Class of 2022 – Who Committed? Who Is Next?
As we head into labor day, wrapping up the summer and entering a new world of volleyball this fall, there was plenty to celebrate with athletes from the Class of 2022 making their verbal commits. Some staying close to home,…
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Continue ReadingAs we head into labor day, wrapping up the summer and entering a new world of volleyball this fall, there was plenty to celebrate with athletes from the Class of 2022 making their verbal commits. Some staying close to home, playing for power programs in big conferences, and others going across the country to find their next place for school and athletics. Here is a quick breakdown of athletes who committed this summer from Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin.
Iowa
Iowa started out with a bang this summer with one of the top recruits in the country in Hayden Kubik Hayden Kubik 6'1" | OH West Des Moines Valley | 2022 State #11 Nation IA (WDM Valley/Club Ignit Select) giving her verbal to play at Nebraska. Kubik brings a thunderous swing from the pin and so solid all six rotations offensively and defensively. She will join her older sister, Madi who was the Big Ten Freshman of the Year in 2019. Her club teammate, Ava Reynolds Ava Reynolds 5'11" | OH Ankeny | 2022 State #155 Nation IA (Ankeny/Club Ignit Select) gave her verbal to perennial power in the Summit League in Denver. Plenty of connections abound with Denver where her setter for Club Ignit Select, Lauren Carter Lauren Carter 5'11" | S Winterset | 2022 State #43 Nation IA gave her verbal to the Pioneers in 2019. Sticking with the Summit League, Six Pack outside hitter Avery Beckett Avery Beckett 5'10" | OH Waverly Shell Rock | 2022 State IA gave her verbal to play for South Dakota, a team that is really asserting itself as a Summit League power bringing in some of the top players form South Dakota, Minnesota, Nebraska, and Iowa. Alivia Bronner Alivia Bronner 5'5" | DS/L Cedar Falls | 2022 State IA of Six Pack is going to stay close to home as the Cedar Falls prep will head to Northern Iowa, the first recruit for the Panthers from the Class of 2022.
Most Recently
Kiersten Schmitt Kiersten Schmitt 6'0" | OH Beckman | 2022 State #103 Nation IA of Dyersville Beckman and DBQ Elite National recently gave her verbal to be a Cyclone. She will be part of the Class of 2022 who will head to Iowa State. Schmitt was a key part in the Blazers run to the Class 2A state runner up finish where very versatility is the biggest strength to her game. At 6’0 tall, extremely long and athlete, I’ve seen Schmitt attack from anywhere in the front row and set as well. She will fit in extremely well with the training style of the Iowa State staff led by Christy Johnson who have had great success in developing all around athletes with a variety of skill sets.
Who Could Be Next?
Iowa Rockets and Club Ignit Select have quote the combination of athletes who will be ready for the next level. Kora Ruff Kora Ruff 5'9" | S Pleasant Valley | 2022 State #86 Nation IA of Rockets has some of the best hands in the state as a setter and her favorite target is Calia Clubb Calia Clubb 5'10" | RS Clear Creek-Amana | 2022 State #138 Nation IA who is a six rotation right side, and such an athlete that is also a standout on the basketball court. Faith DeRonde Faith DeRonde 5'10" | OH Oskaloosa | 2022 State #165 Nation IA has always played up an age group for Club Ignit Select, but she is a solid six rotation pin. Alayna Finucan Alayna Finucan 5'5" | DS/L Webster City | 2022 State IA was having a huge club season prior to quarantine for Clug Ignit Select. One athlete a little under the radar is Brrynlee Arnold out of Glenwood who plays for Nebraska Premier. She is 6’3, left handed, and has an extremely high ceiling.
Illinois
Never a shortage of Division 1 athletes in Illinois, especially in the heart of Big 10 Country. Kara Erdman of VC United was one of the first to commit this summer and will head to Michigan State as a libero. Staying in the Big Ten is Ella Wrobel Ella Wrobel 6'3" | OH Plainfield North | 2022 State #10 Nation IL who will head to Wisconsin to continue the Sports Performance connection where current outside for the Badgers, Molly Haggerty, is a SPVB alum. Chelsea Thorpe Chelsea Thorpe OH Whitney Young | 2022 State #55 Nation IL of 1st Alliance has a major physical presence on the right side and has her best volleyball ahead of her. She is a gamechanger with her block and will be heading to Ohio State. Two setters to know are Rian Baker Rian Baker 5'11" | S Fremd | 2022 State #143 Nation IL from Sky High and Caroline Kerr Caroline Kerr 5'11" | S St. Thomas More | 2022 State #75 Nation IL from Sky High. Baker is a floor general and is always finding the best matchup for her attackers. Kerr is electric, she does it al, she makes it happen and can even attack to score points when needed.
Who Could Be Next?
VC United had quite the loaded 16-1 Elite squad this past club season who will be highly recruited. Savannah Brandt in the middle and Sylvia Hasz Sylvia Hasz 6'1" | S Rochelle | 2022 IL as a setter bring size and physicality with Hasz being the type who can make her presence known as a setter in the front line with her ability to attack, locate, and block. She really stood out at the Prep Dig Summer Showcase in August. Rylen Reid Rylen Reid 6'0" | OH Fremd | 2022 State #128 Nation IL is a lethal attacker and tabs on libero, Gillian Grimes Gillian Grimes DS/L Nazareth | 2022 State #29 Nation IL from will will join forces with Indiana commit Katie Hurta Katie Hurta 6'0" | S Nazareth | 2022 State #14 Nation IL and play for Adversity 17s.
Class of 2022 ✨ We are proud of our player, Kendal Kemp Kendal Kemp 6'6" | MB Eagan | 2022 State #84 Nation MN , on her commitment to play at Auburn University! 💙🎓 #MNLproud pic.twitter.com/juN0sExVQ7
— Northern Lights (@nlightsvball) August 3, 2020
Minnesota
Northern Lights 16-1 squad from this past club season had the makings of a special season that was cut short. Plenty of athletes and very little weakness to be exposed. However, two athletes from the Class of 2022 were able to make their verbal commit. Middle blocker, Kendal Kemp Kendal Kemp 6'6" | MB Eagan | 2022 State #84 Nation MN , was one of the first from the class to commit this summer and will be heading to the SEC to play at Auburn. The 6’5 middle is strong and physical and will look to make an immediate impact. Another member of the NL 16-1 squad is 6’3 right side Sienna Ifill Sienna Ifill 6'1" | RS Eagan | 2022 State #83 Nation MN . Long, athletic, left handed and electric – she made her verbal commit to play at Marquette. Ifill has a huge upside and will add to Marquettes nationally strong recruiting classes from 2021 and 2022.
Class of 2022 ✨ Congratulations to our player, Sienna Ifill Sienna Ifill 6'1" | RS Eagan | 2022 State #83 Nation MN , on her commitment to play at Marquette University! 💙🎓 #MNLproud pic.twitter.com/FSRW4Sh5Vp
— Northern Lights (@nlightsvball) August 29, 2020
Who Could Be Next?
One of the top attackers in this class who has always played up an age group is Britt Carlson Britt Carlson 6'4" | OH East Ridge | 2022 State #129 Nation MN , she has families ties to K-State volleyball with her sister Brynn there and her brother will Ben who will be a Freshman on the Wisconsin basketball team. Carlson has a ton of pop in her swing and is extremely physical and athletic on the front line which will translate well to the collegiate game.
Future @MarquetteVB commits in Ella Foti Ella Foti 6'0" | S Madison Edgewood | 2021 State WI and Natalie Ring Natalie Ring 6'1" | OH Edgewood | 2022 State #177 Nation WI showing their power for @EdgewoodGVB pic.twitter.com/2UA8OKBm55
— Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) August 3, 2020
Wisconsin
Wisconsin hasn’t had a lot of shakedowns quite yet for the Class of 2022. Natalie Ring Natalie Ring 6'1" | OH Edgewood | 2022 State #177 Nation WI of Edgewood High School and Capital Volleyball Academy has committed to Marquette. Her club and high school teammate Ella Foti Ella Foti 6'0" | S Madison Edgewood | 2021 State WI has committed to the Golden Eagles as well as a Class of 2021 setter. Ring has a booming swing and physicality to really score from the pin. Haley Koch Haley Koch MB Oconomowoc | 2022 State WI of Milwaukee Sting committed to Cedarville, a Division 2 school out of Ohio. Koch has played out of the middle, but is showing huge promise playing on the pin this summer.
Brianna Cantrell Brianna Cantrell OH Appleton North | 2022 State #104 Nation WI firing away as one of the top pins from the Class of 2022 pic.twitter.com/y0CO82zaQC
— Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) August 27, 2020
Who Could Be Next?
The Milwaukee Sting 16 Gold team has plenty who are in high demand with middle blocker Morgan Daugherty Morgan Daugherty 6'2" | MB Brookfield Central | 2022 State #200 Nation WI , libero Adriana Studer Adriana Studer DS/L Lake Country Lutheran | 2022 State #187 Nation WI , and outside hitters Maleah Howe Maleah Howe OH Oconomowoc | 2022 State #190 Nation WI and Madison Tolzman Madison Tolzman 5'8" | OH Arrowhead | 2022 State WI . Brianna Cantrell Brianna Cantrell OH Appleton North | 2022 State #104 Nation WI of FC Elite is the top available outside who can fly high and has really set herself apart being able to score points out of system and in the backrow.
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