10 Under-the-Radar Athletes Who Dominated State
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I have pages of notes from the WIAA State Championships, but one of my favorite lists is the under-the-radar athletes. These athletes potentially don’t play all six rotations or aren’t the biggest names on their team (yet). But they still…
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Continue ReadingI have pages of notes from the WIAA State Championships, but one of my favorite lists is the under-the-radar athletes. These athletes potentially don’t play all six rotations or aren’t the biggest names on their team (yet). But they still had a huge, game-changing impact at the state championships. These athletes add tremendous value to their teams and were crucial pieces at the state level.
Ellie was a fun athlete to watch throughout the state tournament. She was gritty and scrappy. Ellie, a trained setter, mostly played back row opposite 5-1 setter Jordan Czajkowski. When DSHA was in a bind on serve receive, Ellie stepped in and set for a rotation. Her passes kept DSHA in system on numerous occasions and she made some incredible digs and pick ups off of tips. She played in every set and her impact was felt from the first points to the very last.
Highlights
Bays Keller
Bays Keller
Bays seriously impressed me at state. This is her first year starting as libero for the varsity team at Oconomowoc, and she did not disappoint. She was aggressive, consistent, and scrappy in the back row. She performed on the biggest stage in the state and helped lead her team to the state championship match. She was fearless even in the tensest moments of the match.
Madison has massive hops and a fast arm swing. She is also smart with her shots. As a lefty, she is tough to block, but even when the block was right in front of her, she could rip it at an angle or find a good spot for it on the court. In the quarter-final match, she hit 0.417. She is a fun middle to watch because she is fast and scrappy at the net.
Sylvia stepped up big at the state tournament. She ran a 5-1 for Kettle Moraine and never hesitated for a moment. If she was nervous, it never showed. Sylvia moved the ball around well and knew her hitters and their preferences. She also blocked out of the middle for several rotations, not an easy feat when you are also the setter. She will be a fun athlete to watch continue to develop throughout the club and future high school seasons.
Highlights
Ayla Schmidt
Ayla Schmidt
Ayla was dominant from start to finish. She was fearless in the back row in both the semifinal and championship matches. She played great volleyball and was consistent on serve receive and defense. She had no fear throwing herself across the floor to make a dig and rarely made errors.
Jazelle Hartwig
Jazelle Hartwig
Jazelle played both setter and outside hitter for Athens and she impressed me in both positions. Her stats speak for themselves. She had 17 kills, 19 digs, 16 assists, and 4 block assists. She was a force to be reckoned with and a huge leader on the court.
Maggie is a scrappy defensive player with a tough and aggressive serve. She played right back opposite the 5-1 setter Eavan Finnerty Eavan Finnerty S Wauwatosa East | 2024 State WI in their state quarterfinal match. Her serving came up big in the match and she provided great coverage every time she stepped on the court.
Madeline Koshuta
Madeline Koshuta
Madeline impressed me at state with her grit and aggressiveness on swings. She has a good vertical and high snap on the ball. She played right side for North and had some key kills. Madeline made very few errors which was a tremendous asset to her team when pin hitters Karissa Fortune Karissa Fortune 6’2″ | OH Appleton North | 2023 State WI and Ella Demetrician Ella Demetrician 6’2″ | OH Appleton North | 2024 State #40 Nation WI typically drew heavy attention from blockers. Madeline’s kills kept opposing blockers balanced and not only earned points but also helped other players push past the block as well.
Aubrey Dorn
Aubrey Dorn
Aubrey caught my eye very early in the tournament because she is a 6-rotation middle. She is efficient and lethal in the front row while being quick and consistent in the back row. She is a great all-around athlete who impressed me throughout the tournament. She had excellent ball control and was solid on serve receive. Aubrey
Chloe Campbell
Chloe Campbell
Chloe had a significant impact on this Wisconsin Lutheran team. She is a high-volume middle and receives a lot of sets throughout a match. She does not make a lot of errors. Chloe also made great momentum-changing plays throughout their four-set match against Sauk Prairie.