Top 2022 Pins to Watch at the Badger Qualifier
The Badger Qualifier is set to happen this weekend at the Milwaukee Sting Center. Teams aging from 12 to 18 will take the court in hopes to get a bid to the USAV Girls National Championships taking place later this spring. This is one of the few times during the season when the top athletes in the state all convene in one location. It will be a weekend full of intense volleyball ending in a bid to nationals for the top teams.
The Class of 2022 will have an incredibly strong showing of athletes, specifically on the pin. It will be a fight to the finish to determine which teams will receive a bid. Here are some of the pin hitters to watch this weekend:
Maleah Howe Maleah Howe OH Oconomowoc | 2022 State #190 Nation WI – Milwaukee Sting 16 Gold
Maleah is the kind of athlete that rarely has a bad day. She is focused, consistent, and comes in with big plays in tight games. Here ability to read the court and place the ball is unparalleled in this age group. Maleah is also incredible on defense and serve receive. She reads her opponents well and sets her team up for success.
Katie Heidenrich – Sting Burlington United 16-1
Katie has really come onto the radar this season. She has a very powerful swing, is an awesome defender, and plays with a lot of grit. She is a leader on this team and a key hitter in the team’s success. She usually plays all 6 rotations and makes an impact in both the front and back row.
Grace Schneider Grace Schneider 5'11" | OH Wisconsin Lutheran | 2022 State WI – Milwaukee Sting 16 Black
Grace is a very efficient pin hitter. She makes great shots in the front and back row. Grace keeps herself involved in every play and her line shot is particularly nasty. She has a deep arsenal of shots that she uses including a deep corner shot and hitting off the top of the blockers’ hands.
Isabella Van Lannen – FC Elite 16 Navy
Isabella is an all-around great outside. She is consistent and competitive in all aspects of the game from blocking to serving and hitting to passing. Isabella is a great athlete and one who is an asset to every team she plays on. She has power yet control and knows when to go up hard on the pin or play it smart.
Marli Sherman – Midwest Penguins 16 Black
Marli is an undersized lefty right side who is incredibly smart. She has a decent amount of power, but her true talent lies in her ability to place the ball wherever she chooses. She also does a great job tooling the block and knowing when to power through a hole or weakness in an opponent’s block.
These pin hitters all bring something different to the table, and seeing them all in one place will be a lot of fun. It should be a great weekend of volleyball with some incredibly intense matches as teams vie for a bid to USAV GJNC.