Sneaky Sizzle Teams Who Could Have Big Seasons
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We know the typical contenders and we had plenty at the Sizzle who were able to show what we can expect to be another successful year for them in 2021. Appleton North, Luxemburg-Casco, and Howards Grove are all coming off…
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Continue ReadingWe know the typical contenders and we had plenty at the Sizzle who were able to show what we can expect to be another successful year for them in 2021. Appleton North, Luxemburg-Casco, and Howards Grove are all coming off some form of a state championship and did not disappoint. Brookfield Central had plenty of firepower with Mckenna Wucherer Mckenna Wucherer 6'1" | OH Brookfield Central | 2022 State #1 Nation WI and Morgan Daugherty Morgan Daugherty 6'2" | MB Brookfield Central | 2022 State #200 Nation WI blasting off from fellow Senior setter Tatum Kebisek Tatum Kebisek 5'9" | S Brookfield Central | 2022 State WI , once again being a top contender in D1. But who are some other sneaky good teams who will be sure to make some noise in the 2021 season that you may not have heard of and need to be talked about.
Oconto survives a late McFarland rally to win 15-13 in set three to advance to the @annie_drews Division. Will face Fox Valley Lutheran pic.twitter.com/i05Qw7Lytu
— Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) July 15, 2021
Oconto
The Blue Devils had a big couple of dates where they went undefeated on Day 1 and finished second in the Annie Drews Division behind Fox Valley Lutheran. Oconto graduated all everything Cora Behnke Cora Behnke 6'0" | OH Oconto | 2021 State WI who will begin her collegiate career at Green Bay, but return key attackers Hannah Moe Hannah Moe 5'11" | OH Oconto | 2022 State WI (UW-Oshkosh) and Lianna Baxter Lianna Baxter 6'0" | MB Oconto | 2022 State WI in the middle. Baxter is dynamic and moves really well laterally where she can always find a touch or score points with her block. A steady, solid, and consistent athlete is Kate Bahrke Kate Bahrke S Oconto | 2023 State WI .. She has been setting since her Freshman year at the Varsity level. Now as a Junior, she is a clear leader on the court and can always find a way to get a ball up for her attackers to terminate.
🏐 T O P P E R F O R M E R S 🏐
After winning the JV Wave 2 yesterday, the Fox Valley Lutheran Varsity squad is back for more today at #PDSizzle 🔥
Libero Kennedy Schmitz Kennedy Schmitz 5'2" | DS/L Fox Valley Lutheran | 2023 State WI and OH Cassie Patchett have been excellent on Day 2!😤@PrepDigWI pic.twitter.com/nWfj984H4l
— Prep Dig Circuit (@PDCircuit) July 14, 2021
Fox Valley Lutheran
FVL had a huge week with the Prep Dig Sizzle, winning the Annie Drews Division in a convincing matter. This squad ran into roadblocks of Luxemburg-Casco in conference play and then played Division 1 last season due to reclassification and was a sectional runner-up to Sauk Prairie. They return a lot of firepower with Kenzi Benter, Cassandra Patchett Cassandra Patchett 5'11" | OH Fox Valley Lutheran | 2022 State WI , Annalise Patchett Annalise Patchett 6'0" | OH Fox Valley Lutheran | 2024 State WI , Kate Henze Kate Henze 5'11" | MB Fox Valley Lutheran | 2023 State WI , Samantha Kempinger Samantha Kempinger 5'10" | OH Fox Valley Lutheran | 2023 State WI , and libero Kennedy Schmitz Kennedy Schmitz 5'2" | DS/L Fox Valley Lutheran | 2023 State WI . Another soon-to-be Sophomore to keep an eye on would be Emma Nilson Emma Nilson 6'1" | MB Fox Valley Lutheran | 2024 State WI . A match to star on their schedule would be October 14 when they take on Luxemburg-Casco. Both of these teams I could see being in the top five of D2.
@StellaZarling executing from all six rotations for Kettle Moraine Lutheran #PDSizzle pic.twitter.com/LPhn0mwY14
— PrepDigRachel (@prepdigrachel) July 14, 2021
Kettle Moraine Lutheran
KML has the tradition and is always going to be a strong program, but heading into this season I wasn’t quite sure what the Chargers had in store. They came out swinging, literally. Stella Zarling Stella Zarling 5'9" | OH Kettle Moraine Lutheran | 2022 State WI really took over, providing leadership along with positive contributions all over the court as a six rotation outside hitter. She also provides a scoring spark out of the backrow. They scored a huge win over Edgewood on Day 2 and hung tight with Howards Grove. The Milwaukee area section for D2 is always tough and KML definitely showed they will be a contender this fall.
Chippewa Falls with a big win over Freedom to advance to the finals of the @Hales__Yeah Division. #PDSizzle
This squad has a ton of firepower! pic.twitter.com/zImC2oBh9H
— Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) July 15, 2021
Chippewa Falls
The Cardinals from the Big Rivers Conference in Western Wisconsin are going to win a lot of matches this year and have the potential to dethrone River Falls who have been at the top of the BRC for years as well as five consecutive state tournaments. A gritty and athletic squad will rely on a variety of attackers, but Samantha Perlberg Samantha Perlberg 5'10" | OH Chippewa Falls | 2023 State WI is a 2022 outside hitter that needs to be on the radar of college coaches. She is just under six feet tall, but has a high IQ of shot selections, can play all the way around, and knows how to come up big in big moments.
🔥T O P P E R F O R M E R S 🔥
Holmen is putting up some stellar standouts at #PDSizzle pic.twitter.com/4HTGA8tIM6
— Prep Dig Circuit (@PDCircuit) July 15, 2021
Holmen
Holmen brought two teams where both had a great Day 2 with the Maroon squad winning their bracket and the White squad finishing second in theirs. Holmen has the ball control with Senior leader Ellie Kline Ellie Kline 5'4" | DS/L Holmen | 2022 State WI as the libero who is a major spark, but Mara Schmidt Mara Schmidt 5'11" | OH Holmen | 2022 State WI on the pin provides consistency with her swing and is a dependable six rotation outside. They scored two big wins over Milwaukee area teams in Cedarburg and Pewaukee, making a statement they will be one who could crash the part of the D1 Madison sectional this fall.
Other Noteworthy Teams To Watch
Manitowoc Lincoln – Mary Satori Mary Satori 5'11" | OH Manitowoc Lincoln | 2022 State WI (Minnesota-Duluth) is back and will have plenty of swings, but the Ships showed they will be a huge contender to win the FRCC this fall.
Wisconsin Lutheran – After a tough Day 1, Wisco bounced back Day 2 with a huge win over Lakeside Lutheran and have a gritty defense that will keep them in plenty of matches. When they get a full lineup back and healthy they will be very dangerous.
Hortonville – The Polar Bears had a tough Day 1, but bounced back to finish runner-up in the Annie Drews Division. Molly Rohde Molly Rohde 5'11" | MB Hortonville | 2023 State WI is going to have a major presence this fall as a middle blocker as she is so active along the net and finds ways to score.
Caledonia (MN) – Caledonia came from Southeast Minnesota where the volleyball talent is plentiful where their local teams consistently send teams to the state tournament and perform well. With commits heading to Viterbo they showed plenty of promise competing against top teams in Wisconsin.