20 Emerging Athletes Take On The PD Sizzle

The Sizzle is “So Back”.  With 48 varsity teams and 32 junior varsity teams coming to Appleton next week, this is always a great chance for high school teams to see where they fit when it comes to the midpoint of the summer.  Here are 20 athletes to know, some new names, some familiar who will be taking on the Prep Dig Sizzle.    <a href="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1_az-WiMp4Jgmkkt_LV2aETVheoS--rQyahhtjZzQN9c/edit?gid=1496897757#gid=1496897757" type="link" id="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1_az-WiMp4Jgmkkt_LV2aETVheoS--rQyahhtjZzQN9c/edit?gid=1496897757#gid=1496897757">Prep Dig Sizzle Schedule 2026</a>    Oconto will be heading to the Prep Dig Sizzle after coming off a big 2025 season.  The Blue Devils were 25-8 overall, champions of the Packerland going 8-0.  They return a rising senior in Alaina VandenLangenburg who had nearly 400 kills as a junior and was one of the top attackers in the Packerland.  VandenLangenberg isn't the only attacker returning as Oconto returns Kylee Sydor who had over 150 kills last season.      [player_tooltip player_id='923818' first='Lauren' last='Lueth'] has been a key piece of the surge for Cedar Grove-Belgium, being a part of the varsity squad since her freshman season.  She is nearing 500 total kills as a middle blocker where she has been very consistent for the rockets with her swing and her block.  She averaged 2.5 kills in 2025 and collected 30 total blocks.  The Rockets return their top three scorers from 2025 that also include [player_tooltip player_id='822553' first='Ava' last='Peterson'] and [player_tooltip player_id='923856' first='Claire' last='Lukens'] where they will be a team to watch in the Big East.      [player_tooltip player_id='522949' first='Ava' last='Van Camp'] can pack a punch for Brillion who is emerging as a team to watch in Northeast Wisconsin.  The Lions had a 28-5 record in 2025 and return their top two scorers in Van Camp and [player_tooltip player_id='522345' first='Emma' last='Schuh'].  For Van Camp, she is a high flyer on the pin where her vert is pretty unreal.  She had a big club season playing for [program_tooltip program_id='428591' first='FC' last='Elite'] 17 White which should give her plenty of momentum heading into her senior year.      Denmark is another team who made a statement in 2025 going 23-10 overall.  [player_tooltip player_id='809607' first='Eliana' last='Mejia'] is someone who is a major force at the net.  She collected 125 kills and 84 total blocks in her sophomore year.  She already has over 100 total blocks in two years of varsity play.  She spent time playing for Spiketown 16.1 this club season who saw plenty of success.      FVL has always been a team to be reckoned with in the Fox Valley.  They had a huge 2025 season where in their first year in the Bay Conference, they won the title.  An athlete to know is [player_tooltip player_id='807830' first='Alaina' last='Patchett'] who brings a lot of length and athleticism to the court.  She had over 200 kills as a junior, averaging nearly three kills per set.  She was part of the [program_tooltip program_id='428591' first='FC' last='Elite'] 17 Navy team who finished third in the 17 American Division at USAV Nationals in Indianapolis earlier this month.      Freedom is a team that needs to be on the radar for 2026 where they return plenty of athleticism and experience.  [player_tooltip player_id='522079' first='Norah' last='Koss'] is bound for a breakout in her sophomore campaign after seeing significant time on the court as a freshman.  She knows how to swing for power as well as a roll shot to keep the defense off balanced. She averaged nearly two kills per set.  The iIrish return the majority of their offense and senior setter Lilli Big Eagle.       [player_tooltip player_id='516417' first='Camryn' last='Head'] is coming off a big club season for [program_tooltip program_id='428659' first='Wisconsin' last='Blaze'] 16 Black where her team won the 16 Aspire Division while Head was named MVP of the tournament.  She will be one of the key returners for Hortonville who will have two teams at the Prep Dig Sizzle.  Head is someone who has a knack to score points on the middle while also providing a big block.  The Polar Bears graduated some key starters and will look for Head to lead them into the season.      Hudson has solidified itself as a program to know in Wisconsin.  They were a state tournament team in 2024, followed up with a big 2025, and return a lot of talent and experience in 2026.  [player_tooltip player_id='724555' first='Andie' last='Burns'] will be a key piece to the puzzle for the Raiders where she can set and swing.  A very dynamic athlete, Burns has been playing for Northern Lights in the Twin Cities metro with other Hudson athletes.  In 2025 Burns had over 600 assists, 200 digs, and 100 kills.      [player_tooltip player_id='522077' first='Briah' last='DeBoard'] brings such a spark to the court for Appleton North.  She was the starting libero as a freshman for the Lightning and spent the club season on [program_tooltip program_id='428672' first='Milwaukee' last='Sting'] 15 Gold who were among the top 24 in the country at 15 Open.  She brings an aggressive serve and a nose for the ball where she can anticipate the ball to the spot providing a clean first touch.  She will also be depended upon in serve receive.       The Madison are will be well represented at the Prep Dig Sizzle and one of those teams will be Lodi.   Elle Keyeski will be a key player for them where she had over 200 kills as a sophomore, good for just over two kills per set.  She was named all conference in 2025.  Another rising junior to know for Lodi is Aly Kutz.  This could be an exciting team to track at the Sizzle and the 2026 season.      Madison Memorial is coming off a bit of a Cinderella post season run where they advanced to the sectional final last year knocking off some higher seeds in the mean time.  [player_tooltip player_id='806999' first='Paige' last='Williams'] will be a key returner for the Spartans where she had nearly 250 kills, good for 2.2 kills per set.  She has been a consistent player for Memorial her entire career where she has just over 600 career kills.      Oconto Falls is going to be real tough in 2026.  They have two seniors in [player_tooltip player_id='435897' first='Lucy' last='Ripley'] and [player_tooltip player_id='724541' first='Izzy' last='Otto'] woh has played plenty of matches together, but a rising sophomore to know on this team is [player_tooltip player_id='1004770' first='Calli' last='Bursa'].  In her freshman season, Bursa collected 198 kills and 237 digs.  She is one who can score in multiple ways along the front line and can be depended upon to take pace off a hard swing keeping the Panthers in system.      Luxemburg-Casco is coming off of back to back state tournament appearances.  [player_tooltip player_id='459898' first='Aubrey' last='Frey'] has been one of the top scorers in the state for the Spartans, but they have a rising sophomore who will be ready for a break out season in [player_tooltip player_id='915843' first='Ali' last='Jansen'].  In her freshman campaign she collected 172 kills while stepping up in big moments during the post season.  She knows how to find the open spots and play with efficiency.  She played for [program_tooltip program_id='428591' first='FC' last='Elite'] 15 White where she was a key piece in their success to a final four finish at their division of AAU Nationals.      [player_tooltip player_id='726841' first='Claire' last='Theunis'] has been racking up big numbers for Wrightstown.  She collected nearly 600 digs in her junior season and has over 800 in her career.  She is on track to pass 1,000 career digs.  The Tigers have a strong squad returning for 2026 where they will look to make some noise in the Northeastern Conference as well as in the D3 post season tournament.      A top softball player for Seymour, [player_tooltip player_id='1004767' first='Kendra' last='Rettler'] is also someone people need to know on the volleyball court.  As a sophomore she collected 130 kills for Seymour, good for nearly two kills per set hitting over .200.  The Thunder finished 19-18 last year and 6-3 in their conference in 2025.      Oshkosh West has been highly successful the past few seasons, making their impact in the FVA. They do graduate a strong core of seniors in the Class of 2026, but the cupboard is not bare for the Wildcats. An athlete to know who is bound for a breakout sophomore season is [player_tooltip player_id='915848' first='Noelle' last='Prickett'] who was able to make an impact at middle blocker as a freshman, finishing second on the team in total blocks.      Sevastopol has been a team who has been coming to the Prep Dig Sizzle for years.  They are always a scrappy small school squad with the ability to knock off some big teams.  A libero to know for the Pioneers is [player_tooltip player_id='840565' first='Leah' last='Schopf'].  In only two years of varsity play she already has nearly 700 digs.  She could see 1,000 digs this upcoming season which is quite an accomplishment for a junior.       [player_tooltip player_id='575247' first='Taylor' last='Russell'] was a key part to the Bay Port success where they won the Fox River Classic Conference with a 9-0 record.  Russell was the team's libero and was also a key ds/libero for One Wisconsin 17 Elite this past club season who saw plenty of success.  The Pirates return Russell and Truman State commit Emily Bruss who will be key seniors looking to continue the strong run Bay Port has had the past three years.       -

The Sizzle is “So Back”. With 48 varsity teams and 32 junior varsity teams coming to Appleton next week, this is always a great chance for high school teams to see where they fit when it comes to the midpoint of the summer. Here are 20 athletes to know, some new names, some familiar who will be taking on the Prep Dig Sizzle.