Weekend 6 – Preview
There will be competitions of all shapes and sizes going on this weekend. Keep the updates coming over the weekend! Make sure to follow updates on our Facebook page and tag @PrepDigWI with your results on twitter so we can retweet. Here are…
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Continue ReadingThere will be competitions of all shapes and sizes going on this weekend. Keep the updates coming over the weekend! Make sure to follow updates on our Facebook page and tag @PrepDigWI with your results on twitter so we can retweet. Here are the 3 events in the spotlight this weekend
NEENAH INVITE – September 29th
Neenah High School will be the host to a 7-team tournament. Teams participating include Appleton North, Kettle Moraine Lutheran, Marshfield (5-21), Neenah, Notre Dame (10-9), Sun Prairie, and Xavier. Favorites to win the tournament include:
Sun Prairie (25-5) Prep Dig Ranked #10 in D1
Neenah (23-12) Prep Dig Ranked #19 in D1
Appleton North (18-10) Prep Dig Ranked #18 in D1
Kettle Moraine Lutheran (16-9) Prep Dig Ranked #5 in D24
One dark horse in this field of competitors is Xavier. Xavier is currently 23-10 and Prep Dig Ranked #6 in D2. The Hawks lost to Sun Prairie at the Tom Larsen Triton Classic at the start of September but not without a fight. One week later, Xavier dropped a tournament match in a battle with KML.
Michalkiewicz (#8) and Vosters (#5) blockingThe Hawks are led by Gabby Murray Gabby Murray 6'2" | MB Xavier (Appleton) | 2019 State WI (2019 – Committed to Marist College), who takes a heavy swing but also makes super smart tips to give her 236 kills so far this season. Morgan Michalkiewicz (2019 – 5’11 – Middle Blocker) plays opposite Murray and puts up a really nice block. Just when hitters think they have a break with Murray out of the front row, Michalkiewicz says “not in my house!” and has tallied 51 blocks. Another senior leader for Xavier is Emma Vosters(2019 – 5’7 – Setter), who is running the offense and orchestrates smart set decisions to the front and back rows. The Hawk’s defense is anchored by Carolyn Popelka (2020 – 5’6 – Libero), who is solid in serve receive as well as racking up the digs with 285 so far this season.
MIDWEST VOLLEYBALL CLASSIC – September 28th – 29th
One of Wisconsin’s secret gems comes in the form of SWCHA (Southeastern Wisconsin Christian Homeschool Athletics). The Saints will be attending the 2018 Midwest Volleyball Classic held in Fort Wayne, IN, which is one of the nation’s largest girls’ homeschool volleyball events. Last year there were 62 teams competing, and the Saints went 7-0.
So far this season, SWCHA is 28-6 and looking to do some more damage. In pool play, the Saints will take on teams from Michigan, Indiana, and Ohio. The Saints are currently lead by Kierra Koepke (2019 – 5’7 – Outside Hitter/Libero), who has been doing damage from the service line as well as the front row. She has 75 aces so far this season, and although she is undersized, she is incredibly efficient at the net. Koepke is hitting a .418 average and has 207 kills so far this season.
Lucky for Koepke she has a well-trained and experienced Chloe Epker Chloe Epker 5'9" | S SWCHA | 2021 State WI (2021 – 5’10 – Setter) to set her up. Their defense is run by Kyah Golding Kyah Golding 6'1" | MB State WI (2020 – 6’0 – Middle Blocker) and Toria Schein (2019 – 5’2 – Libero/Setter). Golding leads the squad with 69 blocks, while Schein has recorded 265 digs so far this season.
ALGOMA VARSITY TRIANGULAR – September 29th
Algoma (12-6) will host Howards Grove (21-7) and Green Bay Preble (9-19) this weekend in a triangular. Howards Grove (HG) is currently ranked #6 in Division 3 in our Prep Dig rankings. HG is full of young talent, but one senior that is capitalizing is Courtney Binversie (2019 – 5’10 – Middle Blocker). She has found her groove on the front line and has 37 blocks so far.
After Binversie, the Tigers are all youth. Karissa Kaminski Karissa Kaminski 5'9" | DS/L Howards Grove | 2022 State #166 Nation WI (2022 – 5’8 – Outside Hitter/Setter/Defensive Specialist) leads with 215 kills, while Myka Roethel(2022 – 5’9 – Middle Blocker/Outside Hitter/Defensive Specialist) has recorded 53 aces. It isn’t just the freshmen making big plays, the sophomores are pulling their weight. Mackenzie Holzwart Mackenzie Holzwart 5'4" | DS/L Howards Grove | 2021 State WI (2021 – 5’4 – Libero/Defensive Specialist) has taken charge of the backcourt, recording 243 digs, and Leah Parnitzke (2021 – 5’7 – Setter) leads the offensive effort with 395 assists.