Badger Select HP Athlete Analysis – Top Players Take On Florida

Badger Region teams are fresh out of camp and preparing for their training day before heading to Florida for the All-Star Championships to take on some of the top players from around the country. They will be coached by Leigh Barea (UW-Parkside), Jon Ellman (UW-Oshkosh), and Scott Spiess (Milwaukee Sting). Prep Dig wanted to give you an idea of who will be making up the Badger Select group since these are the young ones that we really don't know much about yet. You will definitely want to keep an eye out for these athletes! [player_tooltip player_id="122560" first="Andi" last="Spies"] – 2024 – 5'10 – Setter/Right Side Hitter – Fort Atkinson – Capital 16 Adidas Emmerson Van Lannen – 2024 – 5'10 - Setter/Right Side Hitter – Appleton North – FC Elite 15 Navy Spies and Van Lannen will be running the show as a killer "setter/right side hitter duo" for this Select squad. Spies knows how to command a 5-1 but is such a strong attacker that you want to utilize her in the front row. Barea has a lot of options with these two running the offense. Spies is a great communicator and works hard to put her attackers in the best position to score. She is super competitive and brings a whole new level of intensity. Van Lannen is coming off a strong Nationals for FC Elite 15 Navy and her leadership shows why. She is vocal and a strong attacker in the front row making her one of the stronger young all-around players from the Fox Valley area. Since they are playing international rules, they have significantly less subs making these two invaluable. Van Lannen is organized and keeps her attackers running a variety or routes. Avri Solik-Fifarek – 2024 – 6'0 - Pin Hitter – Franklin – Milwaukee Sting 15 Black Solik-Fifarek is declaring herself as a really solid recruit coming out of the Class of 2024. She is a clever and forceful attacker with good timing and the ability to beat or use the opposing block. Solik-Fifarek has the versatility to swing from either pin, and she makes really good contact on the ball to put some pace on it. She can add some major physicality at the net for this group. [player_tooltip player_id="122527" first="Emma" last="Nilson"] – 2024 – 6'0 – Middle Blocker – Fox Valley Lutheran – FC Elite 15 Navy Nilson brings in a lot of big match experience having a breakout year for FC Elite 15 Navy where they took 3rd in the National Division in Las Vegas. She is a good, aggressive server and has confidence on defense while being an effective attacker who can score using a variety of shots, aggressive swings, and a powerful heavy arm. Nilson will be a top blocker for the Select team. Gillian Koning – 2024 – Pin Hitter – Capital 15 Adidas Koning just gets better and better. She has a nice high contact point and is really tough on which to get a decent block. Koning is really coachable and can really hammer the ball when she gets a hold of it. Her size will make her a big asset in the front row with the ability to put up a big block on either pin. [player_tooltip player_id="122464" first="Kaitlyn" last="Dohs"] – 2024 – 5'9 – Pin Hitter – Oak Creek – [program_tooltip program_id='431479' first='Wisconsin' last='Juniors'] 15-1 Dohs is a pure pin hitter who is very consistent in all six rotations. She is really athletic and dynamic with a number of shots from either pin. Dohs has great court vision and knows just where the open spots are and can hit a range of shots. She brings energy, positivity, and great communication to the court. Dohs will be heading into her sophomore season at Oak Creek and will have an opportunity with the graduation of Grace Hanel. Karli Molnau – 2025 – Middle Blocker – Lake Country Lutheran – Milwaukee Sting 14 Gold Molnau had a breakout year for Sting 14 Gold and then carried that momentum right into HP Camp. She is quick, athletic, and displays such a high ceiling to her game. Her adaptability and power really allow her to contribute in a number of ways as an attacker, including using her quick footwork to run a slide. Molnau shows positive body language as well as brings a lot of energy to her team. She has a strong and reliable serve that makes her a vital piece to a team competing under International rules. Katie Berezowitz – 2025 – Libero – Burlington – Milwaukee Sting 14 Black This is a seriously tenacious and gritty little libero. She is vocal, consistent in serve-receive, and her ability to read the other side of the net helps her make some HUGE plays. You can tell she's been around a lot of high level volleyball for a long time. Berezowitz is a positive spark plug who will bring a lot of energy to this group! Olivia Durst – 2025 – Pin Hitter – Milwaukee Sting 14 Gold Durst really is a Swiss army knife where she can play on either pin, has great ball control in the back court,and good aggressive serving. She is a great player to go to if not much else is working because she is so good at finding a way to score! Durst plays with confidence, determination, and is super coachable. She will go far, so watch out! Peyton Carlson – 2026 – Outside Hitter – Waupaca – FC Elite 14 Navy Carlson has been on my radar since last August when I saw her at a beach tournament. After a big club season for FC Elite 14 Navy and making the Badger Region HP Select team, Carlson has established herself as an upcoming top outside hitter in the state of Wisconsin. She has an assertive swing, a flair for scoring points, and is a key six-rotation player heading into the All-Star Tournament. Carlson does a great job seeing the whole court and communicating with her setter. Just when you think you are safe because she has rotated to the back row, you first get hit with her serving and THEN you have to deal with her tactical back row attacking. Carlson is an intelligent defensive player who takes care of the corners and is effective whether her team is in- or out-of-system.