Badger Region: All Tourney Team,Most Available, Players To Know
The Badger Region Qualifier at the Milwaukee Sting Center providing a glimpse of some of the top players in the state before they head off to college in the Fall. With March approaching, for those players who are uncommitted the clock begins to tic as far as what the next step will be for post collegiate plans. For college coaches, at especially the Division 3 or NAIA level there are still some high quality players that are college material. Here is a list of the Badger Region Qualifier All Tournament Team, Most Available, and Players To Know.
All Tournament Team:
The MVP: Cori Meyers – Nicolet High School – Milwaukee Sting 18 Black
Committed To Winona State
Meyers was playing at such a high level on Sunday hitting over the block, hard cross, and picking apart the defense. A six rotation outside, Meyers will be looking to make an instant impact for the Warriors of Winona State. With the training and competition each day in the Sting gym will prepare her for the next level. The growth she has made since the beginning of the club season is very apparent and her best volleyball is ahead of her. For being an outside hitter, her efficiency had to be extremely high as she was a high point scorer for Milwaukee Sting 18 Black.
Abby Hamilton – Hartford High School – Milwaukee Sting 18 Black
Committed to Loyola Maryland
Hamilton is very similar to Meyers being a threat to score from any position on the court. As an outside, there were some swings that Hamilton had that resulted in a six pack (a hit to the face) on the other side. Hamilton was just as tough to defend when hitting out of the backcourt and was virtually unstoppable when Sting was in system and she could swing out of the middle for a high “2” ball. Hamilton will be heading to Baltimore to play for Loyola Maryland.
Emily Scott – Kimberly High School – Wisconsin Volleyball Academy 18 Black
Committed to Louisville
As the connection between setter Abby Fortune (Appleton North/Northern Michigan) and Emily Scott goes, so does WVA. Scott was a dominate force for WVA in their second set win against Sting Black. Against Capital in the semifinals, Scott was more of a defensive presence that can get to the outside and close the block which was important going up against future Louisville teammate Claire Chaussee on the outside. However, Scott may not be playing in some of the final tournaments, including Nationals to focus on defending her state high jump title.
Claire Chaussee – Sun Prairie High School – Capital Adidas 18
Committed to Louisville
Chaussee’s jumping ability is scary. She is definitely in the 10 foot club with her approach and reach that is tough to stop when hitting cross court. Chaussee is also a threat from the backrow with her attacking ability, but she also plays an incredibly strong middle back defense that saved her Capital team on many points.
Paige Jaeger – Oconomowoc High School – Motion 18 Blu
Committed to Stony Brook
Jaeger makes defending a hard attack look relatively easy. There were plenty of points against Milwaukee Sting 18 Black that were strong swings that were passed on point by Jaeger. Jaeger is a former Sting player and has had solid training her whole career. This year she is definitely the one who anchors the defense of Motion and gives them a chance to run a dynamic offense. She will look to make a return appearance to the NCAA Tournament with Stony Brook in New York next season.
Still Available:
Motion has multiple players that stood out that are still listed as uncommitted. Katy Kluge of Oconomowoc is an All-State outside at the top of that list who can play six rotation and has a plethora of shots to keep the defense off balance. The middle tandem of Nora Pecha of Franklin and Olivia Ciardo of New Berlin Eisenhower are extremely athletic, springy, and are such a great combination with the power on the outside of Motion. They have been playing at an elite level going up against middles and pins who are going to Division 1 and Division 2 schools and have absolutely been holding their own. If teams do not respect their game their quick swing and hops will put a hurt on. Kaitlyn Boelter-Eberhardt for Motion has a powerful swing from either pin and even has the hands to set, a solid all around player from Pewaukee.
Wisconsin Volleyball Academy has two solid defensive players in Mady Schroeder at libero and Katie Hoeffner at defensive specialist who can also play outside or right side. Schroeder was the libero for Regional Champion, Bay Port and is solid in left back and serve receive. Hoeffner is a two time all conference player for Appleton North with state tournament experience and has been a solid, dependable backrow player for Wisconsin Volleyball Academy 18 Black, a true utility player.
Players To Know!
Ari Miller – Kettle Moraine Lutheran – Wisconsin Premier 18 Teal
Class of 2019 – Committed to UW-Milwaukee
Miller has a high motor and is extremely quick laterally. Wisconsin Premier was competitive, but had some tough matchups with WVA on Saturday (which was very close) and lost to Motion in the quarterfinals Sunday. Miller is a force and will be a huge addition to Milwaukee in a couple years. But first, she will look to lead Kettle Moraine Lutheran back to the state tournament this Fall.
Sophia Pahl – Motion 18 Blue
Committed To Bowdoin College
Paul is an extremely crafty, high IQ pin hitter who will be going to college in Brunsewick, Maine at Bowdoin College which has an acceptance rate of 15% (in 2016), the average ACT score is 32 (speaking of high IQ). Extremely prestigious and gorgeous campus, Bowdoin is considered a “Little Ivy”, which is a NCAA Division 3 school part of the New England Small College Athletic Conference. In Motion’s match against Sting, Paul would go up hard for the attack and hit it off the block, the next time up she would tip, followed up with a roll shot. She scores points, she’s smart (on and off the court), and will be such a great fit at the Division 3 level.
Madison Rizner – Richland Center – Capital Adidas 18
Committed To Winona State
Rizner is very athletic and has such great body language with intensity and energy that really adds to her team. A multi sport athlete at Richland Center, Rizner will be heading to Winona State to play volleyball. The transition of going from multiple sports to one sport is always an adjustment at the college level, but with the background that Rizner has and the competitive intensity she brings to the court she will be such an asset to have at the next level for the Warriors.
Sydney Nienhaus – Hartford High School – Milwaukee Sting 18 Black – Committed To Cardinal Stritch
Hannah Kuehl – Kettle Moraine Lutheran – Milwaukee Sting 18 Black – Committed To William Woods
Milwaukee Sting 18 Black is very pin heavy with Cori Meyers, Abby Hamilton, and Abby Koenen. However the middles came up huge in their matches against Motion and WVA. Nienhuis and Kuehl are both committed to NAIA schools, which are comparable to Division 3 and some Division 2 schools, but are able to give athletic scholarships. Both of these players work very hard in the front row and put up a solid block and attack when called upon. They will be a great fit at the NAIA level and should see success early.