26 Club Watchlist: Yes, It’s Early, But These Teams Are Worth It

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>High school volleyball ended just over a week ago, and teams are finalizing their club rosters. Some clubs have had their rosters completed since the summer tryout sessions, while others are looking to fill their last few roster spots. Some highly successful teams from last year have improved and are looking to achieve dominant runs this season. Let's take a look. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":885127,"width":"210px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/09/Exposure-tour.png?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-885127" style="width:210px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Don't miss our exposure tour coming on November 29, 2025! More info <strong><a href="https://prepdig.com/all-events/?title_contains=Exposure">here</a>.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Use code <strong>KassPD25</strong> for $10 off!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Madtown 16-1 National</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This team had an absolutely dominant season last year. I had a blast watching them dominate, and many of their players had also had dominant high school seasons. They are returning a core group of athletes, including [player_tooltip player_id='734119' first='Lorelei' last='Candler'], a high-level setter and right-side player who was a unanimous selection for 1st Team All-State as well as the all-tournament team. Libero [player_tooltip player_id='800477' first='Lexi' last='Sheffield'] also returns for this roster. She is in the class of 2029, playing up an age division, but you would never know it with her high-level volleyball IQ and impeccable ball control. DS/L Addisen Hester, as well as [player_tooltip player_id='586532' first='Finnley' last='Bolson'], who is a utility player who can play on the outside or back row, will provide another year of consistent play for Madtown. They return dominant middles in [player_tooltip player_id='807781' first='Jiada' last='Aokoh'] and [player_tooltip player_id='809639' first='Grace' last='Hoverson']. Setter [player_tooltip player_id='808254' first='Callie' last='Spanos'] and right side [player_tooltip player_id='734123' first='Ella' last='Pieters'] round out those returning for this Madtown squad. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>New additions include two middles, [player_tooltip player_id='563047' first='Ayla' last='Jarecki'] and Niylah Nzegwu, and explosive pin hitter [player_tooltip player_id='586861' first='Willow' last='Kumprey']. Ayla competed with Badger Region High Performance at the All-Star Championships this past summer and has been a two-year varsity athlete at Monona Grove. Willow earned Player of the Year in the Woodland West Conference and had a massive high school season as a pin hitter. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">414 16 Elite</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This is another team that was incredibly successful all season last year. They were 3rd in Badger Region Championships 15 Open and placed 3rd in Premier at the St. Louis President's Day tournament. They ended their season with a 3rd palce finish at AAU Nationals in the 15 Select division. This team brought home hardware in 2025 and, with numerous returners and key additions, will be looking to do so again. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The majority of this roster will be returning, including pin hitter [player_tooltip player_id='737776' first='Madelyn' last='Smith'], DS/L Brynn Kuglistsch, and middles [player_tooltip player_id='715421' first='Katelyn' last='Mast'] and [player_tooltip player_id='806376' first='Lilah' last='Struve']. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Some returners with notable high school seasons include:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='719623' first='Kendall' last='Frei'] - Setter, state qualifier with Oak Creek</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='837168' first='Reese' last='Lalonde'] - 6 rotation pin, 2nd Team All-Conference at Homestead</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='805023' first='Cara' last='Blackford'] - pin hitter, All Conference Honorable mention at Nicolet</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='587074' first='Megan' last='Olsen'] - Right side, 2-year varsity player from Muskego </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>New additions to the team include setter Izzy Green from Brookfield East and middle blocker [player_tooltip player_id='842137' first='Caroline' last='Butrym'] from Brookfield Central. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">I AM Volleyball 17 Red</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This team had huge success at the 16s level. They won the JVA Jamboree, took 3rd place in Liberty at MEQ, won the 16 Open Division of the Badger Region Championships, won the Cornbelt Showdown and Rockin' Rockford tournaments, and placed 21st in the American Division of USAV Nationals. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Starting with the returning athletes on this team, [player_tooltip player_id='388454' first='Paige' last='Proefrock'] helped lead Grafton to a State Runner-Up title and earned 1st Team All-State and All-Tournament Team honors. [player_tooltip player_id='500276' first='Emmalee' last='Heniadis'] is another highly talented pin hitter who earned All-Conference Honorable Mention for the Northshore Conference. [player_tooltip player_id='435886' first='Camilla' last='Kreif'] is a setter who is as gritty as they come and runs the court like a seasoned pro. Other returning athletes to this roster include [player_tooltip player_id='762607' first='Ana' last='Denger'], [player_tooltip player_id='510485' first='Hannah' last='Heitzkey'], [player_tooltip player_id='800132' first='Claire' last='Vanden Berg'], and [player_tooltip player_id='435899' first='Morgan' last='Vetter'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>New additions to the roster include [player_tooltip player_id='822553' first='Ava' last='Peterson'], who was on I AM's incredibly talented 16 Black team last year. Explosive middle blocker [player_tooltip player_id='523043' first='Grace' last='Sember'] and highly talented setter [player_tooltip player_id='454686' first='Emree' last='Kellerman']. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Southshore Slam 17 National</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This team absolutely WOWED me at our Madness in Miltown Tournament. They were explosive and very well-rounded. This team flies a little under the radar but can compete with the biggest teams and had a breakout season last year. They return nearly their entire roster including scrappy libero [player_tooltip player_id='523046' first='Isabella' last='Smith'] and DS [player_tooltip player_id='487027' first='Olivia' last='Sabel']. Setter and powerhouse pin hitter Kenley Mortensen was one of the athletes who was a stock riser on my list last year. Pin hitter [player_tooltip player_id='523048' first='Nora' last='Halverson'] is a dominant player who impacts every play. Additional returning offensive weapons include pins [player_tooltip player_id='523050' first='Josefine' last='Hoopman'] and [player_tooltip player_id='523033' first='Sadie' last='Kohlman'], as well as Middles [player_tooltip player_id='826986' first='Lauren' last='Lueth'] and [player_tooltip player_id='523044' first='Ellie' last='Smith']. Based on the current roster listed online, the only new addition to this talented crew is [player_tooltip player_id='835388' first='Madelyn' last='Van Denend']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->