Prep Dig Wisconsin Pre-Season All-Defensive Team
It’s fun to watch players pound the ball, but anyone can look good on an open net or without a defense trying to keep the ball from landing. The game is taken to another level when there are strong defenders to…
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Continue ReadingIt’s fun to watch players pound the ball, but anyone can look good on an open net or without a defense trying to keep the ball from landing. The game is taken to another level when there are strong defenders to keep the rally going. Whether they are putting up a brick wall, putting down a pancake, or flying into the bleachers to keep the ball alive, it really adds a “wow” factor. And like the saying goes, “Defense wins Championships.” Here are some highly productive defensive players that wowed in the pre-season.
Abby Dolsen – 2020 – Defensive Specialist – Superior
Dolsen is making the most of her senior year, and that includes seeing a lot of court time and more than tripling her dig production from 2018. She currently averages over 6 digs per set.
Aubree Bucheger – 2020 – 5’7 – Libero – Oconto
Bucheger leads the charge of Oconto’s 10-1 start to the season and is averaging over 9 digs per set, giving her offense every opportunity to terminate!
Cora Behnke – 2021 – 6’1 – Outside Hitter – Oconto
Behnke is the whole package as a dynamic 6-rotation outside. She is a powerhouse from the pin and a strong defender who is always chasing down a ball to keep the rally alive. Only a junior, Behnke has doubled her dig production and is among the ranks of some really strong liberos.
Gianna FeldGianna Feld – 2020 – Defensive Specialist/Libero – Kettle Moraine Lutheran – Committed To Marian (Ind)
Feld is off to a great start in 2019 averaging more digs the past 2 seasons combined! She accomplished a career high 39 digs in a 5-set battle with Winneconne. Feld is not only a solid defender, but she is solid in serve-receive and a great communicator.
Grace Gilkay – 2022 – 5’8 – Setter/Libero – Appleton East
At the end of August, Gilkay recorded a career high 32 digs in a 3-set barn-burner against Denmark!
Haylee Schmidt – 2021 – 5’9 – Middle Blocker – D.C. Everest
Schmidt has been on fire to start the 2019 season averaging 1.5 blocks per set. She uses good eye sequencing, communicates, and reads the ball well. Schmidt is laterally explosive and has great timing to currently put her among the top 4 blockers in the state.
Holly Jelinek – 2022 – Middle Blocker/Right Side Hitter – Lodi
Lodi is off to a solid start, and Jelinek is a big part of that. She is in the regular line-up, and her blocking creates a lot of problems for opposing teams. Jelinek is averaging over 1 block per set as a sophomore.
Kiara Reinhardt – 2020 – 6’3 – Middle Blocker – Cedarburg – Committed To Creighton
Reinhardt is the queen of blocking, and her stats support it. Even more impressive is that she is getting big blocking numbers against really strong teams, like Lake Country Lutheran, Waterford, and Burlington!
Lauren Sitter – 2021 – 6’0 – Middle Blocker/Outside Hitter – Germantown
Germantown is kicking butt and taking names while Sitter is averaging a block per set. She has already recorded a career high 7 blocks in the Warhawk’s 2-0 win over Whitefish Bay.
Leah Soyke – 2023 – 6’0 – Middle Blocker/Outside Hitter – Nicolet
In just her debut varsity season, Soyke is already averaging over a block per set. And this is impressive when you see Nicolet’s schedule is not a bunch of fluff!
Lexie Lohman – 2022 – Outside Hitter – Superior
Lohman will be one to watch out for in the future. In her 2nd varsity season, she has really exploded defensively. She recorded a career high 35 digs in Superior’s 3-set tournament loss to Abbotsford over the weekend.
Riley Royston – 2020 – 5’10 – Middle Blocker/Right Side Hitter – Stoughton
Royston is starting her senior campaign off with high production at the net. She has already recorded a career high 7 blocks against Bradford, and I don’t think she will stop there.
Samantha Barton – 2023 – 5’5 – Setter/Defensive Specialist – Mercer
Mercer is off to a solid 12-4 start, and more impressive is the defense of Barton while she tallied an early career high 28 digs in their 2-1 win over Hillsboro at the end of August.