Where Do They Stand? Wisconsin D2 Preseason Top 15
Before we begin any chat on the rankings, lets give a hand to volleyball happening this summer. When school ended (virtually), there were so many variables in the air as far as what any type of volleyball would look like. …
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Continue ReadingBefore we begin any chat on the rankings, lets give a hand to volleyball happening this summer. When school ended (virtually), there were so many variables in the air as far as what any type of volleyball would look like. Some teams had no gym to play in whether it was their school or rules from their county. Other teams could have zero affiliation with their coaches. And then we had the mask mandate. Give credit to these high school athletes. They found a way, they made it happen and it shows they will do what it takes to play the game they love.
Take a quick look at some of the teams in the @PrepDigWI D2 Top 15 – highlights from the summer! pic.twitter.com/pVix040BGu
— Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) August 31, 2020
As for rankings, it’s splitting hairs. I base a lot of these rankings of what I have seen with the live eye as well as having other coaches weigh in. For most summer teams, it varies week to week on who is there and how they play. A lot of these teams played throughout the summer, most of them against each other at some point. Would love to see some of these matchups happen again.
The only team in this list I did not see play live this summer was Catholic Memorial. They have the tradition and power with experience back this year after a lineup that was full of youth in 2019. Here is a breakdown of the top 15 D2 teams in Wisconsin.
#15 – #11
15. Lake Country Lutheran
14. Freedom
13. Notre Dame
12. Luther Prep
11. Mosinee
Lake Country Lutheran lost some key players to graduation, but with their program, there is always strong players coming up. Adriana Studer Adriana Studer DS/L Lake Country Lutheran | 2022 State #187 Nation WI is one of the top liberos in her class and will be passing to rising setter Rachel Rossing Rachel Rossing 5'9" | S Lake Country Lutheran | 2023 State WI . For Freedom, they are full of so many dynamic athletes, but will be led by Linnea Willer Linnea Willer 5'11" | OH Freedom | 2021 State WI who provides so much power and leadership for the Irish. Notre Dame out of Green Bay will be having their season in the fall as part of the Fox River Classic Conference. Their depth is their biggest strength where they are solid in every position. Luther Prep is quite the scrappy team where the setting and attacking duo of Andrea Bortulin and Grace Kiesling are extremely dynamic for the Phoenix. Mosinee has shown massive improvements this summer and are always a force in the northern section which they definitely will be again in 2020.
#10 – #6
10. Lake Mills
9. Lakeside Lutheran
8. Wisconsin Lutheran
7. FVL
6. Sauk Prairie
This is really splitting hairs here. Lake Mills was competitive at both sessions of the Sunset Slam where they won one of their brackets over Mosinee and then were in a gauntlet of ranked D2 teams for their second session. Sydney Lewellin Sydney Lewellin S Lake Mills | 2022 State WI really makes is happen for LM as a setter. Lakeside Lutheran, Wisconsin Lutheran, and FVL all battled it out at the Wisconsin Lutheran College team camp in mid July. Plenty of three set matches all separated by just a few points. FVL has the edge with their amount of depth. Keep tabs on Sophomore libero Kennedy Schmitz who can really change the game for the Foxes. Sauk Prairie is scary dangerous as a team that is so athletic. They had match point on defending D3 champs Howards Grove and were two points from knocking off KML at the Sunset Slam. Outside hitter Aida Shadewald Aida Shadewald 5'11" | OH Sauk Prairie | 2022 State #184 Nation WI is a prospect on the rise.
#5 – #1
5. McFarland
4. Kettle Moraine Lutheran
3. Edgewood
2. Catholic Memorial
1. Luxemburg-Casco
McFarland just finds a way to compete and wear teams down. With plenty of attackers back from their state runner-up squad in Avery Pennekamp Avery Pennekamp 5'11" | OH McFarland | 2022 State WI , Hannah Rounds Hannah Rounds RS McFarland | 2022 State WI , and Katie Hildebrandt, the Spartans are always a force to contend with. A big however, is that their season will be moved to the Spring. Edgewood and Kettle Moraine Lutheran really could go either way. KML has six rotation outside hitter Elle Truckenbrod Elle Truckenbrod 5'9" | OH Kettle Moraine Lutheran | 2021 State WI and Junior, Stella Zarling that are always going to be outlets, but Sophomore middle Emily Honzelka Emily Honzelka 6'3" | MB Kettle Moraine Lutheran | 2023 State WI will make her presence known. Edgewood has two Marquette recruits in Senior, Ella Foti Ella Foti 6'0" | S Madison Edgewood | 2021 State WI and Junior outside hitter Natalie Ring Natalie Ring 6'1" | OH Edgewood | 2022 State #177 Nation WI . Foti can set or swing for the Crusaders. Another athlete to keep close tabs on will be rising junior, Ally Barth Ally Barth 6'0" | MB Edgewood | 2022 State WI who has a major spring in her jump as a middle blocker. Catholic Memorial took their lumps last year, but they return Baylor commit Kaitlyn Riley Kaitlyn Riley 6'0" | MB Catholic Memorial | 2021 State WI in the middle and will add setter Lily Lutz Lily Lutz S Catholic Memorial | 2022 State WI who can run the show. Luxemburg-Casco was on fire all summer and collected wins against Lakeside Lutheran, FVL, Howards Grove, Waukesha West, Edgewood, and McFarland. The Spartans have been led by a balanced attack which includes pins Grace Holschuh Grace Holschuh 5'11" | OH Luxemburg Casco | 2022 State WI , Hannah Derenne, and Kenzie Hanson while Emma Johnson Emma Johnson 5'10" | S Luxemburg-Casco | 2022 State WI has been a rising Junior setter. Their greatest strength is having very little weakness. They sideout extremely well.