Charger Challenge: Sideline Observations and All Tournament Team

I have covered plenty of events at the [program_tooltip program_id='428672' first='Milwaukee' last='Sting'] Center.  I've been there the past six years most likely with a camera around my neck, getting the photos, videos, and notes of players across the state and even from clubs around the Midwest.  However, this weekend it was a view I had never seen before, the sideline.  Yes, coaching.  I am the Green Bay Notre Dame Academy Head Coach and my squad was part of the Charger Challenge put on this past weekend by Sussex Hamilton.  Instead of covering these top players, I was coaching against them.  What an electric atmosphere with a large handful of the best teams and players across the state.     I didn't know how I would navigate writing for Prep Dig and coaching this fall. I have already told my Notre Dame players they would not have any articles by me - that would be weird and I just don't feel comfortable putting them or myself in an awkward spot. However, I have been celebrating the athletes around the state and now the rest of the country the past six years so I figured I could make a quick appearance back on the Prep Dig Wisconsin site with some observations and players who really had impressive performances.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://x.com/PrepDigChris/status/1703155902159745060?s=20 </div></figure>   A Few Sideline Observations   The Level of Serving   Coaches know how important serving is when it comes to high level play. An easy serve is essentially a free ball. People outside of volleyball will say, “Why are they missing so many serves?” - well if they just get it in, it can essentially be another point for the other team. We faced Mukwonago the first match and I think the first set was over in about 12 minutes. The jump float of [player_tooltip player_id='211465' first='Natalia' last='Farrugia'] was working, it was a hard knuckleball that would just drop. Kudos to her. When teams can serve like this, it makes the speed of the game feel multiple times faster where it's tough to catch up. The top teams will have the big attackers and the scrappy defense, but the teams that can win the serve and serve receive battle will always have the upper hand.   The Lefty Middles   We faced two lefty middles on Saturday, which is something we definitely don't see a lot. Ambryn Anonsen of Kettle Moraine Lutheran and [player_tooltip player_id='148970' first='Madison' last='Hunt'] of Chippewa Falls. Most left handed attackers are swinging from the right side, but with these two attackers it was a much different look for our defense. They are both incredibly springy and athletic, really fun matchups. I remember [player_tooltip player_id='148970' first='Madison' last='Hunt'] from Chippewa Falls playing in the state tournament last fall and here I am across the net from her. The way she would fly and power tip or throw was extremely effective.   The Power   The likes of [player_tooltip player_id='178034' first='Gabriella' last='Pitcel'] and [player_tooltip player_id='122499' first='Melia' last='Johnson'] are always fun to cover on the Prep Dig level and then to have them across the net I will admit is a little intimidating. Pitcel and Johnson have played for Sting Gold with Pitcel committing to Illinois this past summer and Johnson going to Ole Miss. I was accustomed to seeing Pitcel swing out of the middle, but she is a top outside hitter for Mukwonago where she has one of the fastest arm swings in the state. She is incredibly tough to defend from anywhere because there isn't a weak spot for her, her dynamic attacking ability really sets her apart from others. Her intangibles among her teammates are high level where she is playing composed and always has a positive vibe. Johnson is someone who can break a finger of a blocker with her swing. She has one of the heaviest swings we've seen all season. If there is a little split in the block she will find it and truly execute. When she is on top of her game with the combination of setter, [player_tooltip player_id='277423' first='Ella' last='Kohnen'] and attacker [player_tooltip player_id='277420' first='Allie' last='Beers'], watch out. Slinger and Mukwonago would make it to the final eight gold bracket. Another attacker who hits such a heavy ball is [player_tooltip player_id='179085' first='Paige' last='Steinmetz'] from Chippewa Falls. I I saw based on her stats she must have been out for part of the year, but now that she is back it is a gamechanger for this team. Defenders need to receive her square or it's not getting back in system. She is also a really gritty defender where I thought multiple times we had a point and she would somehow manage to pop it back up!   On The Rise   What I love about any tournament is finding new players and competing against teams where they might all play for a different club, but then come together to form a really good high school team. I will admit, there are a lot of times it takes me a while to put the connection together of who some people are when they switch jerseys. [player_tooltip player_id='202194' first='Kylee' last='Altendorf'] was on fire for West Bend West. The junior outside hitter could hit every shot where she could go line, sharp cross, hit the split, just the offspeed. She did everything and was a handful. I definitely remember writing about her when she play for I AM VBC 16 Red last club season. Another I AM VBC player who was extremely impressive was Amanda Hillmann for Kettle Moraine Lutheran. The 5'10 middle blocker was someone the defense always had to know where she was because she could attack anywhere in front or behind the setter. She is automatic when she can hit the “C” ball.   The All Tournament Team (Decided By Coaches In the Gold Bracket/Crossover Matches)   [player_tooltip player_id='178033' first='Madison' last='Quest'], [player_tooltip player_id='178026' first='Olivia' last='Durst'], [player_tooltip player_id='122569' first='Sophia' last='Wendlick'] - DSHA   DSHA was looking like a D1 college team and rightfully so with these three athletes committed to Wisconsin, Michigan State, and Creighton.  Setter [player_tooltip player_id='246946' first='Jordan' last='Czajkowski'] runs the show as their setter and is committed to Belmont.  The Dashers are currently 20-0, will head to the Sprawl this weekend and the Asics Challenge in Chicago in two weeks.    [player_tooltip player_id='122475' first='Anna' last='Bjork'] and [player_tooltip player_id='122568' first='Lilly' last='Wagner'] - Oconomowoc   This duo will go down in history as one of the best middle/setter combos to play in the state.  Bjork is committed to Notre Dame and Wagner is going to Maryland.  It has been mostly a two horse race in the state the past two years with Oconomowoc and DSHA.  DSHA has taken round one and two in 2023 so far with potentially more to come.    [player_tooltip player_id='122578' first='Caitlyn' last='Flees'] - Burlington    The Demons made a huge statement this weekend finishing in the final four. Their gritty defense and ball control is the name to their game and they were very on brand.  Flees is a middle blocker who has plenty of length and is very dynamic.  She is committed to Eastern Kentucky.    [player_tooltip player_id='122510' first='Danielle' last='Kopacz'] - Pewaukee   The Austin Peay commit is another outside hitter where she makes contact and it just sounds different.  Pewaukee was the highest finisher out of the D2 teams where they finished in the final four with a loss to Oconomowoc.  The Pirates have a lot of ball control and power that is tough to stop.    [player_tooltip player_id='249644' first='Brooke' last='Baldwin'] - Sussex Hamilton    The Chargers bounced back Saturday with some huge wins sweeping Waunakee in the crossover to advance to the gold bracket.  Baldwin is the setter who runs the show and plays with such maturity for a sophomore.  She is also lethal with her serve, a consistent defender, and finds a way to contribute in every facet of the game.    [player_tooltip player_id='178034' first='Gabriella' last='Pitcel'] - Mukwonago    I think Pitcel is in her sixth year of high school - not really but she has played up an age group in years prior for club and is making a name for Mukwonago as she just finds ways to win.  Mukwonago is going to be a really tough match up with not only Pitcel, but the rest of the squad where they have solid all around athletes everywhere.  Pitcel really gets this team going with her fire.    [player_tooltip player_id='122499' first='Melia' last='Johnson'] - Slinger    Slinger is never out of system with Johnson.  Having an outlet who can score anywhere is a huge benefit to their team.  When they are in system and she has a swing from setter [player_tooltip player_id='277423' first='Ella' last='Kohnen'] - game over.    [player_tooltip player_id='178308' first='Greta' last='Shadewald'] - Sauk Prairie   With Winona State libero commit, [player_tooltip player_id='122470' first='Ellery' last='Apel'] providing nearly seven digs per set, Shadewald is able to run an efficient offense while also being offensive herself from the setter position.  The Eagles finished 4-1 with their only loss coming to Oconomowoc.    [player_tooltip player_id='261359' first='Morgan' last='Van Wie'] - Waunakee   The future Wisconsin Badger made a statement with her performance for Waunakee.  She is so fun to watch with her all around ability and big time athleticism. She sets from the backrow and will have a big lefty swing from the right side in the front row.  This will definitely be a team to watch in their section as one of the favorites to get to Green Bay.

I have covered plenty of events at the Milwaukee Sting Center. I've been there the past six years most likely with a camera around my neck, getting the photos, videos, and notes of players across the state and even from clubs around the Midwest. However, this weekend it was a view I had never seen before, the sideline. Yes, coaching. I am the Green Bay Notre Dame Academy Head Coach and my squad was part of the Charger Challenge put on this past weekend by Sussex Hamilton. Instead of covering these top players, I was coaching against them. What an electric atmosphere with a large handful of the best teams and players across the state.