Weekend 7 – Preview
We are getting close and it’s the last chance to get a big win before seeding meetings. 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.
OCONTO FALLS INVITE – October 6th
Oconto Falls will be the host to an 8-team tournament. Teams participating include Chilton (23-6), Denmark (16-11), Freedom (5-10), Green Bay NEW Lutheran (16-18), Kewaunee (11-17), Oconto Falls (15-14), Peshtigo (11-13), River Valley (20-9). I think this one could come down to Chilton and River Valley, and Chilton may be the favorite to take it all. Chilton is currently 23-6 and 6-0 in the Eastern Wisconsin Conference.
The Tigers are on a 4-match win streak and last took a loss at the Appleton East Invite to Ashwaubenon. Half of Chilton’s losses have come to the D2 powerhouse, Little Chute (Prep Dig Ranked #4). The Tigers’ offense is run by Alysha Brickl Alysha Brickl 5'7" | S/DS Chilton | 2019 State WI (2019 – Committed to UW - Parkside), who runs a 5-1 and averages almost 8 assists per set. She is also a threat from the service line with 75 aces so far.
Brickl’s main weapons are on the pins with Jenna Chaussee (2019 – 5’9 – Outside Hitter) and Callie Woelfel Callie Woelfel DS/L Chilton | 2021 State WI (2021 – Setter/Right Side). Chaussee averages almost 4 kills per set and recently recorded her 1000th career kill. Chilton’s defense is anchored by Amber Halbach (2020 – 5’8 – Middle Blocker) and Reagan Brown (2019 – 5’2 – Defensive Specialist/Libero). Halbach may be a little undersized, but she still leads the Tigers with 30 blocks, while Brown is averaging almost 4 digs per set.
BROOKFIELD EAST INVITE – October 6th
The season isn’t over yet, and this tournament should prove that there are more battles to be had. Brookfield East (8-22) will be hosting Cedar Grove-Belgium (10-11), Franklin (25-11), Kettle Moraine (12-14), Lake Country Lutheran (24-9), Lakeside Lutheran (22-9), Milwaukee Lutheran (0-16), Mukwonago (23-9), New Berlin West (10-15), Oak Creek (24-8), Wauwatosa East (14-5), and Whitnall (20-8). Favorites to win this tournament are:
Lake Country Lutheran (24-9) Prep Dig Ranked #3 in D3
Lakeside Lutheran (22-9) Prep Dig Ranked #10 in D2
Mukwonago (23-9) Prep Dig Ranked #10 in D1
Oak Creek is a dark horse in this tournament that could cause some potential upsets. The Knights’ defense is led by Grace Paar (2019 – 5’9 – Middle Blocker) and Mckenna Brieske (2019 – 5’6 – Libero/Defensive Specialist). Paar recorded a career high 8 blocks in their 2-3 loss to Franklin in mid-September, and Brieske recorded a career high 18 digs twice so far this season. The Knights run a 6-2 with Caitlyn Horman (2019 – 5’4 – Setter) and Nora Priem (2021 – 5’5 – Setter). I love this senior/sophomore combination.
Horman gets to lead and then teaches Priem the ropes, and going into the 2019 season, they will still have an experienced setter to run the show. Could we melt their names and call the offensive duo “Norman”? Meanwhile, Prime is also a threat from the service line and recorded a career high 7 aces in their 1-2 loss to Bradford in early September. “Norman” has two main weapons on the outsides, Taylor Seney Taylor Seney 6'0" | OH Oak Creek | 2019 State WI (2019 – 6’2 – Outside Hitter) and Grace Hanel (2021 – 6’1 – Outside Hitter). This is another great senior/sophomore combo that together earns almost 6 kills per set.
LODI INVITE – October 6th
Lodi (6-23) will host Cuba City (22-5), Kewaskum (16-9), McFarland (18-7), Newman Catholic (24-8), Platteville (20-9), Richland Center (23-8), and Wisconsin Heights (16-8). This is another tournament with some tough competition. Newman is a favorite here being Prep Dig Ranked #6 in D4. Another potential competitor here is McFarland. The Spartans have taken down their share of ranked opponents, beating Lakeside Lutheran 3-1 and Catholic Central (Prep Dig Ranked #2 in D4) 3-2 in the beginning of the season.
Lizzy Fortune
Lizzy
Fortune
S
McFarland | 2020
State
WI
(2020 – 5’7 – Setter/Defensive Specialist) runs the Spartan offense with a 5-1 and recorded a career high 44 assists in their 2-3 loss at the end of September. She is also a threat from the service line leading her team with 45 aces. Fortune has one go-to kill-getter in
Ashley East
Ashley
East
6'0" | RS
McFarland | 2019
State
WI
(2019 – 6’0 – Right Side), who recorded a career high 25 kills in their 3-1 win over Brodhead at the end of August. The McFarland defense is powered by Katie Hildebrandt (2021 – 6’1 – Middle Blocker/Outside Hitter) and
Erin Eggers
Erin
Eggers
5'8" | DS/L
McFarland | 2020
State
WI
(2020 – 5’7 – Libero/Defensive Specialist). Hildebrandt currently leads the Spartans with 46 blocks, and Eggers recently recorded a career high 27 digs at the end of September.
