Experienced Liberos Found At The Sunset Slam II

During our current circumstances, opportunities for athletes to compete have been limited, but Prep Dig is driven to provide safe opportunities for players and teams whether they will be playing in the fall or spring. The Sunset Slam was a great chance to see some of the best teams in the state compete for the first time in months. Forty teams came to the Community First Champion Center in August for the 2nd session of the Sunset Slam. Below are the experienced liberos I caught in action at the Sunset Slam II. [caption id="attachment_108161" align="alignleft" width="300"]<img class="size-medium wp-image-108161" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2020/09/DSC00686-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /> [player_tooltip player_id="91926" first="Elayna" last="Christensen"][/caption] [player_tooltip player_id="91926" first="Elayna" last="Christensen"] – 2023 – Freedom Christensen is simply not willing to let the ball hit the floor. She reads hitters well to anticipate the next move but also has a fast reaction time. Christensen is a competitive athlete with high energy and a high volleyball IQ. Olivia Nehls – 2021 – Libero – Prentice Nehls was not shy about showing off her scrappy, gritty style of play. She made some huge digs that her team could not quite capitalize on in the championship match against a tough Menomonee Falls squad. Nehls is aggressive on defense and embraces the “no ball drops” mentality. [caption id="attachment_108164" align="alignright" width="300"]<img class="size-medium wp-image-108164" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2020/09/DSC00607-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /> [player_tooltip player_id="90599" first="Kylie" last="Struble"][/caption] [player_tooltip player_id="90599" first="Kylie" last="Struble"] – 2022 – 5’6 – Pacelli Struble’s movement on defense is what separates her from other defenders. This particular piece of her game is what makes her stand out because she is able to save balls that were meant to hit the floor. Extremely driven to better her game, she has been putting in the work in the sand with the Wisconsin Ice sand program to improve her responsiveness and speed on the court which has translated extremely well in her defense. Last club season, she played up an age level for Wisconsin Ice 17 Purple. Zoe Gburek – 2021 – 5’4 – Mosinee One thing that makes Gburek such a unique player is the steadiness she brings to the back row. No matter the state of the game, she plays with a level head. Gburek is not the type to let a rare shanked pass phase her. She has immaculate court awareness and speed which help her react quickly and cover a lot of court on defense. [caption id="attachment_108160" align="alignleft" width="300"]<img class="size-medium wp-image-108160" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2020/09/DSC00374.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" /> [player_tooltip player_id="56451" first="Kady" last="Stigler"][/caption] [player_tooltip player_id="56451" first="Kady" last="Stigler"] – 2021 – 5’7 – Menomonee Falls Stigler had an interesting tournament while getting an opportunity to play as the middle blocker for the Phoenix, even though she is a libero through and through. Her willingness to play wherever her team needs, paired with her adaptability and athleticism, makes her an extremely valuable asset to any squad. With her club experience, it is not unusual to see her take the 3rd contact with confidence and control.   [player_tooltip player_id="80724" first="Abby" last="Gardner"] – 2021 – 5’9 – Mukwonago (Committed to UW-Green Bay) Gardner’s so steady in serve-receive to keep her squad in system as much as possible. Last club season she was the libero for Motion 17 BLU. Gardner is such an extraordinary player because of her all-out mentality and passion she brings to the court every time she plays. [caption id="attachment_108167" align="alignright" width="300"]<img class="size-medium wp-image-108167" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2020/09/hg-mackenzie-holzwart-2-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /> [player_tooltip player_id="56454" first="Mackenzie" last="Holzwart"][/caption] [player_tooltip player_id="56454" first="Mackenzie" last="Holzwart"] – 2021 – 5’4 – Howards Grove Holzwart had a great season junior season with Howard’s Grove, helping them secure a Division 3 State Championship. She was really an unknown but showed us she could own the back row. Holzwart plays with a high passing efficiency and great defensive instincts. [player_tooltip player_id="80716" first="Anna" last="Holland"] – 2021 – 5’6 – Waukesha West (Committed to Seton Hall) Holland was one of the liberos for Milwaukee Sting’s 17 Gold team during the 2020 club season. She is consistent on serve-receive, reads the attackers extremely well, and has a confident court presence. All of this, combined with excellent court awareness and being a strong communicator, makes her an excellent libero. [caption id="attachment_108162" align="alignleft" width="300"]<img class="size-medium wp-image-108162" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2020/09/DSC00803.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" /> [player_tooltip player_id="81261" first="Madisen" last="Miller"][/caption] [player_tooltip player_id="81261" first="Madisen" last="Miller"] – 2022 – 5’8 – Appleton North During the 2020 club season, Miller was the libero for FC Elite 17 Navy while playing up an age level. She plays with speed, energy, intensity, and shows she is willing to work hard. Most importantly, Miller is highly competitive and driven on the court. McKayla Simao – 2021 – 5’2 – Sparta The first thing I notice about Simao is her speed. Her cleverness mixed with her athleticism helps her a great deal in the back court. Simao’s fast response on defense helps her get a hand on the balls that seem far too gone. [caption id="attachment_108163" align="alignright" width="300"]<img class="size-medium wp-image-108163" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2020/09/DSC01002.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" /> [player_tooltip player_id="57270" first="Michaela" last="Riege"][/caption] [player_tooltip player_id="57270" first="Michaela" last="Riege"] – 2022 – 5’7 - Waterloo Riege does a great job using simple movements, strong platform angles, and is an extremely dependable back court leader. When you watch Waterloo, you can see she is aggressive, selfless, and has her teammates’ backs. Riege has experience winning at both the high school and club levels and could make an immediate impact in a college program.