The Top Attackers – All Top 250 Team
With four events in four states over the course of two weekends, there was plenty of volleyball to be played at the Prep Dig Top 250 in Iowa, Nebraska, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. With all events considered, here are some of…
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Continue ReadingWith four events in four states over the course of two weekends, there was plenty of volleyball to be played at the Prep Dig Top 250 in Iowa, Nebraska, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. With all events considered, here are some of the top athletes from each state to make up the All Top 250 Team to finish off with the top attackers!
Nebraska
Taylor Bunjer – Elkhorn – Premier
Class of 2022
The 5’10 right side showed she could really contribute anywhere. A strong athlete with a big swing, Bunjer is fundamentally sound where she really stands out with her ability to pass to attack, as well as score from either pin.
RussellShaina Russell – Gretna – Nebraska Juniors
Class of 2021
Russell was among some of the top Iowa Class of 2021 pins where she is just solid. I know thats a term I overuse, but she can pass, serve receive, attack, and like most Nebraska athletes I saw this weekend – well trained and fundamentally. She’s a high IQ athlete as well knowing what shots to hit when, a great pick up at the next level.
Katie Mendick – Bellevue East – River City Juniors
Class of 2021
Much like Mattheis, Mendick is well trained and an all-around type player. What I like about Mendick’s swing is that the contact point is high and she finishes it all the way through.
Loving this long rally of 2020 and 2021 athletes at the Nebraska Top 250 pic.twitter.com/VilifgB3Y9
— Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) December 8, 2019
Iowa
Faith DeRonde – Oskaloosa – Central Ignit Select
DeRondeDeRonde just brings such an athletic and physical style to the court. She can fly, she can swing for a shot or power. Not only is DeRonde a top five player in the Class of 2022, but she is also a state track qualifier in the discus. Her upside is incredibly high and will be playing up on the Central Ignit 17s squad this 2020 club season.
Layanna Green – Waukee – PowerPlex
Class of 2021 – Middle Blocker
Green makes really difficult plays look really easy with her ability to jump and adjust. Her athleticism is so fun to watch playing well above the net and creating shots for herself. Green will be on the radar of plenty of programs heading into this club season where she will play for PowerPlex. She will also be looking to defend her Class 5A state high jump title as well for Waukee.
Danielle Johnson – Osage – Six Pack
Class of 2021 – Outside Hitter
Johnson came to the Top 250 after a basketball game the previous night where there were plenty of athletes who were pulling double duty on the weekend. Johnson is a solid six rotation outside who is always consistent with her all-around ability, positive body language, and in a scramble situation always finds a way to swing and be a solid outlet.
What a day. From the athletes to the parents to the coaches who were able to join, so much fun at the Iowa Top 250 – a few top plays from today! pic.twitter.com/Hm69McBz0K
— Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) December 8, 2019
Elyse Winter – Xavier – Six Pack
Class of 2021 – Outside Hitter
It doesn’t matter if Winter is playing in the state tournament or a 3 on 3 Queens game at the Top 250, she competes and wants to win. After starting her high school career as a middle, Winter has come on extremely strong and is developing into one of the top pins in the Class of 2021.
Minnesota
Bailey Olson – Willmar – Kandi Elite
It was easy to identify Olson on any court she was playing on given her athletic and physical presence. She has all-around skills that were highlighted throughout the session. She has good elevation and is aggressive with her arm work when she swings. Look for her this club season competing for Kandi Elite 17-1.
Sacia Vanderpool – Byron – SEE
Among the tallest athletes at the Expo, Vanderpool displayed good movement through both controlled and competitive activities. She has great length, which creates high contact points when attacking while filling up great space at the net defensively. With improved foot and arm speed she has great potential to climb the athlete rankings in this class as a compelling prospect for the next level.
MN Top 250 First Impressions: Five Session I Standouts https://t.co/zmFAz2OxhK pic.twitter.com/cSLMgtt2xj
— Prep Dig Minnesota (@PrepDigMN) December 16, 2019
Aleah Zieske – NLS – Kandi Elite
Zieske may have been the most impressive athlete at the Expo. She is athletic and shows a maturity in her skills that is patient yet dynamic with her defense and ball control while explosive through her approach and transition work. Her movements are simple, which allow her to be very efficient in pursuit of the ball. She will be a featured six-rotation athlete for Kandi Elite 17-2 this club season.
Tiara Diamond – Eastview – M1
Diamond is building off of a productive high school season with Eastview. Just a sophomore, her skill set is raw in some areas and will certainly be refined as she gains more experience with her platform work and defense. That is not to say that she won’t get some great attention over the club season for what she can do with her arm. She gets her feet to ball well, which allows her to elevate and create good torque in the air leading her to finish with great power and movement through her arm swing. She has the ability to play bigger than her 5’8 frame.
Braiziah Dixon – Woodbury – M1
Dixon can bring heat in the middle. She left a very good impression with her footwork to the ball and spacing as a middle attacker. She displayed one of the more dyamic arm swings among all middles with her ability to swing through multiple zones with good power and pace. Just a sophomore, she has a lot of room to grow but has definitely developed a great foundation heading into the club season. There is no doubt that Dixon is primed to be a definitive stock-riser for the 2022 class over the next few months of the club season.
Payton Rodberg – Proctor – MN North
Rodberg is another pin attacker in the class of 2022 that showed great promise with an aggressive approach to the ball that is capitalized by some good heat. Her display of arm strength matched a skill set and competitiveness around the floor that made her stand out. She has great potential to be a highly effective six-rotation athlete over the course of her prep career, which will most likely include some movement up the Prep Dig class of 2022 athlete rankings.
Wisconsin
TruckenbrodLindsay Krznarich – Arrowhead – Milwaukee Sting
Class of 2021 – Middle Blocker
The evolution of Krznarich has been impressive to watch. She has turned into a dominant middle blocker that packs a punch and has also developed in her overall IQ of the game, anticipating the next play, knowing the timing of when to jump and what shots to hit and when. She won a state title with Arrowhead this past fall and will look to come back for a strong Senior year.
Monica LaFleur – Arrowhead – Milwaukee Sting
Class of 2021 – Middle Blocker
LaFleur keeps touching higher and is dangerous when running a slide with her size and athleticism. At 6’2, athletic and very dynamic LaFleur was relatively new to volleyball two years ago as a 15s player. Now she is a rising Class of 2021 prospect that showed that she is a threat offensively and defensively.
Elle Truckenbrod – Kettle Moraine Lutheran – Milwaukee Sting
Class of 2021 – Outside Hitter
Truckenbrod was so explosive on Sunday, touching nearly ten feet on her approach and showing how athletic she is all around. Whether its on the pin or in the backrow, Truckenbrod continues to rise in the Class of 2021. Her overall athleticism and ability to create a shot to score is what sets her apart and will be fun to watch heading into the 2020 club season.
Robi Binagi or Kettle Moraine with the hammer! Hammer 🔨🙄😎 pic.twitter.com/iiqjCwxoIQ
— Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) December 15, 2019
Robi Binagi – Kettle Moraine – Milwaukee Sting
Class of 2021 – Outside Hitter
I saw Binagi play this past high school season as part of a Kettle Moraine team who qualified for the state tournament. This past Sunday, Binagi was looking so strong throughout the whole event. On the pin she just flys! An explosive leaper with an electric arm, Binagi will be a really solid catch at the next level.
Lauren Borchardt – Manitowoc Lincoln – FC Elite
Class of 2021 – Outside Hitter
Borchardt has always been on the radar as someone who was springy and can blast away on the pin. At the Wisconsin Top 250, Borchardt not only was flying on the pin, but she was able to show she could be really solid in the backrow with serve receive and passing. She will be playing on the FC Elite 18 Navy squad this club season.