Thank You, Seniors! (Part 1)
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The WIAA State Tournament just ended, and it was emotional from start to finish. Teams walk into the Resch and leave everything they have on the court. For some of these athletes, they played at state for their entire high…
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Continue ReadingThe WIAA State Tournament just ended, and it was emotional from start to finish. Teams walk into the Resch and leave everything they have on the court. For some of these athletes, they played at state for their entire high school careers. For others, this was their first experience. As Scouts, we have been following these athletes throughout their careers, and it is bittersweet to watch them finish their high school careers.
This article is a shout-out to some of the MANY athletes that we have been covering for the past four years.
Sophia is an absolute star. She is a player that has left an imprint on the DSHA program. This Creighton commit is tough and focused on the court and is not afraid to take risks in high-pressure situations. In the championship match alone, Sophia had 22 kills and hit a 0.264. She also had 12 digs and numerous service receptions. In the quarter-final match, she clicked 11 kills and hit a 0.429.
Lilly is such a shining light on any court she steps on. She gives every piece of herself to her team and is an incredible leader. Her combination of talent, positivity, and energy is incredibly rare. She clocked 48 assists in the championship match alone. She had over 3500 career assists coming into the state tournament. Lilly is leaving her high school career with a state championship and two state runner-up titles.
Anna is an absolute gamer. She is a player I will really miss covering but am very excited to see dominate the college game. She has a game-changing impact on both offense and defense in every game she plays. In the championship match, she led her team in kills, hitting percentage, and blocks. Being the kill leader as a middle is very hard to do, but that is just the kind of impact player she is. Anna clocked 18 kills and 8 blocks in the 5-set championship match.
Highlights
Olivia will chase down any ball, anywhere. I would know – I had to dive out of the way as she made an INCREDIBLE save and dove into the table I was taking pictures from. She never misses a beat, and my table was not the only table she chased a ball into during the championship match. Olivia is a fun athlete to watch because she fires on all cylinders. In the championship match, Olivia had 17 kills and 20 digs. She is both reliable and explosive.
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Bays is a rock in the back row. She is another player who would run through a wall to get a touch on the ball and pursue balls onto the concrete and into tables during the championship match. Her sheer amount of hustle and effort on the court makes her a leader on the court. Bays sets herself apart in coverage, where she gets touches on some incredible balls.
Ella is a player I have gotten to see numerous times in both club and high school. She is such a gamer and is always hungry for the ball and hungry for more. She had 24 kills in their semi-final match and hit a 0.328. She energizes her team and is lethal in both the front and back row. Ella is a very physical pin and can execute in every aspect of the sport. Her passion on the court is infectious, and it is hard to believe her high school career came to a close.
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Emerson is one of the smartest setters on the court. She pushes such a great tempo on the ball and is incredibly consistent with her placement. Emerson takes on a huge role in every team she plays on and has been leading this Appleton North team for the past three years. Her ability to run down any ball and be a key defensive player as well helped Appleton North dominate the past several seasons.
Maggie was absolutely dominant in the back row. She made some digs that made my jaw drop. I love her in the libero role, and she has an intensity and discipline to her that really helps set her team up for success. She covers a huge amount of court in serve receive and brings consistency and energy to the libero position.