Elite 2023 Liberos Ready For Impact!

The Class of 2023 is in a little bit of a new territory when it comes to recruiting. They are eager, excited, and optimistic about the future, but at the same time there isn’t a whole lot of communication with college coaches with new rule changes that came in May of 2019. Players can send emails, highlight videos, but coaches cannot communicate back to athletes in regards to their recruiting process. These 2023 liberos are showing early signs of being athletes to keep tabs on throughout their promising careers. [player_tooltip player_id="82282" first="Saige" last="Damrow"] - Howards Grove (WI) - FC Elite Committed to Wisconsin Damrow was on the radar early and has already committed to play for Wisconsin. With playing up to two years ahead of her age group, Damrow was playing on the 15s team while she was a 12-year-old 7th grader and excelling at a high level. While playing outside for her high school team which won a state title, Damrow has once again raised her level of play by being a strong force playing for FC Elite 18 Elite in the 18 Open qualifiers proving she can hang with some of the top liberos in the country. [player_tooltip player_id="79696" first="Ella" last="Meyer"] - Western Dubuque (IA) - Dubuque Elite National Meyer was a major spark for her high school team this past fall, digging some of Iowa’s top attackers enroute to Western Dubuque’s state runner-up finish in Class [caption id="attachment_70906" align="alignright" width="271"] Meyer[/caption] 4A (Iowa’s second largest class). She can take pace off the ball and has a scrappiness and passion to her game. She covers plenty of range and has a knack to anticipate which elevates her to a high level. [player_tooltip player_id="79693" first="Olivia" last="Lombardi"] - West Des Moines Valley (IA) - Six Pack 16U Lombardi was another Freshman libero playing on a big stage this past fall with Valley finishing second in Class 5A (Iowa’s largest class). She’s accustomed to a spotlight playing in big matches her whole career. An extremely talented athlete, Lombardi is playing up on the Six Pack 16U squad which is always one of the top programs in the state. With high level training year round, Lombardi will be one to keep tabs on as she progresses throughout her career. [player_tooltip player_id="73495" first="Kate" last="Thibault"] - Watertown-Mayer (MN) - MN Select 17-1 Thibault is playing up on the MN Select 17-1 squad alongside her sister Paige who is already committed to Virginia. These two have been quite the duo on the high school and club courts competing at the highest level. For Kate, she seems to thrive in tight situations and big moments. She just has the grit and fierce attitude that you definitely want on your side of the net. [caption id="attachment_92355" align="alignright" width="300"] Goba[/caption] [player_tooltip player_id="91881" first="Katie" last="Goba"] - Wisconsin Lutheran - Milwaukee Sting 15 Gold Goba is uber quick with how she can cover plenty of ground in her base when defending some of the top 15s attackers in the country. Efficient with her movement, Goba can serve receive on a dime, provide a solid first contact to [player_tooltip player_id="61781" first="Zoe" last="Behrendt"], one of the top 2023 setters in Wisconsin, and can always clean up in coverage off a block or a second contact to keep the play alive. Ireland Henry - Belvidere North (IL) - VC United 161 This VC United 161 Elite team is so fun to watch. They are extremely balanced, a lot of fire power, and have the ball control to go with it. Henry is so fundamentally sound, extremely well trained and is nails in serve receive. She knows how to pace with the right tempo and gives her setter a chance to work a variety of routes. Definitely one to keep tabs on in Northern Illinois. [player_tooltip player_id="91895" first="Molly" last="Berezowitz"] - Burlington (WI) - Milwaukee Sting 15 Black Berezowitz has the quickness and athleticism to play with the top athletes in her age group. She’s definitely been around elite level athletes within her own family with her sister Maddie winning two state titles for Burlington and is now at Kentucky. Molly is part of a top notch high school program and training with Sting will give her a chance to be one of the top liberos in he state. [player_tooltip player_id="82910" first="Kyleigh" last="Coghlan"] - Kettle Moraine (WI) - Milwaukee Sting 15 Black Coghlan is another Freshman who was a key contributor in helping lead her high school team to a state tournament appearance in Wisconsin’s largest class. She was the only Freshman named to the All Tournament team and proved to be a libero to be talked about in the Milwaukee area. A high academic athlete as well, Coghlan has plenty of intangibles that will be welcome to any team. Brooklyn Halbur - CIS TPP (IA) Taylor Bechen - CIS TPP (IA) Halbur is one of the top 2023 liberos in Central Iowa along with her counterpart, Taylor Bechen. The two teamed up for for one of the top 15s teams in the state and had a strong weekend at Colorado Crossroads right before quarantine. This is a really physical squad with one of the top 2023 outsides in [player_tooltip player_id="79678" first="Lily" last="Dykstra"], but with a consistent and clean first contact from these two, the offense just seems to flow. [caption id="attachment_78924" align="alignright" width="387"] Miller in white celebrating.[/caption] [player_tooltip player_id="91878" first="Paige" last="Miller"] - Kaukauna (WI) - FC Elite 15 Navy Miller is long, athletic, and she can do a little bit of everything. She moves so gracefully on the court and can jump out of the gym as well. If needed, she could play on the pin, but she owns the libero spot and is someone who is always going to compete and isn’t afraid of going against the best. Her range is something to note, and being able to make plays in big moments is always a welcome attribute which Miller definitely has. Sydney James - Northfield (MN) - Northern Lights 15-1 Northern Lights always has top notch liberos on every team. So well trained, fundamentally sound, she is definitely a younger version of her high school teammate [player_tooltip player_id="10110" first="Emma" last="Torstenson"], who is on the Northern Lights 17-1 squad and is committed to Colorado. Both have the length being 5’10, moving extremely well in the backrow. With the all around skill of James she could even be utilized as an outside hitter.