NLQ 16 Open/USA Study Guide: Wisconsin 2028s

We've entered the qualifier season and it can be tough to keep track of it all with qualifiers expanding to multiple weeks and for some events, multiple cities. This weekend will be the 16 Open and 16 USA teams taking on the Northern Lights Qualifier Downtown Minneapolis.  This will traditionally draw some top teams in the country where it is always tough to grab a bid.  Let's take a look at the teams taking on NLQ from Wisconsin.     Looking for a lefty right side who is going to put a hurt on the ball? That's [player_tooltip player_id='545532' first='Rose' last='Kendall'] of [program_tooltip program_id='428591' first='FC' last='Elite'] 16 Elite. There is a spark about her game, she plays with a smile and fire that is contagious among her teammates. She is the type who could be a six rotation right side who can pass and attack out of right back. Offensively she is extremely terminal where she hits with such pace, it is really tough for the other side of the net to cleanly receive her swing.     [program_tooltip program_id='428591' first='FC' last='Elite'] has plenty of athletes who can serve receive and pass with liberos who consistently find great places to play once they are done with their high school careers. [player_tooltip player_id='522092' first='Hallah' last='Josephson'] is one of those athletes who can command the backrow. She can handle a high volume of serve receive as a libero and can pass a hard swing just as well. [program_tooltip program_id='428591' first='FC' last='Elite'] 16 Elite has used two liberos in Josephson and [player_tooltip player_id='795554' first='Kendall' last='Cruz'] where both of these athletes are ones to watch among top liberos in the Class of 2028 in Wisconsin.     [player_tooltip player_id='545509' first='Sylvia' last='Flood'] is rising fast among top players in Wisconsin from the Class of 2028. She was on [program_tooltip program_id='428672' first='Milwaukee' last='Sting'] 15 Black last year where she was a key piece to their gold bracket finish in the 15 National Division at USAV's in Dallas. She can score points from anywhere on the court. She is so terminal from the outside with a high contact point and velocity, but also knows when to tool the block and change speeds. There is also a huge upside where she can make things happen out of system. She can hit the ball square and smart from the backrow. She is the total eraser for the Sting 16 Gold team.     This is another athlete who can bring spark to the court. [player_tooltip player_id='545519' first='Jilly' last='Flannery'] is a lefty right side where she can bring a big swing to the right side or be utilized as a DS for her Sting 16 Gold squad. Her intensity can elevate others and will find a way to contribute in a positive way. Sting 16 Gold is coming off a Badger Region 16s Championship where they grabbed the title without dropping a set. They will be in the hunt in Minneapolis.     The middle blocker for [program_tooltip program_id='428672' first='Milwaukee' last='Sting'] 16 Gold will be one to watch in Minneapolis. The 2028 prospect is recently on the rise in Wisconsin and provides an offensive and defensive presence for her team. She knows how to avoid the block, going deep into the corner while also being able to use the tip and throw effectively. This team has a two seed in their pool with Houston Skyline 16 Royal being the one.     Madtown 161 National out of Madison is coming into the tournament with a bid from the Badger Region They are the Badger Region 16s runner up behind Sting 16 Gold. An athlete to watch in Minneapolis will be Lorelia Candler. What is so exciting about Candler is how she can impact the game in so many ways. She is one of the top overall players in the Wisconsin Class of 2028 where she can set and swing. She plays the game with such athleticism and physicality where she can set the ball with ease going from pin to pin, is extremely terminal from the right side, and she is the type of athlete who makes something out of nothing. A pure playmaker!     Opposing teams have to know when [player_tooltip player_id='734122' first='Grace' last='Hoverson'] is in the front row. The 6'2 middle blocker who plays for Madtown 161 National has a lot of length and strength where she is very imposing for her opponents. She can also score in a variety of ways where she can find the deep corners or score off a one foot approach. Her skillset will be really exciting for coaches at the next level. Madtown has had success with athletes heading to the Summit League where plenty of those coaches will be there to recruit this upcoming weekend.     [player_tooltip player_id='783362' first='Greta' last='Huth'] preps at Hudson High School right along the Mississippi River and will be playing for Northern Lights 16-2 along with high school teammate [player_tooltip player_id='733274' first='Aspen' last='Mullally']. Huth is a middle blocker who is a sneaky matchup for her opponents. She has a fast twitch style where she is quick to the ball and has a fast arm. With that quickness the defense needs to be ready for her power where she can be dangerous where she doesn't need a big window to be able to swing and score.     [player_tooltip player_id='932810' first='Allison' last='Schupmann'] has some spring in her game where she is a six rotation outside hitter for Madtown 162 National. She had a successful high school season where she was part of the Watertown Luther Prep team who were the D3 state runner ups. Schupmann has an all around game where she knows where to find open spots from the pin. She is also someone who this team will rely upon to get their side of the net in system out of serve receive.     [player_tooltip player_id='822705' first='Bella' last='Daley'] will be a pin to take note of this upcoming weekend in Minneapolis. She can play on the outside or right side where she has the length to cause problems for opponents. She preps at Xavier High School out of Appleton where she was able to make an impact this fall. She is making big gains in her all around game this club season and will be primed for a breakout junior year for the Hawks.     This 2028 libero brings a fundamentally sound game to the court where she can take command of the backrow. She will be suiting up for [program_tooltip program_id='428591' first='FC' last='Elite'] 16 Navy who will be competing in the 16 USA Division. There is a lot of promise with this team where their best volleyball is ahead of them in 2026. Mulder will be one who can provide the first contact, a savvy court sense where she can handle a high volume of touches in left back and middle back.     [player_tooltip player_id='545524' first='Brooke' last='Umbarger'] is so terminal. She can score points on the outside, right side, you name it she's going to find a way to put points on the board. There is an upside to her game that is exciting, with her length and athleticism there is a lot of potential for her to grow her all around game. She takes smart angles to the ball which allows her to score in a variety of ways. Her last two steps are fast, she attacks with a purpose. Definitely keep track of this 2028.     The 2028 setter prospect out of Arrowhead High School will be one to watch for MKE Sting 16 Black as they take on the 16 USA Division in Minneapolis. The quickness from Hughes is what can change the game on her side of the net. She has great footwork and fast hands that allows her team to get rolling. She's not afraid to push the tempo and get all of her attackers involved.     [player_tooltip player_id='826456' first='Isabelle' last='Pritzl'] is going to pack a punch out of the middle. She was just selected to be part of the Badger Region High Performance Camp where she will be in the running to be part of the Badger Region All Star team. The sophomore from West De Pere High School is coming off a successful high school season, making a huge impact for the Phantoms. She is quick laterally to seal the block, transitions well to be available for her setter, and is really tough to defend on a quick tempo set.     This is going to be a fun 1W team out of Green Bay heading to Minneapolis where they have seen some early season success. A key piece to their success is Lexi Stephens who is one of the top attackers in Northeast Wisconsin and is also one of the state's top tennis players. She was able to pull double duty this fall where she was a state qualifier for tennis and 1st Team All Conference in volleyball. She can score from anywhere on the court and knows how to use the entire court to score points much like she does on the hardcourt for tennis.

We've entered the qualifier season and it can be tough to keep track of it all with qualifiers expanding to multiple weeks and for some events, multiple cities. This weekend will be the 16 Open and 16 USA teams taking on the Northern Lights Qualifier Downtown Minneapolis. This will traditionally draw some top teams in the country where it is always tough to grab a bid. Let's take a look at the teams taking on NLQ from Wisconsin.