What D1 Senior Stars Will Shine In The Sectional Semifinals?
There are some matches on Thursday night that if the two opponents were to play ten times, they might split 5-5. The margin of error is small and the intensity at which some of these teams play is unlike any…
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Continue ReadingThere are some matches on Thursday night that if the two opponents were to play ten times, they might split 5-5. The margin of error is small and the intensity at which some of these teams play is unlike any other. In all sections, there are Division 1 and Division 2 caliber athletes who are ready to shine and move one step closer in the “Road To The Resch”.
Emily Banitt – River Falls
Halle Olson – River Falls
Banitt and Olson have been the main go to outside hitters for River Falls their whole career. The Senior class at River Falls never lost a home game and are looking for their fourth straight trip to the state tournament. Banitt brings such an athletic physical style to the net where Olson just has a smooth style where she can find the open spot. They will both head to Division 1 schools next year with Banitt going to Loyola-Chicago and Olson to Florida Atlantic.
Ten Foot Thump 🤩🤩🤩🤩 @embanitt the @RamblersWVB commit for @RFHSVball pic.twitter.com/8vVYFmz1ot
— Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) September 7, 2019
KJ McNabb – Sun Prairie
Banitt’s future teammate is KJ McNabb, who has been the face of Sun Prairie volleyball with her big jumps and booming kills. She is one of the top all around players in the state who has picked up honors at the Big 8 Player of the Year and has over 1,000 kills. Sun Prairie always has quite the road to the state tournament with Verona, who they have split with and if they win they could face Waunakee which has been a familiar opponent come the sectional final.
Mila Mallik – Waunakee
Plays with a ton of heart, energy, and intensity. Her whip of an arm swing and the dark framed goggles have been her identity and she plays with so much confidence, some swag. Waunakee lost plenty of great athletes to graduation from their 2018 team, but have come back to earn the top seed in Section 3 and have knocked off some high-quality opponents this season. Mallik will continue her career at Buffalo.
Karlee Lois – Union Grove
Union Grove has made their way up the rankings and it should come at really no surprise behind some Senior leadership as well as some upstart youth in their program. I’ve seen Lois play since her 16s year for Wisconsin Juniors, along with Olivia Dir for WI Juniors/Union Grove. Lois is the maestro of the game where she is picking her spots to power tip to the deep corner or find a one on one attempt for her attackers. She will head to a strong Division 2 program in Wheeling Jesuit out of West Virginia.
Rachel Roberts – DSHA
Roberts carries on the tradition at DSHA with setters who can just do it all from dishing to attacking. With a long wingspan, Roberts makes a huge impact in the front row with her ability to score points attacking or blocking. Once she moves to the back row, she is finding open attackers and is dependable in the back row passing.
Elise Schneider – Arrowhead
Arrowhead has plenty of offensive weapons with Aubrey Hamilton headlining the show, heading to Notre Dame. However, Wofford recruit Elise Schneider is strong, athletic, and physical where she can play on the right side or out of the middle. She is a mismatch nightmare with her ability to adjust and find ways to score points from anywhere in the front row position.
Katie DiRaimondo – Manitowoc Lincoln
Sydney Paulson of West Bend WestDiRaimondo will be heading to Tennessee Tech after high school, but first she has some swings to take for the Ships of Manitowoc Lincoln. One of the top players out of the Fox River Classic Conference has led her team to finish off the season with big wins over DSHA and Waukesha West. A six rotation, athletic outside that definitely knows how to put a heavy swing down and regardless of the outcome this week, she has left her legacy from the time she stepped on the court as a Freshman for Lincoln.
Sydney Paulson – West Bend West
One of the top right side attackers in the state with a quick left-handed swing, Paulson has been so key for West Bend West. She recently surpassed 1,000 kills in their five-set victory over Oshkosh West this past weekend. She will be heading to Winona State which is currently a top 25 team in Division 2.
Izzy Schauer – Watertown
As Izzy Schauer goes, so does Watertown. The Belmont commit just finds a way to get it done, she has a “gamer” attitude, where she digs deep and finds a way to keep the ball alive, score points herself, and dishes to her open teammates. She knows how to keep the other side of the net off balance and definitely finds a way to win.
Ava Rebarchik – Hamilton
Ava Rebarchik, #3Rebarchik has been a consistent force in the middle for Sussex Hamilton, helping lead her team to over 30 wins this season. Another athlete to note for Sussex Hamilton who has played a big part for this team is Sarah Schrader, the UW-Milwaukee recruit who has been sidelined with a back injury all season, but is still right there will the team leading the way.
Taylor Vanden Berg – Appleton North
Vanden Berg can be used in so many ways as a setter for Appleton North. At over six feet tall, she is lethal in the front row, finding the other side of the floor, or dishing to an open teammate. Very savvy and smart, Vanden Berg brings a physicality to the floor that is a really tough matchup for their opponents. Vanden Berg has won two sectional semifinals and will look to make it a third against Kaukauna Thursday night.