Who Did We Find In 2019? – Part 1
Going into the 2019 season, there were things everyone knew would happen. Oconomowoc’s Tayler Alden (Northern Iowa), Arrowhead’s Aubrey Hamilton (Notre Dame), Sun Prairie’s KJ McNabb (Loyola), and Brookfield Central’s Mckenna Wucherer (Minnesota) would do big things and earn lots…
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Continue ReadingGoing into the 2019 season, there were things everyone knew would happen. Oconomowoc’s Tayler Alden (Northern Iowa), Arrowhead’s Aubrey Hamilton (Notre Dame), Sun Prairie’s KJ McNabb (Loyola), and Brookfield Central’s Mckenna Wucherer (Minnesota) would do big things and earn lots of honors. There were also a lot of unknowns heading into a new season. Sometimes we don’t know who will step up in the spots once held by seniors before them, and sometimes we have just never heard or seen a team and have no idea what they have. These are always exciting times, and over the season, I’ve seen teams from all over the state, so I wanted to write a series on an awesome group of athletes who have made their way onto our radar since August.
Osceola (25-17)
Allyson MallinAddi Anderson (2020 – 5’5 – Outside Hitter) is on the smaller side to play front row, but she really gets up to block the tempo lower sets. She recorded an impressive 47 blocks in her senior season. Hannah Ebert (2020 – 5’4 – Libero) is one scrappy ‘bro! Ebert scrambles to keep the ball in play and is a really fun defender to watch. She gets a ton of touches and has a low flat hard serve.
Leiskau Mathea (2021 – 5’7 – Setter) is a strong server that uses the corners. She also has a smart timed setter dump exposing the middle. Osceola’s strength is their middles, and one is Allyson Mallin (2021 – 5’5 – Middle Blocker). She runs a quick route, hits a nice cutback swing, and sees the block well. Mallin will take on a huge role next season with 3 of their top attackers graduating.
Abbotsford (31-8)
Olivia HammelAlyssa Beran (2020 – 5’10 – Middle Blocker) made the most out of her season playing wherever her team needed. She used her smart shots to be a solid contributor on offense. Beran also led the defense with 63 blocks this season.
Haylee Soyk (2023 – 5’7 – Middle Blocker) elevates and moves well laterally. Soyk is the future of the Falcons, along with Olivia Hammel (2022 – Outside Hitter). Hammel is another strong jumper with a high contact and fast swing. She was an impressive leader in just her sophomore year.
Wausau West (28-9)
Cassie OelkeAnna Cunningham (2020 – 6’0 – Middle Blocker) gets a nice high strong contact, hard heavy swing, runs a nice slide, and can hammer the 5 corner. She has a strong serve that works the seams and gives passers a fit. Cunningham also hits a nice cutback when hitting a quick tempo, sees the block well, and takes a strong swing around it.
Cassie Oelke (2020 – Outside Hitter) is unconventional, underrated, and raw but effective. She is a very smart player that serves the corners and does a smart redirect with an overpass. Oelke also has a number of ways to score with the ability to hit around the block down power alley, power through the block, using hands, or a tricky roll shot into the middle.
Kiley Deaton (2021 – Pin Hitter) has a number of shots as well, including a smart tip, roll shot over the block, and hits a really nice deep line. She also puts up a big block and when serving she can drop it in the 1 corner. Jenna Rusch (2020 – Libero) is solid in serve-receive. She’s also scrappy and covers her hitters extremely well. Madelyn Hauer (2021 – Middle Blocker) runs really smart routes, pounds the 5 side and is scrappy at the net.
Camille WilsonFall Creek (40-4)
Fall Creek has gritty defenders all the way around. Allison Dunham (2020 – 5’1 – Defensive Specialist) is one of them that is super scrappy and shows great hustle for a shanked pass. Even better, she is solid in serve-receive. The crickets also have Camille Wilson (2020 – 5’5 – Right Side Hitter) as another strong serve-receiver while Madisen Johnson (2020 – 5’7 – Outside Hitter) swings really well for the corners.
River Valley (25-13)
Ali Hoffman (2020 – 5’10 – Setter) runs a 5-1, moves the ball around well, and has a great 1- handed lefty dump. Her sell makes her super hard to defend. Hoffman also executes a really nice jumping backset that gets all the way out to the pin.
River Falls (39-7)
#10 Abby LarsonI finally got a chance to see Abby Larson (2020 – 5’11 – Right Side Hitter) play live at the Menomonie Sprawl in August, and she ended up recording a career high 5 kills in 2 different matches. Larson runs a really nice back 1 ball to get the cross-court line. She does a great job of powering the ball through the block.
Brianna Brathol (2023 – 5’9 – Defensive Specialist) has a wicked float serve that works the receiver’s hands but couples that with a great placed short serve, leaving receivers guessing and opposing teams out of system. Morgan Kealy (2023 – 5’9 – Setter) was running a 5-1 back in August. She gives her hitters a ton of opportunities and got a little sneaky landing a setter dump with a tight pass and 2 big blockers at the net trying to stop her.