6 Players From The PD Battle In The Valley Ready For A Breakout
Wisconsin club teams are at many different stages of their seasons. Some are wrapping up and others are mid-season with Nationals in their sight. Prep Dig hosted the Battle In The Valley, and we’ve got some new names on the radar. Most…
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Continue ReadingWisconsin club teams are at many different stages of their seasons. Some are wrapping up and others are mid-season with Nationals in their sight. Prep Dig hosted the Battle In The Valley, and we’ve got some new names on the radar. Most committed players are already in our rankings, but here are some names who will be looking to have a breakout season in the fall and rise in the rankings!
Berlin Troendle – 2023 – 5’11 – Middle Blocker – Waukon (IA) – V-Hawk Xtreme 16-Adidas
V-Hawk Xtreme has always been a strong program in western Wisconsin, and their Adidas teams are always in position to compete with top teams in the state. Troendle is so strong in the middle with smart timing and a big block. She has a high contact point and fast swing that gets her a ton of kills. Troendle’s awareness and quick reaction also make her super scrappy at the net.
Ella Hawkins – 2024 – Right Side Hitter – Xavier – Wisconsin Blaze 15 Black
I had fun watching Hawkins on the right side. She really has a long reach and prodigious arm. Hawkins has a strong lefty swing that gives blockers a fit, and defenders struggle to get under. She is young, but fearless and assertive.
Emma Grueneberg – 2022 – 6’0 – Right Side Hitter – Cedarburg – Wisconsin Premier 17 Teal
Grueneberg is a strong prospect out of Cedarburg with a heavy swing, good placement, and a lot of potential. After being a varsity starter and playing a national schedule with Premier, she should be comfortable with a faster game. This will be so crucial to help her lead the Bulldogs in 2021 for a solid senior campaign. Grueneberg is a lefty who takes a high swing down the line to find the corner, and she is a go-to attacker for Premier when the pressure is on.
Brie Eckerman – 2023 – Right Side Hitter – Mauston – V-Hawk Xtreme 16-Adidas
Eckerman may not have been the go-to player for Mauston with powerful upperclassman pins, but Mauston always has a solid schedule and their teams come away with quite a few wins. She is a super athletic lefty and the Golden Eagles have recently produced some really strong athletes. Eckerman brings a strong offensive presence with the ability to hit a high line corner shot that is almost a guaranteed kill.
Macy Buksyk – 2023 – 5’5 – Setter – Neenah – Impact 16-Blue
Buksyk was a solid setter for Impact at the Battle In The Valley, but it should be interesting to see how she develops going into the fall. She has quick footwork, a strong serve, and is a solid defender. This Impact team is a super scrappy group that just doesn’t give up on the play. They aren’t the tallest, but they are a gritty squad. Buksyk even took a hard angle swing out of the middle and sees the block extremely well.
Madelyn Dix – 2023 – Defensive Specialist – SPASH – One Wisconsin Point 16 Lightning
Dix is gaining valuable experience since there could be some varsity opportunities at SPASH in the fall with the graduation of 4 defensive specialists/pin hitters which creates some openings on the 2021 roster. Dix is a scrappy defender who I saw make a great defensive play off a block touch going out of bounds and is really hard to defend.
Keep These Players On Your Radar:
Anna Jamroz – 2022 – Libero – Neenah – FVP G18 Blue
Bry Kluess – 2024 – Middle Blocker – Hortonville – Wisconsin Blaze 15 Black
Emily Dickmann – 2023 – 5’10 – Setter – Whitefish Bay – I AM VBC 16 Red
Halie Kapelke – 2024 – Middle Blocker – Onalaska – V-Hawk Xtreme 16-Adidas
Lauren Bitters Lauren Bitters 5'7" | S Bay Port | 2024 State WI – 2024 – 5’7 – Setter – Bay Port – Impact 15 National
Rayna McArdle – 2024 – Setter/Pin Hitter – Holmen – V-Hawk Xtreme 16-Adidas