The 17s division of the Badger Region Qualifier was tight. Some of the best teams in the state battled to qualify for nationals. This is very early in the qualifier season for all age divisions but 18s, so these bids…
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Subscribe Already a subscriber? Log inThe 17s division of the Badger Region Qualifier was tight. Some of the best teams in the state battled to qualify for nationals. This is very early in the qualifier season for all age divisions but 18s, so these bids were key to lock down. While some teams are expected to earn higher bids at big qualifiers, this tournament showed just how deep and competitive the 17s age division is.
Milwaukee Sting 17 Gold – National Bid
This Sting Gold team is simply elite. Every aspect of their game is high-level and dominant. No one got more than 15 points on them throughout the two-day qualifier. It is safe to say they took care of BIDness. They are led by setter, and recent North Dakota State commit
Emily Bruss
Emily
Bruss
5'9" | S
Pulaski | 2024
State
WI
. She is fast, smart, and seems to have an insane amount of endurance.
The defenders on this team are crucial to the team’s success.
Claire Luoma
Claire
Luoma
5'8" | DS/L
Franklin | 2024
State
#77
Nation
WI
(Clemson) and
Jae Fitting
Jae
Fitting
5'8" | DS/L
Cedarburg | 2024
State
WI
(Loyola-Chicago) have been dominant performers on this team for years and both add value every point they are on the court. This team is stacked with dynamic pins including
Sophia Wendlick
Sophia
Wendlick
6'0" | OH
DSHA | 2024
State
WI
(Creighton),
Melia Johnson
Melia
Johnson
6'2" | OH
Slinger | 2024
State
WI
,
Kendall Heger
Kendall
Heger
6'0" | RS
Muskego | 2024
State
WI
, and
Olivia Kwiatkowski
Olivia
Kwiatkowski
6'0" | OH
Oconomowoc | 2024
State
WI
. Each pin can play all six rotations and has a lot of experience on the court.
This list hasn’t even included their explosive middles
Anna Bjork
Anna
Bjork
6'3" | MB
Oconomowoc | 2024
State
#48
Nation
WI
(Notre Dame) and
Rylea Alvin
Rylea
Alvin
6'2" | MB
Randolph | 2024
State
WI
(Northern Illinois).
Olivia Wyma
Olivia
Wyma
6'4" | MB
Arrowhead | 2024
State
WI
is another dynamic athlete who can play out of the middle and on the right side. They will be looking to upgrade their bid and are talented enough to do so.
FC Elite 17 Navy – American Bid
FC Elite walked away from the qualifier with an American Bid. After an electric point-for-point battle with Sting 17 Black, they fell to 17 Gold in the championship match. This team won the National Division of USAV Girl’s Junior National Championships last year and return many key players. This is another team that will be in the hunt to earn a higher bid at upcoming qualifiers.
Pin hitter
Annalise Patchett
Annalise
Patchett
6'0" | OH
Fox Valley Lutheran | 2024
State
WI
was simply unstoppable at the tournament. She seems to fly higher and hit harder every time I see her play. Annalise is incredibly well-rounded and is a huge impact player in all six rotations. Setter
Emerson Van Lannen
Emerson
Van Lannen
5'10" | S
Appleton North | 2024
State
WI
(Kansas State) runs the court like a pro. She is physical and athletic on the court and will hustle on every play.
Elle Kennedy
Elle
Kennedy
5'5" | DS/L
Howards Grove | 2024
State
WI
was quick and fearless on defense. She is a high-level first contact for this team.
Olivia Baierl
Olivia
Baierl
5'8" | DS/L
Howards Grove | 2024
State
WI
(Illinois State) was playing on the pin at the qualifier, and she impressed me with her low-error and gritty performance on both offense and defense.
Emma Nilson
Emma
Nilson
6'1" | MB
Fox Valley Lutheran | 2024
State
WI
(Middle Tennessee State) also really impressed me with her blocking and engagement on offense. Other key players included right sides
Madison York
Madison
York
6'1" | RS
Manitowoc Lincoln | 2024
State
WI
and
Madison Daley
Madison
Daley
5'10" | RS
Xavier | 2025
State
WI
and middle hitter
Olivia Neumann
Olivia
Neumann
6'3" | MB
Xavier | 2024
State
WI
(UW-Green Bay).
Sting 17 Black – American Bid
Sting 17 Black showed their versatility and competitiveness at the Badger Qualifier. They went head to head in a thriller match with FC Elite 17 Navy. One thing I love about this team is they all battle together throughout matches and clearly play for each other on the court. No single person carries the team; every athlete is critical to their success.
Let’s start with the defenders.
Georgia Koscielak
Georgia
Koscielak
5'6" | DS/L
Whitefish Bay | 2024
State
WI
and
Alexandra Prange
Alexandra
Prange
5'3" | DS/L
Brookfield Academy | 2024
State
WI
are lights-out athletes. They are both gritty, fearless, and scrappy on defense. The pins on this team are very dynamic and can play well across the front row.
Ellie Schumacher
Ellie
Schumacher
5'9" | OH
Lake Country Lutheran | 2024
State
WI
,
Peri Subat
Peri
Subat
6'0" | OH
Sheboygan Falls | 2024
State
WI
,
Briana Binagi
Briana
Binagi
5'10" | OH
Kettle Moraine | 2024
State
WI
, and
Gabby Wold
Gabby
Wold
6'0" | OH
Arrowhead | 2024
State
WI
are all impactful athletes that can play all six rotations and on either pin.
In the middle,
Ella Skogman
Ella
Skogman
6'2" | MB
Waukesha West | 2024
State
WI
was relentless as a blocker. She pushed pin to pin and was nearly impenetrable at the qualifier.
Natalia Farrugia
Natalia
Farrugia
6'0" | MB
Mukwonago | 2024
State
WI
was dynamic on offense. Both Ella and Natalia were engaged on offense and earned momentum-changing points. Both setters,
Jordan Bauer
Jordan
Bauer
5'10" | S
New Berlin West | 2024
State
WI
and
Greta Pleuss
Greta
Pleuss
5'9" | S
St. Mary's Springs Academy | 2024
State
WI
ran the offense effectively.
Madtown 17-1 – Freedom Bid
Madtown really impressed me. It put several athletes on my radar that hadn’t previously been.
Morgan Van Wie
Morgan
Van Wie
6'0" | S
Waunakee Community | 2024
State
WI
was key to Madtown’s success. She ran a 5-1 and was a consistent force on the court. Morgan hustled on every play and was relentless in her pursuit of the ball. She is very athletic and definitely impressed throughout the tournament. Right side Emily Hansen was explosive on the pin. She earned points and was disciplined in her block.
Libero
Emerson Hackbart
Emerson
Hackbart
5'6" | DS/L
Madison Memorial | 2024
State
WI
was scrappy and has a clean platform. She is always covering and ready for anything that comes over the net. Middle hitter,
Anneka Cassel
Anneka
Cassel
5'10" | MB
Waunakee | 2024
State
WI
, impressed me with her power on offense and discipline on defense. On the pin,
Summer Grigg
Summer
Grigg
5'8" | OH
Waunakee | 2024
State
WI
was offensive and scrappy. She is explosive on the pin and gritty in her play. This team really caught my eye at the Qualifier, and I am excited to watch them play the rest of the season.
FC Elite 17 Blue – Freedom Bid
FC Elite 17 Blue played very tough throughout the tournament. They battled against some of the top teams in the state and walked away with a bid to nationals. Setter Leia Kersten Leia Kersten S Neenah | 2024 WI kept the ball moving for her team. She has soft hands and works hard for her team. Libero Lily Berrens Lily Berrens DS/L Hortonville | 2024 State WI impressed me with her grit and consistency.
Pin hitter
Hailey Kobussen
Hailey
Kobussen
5'9" | OH
Kaukauna | 2025
WI
was impactful across the court. She took big swings out of the back row and earned points for her team throughout the tournament. Middle blocker,
Alivia James
Alivia
James
MB
Fond du Lac | 2024
WI
, was a key player on the court for FC. She was always calling for the ball and put up a solid block.