16 Impactful Under the Radar Athletes – Winter Classic 17/18 Open
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The 17/18 Open division of the Winter Classic was stacked with talent. These athletes worked hard on every play and made their teams better throughout the tournament. Some stepped into positions they typically wouldn’t play, others were simply consistent and…
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Continue ReadingThe 17/18 Open division of the Winter Classic was stacked with talent. These athletes worked hard on every play and made their teams better throughout the tournament. Some stepped into positions they typically wouldn’t play, others were simply consistent and positive forces on their team. Here are some under the radar athletes who impressed at the Winter Classic in Milwaukee this weekend.
Aubrey is a very talented 6-rotation outside hitter who is a go-to hitter on her team. She could pick apart defenses piece by piece, and just when they adjusted, she switched it up again. She is smart, has excellent court awareness, and is an all-around talented athlete. She was a huge leader on her team vocally and in her performance.
Highlights
Catherine D’Orazio
Catherine D’Orazio
Catherine is an athlete who is all over the court. As a libero, she makes it her mission that no ball ever hits the ground on her side of the court. She covers a ton of area on defense and serve receive and was a key player in her team’s 3rd place finish at the Winter Classic. She was always there to pick the ball up. Whether it was a tip or on block coverage, she got a hand on nearly every ball that came over the net.
Katie Mercure Katie Mercure 5'10" | S Lakes | 2024 IL
Katie Mercure Katie Mercure 5'10" | S Lakes | 2024 IL
Katie is a high-impact player for Wisconsin Juniors . Her talent as a setter is only one reason she is such an asset to her team. She also has a very tough serve. She went on several big runs against big teams like Kokoro 18-1, who ended up winning the entire tournament. Katie utilized her hitters well and moved the ball around smartly and efficiently.
Ava is a huge energizer on the court. As a setter, she takes control of the court and is always amping up her team. She has clean hands and is aggressive with her setting choices. Ava is also a strong server and will pursue any ball across the court.
Isabelle Hass
Isabelle Hass
Isabelle was consistent and played clean volleyball throughout the weekend. She has a nice touch on the ball and gets her hands on most balls. Isabelle has huge potential. She is disciplined in her form and impressed me with her steady demeanor on the court.
Addisyn is a springy and quick pin hitter with a huge vertical and high contact point on the ball. She seems to hang in the air when she takes her approach. Addisyn is very athletic and can play all six rotations. She has a great swing and is a go-to hitter on her team.
Maya Karnowski
Maya Karnowski
Maya was a consistent force for Penguins 18-Black. She earned points when they needed them and was always talking and cheering on her team. Maya never gave up on a ball and was a key six-rotation player for the Penguins. Her positive leadership and consistency were impressive from start to finish.
Catherine is a well-rounded pin with a lot of athletic potential. She has an explosive approach and can execute well even in out-of-system plays. Her serve receive is solid and she was an offensive and defensive weapon for Wisconsin Elite.
Bays Keller Bays Keller DS/L Oconomowoc | 2024 State WI
Bays Keller Bays Keller DS/L Oconomowoc | 2024 State WI
Bays was consistent and scrappy in the backcourt for Motion. She was confident and aggressive as a defender. Her serve receive kept her team in a lot of tough games and she was impressive in her court awareness and communication on the court.
Ella is an explosive pin who makes an impact on every point. She first caught my eye as I was walking by. And she continued to impress me when I saw her play later. She has a huge approach and makes big plays. She is a go-to player for 1st Alliance.
Highlights
Taylor is an explosive pin hitter who puts up a huge block and makes big plays on offense. She excels in the front row and can hit over a lot of blockers. She moves her swing around well and is always ready to put some power on the ball. When she was on the court she got a lot of touches for 1W.
Mallory was dynamic all weekend for the Penguins. She played across the back row at different points throughout the tournament. Whether playing left, middle, or right back, Mallory was aggressive on defense and passed dimes on serve receive. She showed her versatility as a libero and defensive specialist and proved just how much potential she has at the Winter Classic.
Samantha is a talented lefty right side who earned a lot of points for Fusion. She was incredibly valuable as a blocker, getting touches on many balls coming over the net. Samantha was quick in transition and always hungry for the ball. S
Highlights
Avery was always ready to make an impact on the court. She is versatile as an athlete and can play nearly any position. Avery went on several massive serving runs throughout the tournament and never failed to impress. She was used as a setter in the back row, and she moved the ball around well. She utilized all her hitters and was constantly engaged and building up her team.
Payton impressed throughout the tournament, but where she truly stood out was on serve receive. Servers rarely aced her and she passed dimes consistently for her team. She played well on defense too and never gave up on any plays.