Stock Up Showcase Sees Sophomores Ready To Breakout

I say this time and time again, the biggest growth typically seen by a volleyball athlete is between their freshman and sophomore season and 15s to 16s club year.  This past weekend at the Wisconsin Stock Up Showcase, there were some rising sophomores who really showed out and could be gearing up for a big season.  Let's take a look!    <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/1819808188578803753 </div></figure>    I had never seen Medenblik play prior to this showcase. I had to look up the high school Blair-Taylor just to see where it was (40 miles North of La Crosse). This is a hidden gem who is going to be rising in the Class of 2027. Medenblik is a 6'1 right side who is left handed with a quick arm swing and high contact point. When college coaches get word of Medenblik, she might have quite the summer in 2025. I'm sold. She averaged nearly three kills as a freshman which I'm sure her attempts and kills will only rise this 2024 season. I have a feeling this won't be the only time I will be writing about Medenblik       Waunakee advanced to the D1 state tournament in 2023 with a loaded senior class. The cupboard is far from bare where this program always finds a way to restock with talent. [player_tooltip player_id='345274' first='Lauren' last='Sprague'] could be among that mix as the 5'9 outside hitter showed her ability to pass, serve receive, and score points. She plays with such composure with a solid fundamental base where she is extremely explosive as an attacker. Another rising sophomore who can set and attack is [player_tooltip player_id='587068' first='Lauren' last='Van Wie'] who will be rising on the radar.       West Salem High School notched over 30 wins in 2023 and had a huge year for sports in general. Same for Addysen Oldenberg who is a 6'1 middle who will be one to watch on the volleyball and basketball court. I saw Oldenberg play for her Xtreme Volleyballl Club out of La Crosse this winter where she showed her physicality and athleticism. She showed plenty of the same along with a lot of explosiveness at the Stock Up Showcase. Her upside is big time, she will make the other side of the net think twice about their swing while also being an offensive option in system.      Brookfield East   Brookfield East had a really strong showing at the Stock Up Showcase with plenty of 2027 talent.  [player_tooltip player_id='476166' first='Hailey' last='Schneiker'], [player_tooltip player_id='435876' first='Allison' last='Czajka'], [player_tooltip player_id='435872' first='Addison' last='Catalano'], and [player_tooltip player_id='435878' first='Amorina' last='Compean-Costello'] are rising sophomores where they saw some time on the varsity court as freshmen. Scheiker is a smooth setter with great hands who can find a way to get a one on one match up with her attackers.  Compean-Costello is a gritty backrow defender where she is dependable in serve receive and can take pace off a hard driven ball.  Watching her in the positional breakdowns she shows plenty of range in left back and middle back. Brookfield East will be one to watch at The Joust opening tournament weekend.     I was able to watch [player_tooltip player_id='522041' first='Ashley' last='Gagas'] multiple times this past club season and her game continues to improve each time she takes the court. She attends Stevens Point (SPASH) where the Panthers have a strong core of underclassmen who will be depended upon to be key point scorers. Gagas could be in this mix where she has plenty of length and quite the whip of an arm swing.       Toteva had a chance to compete at a high level this past club season being a part of [program_tooltip program_id='428591' first='FC' last='Elite'] 15 Navy. She preps at Wisconsin Dells High School where she will be looking for a breakout season. She had nearly 100 kills a freshman while being very efficient. Wisconsin Dells had 29 wins last season and will look to build off of a strong 2023. Toteva could be a key part to this equation with her swing and block.       At 6'1, Quinton has plenty of length out of the middle where she could also be one to watch on the pins as well. Her upside is definitely something to keep track of after playing with [program_tooltip program_id='432005' first='Madtown' last='Juniors'] this past club season. Sun Prairie West is still a new school in the grand scheme of things where they finished 3rd in the Big 8 in 2023. Quinton will be looking for a spot to contribute to the rise of the Wolves.       Westosha Central has something going on in Southeast Wisconsin where they have plenty of firepower coming through. An incoming sophomore to take note of will be [player_tooltip player_id='487001' first='Ava' last='Winter'] who played club for [program_tooltip program_id='431479' first='Wisconsin' last='Juniors']. The Falcons graduated their top scorer in Lindsay Piktel who had over 400 kills in 2023 and will have multiple attackers who can replace her by committee. Keep tabs on Winter and this Westosha Central program who will be looking to turn some heads in 2024.

I say this time and time again, the biggest growth typically seen by a volleyball athlete is between their freshman and sophomore season and 15s to 16s club year. This past weekend at the Wisconsin Stock Up Showcase, there were some rising sophomores who really showed out and could be gearing up for a big season. Let's take a look!