Teams To Watch At The 1st Weekend Of The Badger Region Championships
The Wisconsin Center will be hosting some of the state’s top volleyball athletes this coming weekend, March 16th and 17th, for the 1st of 3 weekends of the Badger Region Championships. There will be girls’ ages ranging from 16s to 18s with Badger,…
Access all of Prep Dig
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingThe Wisconsin Center will be hosting some of the state’s top volleyball athletes this coming weekend, March 16th and 17th, for the 1st of 3 weekends of the Badger Region Championships. There will be girls’ ages ranging from 16s to 18s with Badger, Club, and Open divisions at each level. There will also be boys’ teams, ages ranging from 12s-18s competing as well. The girls’ divisions will have a plethora of talented teams.
We have reached a halfway point for some of our top teams, and some teams choose to wrap up their season with the BRC. Some teams are hitting mid-season lulls, while others are starting to click. Here are some of the top teams in the Badger Region to check out this weekend.
Capital 18 Adidas
This team is just loaded with remarkable athletes, from middle blockers, Kiana Schmitt (2019 – Committed to Creighton – Prep Dig Rank #1) and Brianne Korducki (2019 – 6’0 – Watertown – Prep Dig Rank #51) to right side hitter Ashley East (2019 – 6’0 – McFarland – Prep Dig Rank #50) and every player in between. This is a squad sure to place in the top of the Open Division. Outside hitters Bailey Neuberger (2019 – Committed to Southern Illinois – Prep Dig Rank #27) and Sopheea Mink (2019 – Committed to High Point – Prep Dig Rank #14) are energetic players with high volleyball IQs and powerful swings. If you see yourself near their court, you will definitely want to stop to watch.
Linnea WillerFC Elite 16 Navy
This team has a ton of weapons with solid defense to back it. Pin hitters Cora Behnke (2021 – 6’0 – Oconto – Prep Dig Rank #5), Linnea Willer (2021 – 5’11 – Freedom – Prep Dig Rank #21), Natalie Johanknecht (2021 – 6’0 – Oshkosh West – Prep Dig Rank #22) and Jaclyn Wise (2021 – 6’1 – NEW Lutheran – Prep Dig Rank #59) have a lot of firepower and play solid defense. This team scores big points on defense with middle blockers Hattie Bray (2021 – 6’1 – Wautoma – Prep Dig Rank #13), Emma Mans (2021 – 6’2 – Fort Atkinson – Prep Dig Rank #20), and Brianna Guerts (2021 – 6’0 – De Pere – Prep Dig Rank #39) defending the net and making the job of the backcourt a lot easier.
FC Elite 17 Navy
I haven’t gotten to see this team play yet this season, so I am excited to see them this weekend. Here are some things I do know about this team. Outside hitter Courtney Pearson (2020 – 5’10 – Kimberly – Prep Dig Rank #19) is a solid all-around player and great at making the tough shots. Setter Kalli Mau (2020 – 5’10 – Kimberly – Prep Dig Rank #37) is a solid leader and running the offense. Libero Katherine Walch (2020 – 5’6 – Green Bay Notre Dame – Prep Dig Rank #24) is solid in serve-receive, takes care of the routine, and runs a solid backcourt.
FC Elite 18 Navy
Hannah Vanden BergThis team is full of determined athletes who know how to grind it out and get the job done. Outside hitter Hannah Vanden Berg (2019 – Committed to Marquette – Prep Dig Rank #2) was a key player in Little Chute’s trip to the Resch in 2018. Along with Vanden Berg, pin hitters Maggie Cartwright (2019 – 6’1 – Committed to Arkansas – Prep Dig Rank #4), Maddie Koch (2019 – Committed to Purdue – Prep Dig Rank #6), and Addison Barnes (2019 – Committed to Loyola) are quick and have powerful swings. Libero Kayla Kraus (2019 – Committed to Loyola – Prep Dig Rank #15) confidently defends behind the block and gets a ton of playable touches up for her teammates to keep the play alive.
Milwaukee Sting 16 Black
If I were to describe this team in one word, it would be dynamic. Middle blockers Lakyn Graves (2021 – 6’1 – Hamilton – Prep Dig Rank #33) and Randi Wellhoefer (2021 – 6’2 – Oshkosh West – Prep Dig Rank #64) both move well laterally and are solid blockers. Pin hitters Tatum Catalano (2021 – 5’11 – Outside Hitter – Germantown – Prep Dig Rank #14), Kayla Lewinski (2021 – 5’10 – Hamilton – Prep Dig Rank #24), and Bella Bratzke (2021 – 5’8 – Indian Trail – Prep Dig Rank #34) are solid all-around players. Libero Isabella Halcomb (2021 – 5’6 – Catholic Memorial – Prep Dig Rank #31) and setter McKenna Scharnek (2021 – 5’8 – Waukesha West – Prep Dig Rank #36) are quick, smart, and leaders in their own discipline.
Milwaukee Sting 18 Silver
Milwaukee Sting continues to field a strong 18 Silver squad with quite a bit of talent. These players come from a wide range of schools and bring a lot of talent to the court. Leading the offense is Anne Hopp (2019 – Committed to Bemidji – Prep Dig Rank #114).
Grace PeyronShe works with setter and right side hitter Anna Myklebust (2019 – 6’0 – DSHA – Prep Dig Rank #68), who is quick and athletic. The front row for this team is pretty stacked with hitters Jenna Weinfurt (2019 – 6’0 – Catholic Memorial – Prep Dig Rank #61), Siobhan Dittmer (2019 – Committed to Cardinal Stritch) and Nicole Martin (2019 – Committed to Kentucky Wesleyan). Dittmer plays middle and compliments right side hitter Grace Peyron (2019 – 5’11 – Burlington – Prep Dig #59) in the front row.
One Wisconsin 18-1
This 1W team should have a solid weekend at the BRC. Libero Makenna Krause (2019 – Committed to Creighton – Prep Dig Rank #45) is not only strong defensively and in serve-receive, but also has a strong serve. Cece Huhn (2019 – Committed to Northern Colorado – Prep Dig Rank #12) is an incredible utility player who shines anywhere along the net, being able to make it to both pins and dominant in the middle. Setter Olivia Olson (2019 – 6’0 – New Holstein – Prep Dig Rank #42) is a great communicator for this team and runs an efficient offense. Outside hitter and defensive specialist Maddie Crowley (2019 – Committed to Northern Michigan – Prep Dig Rank #57) is a solid 6-rotation hitter for 1W. Gabby Murray (2019 – Committed to Marist – Prep Dig Rank #34) is another amazing middle and a solid blocker, defending some of the toughest attackers.
There will be so much great volleyball happening and these are definitely not the only great teams that will be playing. Each solid team brings something exceptional to the game. If you get a chance to see any of these teams play this weekend, soak in the passion and skill being displayed.