Big Game In Green Bay on Sunday – And Its Not The Packers
Sundays are for football in Green Bay. However, this Sunday is for volleyball when UW-Milwaukee is coming to town to take on Green Bay in a key Horizon League Conference match.
This match is what I would consider a celebration of Wisconsin prep volleyball – with both teams having plenty of players coming from big schools and small, clubs from across the state, and are making quite the waves so far this season.
UW-Milwaukee is off to a hot start this season with a 13-1 start, where last year they had eight wins total. What a turn around, done with local talent and a solid culture. Green Bay is 8-4, coming off an NCAA Tournament appearance in 2018 and has already notched a huge win over Ohio State while they were out competing in Pittsburgh.
For most of these athletes, they didn’t quite get a chance to be part of Prep Dig during their high school career. Here is a quick glance at some of the standout athletes that are homegrown and will be suited up on Sunday for UW-Milwaukee and Green Bay.
UW-Milwaukee
Jenna Miller – Appleton North –
Wisconsin Volleyball Academy
“Miller Time”! Miller played in three state tournaments for Appleton North and during her time at Milwaukee has been nothing but efficient. A member of the All-Tournament Team playing at the Jackrabbit Invite at South Dakota State, Miller uses her IQ and her quick armswing to find the open spots. She’s the type of athlete who just gets it done and finds a way.
Ari Miller – Kettle Moraine Lutheran – Wisconsin Premier/Milwaukee Sting
Miller has been off to a rocket start in her rookie campaign, earning All Horizon League Freshman of the Week Honors as well as multiple All-Tournament nods as well. A really dynamic and athletic middle blocker, Miller plays with a fire and energy that is tough to match. As a Senior in high school last year, she led the Kettle Moraine Lutheran squad to a runner up finish in Division 2.
Jess Grabowski – Greendale – Milwaukee Sting
Grabowski came into Milwaukee having played in three straight state tournaments for Greendale and was one of the top liberos to come out of her class in the state of Wisconsin. A member of Milwaukee Sting, Grabowski has been a standout so far this season with nearly 300 digs, good for over 5 digs per set.
Rylie Vaughn – Newman Catholic – Wisconsin Ice/Milwaukee Sting
Vaughn did it all while she was at Newman Catholic, being apart of three state titles in D4. She piled on the stats as a setter and attacker being one of the most well rounded players in the state. A well accomplished beach player as well, Vaughn has already racked up over 300 assists and nearly 150 digs.
Other Wisconsin Athletes:
Makenzie Mroczenski – New Berlin Eisenhower
Louise Kiekhofer – Brookfield East
Kailynn Mongan – Germantown
Lauren Spaulding – Sheboygan North
Lexie Uselding – West Bend East
Kylie Wilks – Union Grove
Abby Koenen – Burlington
Mati Jakscht – East Troy
Green Bay
Maddie Yoss – DSHA
Yoss led her high school team to two state titles and came to campus at Green Bay as a leader from the start. The 2018 Setter of the Year in the Horizon League has already collected over 4,000 assists in her career and still counting. At 5’9, Yoss has over 30 blocks at the net and is always a scoring threat in the front row as well. Watching Yoss play, she just has a grit that is unmatched.
Emily Lautenschlager – Hortonville
The Senior who prepped at Hortonville High School came into Green Bay as one of the top defensive players in the Fox Valley. Leading Hortonville to new heights as a program with multiple regional championships, Lautenschlager has a scrappiness to her game where her energy is contagious. Now a Senior, Lautenschlager leads from the backrow with her constant communication and experience.
Alexis Dorner – Luxemburg-Casco
15 minutes from the campus of UWGB, is Luxemburg-Casco High School where Dorner led them to new heights with a D2 State Runner-Up finish in 2017 while also earning All State honors. Dorner has played all positions in the front row with a strong arm and a big block where she is a huge value with her versatility.
Other Wisconsin Athletes:
Kristen Paulus – Random Lake
Tiffany Paalman – Appleton East
Kayla Lass – Stevens Point