20 Names To Watch At Battle In The Valley
This season, volleyball has taken me to multiple states, hundreds of athletes across the country, but there is something about writing about an athlete you’ve seen compete multiple times and write with confidence. Here are athletes that are committed and also ones who need to be high on the radar that will all compete at Battle in the Valley this weekend in Appleton. The field is wide open in every level with plenty of three set battles on the horizon. Here are the players who will surely have an impact.
This setting series from @caffery_ella is so money! A 2022 setter who is another 📈📈📈 – great athlete, positive body language, been fun to watch her game evolve the past two years! pic.twitter.com/bFVbZBBEpb
— Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) November 3, 2020
Ella Caffery Ella Caffery 5'9" | S Wilton | 2022 State IA – Iowa Select 17 Mizuno
Committed to Northwest Missouri State
Caffery is a true quarterback for her squad. Iowa Select 17 Mizuno snagged a bid to USAV Nationals from the Iowa Regionals which is always a powerpacked field. Caffery is an all around athlete where she has set for her high school team, played in the middle, a little on the pin, but the end result has always landed her team in the state tournament. She’s a winner, she knows how to get it done, and her team will be a favorite heading into the weekend for the 17/18s Division.
Kylie Struble Kylie Struble 5'6" | DS/L Pacelli | 2022 State WI – Wisconsin Ice 18 National
Committed to Bemidji State
Another D2 commit who will be playing this weekend is libero Kylie Struble Kylie Struble 5'6" | DS/L Pacelli | 2022 State WI for Wisconsin Ice who is from Northern Wisconsin in the Wausau area. Struble is athletic and under control with her movements as a libero. She anchors the defense and is always steady and solid in providing a clean first contact.
2022 pin Olivia Sullivan seals the deal for NDA in set three. Tritons go up 2-1. pic.twitter.com/yRVHPshhPv
— Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) April 10, 2021
Olivia Sullivan – Impact 17 National
Cadence Maxfield Cadence Maxfield 5'8" | S Notre Dame Academy | 2022 State WI – Impact 17 National
Class of 2022
Sullivan is an outside hitter who was just named to the Alternate Season All State team in Wisconsin. She teams up with her high school teammate, Cadence Maxfield Cadence Maxfield 5'8" | S Notre Dame Academy | 2022 State WI who has connected with Sullivan for multiple assists the past year. Sullivan can hit all the angles, while Maxfield brings a grit and intensity to the court where she will find a way to get it done.
Elise Gillen Elise Gillen 5'9" | S Slinger | 2022 State WI – Wisconsin Premier 17 Teal
Class of 2022
Silky smooth with how she moves and commands the court for Wisconsin Premier 17 Teal who was a top team in the Badger Region Power League. Great hands, high IQ, and the savvy of when to be offensive, Gillen is the catalyst to her team’s success where her setting is on point, but her command on the court is immeasurable.
Caidince Cleveland Caidince Cleveland DS/L Bettendorf | 2021 State IA – Iowa Select 18 Mizuno
Committed to William Penn
I’ve seen Cleveland play since her 16s year at Select and she has always been one whose energy is a spark on the court. She’s scrappy, gritty, and has really improved in slowing the game down and making those really difficult plays as a libero look easy. She will head to William Penn in Oskaloosa, Iowa where they compete in one of the top NAIA conferences in the nation with the Heart of America Conference.
Anna Bohrer Anna Bohrer 6'0" | DS/L Verona | 2021 State WI of Verona has been one of the best setters in the PDFL. 2021 major sleeper! pic.twitter.com/Yt4zOBSH77
— Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) October 20, 2020
Anna Bohrer Anna Bohrer 6'0" | DS/L Verona | 2021 State WI – Madison United 18 Red
Committed to Concordia-Wisconsin
Bohrer brings some size and length to the setter position. At 6’0 tall (maybe a little taller), she is able to have her hands high and put a dependable set up to her attackers to terminate. She provides a strong block and can swing on the right side when needed. She will make a big impact for the CUW program out of Mequon, WI that is a D3 school in the NACC and made the national tournament in 2017.
Lauren Hazelett Lauren Hazelett 5'7" | DS/L Edgewood | 2022 State WI – Madison United 18 Red
Class of 2022
Hazelett will be one of the top liberos in the building from the Class of 2022 playing up an age group with the 18s out of Madison. Hazelett is a solid athlete who knows how to compete at a high level where she preps at Edgewood out of Madison, where they have been a top program in Division 2 in Wisconsin the past couple seasons and will be a big competitor this fall. She moves well and is one who can play big in big moments!
Ellie Kline Ellie Kline 5'4" | DS/L Holmen | 2022 State WI – V-Hawk 17 Adidas
Class of 2022
Another elite libero in the field, Kline is one who can cover plenty of court, but also makes her presence known with her teammates where she is constantly moving, the smile is definitely showing through her mask, and she is a communicator. V-Hawk is another top team out of the Badger Region Power League where they will see some familiar opponents and will be looking for a chance to compete in gold come Sunday.
Stella Zarling Stella Zarling 5'9" | OH Kettle Moraine Lutheran | 2022 State WI – Wisconsin Premier 17 Teal
Gabriella Magee Gabriella Magee MB Homestead | 2022 State WI – Wisconsin Premier 17 Teal
Class of 2022
Zarling is electric from the outside. She isn’t afraid to take a big swing and is solid in all six rotations where she can attack out of the backrow as well. Magee is a physical middle blocker who is a point scorer out of the middle, off one foot, and is one where teams always have to know where her block is as well.
Myakel Kapalko Myakel Kapalko 6'0" | OH Notre Dame | 2023 State WI – Impact 16 National
Class of 2023
Mya Kapalko is the one who stirs it for Impact 16 National. She’s a swiss army knife where she can do a lot of positive things for her team. Kapalko trained mostly as a libero, but a major growth spurt which now has her just under six feet gives her a chance to play six rotations and is a solid right side and can defend any zone in the backcourt. Kapalko is also a big time beach player in the summer.
More solid Liberos competing at the 16s level with:
Meredith Bock – I AM VBC
Ava Rank Ava Rank 5'5" | DS/L Kimberly | 2023 State WI – @FCEliteVB
Molly Berezowitz Molly Berezowitz DS/L Burlington | 2023 State WI – @stingvb1988— Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) February 28, 2021
Meredith Bock – I AM VBC 16 Red
Class of 2023
I have seen Bock play at the Badger Region Qualifier and the Badger Region Power League and among the many positive things about her game is her overall athleticism where she reads well, anticipates where the next ball is going to be, and is really strong in those unscripted scramble plays. I AM has been competitive all year with big wins that landed them in bid contention at the Badger Region Qualifier. Another athlete to watch for I AM VBC would be middle blocker Alicia Burgos.
Brianna Gartner Brianna Gartner 5'5" | DS/L Davenport Assumptoin | 2022 State IA – Iowa Select 17 Mizuno
Class of 2022
Gartner has been quietly creeping up the list of Iowa liberos in the Class of 2022. She has been a standout at some of our Prep Dig Showcases and was also a huge impact for Davenport Assumption High School who were in the final four of their class at the Iowa State tournament. She knows how to get to the right spot to make the easy pass and also can take pace off the ball with ease.
Carizma Muth Carizma Muth 5'10" | OH Randolph | 2023 State WI – Madison 16 Red
Muth is a six rotation outside for Madison 16 Red where she has an impact everywhere on the court from her attacking on offense as well as her middle back defense. Her play will be key in the 16s Division where many of these top teams have traded off beating each other throughout various tournaments in Wisconsin, including Badger Region.
Midwest Penguins 16 Black
Aubrey Berlowski Aubrey Berlowski OH Kettle Moraine | 2023 State WI
Myla Glaser Myla Glaser 5'11" | MB Kettle Moraine | 2023 State WI
Ava Clinton-Ragonese Ava Clinton-Ragonese S Oconomowoc | 2023 WI
Olivia Clinton-Ragonese Olivia Clinton-Ragonese DS/L Oconomowoc | 2023 WI
Midwest Penguins 16 Black out of the Waukesha area will be the top seed in the 16s field where they have plenty of athletes let by two solid first contacts with twin duo Olivia Clinton-Ragonese Olivia Clinton-Ragonese DS/L Oconomowoc | 2023 WI and setter Ava Clinton-Ragonese Ava Clinton-Ragonese S Oconomowoc | 2023 WI . From there, two lethal attackers who can really spring and score points are outside Aubrey Berlowski Aubrey Berlowski OH Kettle Moraine | 2023 State WI who can fly and provide a strong swing and middle, Myla Glaser Myla Glaser 5'11" | MB Kettle Moraine | 2023 State WI is a really physical athlete who can get up and hit some sharp angles out of the middle.