Mizuno Showcase: 15+ New Prospects From the 15s and 16s Division
At the halfway point of the club season, some teams are starting to hit the lull, some are finding their groove, and others are trying to find solutions. What I found this past weekend were some new players that were…
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Continue ReadingAt the halfway point of the club season, some teams are starting to hit the lull, some are finding their groove, and others are trying to find solutions. What I found this past weekend were some new players that were definitely worth taking note of that I haven’t gotten a chance to see play much this season, or I saw them really step up for their team when they were needed. I also take into account the athletes who can really bring energy to the court, celebrating with their teammates, communicating, and giving off a lot of positive body language. I’ve seen Midwest Penguins 15 Black play before, but seeing them on Saturday was like watching a new team that has shown so much growth since the beginning of January. They were absolutely on fire and were so close to knocking off some top teams in power pool and bracket play. Here are a few players from MWP, but others who caught my eye that are on the rise in the 15s and 16s division.
Eva Beeth – Oshkosh West – WVA 15 Black
Outside Hitter – Class of 2021
Beeth is long and athletic much like the rest of her Oshkosh West teammates that have a number of talented players from the Class of 2021. Beeth can play anywhere in the front row and is very versatile. She is currently playing with high school setter, Morgan Yenter, and middle, Natalie Johanknecht. Oshkosh West will be looking to break into the top tier of teams in the FVA after the conference has been dominated as of late by Appleton North, Kimberly, and Neenah. Beeth will be one of the keys to the breakthrough.
Jordan Berglin – Pewaukee – Midwest Penguins 15 Black
Outside – Class of 2021
Each time I see Berglin play, I think she jumps higher and higher. Berglin is playing on the pin after spending part of the high school season as a middle. She looks natural on the outside, a high flyer who can hit a multitude of shots and can also adjust mid air. Her back court game will continue to develop, and once she is able to be on the court for six rotations the kills will pile up while being an outlet in the backrow.
Hailey Boelter-Eberhardt – Pewaukee – Midwest Penguins 15 Black
Setter – Class of 2021
Boelter-Eberhardt is part one of the 6-2 that the Midwest Penguins run, but they have the perfect personnel to use the system with each position being able to score and they also know their role very well. There were two plays in a row where Boelter-Eberhardt set a shoot to middle blocker, Alexis Boling that had to have landed right at the ten foot line. At the 15s level the fast tempo sets are rarely consistent, but these two connected as if they have been doing this for years.
Abby Duffrin – DC Everest – Wisconsin Ice 15 Purple
Libero – Class of 2021
Wisconsin Ice uses a two libero system, but Duffrin is one that stands out being in the right position. A solid platform and very smooth with her movements, especially in serve receive, Duffrin will look to contribute to DC Everest this upcoming Fall. The Evergreens made the state tournament two years ago, but now will be in the same sectional as River Falls. They will still be one of the top teams to compete in their conference.
Amalia Fox – FDL Fusion 15 Purple
Middle Blocker – Class of 2021
Fox is an aggressive attacker with a high reach from the middle. This FDL Fusion 15’s team has a lot of power on the outside and was able to compete this past weekend finishing in the upper half of the 15s division. They played no Wisconsin opponents, but did finish second in the Bronze Pool to Minnesota Select 15-3.
Robyn Kirsch – Wausau West – Wisconsin Ice 15 Purple
Outside Hitter – Class of 2021
Kirsch takes a huge approach to the ball from the outside and provides some fire power for WI Ice. Ice ran into a buzzsaw against the Midwest Penguins this past Saturday, but Kirsch is an intense six rotation type that can contribute to her team from anywhere on the floor. Wausau West has some players making some great progress over this offseason in the club world that will hopefully continue for them as they head into summer training.
Ally Longden – Pewaukee – Midwest Penguins 15 Black
Libero – Class of 2021
Behind every successful offensive system, there is a libero that makes the setters job look easy. Longden is another Pewaukee prep that plays libero for MWP. Nothing flashy, but always in the right spot and is on point with her serve receive and taking command of the free ball which allows her setter to run the middle. This MWP team really showed a lot of firepower Saturday afternoon and has seen so much growth since I first saw them at the Winter Classic in January.
Randi Wellhoefer – Oshkosh West – WVA 15 Red
Middle Blocker – Class of 2021
Wellhoefter is over six feet tall and sets a solid block. Middle Blockers at the 15s level I always feel are about a year or two away from being really solid once they have more repetitions with their setters and footwork. Wellhoefer has a lot of upside and could even be a threat from the right side as well.
16s Division
Casey Brown – Champaign Central – Illini Elite 16 White
Class of 2020 – Setter/Outside
Every play for Illini Elite White seems to go through Brown, whether she is setting or hitting out of the front row she is a go to player in all six rotations. Setting in the backrow and hitting in the front row, Brown can hit on either pin. There is something to be said with athletes, especially those who are at the 16s level that can play any position.
Alayna Crabtree – U High – Illini Elite 16 Cardinal
Class of 2020 – Outside
Crabtree is definitely a Division 1 prospect from the outside that can fly, is very dynamic, and terminal at an elite level. Being on Illini Elite’s top team she has two middles who are also Division 1 level athletes that she is able to terminate on the one on one match ups. Crabtree is also someone who can score out of system making Elite a threat to score on any play.
Cenie Friesen – Antioch, IL – Wisconsin Juniors 16-1
Class of 2020 – Setter
Solid. Just solid all around player. The ultimate utility player that can do whatever she is asked when needed by her team. With Karlee Lois out Saturday, Friesen stepped into run a 5-1 and Juniors did not miss a beat winning all three matches to get back into Gold Bracket play. A smooth release and a lot of athleticism, she is one to put on the radar as an all around pick up.
Madeline Haines – Indian Trail Academy – Wisconsin Juniors 16-1
Class of 2020 – Outside
With Karina Leber in the middle, that opens a lot of opportunities for the outsides of Wisconsin Juniors. Haines is a 6 foot outside hitter that plays at a high contact point and is also a solid blocker. Put some more strength training and back court training and Haines will find herself at a high level of college volleyball. A really nice player who has a lot to offer to her team.
Alivia Larson – Tri Valley – Illini Elite 16 Black
Class of 2020 – Outside/Right Side
Larson has the ability to score at will with a hard swinging lefty swing. Extremely tough for a defense to defend, the ball has a lot of pace coming off her contact and she is sneaky around the block. There is always something different about the ball coming off a left handed swing with some speed on it.
Gracey Lovgren – Dakota – VC United 16-1
Class of 2020 – Right Side
Lovgren plays with a lot of fire and intensity for VC United 16-1. A right side that can score and also set a solid block she is also a player with great body language with her teammates, celebrating, and picking them up after every point. Many times athletes can get caught up in the numbers of the game, but the controllables of supporting your team every point is something they can always be great at. This was apparent for Lovgren in her match against Wisconsin Juniors where she was solid in her ability and being a part of the intensity of the team.
Morgan McCormack – Kettle Moraine – Milwaukee Sting 16 White
Class of 2020 – Middle Blocker
Milwaukee Sting 16 White is a scrappy, gritty team that may be a bit undersized, but what they lack in height they make up for with relentless defense. McCormack is able to put up a solid block, but was also very offensive Saturday afternoon at the bubble. Sting White has had some solid wins this season and is a team that can sneak up on you when they play clean, causing the other team to error, and playing tough defense. They are definitely a sleeper team heading into Badger Region.
Emma Oelhafen – Xavier (Appleton) – Wisconsin Volleyball Academy 16 Black
Class of 2020 – Pin
Oelhafen is just under six foot, but can play six rotations, any position in the back court, and has quite the shot selections that she specializes in the painting the back corner of the court. WVA 16 Black was without outside hitter, Courtney Pearson, who was playing for the Kimberly Girls Basketball team in a D1 Sectional Final for basketball (Appleton North won and advanced to state). Oelhafen stepped in to play some left side and ride side and was a huge pick up for WVA along with Raechel Russo who is a high IQ player from Lourdes Academy in Oshkosh.