Newcomers to Watch! Sneak Peak At WVA Nationals Scrimmage
With most club tournaments not starting until 2018, Wisconsin Volleyball Academy is hosting a little warm up to close out 2017 with some of the top club teams in the state Sunday, December 16 at Lake Park Sportszone in Menasha. Even though most college coaches will not be in attendance coming back from the AVCA Convention in Kansas City, that doesn’t mean Prep Dig won’t be courtside getting a first glimpse of what we’ll be keeping an eye on for 2018.
Wisconsin Volleyball Academy, FC Elite, and Capital Volleyball Academy will be bringing their 15-18s teams who will be playing a nationals schedule this club season (WVA will bring up their 14 Black team, and FC Elite does not have an 18s team) with matches starting at 10:30. The amount of talent in this gym will be comparable to some of the top tournaments in the midwest with Division One commits for each club, as well as athletes who will be getting plenty of attention from coaches this club season. Here is a look at some of the teams and individuals to keep an eye on Sunday that could be having a breakout season!
Teams To Watch
WVA 18 Black
This is a team that does not have a lot of experience playing together, has a few question marks, but is packed with talent. Maddie Koch (2019 Purdue commit) and Lily Welti (2019 St. Louis Commit) will be playing up with the 18s this year. They will be teaming up with Emily Scott who is going to Louisville, Alexis Dorner in the middle, a 2018 Green Bay commit, and setters Megan Cannon and Abby Fortune who will be going to Robert Morris and Northern Michigan. This team also has Brianna Weyenberg at middle blocker and Katie Hoeffner of Appleton North, who is an all conference performer and utility player at outside hitter and defensive specialist. Both are uncommitted from the Class of 2018.
FC Elite 17 Navy and Capital 18 Adidas
These two teams are loaded with division one talent and will probably see each other in future battles at the Great Lakes Power League. FC Elite currently has seven players committed to Division One schools, while Capital is lead by top recruits Claire Chaussee who is heading to Louisville and Kaitlyn Gehler, a libero committed to Green Bay. They will square off at 1:30 Sunday afternoon.
FC Elite 15 Navy
Teams at the 15’s level are always interesting and somewhat of a wildcard. With players coming off a season of playing varsity, new teams coming together. There is so much growth from start to finish at the level, it is very exciting. FC Elite 15 Navy has a steady setter in Brooke Bolwerk, dynamic athlete in Kiersten Kraus, and soon to be talked about recruit in Cora Behnke on the pin. There will also be some younger athletes playing up an age group on this team which will make for an interesting dynamic, but one with lots of potential.
New Players To Watch
Olivia Olson WVA 17 Black
5’11 strong and athletic setter who spent most of her high school season as a hitter. Olson has the ability to distribute, put up a solid block, and be very offensive.
Milla Malik Capital 16
Malik is new to Waunakee, but was an instant impact for the Warriors who made a state run and played for the Iowa Rockets last year, a nationals club out of the Iowa City area. Malik will be on the radar of a lot of college coaches with her athleticism on the pin. This is a huge pick up for Capital.
Katie DiRaimondo FC Elite 16 Navy
DiRaimondo play middle for WVA last year, but will be playing on the outside this year for FC Elite. She enjoyed a tremendous prep year for Manitowoc Lincoln where made first team all Fox River Classic Conference
Courtney Pearson WVA 16 Black
Pearson is a dynamic athlete who was the L2 for Kimberly’s state team this past fall. This will be Pearson’s first full season on the national stage, but did play up for 16 Black last year after basketball season.
Taylor Vanden Berg WVA 18 Red
Vanden Berg is an Appleton North prep who is a 6’ athletic setter and right side player that is a 2020 recruit playing up two levels.
Cora Behnke FC Elite 15 Navy
At 6’1 and with a setter who can distribute, Behnke will be looking to have an extremely strong year on the club circuit. As a freshman she blasted just under 300 kills. She will be one of the leaders for her team.