width="332" height="221"/><figcaption>Durst</figcaption></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='178026' first='Olivia' last='Durst'] - DSHA   Sophomore - Outside Hitter   Durst was someone I saw this past club season and knew that she was going to have a huge sophomore campaign. For Sting 15 Gold, she was explosive and dynamic where she was scoring a lot of points, but also showed her all around skill set. She is third on the team in kills with just over 100 and has over 200 digs. Her ability to score points, serve receive, and ball control allows the Dashers to have a lot of options. They have been going back and forth all season with Oconomowoc, but they will now take some of the top teams in the country when they head to the Asics Challenge at Mother McAuley in Chicago.     <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2022/09/DSC07211.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-228003" width="287" height="191"/><figcaption>Baierl</figcaption></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='122497' first='Olivia' last='Baierl'] - Howards Grove   Junior - Outside Hitter   Baierl was part of the [program_tooltip program_id='428591' first='FC' last='Elite'] 16 Navy squad who won a USAV National Division Championship as a libero. For Howards Grove, she has played as a libero, DS, and outside hitter. However, this year she has really come into her own as an outside hitter. She is one of the top attackers for the number one D3 team in the state where they are going for their fourth straight state title. Another big part of the team who has stepped up in a big role is senior Josie Larson who has 25 total blocks.     <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2022/09/DSC07358.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-228035" width="321" height="214"/><figcaption>Finnessy</figcaption></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='178038' first='Eva' last='Finnessy'] - Sussex Hamilton   Sophomore - Outside Hitter   Finnessy has been a major spark for the Chargers where she is second on the team in kills and is extremely dynamic where she can score points from anywhere in the front row. Hamilton has also had some seniors step up in key roles this year with East Tennessee State commit Alex Kreutzmann with over 500 assists, [player_tooltip player_id='149590' first='Briella' last='Wrench'] leads the team with 44 total blocks, [player_tooltip player_id='91886' first='Rylee' last='Duessler'] who previously attended at Waterloo is their third leading kill scorer and also leads the team in aces, and Mya Trifficante who has stepped up as a libero with nearly 200 digs.     [player_tooltip player_id='178238' first='Ava' last='Patchett'] - Fox Valley Lutheran   Sophomore - Setter   Fox Valley Lutheran is in the loaded Northeastern Conference with the likes of Luxemburg-Casco and Freedom, and also has crosstown rival Xavier to compete with. Patchett is the third of the Patchett sisters where oldest sister Cassie is at Wisconsin Lutheran College and Annalise being the top outside hitter for the Foxes. Patchett is a DS turned setter where she is solid in the backrow with her serve and pass game, but has quickly picked up on how to run a well balanced offense.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://x.com/BuwaldaJorey/status/1556063542280863745?s=20&t=lB-s96N7xqfl7658ah4G7g </div></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='119401' first='Jorey' last='Buwalda'] - Randolph   Senior - Setter   This isn't exactly a new name, but definitely a player who deserves recognition on the volleyball court. Buwalda is as good of an athlete as they come where she is a top basketball player as well, scoring 10 points and 5 assists in the championship game when Randolph took home the gold ball in D5. She will take her basketball talent to UW-Milwaukee. However, she still has plenty of business to take care of in the high school ranks where she is leading her Randolph team to a top five rank in D3 and recently surpassed 2,000 assists for her career. Randolph will look to get back to the Resch, this time in volleyball.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://x.com/brandon_berg/status/1471653833726173185?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1471653833726173185%7Ctwgr%5E1c6a299613eb1103edefb27ef985aaf43a7e3b44%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fpublish.x.com%2F%3Fquery%3Dhttps3A2F2Fx.com2Fbrandon_berg2Fstatus2F1471653833726173185widget%3DTweet </div></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='179085' first='Paige' last='Steinmetz'] - Chippewa Falls   Junior - Outside Hitter   Chippewa Falls has been building a big time program in Western Wisconsin. At 28-2, their only losses are to River Falls (which they later defeated in conference play) and Rogers (MN).  One of their big time players is [player_tooltip player_id='179085' first='Paige' last='Steinmetz'], a fiery outside hitter with big hops and can pack a punch with her swing.  She is also a multisport athlete where when she isn't playing volleyball, she is a standout on the ice, yes a hockey player.  Another Junior on this team who is putting up some big numbers is [player_tooltip player_id='148970' first='Madison' last='Hunt'] who averages nearly three kills per set.    Addison Lavicka - Athens   Junior - S/OH   [player_tooltip player_id='257820' first='Jazelle' last='Hartwig'] - Athens   Junior - S/OH   Why have one, when you can have two. That's a setter and outside hitter with Addison Lavicka and [player_tooltip player_id='257820' first='Jazelle' last='Hartwig'] for Athens who is currently the number one team in D4 with a 27-3 record. These two have been setting to each other where they both average three kills per set and have combined for nearly 700 assists. Athens also has a really solid libero in senior Savannah Epping. Two of their three losses have come to Chippewa Falls with the other to Stanley Boyd. They most recently picked up a big time win over Prentice, another ranked D4 squad.   <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2022/09/DSC07279.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-228025" width="378" height="252"/><figcaption>[player_tooltip player_id='181809' first='Madison' last='York'] </figcaption></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='181809' first='Madison' last='York'] - Manitowoc Lincoln   Junior - Right Side   Manitowoc Lincoln is as tough as they come. They have such a clean style of play, have very little weakness, and a really dominant right side in [player_tooltip player_id='181809' first='Madison' last='York']. York has to be around 6'2 or 6'3, but she plays like she is 6'5. Her game has really improved since the club season where she has a ton of physicality at the net. She can hit the ball hard cross, roll it over the block, and can hammer down the line as well. The Ships are coming, and they will be a tough match up for plenty of teams in the regional and sectional round.

We know the top teams, we know a lot of the top players, but if teams are among the best in their division, there is more than one player who is making an impact. Here are some high impact athletes who are maybe a little new to the high school volleyball team playing for team who will be playing in some big matches next month in their road to the Resch.