Iowa and Wisconsin Uncommitted Seniors Shine At State
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The season is complete. For the seniors, it’s time for the next chapter. For some, they’re committed – signing day happens next week. For others, it’s finding what’s next. Some will go to college and focus solely on academics where…
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Continue ReadingThe season is complete. For the seniors, it’s time for the next chapter. For some, they’re committed – signing day happens next week. For others, it’s finding what’s next. Some will go to college and focus solely on academics where others are still weighing their options for what the next level holds for them. After spending time at the Iowa and Wisconsin state tournament, there are plenty of seniors who are uncommitted that would definitely make an impact collegiately. For the following athletes, all I know is that they are uncommitted (at least I think they are – if not let me know), and it would be worth it for college coaches to reach out just to see if they are looking to lace up those shoes again as a collegiate athlete.
Gracie Schoonhoven Gracie Schoonhoven 5'11" | OH Unity Christian | 2023 State IA – Unity Christian – Outside Hitter (Iowa)
I saw Schoonhoven play as a freshman at the state tournament and knew she had the makings to be a special player. She is a six rotation outside hitter who can score points with her swing from anywhere on the court. However, volleyball might not be the route she takes in college. She’s one of the top players that Unity Christian has ever seen on the basketball court. She’s won a state title in basketball and has run at state track. With an older sister playing sports at Dordt, that could be the next place for this multisport star.
Lilah Van Scoyoc – Iowa City Liberty – Right Side (Iowa)
Van Scoyoc finished her senior year with a state title, the first ever for Iowa City Liberty. She played a huge part in the opening round win against Urbandale when the two teams were trading points back and forth, with a Van Scoyoc block and kill, it propelled the Bolts to a set victory and eventually the match. In the championship, she had 14 kills in a four set win state title win against Pleasant Valley.
Kameron Brand Kameron Brand 5'6" | DS/L Mount Vernon | 2023 State IA – Mount Vernon – Libero (Iowa)
Brand brings quite the athleticism to the libero position where she moves extremely well on the court. She also has extremely positive on court tangibles for the Mustangs who are consistently developing college level athletes. Brand had over five digs per set and was heavily relied upon in serve receive. The American Rivers Conference with a majority of Iowa D3 schools would love to have a player like Brand, much like Cornell College where Brand has connections to in Mount Vernon, Iowa. She is definitely a next level player.
Tatum Schmalbeck – Sioux Center – Libero (Iowa)
Another Northwest Iowa product, Schmalbeck was a huge presence for the Warriors enroute to a Class 3A runner up finish. This team was extremely athletic and physical where they took down the top seed in the semifinals in Des Moines Christian. Aside from her athletic ability and fundamentally sound skill set, Schmalbeck brings a spark to the court. She smiles, celebrates, and connects well with her teammates.
Abby VerBurg – Western Christian – Outside Hitter (Iowa)
I knew Stella Winterfeld Stella Winterfeld 5'10" | OH Western Christian | 2023 State #172 Nation IA would score a lot of points, but I had not seen VerBurg play live. So impressive. In their quarterfinal win against Sumner-Fredericksburg, VerBurg was scoring in multiple ways. She could attack at a variety of angles and did such a great job of avoiding the block or using it to her advantage. In three matches she put up some huge numbers in kills in 30,14,and 26. With a high contact point, she was tough to stop for anyone this past week, earning Class 2A All Tournament Honors.
Other Uncommitted Iowa Seniors To Know From The Iowa State Tournament
Libby Lansing Libby Lansing 6'0" | MB Western Dubuque | 2023 State IA – Western Dubuque – Middle Blocker
Monica Morales Monica Morales 5'4" | DS/L West Liberty | 2023 State IA – West Liberty – Libero
Maren Miller – Des Moines Christian – Middle Blocker
Emma McClintock – Gladbrook-Reinbeck – Setter
Ava Wyatt Ava Wyatt 6'0" | RS Gladbrook-Reinbeck | 2023 State IA – Gladbrook-Reinbeck – Middle Blocker/Pin
Whitney Klyn – Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont – Outside Hitter
Sydney Matthias – Wapsie Valley – Setter
Wisconsin
Bella Lipski Bella Lipski MB DSHA | 2023 State WI – Divine Savior Holy Angels – Middle Blocker (Wisconsin)
Olivia deGuzman Olivia deGuzman 5'5" | DS/L DSHA | 2023 State WI – Divine Savior Holy Angels – Libero (Wisconsin)
Lipski and DeGuzman had a big time tournament for DSHA where they won an emotional, five set battle against Oconomowoc to claim the large school division crown. Lipski was key with plenty of blocks and was able to score points out of the middle using her mobility to get out of transition and find the open spots. She brings a savvy high IQ game to the court where she does plenty of positive things for the Dashers. DeGuzman had 21 digs in the championship match. What isn’t registered was the number of really good second contacts DeGuzman was able to put the attackers in position out of system or to keep the rally alive. She was everywhere when it came to block coverage as well. Both of these athletes are high level players.
Annika Braund Annika Braund OH Sauk Prairie | 2023 State WI – Sauk Prairie – Outside Hitter (Wisconsin)
Jenna Pistono Jenna Pistono 5'8" | S Sauk Prairie | 2023 State WI – Sauk Prairie – Setter (Wisconsin)
Sauk Prairie, just outside of Madison, took home the D2 runner up trophy and were paced by a really strong combo with seniors Anni Braund and Jenna Pistono Jenna Pistono 5'8" | S Sauk Prairie | 2023 State WI . Braund has a hammer for an arm where she hits an extremely heavy ball. She had 20 kills in the semifinals and another 21 in the championship. Pistono is a setter/right side combo where she is extremely dynamic. She can set, swing, and is a strong defender as well. These two are uncommitted as of right now, but would be a great pick up at the next level.
Ryleigh Zeller Ryleigh Zeller 5'5" | DS/L Wisconsin Lutheran | 2023 State WI – Wisconsin Lutheran – Outside Hitter/Libero
Wisconsin Lutheran dropped a tough semifinal match to Sauk Prairie, but their defense was one of the tops I saw across the Iowa and Wisconsin state tournaments. Zeller is typically a libero when it comes to club ball, but she was an outside for Wisco this season. This shows her all around ability and a solid fundamental style to her game. A lot of these Wisconsin Lutheran players know how to get that extra touch on the ball to keep the game alive.
Other Seniors To Know
Ella Brinkhoff Ella Brinkhoff 5'8" | OH Appleton North | 2023 State WI – Appleton North – Libero
Myla Glaser Myla Glaser 5'11" | MB Kettle Moraine | 2023 State WI – Kettle Moraine – Middle Blocker
Carizma Muth Carizma Muth 5'10" | OH Randolph | 2023 State WI – Randolph – Outside Hitter
Marley Hughes Marley Hughes 5'8" | OH McDonell Central | 2023 State WI – McDonnell Central Catholic – Middle Blocker
Ellie Connor Ellie Connor 5'8" | S DSHA | 2023 State WI – DSHA – Setter/DS