'26s Emerge as Leaders at JV Sizzle

<p>It is hard to believe the class of 2026 is already entering its sophomore year. Many of these athletes were team leaders and showed great resilience and tenacity throughout the tournament. It was fun to see athletes in this class step in as leaders at the high school level after a very competitive club season. </p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='453625' first='Zoe' last='Meier'] - Libero - Oconomowoc </h2>   <p>Zoe was a key leader for Oconomowoc. She was always communicating and had a lot of energy. She always gave maximum effort on every ball. What stood out about Zoe was her resilience after making a mistake. She would double down, shake it off, and get ready for the next play if she got aced. </p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='391417' first='Bella' last='Daul'] - Outside Hitter - Oconomowoc </h2>   <p>Bella played all six rotations at the Sizzle, making it hard for any coach to justify taking her off the court. She could consistently execute on offense, played great defense and serve receive, and made momentum-changing plays. Bella has a high vertical and fast arm swing. She was dominant on the pin and out of the back row for Oconomowoc. </p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='453633' first='Kenzie' last='Loberger'] - Setter - Fox Valley Lutheran </h2>   <p>Kenzie is a natural leader for her team. She is athletic, gritty, and leads by example. Kenzie was a setter in the back row and swung on the right side when she was in the front row. She had clean hands and utilized every hitter on the court. When she was in the front row, she was a go-to hitter. </p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='453651' first='Ella' last='Tesch'] - Setter - Waukesha West</h2>   <p>Ella is a smart and savvy setter who makes great decisions. She fed her hot hitters and never shied away from setting someone after they made a mistake. Ella has huge hustle and moves quickly across the net. Ella is a player to watch in this class and has a lot of potential as an athlete and a leader. </p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='453636' first='Ellie' last='Griffin'] - Outside Hitter - Lakeside Lutheran </h2>   <p>Ellie was a go-to hitter for Lakeside Lutheran at the JV Sizzle. She is a very well-rounded and versatile athlete. She was consistent on defense and serve receive and ran down numerous balls. On offense, she has a huge vertical and a big arm swing. She manufactured points on the pin and was engaged in every play. </p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='376305' first='Anya' last='Baeten'] - Outside Hitter - Oconto Falls</h2>   <p>Anya was a key player and point earner for Oconto Falls. She takes a massive and explosive approach and has a lethal line shot. Anya was nearly unstoppable at the net and was always hungry for her next kill. She is a competitive athlete who found ways to earn points both in and out of system. </p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Olivia Feldt - Setter - Green Bay Preble </h2>   <p>Olivia runs her offense efficiently. She has a clean jump set and challenges herself to use it as much as possible. Olivia was consistent but aggressive with her choices and was a natural leader for her team. She moves quickly across the court and gets her hands on as many balls as she can. </p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Kesley Monfrow - Setter - Hartford</h2>   <p>Kelsey is the type of athlete who is a gamer. She steps up when her team needs it most and thrives in out-of-system and chaotic situations. Kelsey is defensively very strong and picks up a lot of balls in coverage. She also has a lot of hustle and will run down just about any ball instead of calling for help. </p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='453638' first='Danielle' last='Codlyn'] - Right Side Hitter - Sun Prairie East </h2>   <p>Danielle is a force to be reckoned with on the court. She can play all six rotations, a very valuable trait for a right-side hitter. She was all over the court on offense, executing well in out-of-system situations and utilizing every set she was given. On defense, Danielle was disciplined and picked up a lot of balls. </p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Ellie Miller - Outside Hitter - Luxemburg-Casco</h2>   <p>Ellie is a powerhouse pin that has a toolbox of shots in her back pocket. She balances her power and placement very well, knowing when to take a big rip on the ball and when to find a clean shot. She is smart and consistent and a fun pin hitter to watch. She is a physical outside that is reliable on the pin. </p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Abby Rogers - Outside Hitter - Winneconne</h2>   <p>Abby first stood out to me for her leadership. She was running the court well and new all of the rotations. She helped her teammates out if they weren't sure of the lineup or rotation. She also swung out of both the outside and middle and was an impact player on offense. </p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='453647' first='Keira' last='Griesbach'] - Outside Hitter - Freedom</h2>   <p>Keira is a relentless force on the court. She is well-rounded and versatile. Keira adds a lot of value and consistency on both offense and defense. She could execute from nearly anywhere on the court and was consistent yet powerful. Her defense was rock solid. On serve receive, Keira passed great balls and rarely got aced. </p>

It is hard to believe the class of 2026 is already entering its sophomore year. Many of these athletes were team leaders and showed great resilience and tenacity throughout the tournament. It was fun to see athletes in this class step in as leaders at the high school level after a very competitive club season.