Wisconsin Players Stepping Up and Making Noise

<a href="https://prepdig.com/subscribe/">More than 150 college coaches shared this article. Join PrepDig with 30% off using code "digdakotas30."</a>   <a href="https://www.instagram.com/prepdigdakotas/?hl=en">Follow on Instagram@prepdigdakota</a>   The Wisconsin Showcase gave us plenty of players to talk about, especially at the pins and in the back row. We saw hitters taking aggressive swings, finding different ways to score and showing they could handle tough balls when the play broke down. Defensively, there were players taking charge of serve-receive, reading attackers well, and refusing to let rallies end easily. These are a few of the Wisconsin players who made the most of their time on the court and gave us plenty to go back and watch again.    Khlow Kaiser gave us a defender who wasn't afraid to take some space. She was active behind the block, stayed low through her reads, and did an impressive job getting her platform behind hard-driven balls instead of reaching late. I also liked the way she handled first contact. Kaiser wasn't trying to do too much with the ball; she controlled it and gave her setter something usable. The more rallies we watched, the more you could trust her to be in the right area defensively. ~Theresa@prepdigdakotas     [player_tooltip player_id='1010447' first='Madalyn' last='Turriff'] brought a good mix of physicality and control from the left side. She didn't rely on one swing to score, and that showed when the block started to set up in front of her. Turriff could attack with pace when she had the opening, but she also used the deeper parts of the court and found ways to work around hands. I liked that she stayed aggressive even when the set wasn't perfect. Those out-of-system swings told us quite a bit about what she can handle on the pin. ~Theresa@prepdigdakotas     [player_tooltip player_id='877375' first='Kaitlyn' last='Winter'] was at her best when she could get into her approach and attack high. She played with a quick arm and wasn't hesitant when she saw a seam. What kept me watching was how she responded to the next ball after an error or blocked swing. Winter came right back looking to score instead of backing off, and that mentality matters for an outsider who is going to see many sets. She brought some edge to the pin and wasn't afraid to challenge the block. ~Theresa@prepdigdakotas     [player_tooltip player_id='522646' first='Riley' last='Geschrei'] gave us a different look from the right side. She did an impressive job finding herself one-on-one at times and taking advantage of it, especially when she could get on the ball early. I liked her presence at the net just as much as the attacking piece. She worked to get her hands across as a blocker and made the opposing outside hitter work for clean swings. Geschrei showed why the right-side position can be such an important matchup when a player is affecting both sides of the net. ~Theresa@prepdigdakotas     [player_tooltip player_id='880062' first='Kayla' last='Zorzin'] kept finding ways to be involved in the play. She was willing to take the tough swing, but she didn't turn every imperfect ball into a full-power attempt. There were moments where she used the block, changed the pace, or simply kept the rally playable. That's something I appreciate from a pin, because Showcase Volleyball doesn't always provide hitters with a perfect tempo ball. Zorzin adjusted to what she was given and still found ways to put pressure on the defense. ~Theresa@prepdigdakotas     [player_tooltip player_id='913402' first='Jillian' last='Merritt'] brought some grit to the back row. She chased balls outside her normal defensive area and wasn't quick to give up on a rally once the first dig wasn't clean. One thing I kept coming back to was her movement before contact. Merritt worked to get stopped and balanced before playing the ball, which helped her control some difficult attacks rather than simply popping them somewhere on the court. She made attackers earn the point. ~Theresa@prepdigdakotas     [player_tooltip player_id='1004515' first='Carolyn' last='Crowley'] looked comfortable taking responsibility in the back row. Her communication was noticeable, especially when balls started falling between defenders or the play got scrambled. She did a good job consolidating what was happening across the net and getting herself into position early rather than relying on a last-second reaction. Crowley also gave us some steady serve-receive touches. She played with the kind of calm you want from a defender when everything around her starts to get messy. ~Theresa@prepdigdakotas    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Thank you to all my readers for making this journey possible. My goal has always been simple: to shine a light on athletes at every level, from Division I to NAIA, and give them a platform to keep chasing their love for the game. Every player deserves a shot, and I'm honored to help tell their stories.</h2>   Please help us continue to grow this positive platform for players by spreading the word and encouraging your friends to subscribe at PrepDig.com. With your support, we can create unforgettable memories and experiences!   The village, along with athletes, coaches, families, and subscribers, creates this journey.   <h4 class="wp-block-heading">Thank you for making it all possible! ~ Theresa Hickman</h4>   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Follow on Instagram@prepdigdakotas</h3>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">In Case You Missed It</h2>   <figure class="wp-block-image"><a href="https://prepdig.com/dakotas/"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2026/05/image_5b1fa1.png?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-987083" /></a></figure>

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