Countdown to Nationals: 8 Elite Pins to Know
We are now 8 days away from the start of the USAV Girls Junior National Championships! It is an exciting week as teams head to their last few practices of the season. The pins headed to nationals from the Badger…
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Continue ReadingWe are now 8 days away from the start of the USAV Girls Junior National Championships! It is an exciting week as teams head to their last few practices of the season. The pins headed to nationals from the Badger Region are incredibly high-level and will be very fun to watch.
Check out 8 Elite Pins to know headed to nationals!
Madison Quest Madison Quest 6'3" | OH DSHA | 2025 State #13 Nation WI – Sting 16 Gold – Class of 2025
This is a name you will be hearing A LOT in the next few years. Madison plays at a truly elite level. She is playing up an age division on an Open-qualified team and is a key athlete to their success. Madison has an incredible amount of power and can also play all six rotations. Madison is an unstoppable force on the court, and it will be awesome to see her compete at such a high level at nationals.
Annalise Patchett Annalise Patchett 6'0" | OH Fox Valley Lutheran | 2024 State WI – FC Elite 16 Navy – Class of 2024
Annalise is an athlete who only continues to impress. She is consistent with a lot of control on serve receive and defense. She can also put a ton of power on the ball. Annalise is a go-to hitter in both the front and back row on this team and is both reliable and impactful with her swings.
Sylvie Zgonc Sylvie Zgonc 5'11" | OH Sussex Hamilton | 2023 State #115 Nation WI – Sting 17 Gold – Committed to South Dakota State University
Sylvie is simply explosive. She flies high and swings big and most of the time it pays off. She is also very talented in the back row and has a great platform. Sylvie can swing and earn points from literally anywhere on the court and is a very valuable asset to this high-level team.
Melia Johnson Melia Johnson 6'2" | OH Slinger | 2024 State #140 Nation WI – Sting 16 Gold – Class of 2024
Melia is a powerhouse hitter. She makes big kills look easy. Her huge vertical and explosive approach help her manufacture points for her team. Melia brings power and energy to the pin and is also a valuable athlete in defense and serve receive.
Kaitlin Schulz Kaitlin Schulz 6'0" | OH Kimberly | 2023 State WI – FC Elite 17 Navy – Committed to UW-Green Bay
Kaitlin has been a fun pin to watch the past few years. She really took off last season and has not stopped since. She has a great balance of power and finesse and is an awesome 6-rotation athlete. She utilizes every set she gets and brings is both reliable and powerful on the pin.
Sophia Wendlick Sophia Wendlick 6'0" | OH DSHA | 2024 State #100 Nation WI – Sting 16 Black – Class of 2024
If you get a chance to watch Sophia play at nationals, you should. She is valuable on both pins and in the back row. Sophia is incredibly dynamic and touches the ball a lot on the court. She is consistent in serve receive, scrappy on defense, tough as a blocker, and explosive on offense.
Maeve Edmund Maeve Edmund 6'0" | OH Pius XI | 2024 State WI – Midwest Penguins 16 Black – Class of 2024
Maeve has a ton of power on the pin. She can rip balls down the line and is great in transition and out-of-system plays. Maeve executes well and has a quick approach and arm swing. She brings a lot of power to the court and is a reliable playmaker on her team.
Samantha Perlberg Samantha Perlberg 5'10" | OH Chippewa Falls | 2023 State WI – Wisconsin Ice 17 National – Class of 2023
Samantha seems to have exploded onto the scene this season. She has always been a talented pin. This year she seems nearly unstoppable. Samantha is a very well-rounded athlete who is impactful in all skills from serving to blocking and everything in between. She has a wicked hit to try and defend against and is a great defender as well.
I struggled to keep it to just 8 athletes because there are so many talented pins. So here are another 20 names to have on your radar:
Avri Solik-Fifarek Avri Solik-Fifarek 6'0" | OH Franklin | 2024 State WI – Sting 16 Black – Class of 2024
Greta Wise Greta Wise 5'9" | OH NEW Lutheran | 2023 State WI – FC Elite 17 Navy – Committed to Hillsdale
Olivia Kwiatkowski Olivia Kwiatkowski 6'0" | OH Oconomowoc | 2024 State WI – Sting 16 Gold – Class of 2024
Karissa Fortune Karissa Fortune 6'2" | OH Appleton North | 2023 State WI – Sting 17 Gold – Committed to Drake
Cali Eastling Cali Eastling 5'8" | OH Tri-County | 2025 State WI – Wisconsin Ice 15 National – Class of 2025
Taylor Tetzlaff Taylor Tetzlaff 6'0" | OH Kaukauna | 2023 State WI – Sting 17 Gold – Class of 2023
Tilly Petsch Tilly Petsch OH Wauwatosa East | 2025 State WI – Midwest Penguins 15 Black – Class of 2025
Addison Albrecht Addison Albrecht 5'10" | OH Kaukauna | 2024 State WI – FC Elite 16 White – Class of 2024
Katherine Lockwood Katherine Lockwood 5'10" | OH Menomonee Falls | 2023 State WI – Sting 17 Black – Class of 2023
Kindyl Kilar Kindyl Kilar 5'10" | OH Whitewater | 2023 State WI – Sting 17 Black – Class of 2023
Ella Kern Ella Kern 5'8" | OH New Berlin West | 2023 State WI – Sting 17 White – Class of 2023
Olivia Durst Olivia Durst 5'9" | DS/L DSHA | 2025 State #140 Nation WI – Sting 15 Gold – Class of 2025
Campbell Onell Campbell Onell 5'10" | RS Luxemburg-Casco | 2025 State WI – FC Elite 15 Navy – Class of 2025
Myla Unterweger Myla Unterweger 5'11" | OH Arrowhead | 2025 State WI – Sting 15 Black – Class of 2025
Paige Boettcher Paige Boettcher 5'8" | OH Germantown | 2025 State WI – Sting 15 White – Class of 2025
Peyton Carlson – FC Elite 16 Navy – Class of 2026
Ava Reis Ava Reis 5'9" | OH Kimberly | 2025 State WI – FC Elite 15 Navy – Class of 2025
Kendra Shimon Kendra Shimon 6'1" | OH Bay Port | 2025 State WI – 1W Bay 15 Mizuno – Class of 2025
Amber Otto Amber Otto 5'8" | OH Oconto Falls | 2025 State WI – 1W Bay 15 Mizuno – Class of 2025
Ava Krueger Ava Krueger 5'8" | OH Marathon | 2024 State WI – Wisconsin Ice 16 National – Class of 2024