Sweet Sixteen-16 Athletes and More To Watch At MEQ 16s Division
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Athletes, Coaches, and Parents are so excited for this weekend. I’ve mentioned March Madness in the volleyball world being filled with high stakes volleyball tournaments, but this weekend in Indy there is the Big Ten Mens and Womens Basketball Tournament…
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Continue ReadingAthletes, Coaches, and Parents are so excited for this weekend. I’ve mentioned March Madness in the volleyball world being filled with high stakes volleyball tournaments, but this weekend in Indy there is the Big Ten Mens and Womens Basketball Tournament with the NCAA Tournament on the Horizon. Oh how sweet those victories are during this time of year (in basketball or volleyball). Here are 16 names from the 16s level to have on the radar heading into MEQ from multiple states!
FOLLOW ALONG THIS WEEKEND! I will be courtside providing plenty of pictures, video, and social media updates. Follow along @PrepDigChris over the weekend at MEQ.
Hey @GLRVB 15s! I have an album up of photos from the Region Qualifier at @SkyHighVB – check it out on our Prep Dig Facebook page! https://t.co/rJEEJEzyGw pic.twitter.com/KxGmzgbE0F
— Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) March 1, 2021
Lily Wagner – Milwaukee Sting 16 Gold
She will find a way to win, she can WILL her team to win. Wagner is a gritty competitor whether she is on the hardcourt on the sand. A six rotation outside who could even see looks at a high level as a DS/Libero with her ability to defend and provide a big swing out of the backcourt. Her intensity raises the level of play around her which Sting 16 Gold will definitely be in the mix to snag an Open bid in a really deep field of athletes.
Ella Swindle – KC Power 16-1
The target is on the back of KC Power 16-1 and rightfully so with a balanced attack all the way around (which includes the backrow), but they also have one of the top setters in the Class of 2023 with Swindle. At 6’2, she receives the ball as high as she can and does not give the defense much to read as she has such a quick release and remains neutral as long as possible. This goes for all tempos anywhere on the court. Oh, and she can attack as well. When she runs the slide with middle blocker Sawyer Thomsen its absolute money! Thomsen scores points in front and is so effective running a variety of tempos behind Swindle. The defense will have their head on a swivel.
Avery Bolles – MN Select 16-1
Absolutely electric. Bolles and her MN Select squad will be coming from the NW Metro area of the Twin Cities to take their first crack at getting an Open bid. So solid in every rotation, Bolles is a ball control outside who is a point scorer from every rotation she is in no matter if she’s in the front or backrow. A fun athletic, contagious energy, and a leader among her teammates, she will be key to the MN Select success this upcoming weekend.
Class of 2023 pin Grace Egan 🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/VBrnSGErSO
— Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) September 19, 2020
Grace Egan – Fusion 16 Red (IL)
Egan will be one of the more athletic and physical outside attackers in the field. She played two age levels up last year with Fusion 17 Red who was trending to be one of the top 17s teams in the country before shutdown. A high contact point, lethal point scorer in all rotations, solid in serve receive, and a really mature volleyball IQ for a 16s athlete, she will be one that Fusion will look to for the first contact as well as to terminate.
Amanda Otten – Fusion 16 Red (IL)
Otten’s upside is glass shattering. At 6’3 and a setter/right side combo she has a lot of intangibles heavy in her favor. Long, athletic, and a solid foundation of skills where she can do a lot of special things on the court. She has great hands and when she can receive the ball high to push to the pin or turn to attack it she creates so much pressure for the other side of the net. She also has a high touch and strong foundation when it comes to her block where she affects all facets of the game.
Alyssa Manitzas – Alamo 16 Premier (TX)
Get ready Indy, because the kids from Texas are making their way North. Alamo out of the San Antonio area and Drive Nation out of Dallas will be coming with clear intentions of snagging an early bid. This Alamo squad finished second at Triple Crown last year and has a really balanced lineup, but libero/DS Alyssa Manitzas is the spark of this squad. She has the presence on the court all liberos need. She talks, she smiles, she is aggressive in anticipating where to be to keep her offense in system. Like most Texas squads, expect a quick tempo and a ton of athleticism where this team is going to make their presence known at the net.
Grace Grocholski again for @MotionVball 16 Blue. This team is going to win a lot of matches this year. pic.twitter.com/iWVo854ary
— Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) January 2, 2021
Grace Grocholski – Motion Volleyball Program (MVP) 16 Blue (WI)
Grocholski is a top five volleyball player in Wisconsin’s Class of 2023 as well as a top five basketball player for Prep Girls Hoops. An uber athletic 6’0 outside attacker, Grocholski has a gamer like attitude where she will find a way to score points. She’s aggressive, but also knows where to find the holes in the defense. She can split the seam or use the block to her advantage. This is an athletic MVP squad that also features middle blocker Meghan Schultz who has a physical presence as a blocker and point scorer, another basketball standout in her class. I wouldn’t be surprised to better their day one seed and stay gold for day two.
Jordan Heatherly – 1st Alliance 16 Silver (IL)
I’ve written about Heatherly before, but she really is a huge catalyst for 1st Alliance who had an amazing February winning the St. Louis Presidents Day Challenge defeating Legacy (MI) as well as snagging a National bid through the Great Lakes Region. Heatherly is the lefty who can set or has a heavy top spin swing from the right side. This 1st Alliance squad is like most 1st Alliance teams who are solid all around, little weakness, and will use their balance and ball control to wear down their opponents.
Paige Miller – FC Elite 16 Navy (WI)
FC Elite comes out of the Appleton, WI area which is called the “Fox Cities” along the Fox River. This quad earned an American bid at the Badger Region Tournament finishing second behind Sting 16 Gold. Miller is one of the more athletic liberos you will find in Wisconsin. She has a huge range, and brings a physicality to that position where she can change the game. Her intangibles are also what you want in a libero who is contagiously energetic and will find a way to lift her team up.
Raegan Burns – Academy 16 Yeti (IN)
Burns is one of the hometown clubs competing this weekend out of Indianapolis with The Academy. She will be another top libero to watch in 16 Open where she’s quietly effective and efficient. The way she commands the backrow is fun and easy to watch because she makes serve receive and taking pace off a ball look effortless, so smooth with her footwork and platform. When she can provide a solid first contact she can get setter, Lexi Thatcher involved to set the middle in Gabby Weihe or outside Mya Ayro to terminate.
Molly Berezowitz – Milwaukee Sting 16 Black (WI)
I was able to watch Molly Berezowitz live two weeks ago at the Badger Region and she really stepped up as a llibero for her squad. Just a pure gamer who thrives in the pressure and big moments. The “Berezowitz” name runs deep in Wisconsin volleyball as her sister Maddie is currently a Sophomore on the Kentucky volleyball team. Sting 16 Black will be competing in 16 American and are coming off a 16 Premier title at Bluegrass.
It’s early, but some athletes to note
Campbell Paris – @SkyHighVB
Kelsey Todd – @Eastsidevbc96
Elle Schupbach – @Eastsidevbc96
Amanda Otten – Fusion 16 Red pic.twitter.com/Lakze1Rgw5— Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) January 16, 2021
Campbell Paris – Sky High 16 Adidas Black (IL)
Scary Good. Scary Upside. Paris is 6’4 and can swing from either pin, and when I say swing from either pin and score pin, it looks natural from the outside and right side. She has great footwork, a high contact point, and is just one of those athletes you have to know where she is in the rotation and where she is going to attack from. This Sky High team I saw start the season in their first tournament where most of these athletes hadn’t played in nearly nine months since quarantine. I know this will be a brand new team this weekend, finding their groove with already a ticket punched to the National Division from the Great Lakes Region Qualifier.
Always fun watching Sydney Selburg if @westoshavball and @WiJrs run the show. This is a really athletic 16-1 squad! pic.twitter.com/ltYEY3Elo0
— Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) February 20, 2021
Sydney Selburg – Wisconsin Juniors 16-1
Selburg is another setter who will be one to watch who can be pretty crafty with her ability to score points and dish to all spots along the front line. A solid defender in the backrow, Selburg has a high IQ and sense of what is going on the other side of the net to get her attackers involved to be offensive with her left handed swing or dump. She has strong pins in Lauren Shaw and Abigail Alan.
Maggie Duyos – Sky High 16 Adidas Black
Speaking of scrappy, gritty setters, Maggie Duyos does exactly that for Sky High. She might be undersized a bit when it comes to the front row, but when you can get your hands on the ball and get your offense in the right spot she doesn’t need to be offensive. She runs such a smooth offense and is a major spark for her team and is great energizer on the court.
Kyleigh Coghlan – Milwaukee Sting 16 White
Sting 16 White is coming off a big weekend at Bluegrass and will be competing in the American Division this weekend. They have a strong list of defenders and Coghlan falls in line as the libero for Sting 16 White. She is also a high school teammate to Grace Grocholski and Midwest Penguins standout middle Myla Glaser. These athletes will be heading into their Junior year at Kettle Moraine High School in suburban Milwaukee where they will be one of the tops in their Division.
Madison McCubbins – Circle City 16 Purple
I place such a high value on athletes who aren’t afraid to go for it every play (yes, I understand tipping and rolls have their place), but an athlete who isn’t afraid to swing speaks volumes. McCubbins is 5’7 and may not be the biggest attacker on the court, but she plays with no fear. I saw her at Central Zone in one of their early tournaments and I’m excited to see this squad live again and the improvements they have made. They are so balanced and have multiple athletes who can contribute. They will be looking to play matches with plenty on the line come Sunday.