Liberos Look To Lead In Big Weekend In Wisconsin
This is a weekend in the Wisconsin club volleyball world. The Wisconsin Dells will be hosting the Mizuno JVA Showcase featuring teams from multiple states across the Midwest while the Milwaukee Sting Center will host the Badger Region Qualifier where…
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Continue ReadingThis is a weekend in the Wisconsin club volleyball world. The Wisconsin Dells will be hosting the Mizuno JVA Showcase featuring teams from multiple states across the Midwest while the Milwaukee Sting Center will host the Badger Region Qualifier where the 18s have a full slate of teams chasing a bid to Reno while the other age groups will be looking to punch a ticket to Dallas. Here are some liberos who will be looking to lead the way.
*Disclaimer – I know liberos switch to outsides, setters, or defensive specialists. I know at one point these athletes have played the libero/defensive specialist position.
Amber Bischel Amber Bischel 5'7" | DS/L Germantown | 2020 State WI – Wisconsin Juniors 18-1 (Title Photo)
[player_tooltip player_id="80162" first="Katherine" last="Walch"]I’ll admit, I’m going to miss this Senior class as I know they only have a couple months left of playing competitive volleyball at the club level before they head off to college. Bischel has always been one of my favorites to watch as a libero with her passion for the game. She’s gritty, she’s not afraid to play with some swag and an edge. She will head to Ole Miss in the SEC and will play under a former Olympic libero in Kayla Banwarth who was previously a player and coach at Nebraska (and the libero for Team USA in the 2016 Rio Olympics).
Katherine Walch Katherine Walch 5'6" | DS/L Green Bay Notre Dame | 2020 State WI – FC Elite 18 Navy
Ok, a lot of these Seniors are my favorite. Katherine Walch Katherine Walch 5'6" | DS/L Green Bay Notre Dame | 2020 State WI is a mighty mouse on the court. She is so scrappy, and somehow her loose ponytail never seems to fall out (if you’ve seen Katherine play you know what I’m talking about). She has this energy that is contagious and a smile that lights up everyone around her. She will head to Michigan Tech which is an incredibly strong academic school along with a program that is accustomed to NCAA Tournaments.
Adriana Studer Adriana Studer DS/L Lake Country Lutheran | 2022 State #187 Nation WI – Milwaukee Sting 16 Gold
Studer is well trained and just incredibly smooth with how she moves on the court. She has spent time with the USA High Performance Program and was in Colorado Springs training with other top athletes from her class over Christmas break. High IQ, high academic, and high character, Studer will look to lead Sting 16 Gold to a bid to nationals this weekend.
Mackenzie Leach Mackenzie Leach 5'7" | DS/L Burlington | 2021 State WI – Milwaukee 17 Black
KaminskiLeach was an outside hitter for Burlington’s state team this past fall, but she has spent time at the libero spot the past two club seasons where she can take over. She’s smart, she’s savvy, and she is able to anticipate for a clean first contact. The 17 Black squad is battling through a few injuries, but they are so tough. A definite physicality to this group where they are incredibly dangerous with a really athletic lineup with Leach quarterbacking the backrow.
Karissa Kaminski Karissa Kaminski 5'9" | DS/L Howards Grove | 2022 State #166 Nation WI – FC Elite 16 Navy
Tough to find a tougher competitor than Kaminski. She would probably take the first, second, and third contact if she could. Kaminski was an all state outside hitter enroute to a state title for Howards Grove, but when it comes to club she is one of the top liberos in her class. Kaminski also has USA High Performance training and has no fear in competing against the best. She has already committed to play at Dayton.
Kylie Struble – Wisconsin Ice 17 Purple
Struble has always been a steady force in the backrow where she can play multiple positions. The is playing up an age group for Wisconsin Ice 17 Purple who will be in action at the JVA Mizuno Showcase this weekend. A really quick and scrappy athlete, Struble will be one to watch throughout North Central Wisconsin.
Ryleigh Zeller – Motion MVP 15 Blue
MVP 15 Blue has a really scrappy team who isn’t afraid to compete against anyone. With a strong showing at BRPL, they will be one to watch heading into the Mizuno Showcase, including libero, Ryleigh Zeller who can get her team in system with a solid first contact taking pace off a hard swing or with her serve receive ability.
Paige Miller – FC Elite 15 Navy
Kapalko on Impact 15 National.Miller is the type of athlete where you could put her on soccer or softball field or she could probably find a way to be the top lacrosse player with the type of athleticism she has. She is smooth, under control, communicates and has a strong presence on the court. Her defensive counterpart in Elise Checkalski is another tough defender who can get a really athletic frontline of FC Elite 15 Navy is motion.
Myakel Kapalko – Impact 15 National
Don’t sleep on this Impact 15 National team who is just a fun group to watch play. They started the season off extremely strong winning the Prep Dig Resolution with talent at a variety of positions, including electric pin in Kaitlin Schulz Kaitlin Schulz 6'0" | OH Kimberly | 2023 State WI . Kapalko is the heartbeat of the defense and will be key in their tournament this weekend in the Dells.