PD Champions Cup – 17/18s All Tournament Team
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Heading into the 17/18s Division of the Champions Cup there were multiple teams who made a case to take the title. Wisconsin Flight 18 Black took home the title with a 20-18 third set win over I AM VBC 18…
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Continue ReadingHeading into the 17/18s Division of the Champions Cup there were multiple teams who made a case to take the title. Wisconsin Flight 18 Black took home the title with a 20-18 third set win over I AM VBC 18 Red. There were plenty of standout athletes across the division, but here are some that rose to the top.
Emma Barton – WI Flight Elite 18 Black
Middle Blocker
Barton was extremely dynamic all weekend where she found multiple ways to score points. I had seen Barton play before and have seen video, but this weekend really showed all the different ways she can contribute. She’s long and athletic with a high contact point. Barton will be heading to UW-Stout where she could be a really nice impact player in the ultra competitive WIAC, one of the top D3 conferences in the country.
Alexis Jonas Alexis Jonas 5'7" | S Mosinee | 2023 State WI – WI Flight Elite 18 Black
Setter
Jonas had a big championship match against I AM VBC where she found favorable matchups for her attackers and is pretty crafty with what she can do offensively. She is able to keep the other side of the net off balance with how she is pretty deceptive offensively. Even the small hesitations by the defense are enough for Jonas to find the deep corner or hold the defense to get a set to any of her attackers.
Caitlyn Pernsteiner Caitlyn Pernsteiner 6'0" | OH Marshfield | 2023 State WI – WI Flight 18 Black
Outside Hitter
The future Lakeland University athlete had a big weekend where she showed her power from the pin. Pernsteiner is another one who is very dynamic and can get it done from multiple positions in the front row. She has a heavy swing and makes it tough for the other side of the net to get a clean pass in system. Her performance in the championship was big, especially when they won the third set 20-18 against I AM VBC 18 Red to claim the title.
Izzy Jahr – Elite Alliance 17-1
Middle Blocker
Every time I saw Jahr approach and jump, I just said “Yep, there it is”. Jahr preps at Holmen High School out of the La Crosse area and I really think she could be a steal at the next level. Extremely physical and athletic, Jahr has a huge upside from really any position in the front row. She is extremely athletic where she can make a lot of positive plays for her side of the net. Elite Alliance is a scrappy team with a lot of fun athletes, they’ve always been a gold contender in Prep Dig Events.
Jennacy Wille – I AM VBC 18 Red
Outside Hitter
I haven’t been able to see if Wille is committed anywhere, but she would be a really nice pick up where she could contribute as an outside hitter or ds at the collegiate level. I was extremely impressed with her serve receive and defense over the weekend as well as someone who can score points from the outside and backrow. She had a great career at Port Washington and was a big time player in the North Shore Conference. She’s electric and is also very efficient with how she can contribute in so many different ways.
Audrey Rosenbaum – FC Elite 18 White
Outside Hitter
Rosenbaum is another 2023 athlete who could be a nice pick up at the next level. She is long, athletic, and strong where she is a key point scorer for FC Elite 18 White. She packs a punch with her swing and can handle her own in the backrow. FC Elite 18 White had a really strong weekend before losing to WI Flight 18 Black in the semifinals. There are plenty of dynamic athletes on this team where they are sneaky good.
Ella Schumacher Ella Schumacher OH Sussex Hamilton | 2024 State WI – 262 Attack 17 Savage
Outside Hitter
Absolutely electric, Schumacher is a key six rotation outside hitter for 262 Attack. She is a junior out of Sussex Hamilton that is a high flyer on the pin. 262 had a tough quarterfinal loss to I AM VBC 18 Red after defeating them in a crossover on Saturday. Schumacher was a key piece to their success over the weekend.
Brooke VandeHei – FC Elite Flyers 17 Navy
Libero
The ball doesn’t hit the floor very easily for the FC Elite Flyers 17 Navy squad where this team is comprised of mainly Luxemburg-Casco athletes. VandeHei is an All State libero who has quite a range and makes a lot of difficult plays look routine. She was one of the top liberos in the entire gym. Her counterpart in the backrow is Payton Kaminski who is another top tier defender for this team. They will wear teams down with their defense and clean ball control where they always seem to find their way in system.
Jacinda Bennett – FC Elite Flyers 17 Navy
Right Side
Bennett is a 6’2 lefty who has shown great improvement for Flyers where she had some big time stuff blocks and was efficient with her heavy swing on the right side. She is a tough matchup where she was able to neutralize the opposing outside hitter with her block. Her teammates get fired up when she can score points and get the block at the right time.
Jillella Smit Jillella Smit 5'10" | S Fond Du Lac | 2024 WI – FDL Fusion 17 Purple
Setter/Right Side
Smit was cool, calm, and collected all weekend for Fusion where she is able to run a 5-1 or can run a 6-2 and swing from the right side. She was extremely dynamic with her play all weekend for her team who advanced to Gold Bracket play. Some of her top attackers were Kali Krumenauer, Averie Suprenand, and Addisyn King Addisyn King 5'6" | DS/L St. Marys Springs | 2024 State WI . This team is in line for a trickle down bid for USAV 17s Division. Smit preps at Fond du Lac High Schoolw here she has collected nearly 1500 assists with another season left.
Honorable Mention
Elise Uphoff Elise Uphoff 5'4" | DS/L Marshfield | 2023 State WI – WI Flight 18 Black
Mikaela Marquardt Mikaela Marquardt 5'6" | DS/L Kewaskum | 2023 State WI – I AM VBC 18 Red
Alicia Burgos Alicia Burgos 6'1" | MB Dominican | 2023 State WI – I AM VBC 18 Red
Grace Rochon Grace Rochon 5'9" | OH Kewaskum | 2023 State WI – I AM VBC 18 Red
Molly Frost – 262 Attack 17 Savage
Kathryn Fischer – 262 Attack 17 Savage
Miranda Schmidt – FC Elite Flyers 17 Navy
Grace Graf – FVP 18 National
Elayna Christensen Elayna Christensen 5'10" | DS/L Freedom | 2023 State WI – FVP 18 National
Kennedy Koehler – Wisconsin Blaze 18 Black
Anna Kudick Anna Kudick 5'9" | RS Mauston | 2023 WI – FC Elite 18 White
Paige Bosetski Paige Bosetski 5'8" | S De Pere | 2023 State WI – FC Elite 18 White
Jenna Soerens – I AM VBC 17 Red
Bryanna Kleuss – FC Elite 17 Blue
Averie Suprenand – FDL Fusion 17 Purple
Addisyn King Addisyn King 5'6" | DS/L St. Marys Springs | 2024 State WI – FDL Fusion 17 Purple
Kali Krumenauer – FDL Fusion 17 Purple
Sydney Hoeft Sydney Hoeft 5'10" | S Port Washington | 2023 State WI – I AM VBC 18 Red
Ava Nault Ava Nault 5'9" | OH Hortonville | 2024 WI – Wisconsin Blaze 18 Black
Natalie Bystol – Shawano Storm