2020 Club Profile: FC Elite
FC Elite Volleyball Club has grown stronger each season with the addition of high level coaching and talented players. This past weekend we held our Prep Dig Resolution Tournament at the Community First Champions Center in Grand Chute, which is actually one of the practice sites for FC Elite. They’ve also added satellite teams in Luxemburg Casco this season so could they be working to expand? Here’s a closer look at the teams that placed in the top 4 at our Resolution Tournament.
18 Elite
Brooke MosherBrett Damrow will be coaching another impressive roster of ten, headlined by Junior Illinois commit, Brooke Mosher (6’0 – Setter/Outside Hitter – Waterloo), as well as freshman Wisconsin commit, Saige Damrow (Libero – Howards Grove). Mosher can jump set from anywhere and place the ball anywhere, as well as the ability to score with a fast swing and or deep court setter dump. Damrow helped lead the Howards Grove squad to a dominant Division 3 State Championship as an outside hitter, but she is so quick, she covers the whole court. She splits defensive duties with senior Winona State commit, Rylee Vaughn (5’5 – Libero), who claimed a Division 3 State Championship with Lake Country Lutheran in 2018.
These three play alongside a couple of UW-Green Bay recruits, including senior Sydney Rabe (Middle Blocker) and junior Cora Behnke (6’1 – Outside Hitter – Oconto) to make this a star studded group. This Elite squad added some new faces: junior lefty Josie Halbeib (6’2 – Setter/Right Side Hitter – Sun Prairie) and junior Lizzie Binder (6’3 – Outside Hitter – Sheboygan North). Halbeib takes a swing on a tight pass when she runs the court on her own. Binder is looking better than ever with a wicked cross body shot down the line.
The new additions should give them some nice depth at the pins. This team has a great foundation with a pin hitter like Linnea Willer (2021 – 6’1 – Freedom), who puts up a big block and has a heavy swing. Elite dominates in the middle with junior Marquette commit, Hattie Bray (6’2 – Wautoma), who moves so fast laterally to close the block and elevates to really seal the net. This squad definitely has what it takes to be a top contender in the Badger Region.
16 Navy
16 Navy had some impressive wins in the gold bracket to take a 2nd place finish behind 18 Elite. There are quite a few returners on this team, led by the versatile Dayton commit Karissa Kaminski (5’8 – Libero – Howards Grove) and a dynamic Berkley Mischler (2022 – Middle Blocker – Appleton North). Kaminski and Mischler are both top 2022 players in the state. Kaminski is coming off leading Howards Grove to a Division 3 State Championship.
Isabella Van Laanen is a returning pin hitter that has a topspin jump serve that works the tape and a fast arm swing to get the kill in the deep corners. In the back row, Michaela Riege is back, giving this stacked squad a solid defensive foundation. Emma Baierl (2022 – Setter – Howards Grove) is back to feeding her hitters and giving them so many opportunities to beat the block by running a fast offense. Mary Satori (2022 – Middle Blocker/Outside Hitter – Manitowoc Lincoln) was also in top form where she elevated and sliced the ball harder than anyone I saw on Saturday.
17 Navy
Kiersten KrausThis team is loaded with experienced returners, which should make them a team to keep an eye on. Leading this team will be Appleton North setter Brooke Bolwerk (2021 – 5’6), who has established herself as a top 2021 player. Joining her are some talented hitters, led by Kent State recruit Kiersten Kraus (2021 – 5’10 – Setter/Outside Hitter – Neenah) and UW-Green Bay recruit Natalie Johanknecht (2021 – 6’0 – Middle Blocker/Outside Hitter – Oshkosh West).
Hitters Brianna Geurts (2021 – 6’0 – Middle Blocker/Right Side Hitter – De Pere), Jaclyn Wise (2021 – 6’1 – Outside Hitter – NEW Lutheran) and Avery Torrey (2021 – 6’2 – Middle Blocker/Pin Hitter – Kaukauna) were all big impact players this fall on their high school teams. Defensively, Madisen Miller (2022 – Libero – Appleton North) and Brooke Anderson (2021 – Libero – Appleton North) are liberos with experience and come from successful high school programs. Myka Roethal (2022 – 5’9 – Outside Hitter – Howards Grove) is a versatile player who can swing from either pin or be a defensive specialist.