Top Athletes To Know Playing Up An Age Group at NLQ
At Prep Dig, we track and keep up to date with as many players as possible across our network. I’ll admit, one little (ok, major detail) that we end up making changes on is when the graduating year does not always match up with the age of the team. For example, the Class of 2021 matches up with the 17s age group. I’m sure the same can be said for college coaches as well as they are tracking athletes from multiple teams and keeping up to date with who is available in what particular class. We did some homework and here is a guide to NLQ and some athletes who will be playing up an age group (or more) this upcoming weekend that are also uncommitted.
Lindsay Krznarich Lindsay Krznarich 6'2" | MB Sussex Hamilton | 2021 State WI – Milwaukee Sting 18 Black (WI) (Blocking In Title Photo)
Class of 2021
Julianna Schmidt Julianna Schmidt 5'11" | MB Brookfield Central | 2021 State WI – Milwaukee Sting 18 Black (WI)
Class of 2021
Milwaukee Sting 18 Black is good, really good. They earned a bid in Chicago two weeks ago by finishing second in the USA Division. They will be a favorite heading into NLQ as well with a team full of D1 and D2 commits. They do have two Class of 2021 middles in Krznarich and Schmidt who are extremely strong offensively and defensively. Krznarich brings a spark to the floor, is coming off a state championship this past high school season, and provides a powerful swing to score points.
Madisen Miller Madisen Miller 5'8" | DS/L Appleton North | 2022 State WI – FC Elite 17 Navy (WI)
MillerClass of 2022
The progression of Madisen Miller Madisen Miller 5'8" | DS/L Appleton North | 2022 State WI over the past year has propelled her into being one of the top liberos from the Class of 2022 in Wisconsin. Well trained, gritty, and just oozes passion for the game. Extremely solid in serve receive and knows how to take pace off a hard driven ball, Miller can change the game by taking an opposing outside hitter out with how she can cover so much ground in left back.
Lauren Borchardt Lauren Borchardt 5'8" | OH Manitowoc Lincoln | 2021 State WI – FC Elite 18 Navy (WI)
Class of 2021
Borchardt is an electric pin where she brings not only a big arm, but blends in a little bit of creativity as well. She will be part of an FC Elite 18 Navy squad that has plenty of athletes heading to all levels next year to play college ball. Borchardt is the lone Class of 2021 prospect on the roster, but she will gain valuable experience playing with others who are going to be competing at the collegiate level in 2020.
Josie Halbleib Josie Halbleib 6'1" | S Sun Prairie | 2021 State WI – FC Elite 18 Elite (WI) (Setting in Title Photo)
Class of 2021
Halbleib is a dual threat as a 6’2 left handed setter playing for FC Elite 18-Elite which is comprised of plenty of underclassmen as they only have two “true” 18s on the roster. Halbleib can touch high, receives the ball as a setter above the net, and remains neutral. She is on a really talented 18-Elite squad where she will be challenge day in and day out playing an 18 Open schedule.
Britt Carlson Britt Carlson 6'4" | OH East Ridge | 2022 State #129 Nation MN – Northern Lights 17-2 (WI)
Class of 2022
Carlson is electric as an outside hitter from the Class of 2022 playing on the 17-2’s for Northern Lights. A part of a really talented East Ridge High School team out of the St. Paul suburbs, Carlson knows how to score points from the outside, but is dynamic enough where she can see the court from anywhere to score points in the front row.
Faith DeRonde Faith DeRonde 5'10" | OH Oskaloosa | 2022 State #165 Nation IA of Oskaloosa was so fun to watch today. Class of 2022 outside six rotations who will be a big time prospect this club season! pic.twitter.com/mm7TWWqVzr
— Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) December 7, 2019
Faith DeRonde Faith DeRonde 5'10" | OH Oskaloosa | 2022 State #165 Nation IA – Club Ignit 17 Blue (IA)
Class of 2022
DeRonde is much like Carlson in her style of play. Extremely athletic, big arm, and has the ability to adjust depending on the set with a big window to swing from. A six rotation outside, DeRonde is also a state track athlete in the discus showing that she is well rounded and strong. She will be in 17 Open with the Club Ignit Select squad out of the Des Moines area.
Trinity Zika Trinity Zika 5'4" | DS/L Marion | 2021 State IA of @AdrenalineVB to Piper Kirchhoff of @iowapowerplex – two really strong Class of 2021 athletes today. pic.twitter.com/CeJPTo0Ujb
— Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) December 7, 2019
Piper Kirchhoff – Iowa Power Plex 17U Elite Black (IA)
Class of 2022
Kirchhoff is another Central Iowa prospect who is from the Class of 2022 playing on the 17s squad for Power Plex. At the Iowa Top 250 in Des Moines this past December, Kirchhoff tore it up, especially from the right side. She has an aggressive approach and isn’t afraid to let it rip. A fun athlete to watch with a really high motor.
Natalie Ring Natalie Ring 6'1" | OH Edgewood | 2022 State #177 Nation WI – Capital 18 Adidas (WI)
Class of 2022
Pure Power, Ring is only a Sophomore playing up on the Capital 18 Adidas team out of Madison, WI. A top five prospect out of the Class of 2022 in Wisconsin, Ring can touch ten feet and can create some fun angles to attack from. A definite left side pin, Ring will be even more dangerous as she continues to develop a backcourt game to score points from all rotations.
Grace Travis Grace Travis 5'10" | RS DeLaSalle | 2022 State MN – MN Select 17-1 (MN)
Class of 2023
Thibault has been on the varsity court since junior high as a libero and was on the MN Select 14-1 team that was one of the top teams in the 14s division in the country last year. This year she is playing up two age groups to play with the 17s and will be a libero to definitely keep tabs on, especially as the quiet period is lifted for Division 1 coaches over Presidents Day weekend.
Payton Lombardi Payton Lombardi 5'5" | DS/L West Des Moines Valley | 2021 State IA – Six Pack 18U (IA)
Natalie WelchClass of 2021
Lombardi is a solid all-around athlete where she was an outside hitter for one of the top high school teams in Iowa at West Des Moines Valley, but her future will most likely be as a libero at the college level. With range to cover a lot of ground and providing a solid first contact, Lombardi will be a key defender for Six Pack this year where their 18s qualified in 17 Open in 2019.
Natalie Welch – Adrenaline 18 Austin (IA)
Class of 2021
Welch is a lockdown defender on the right side. She is another athlete who has been part of a state championship team this past fall and is accustomed to playing at a high level. She will be part of an Adrenaline team out of the Cedar Rapids area that has plenty of D1 and D2 commits where she will be joined by other uncommitted 2021 athletes Jorie Randall Jorie Randall 5'7" | DS/L Mount Vernon | 2021 State IA (libero), and Ella Pettinger Ella Pettinger 6'0" | MB Linn-Mar | 2021 State IA (MB).
Evvie Kaczkowski Evvie Kaczkowski 5'8" | OH Lake Country Lutheran | 2021 State WI – Wisconsin Premier 18 Teal (WI)
Class of 2021
Kaczkowski is a Class of 2021 outside hitter who has a big arm and the ability to score a lot of points. She comes from a really strong high school program in Lake Country Lutheran out of the Milwaukee area where she played a huge part in winning a state title her Sophomore year on the outside.