Five Live Eye Takes From The Ultra Competitive Joust
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Friday and Saturday’s Joust at the Homestead High School is the best way to see where the top teams stand. This is traditionally the top tournament in the state opening weekend. This past weekend lived up to any expectations with…
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Continue ReadingFriday and Saturday’s Joust at the Homestead High School is the best way to see where the top teams stand. This is traditionally the top tournament in the state opening weekend. This past weekend lived up to any expectations with extremely high level volleyball on multiple courts, ending with a three set victory for Appeton North over Howards Grove, two teams who will be at the top of their class heading into the Week 1 rankings. There were also standout performances, small storylines with a big impact, and plenty of new players we are excited to start writing about. Here is what you need to know from the Joust.
What a match. @anorth_vb defeats BC in three sets 17-15 to head to the Gold Finals. Howards Grove and DSHA up next. pic.twitter.com/oHVwUGdRAP
— Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) August 28, 2021
All Stars Point “North”
Appleton North came in as the favorite and finished on top. That wasn’t without two tight matches in the Gold Bracket where they defeated Brookfield Central 17-15 in set three to send them to the finals and Howards Grove 15-12. North was without Berkley Mischler Berkley Mischler 6'1" | MB Appleton North | 2022 State WI (committed to Lipscomb, attending a family wedding) and Kennedy Martin Kennedy Martin 6'6" | OH Nation Ford | 2023 #23 Nation NC (college visit), but their depth in the frontline ran deep throughout the whole tournament. Brianna Cantrell Brianna Cantrell OH Appleton North | 2022 State #104 Nation WI (East Tennessee State) was consistent all weekend from the outside scoring points and one of the more efficient players from the right side was Junior Karissa Fortune Karissa Fortune 6'2" | OH Appleton North | 2023 State WI who time and time again found the open spot on the other side of the court. Senior, uncommitted libero Madisen Miller Madisen Miller 5'8" | DS/L Appleton North | 2022 State WI stepped up in a big way in their match against BC managing to get some touches against Mckenna Wucherer Mckenna Wucherer 6'1" | OH Brookfield Central | 2022 State #1 Nation WI and her powerful swing. North will have a big FVA conference match this Thursday against Kimberly who finished 6th at the Joust and will follow up with tournaments at Brookfield Central and the Charger Rally held at Milwaukee Sting.
I knew I was going to (almost) get drilled by a @mckennawucherer line shot pic.twitter.com/zIA9A5TCjD
— Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) August 28, 2021
Wucherer on a New Level
I’ve seen Mckenna Wucherer Mckenna Wucherer 6'1" | OH Brookfield Central | 2022 State #1 Nation WI of Brookfield Central play since she was in 8th grade in the club world, the same year she committed to Minnesota. She’s always been a highlight waiting to happen, with big swings, and all-around solid play. There is very little weakness to her game, especially at the high school level (although the standard that Wucherer sets for herself I’m sure she could list plenty of fine details she is working on). This weekend was a different Mckenna Wucherer Mckenna Wucherer 6'1" | OH Brookfield Central | 2022 State #1 Nation WI than in previous years, a no mercy, take no prisoners, I’m going to find a way to win these matches. From serve receive to having such a range with her defense in middle back, and scoring with more than just her pure power. When she attacks looking she is for sure going cross-court, she goes thumb up roll to the corner for a point. Senior setter Tatum Kebisek Tatum Kebisek 5'9" | S Brookfield Central | 2022 State WI had a great weekend where she is putting Wucherer in a position to score but also making the smart sets where she is getting others involved. Wucherer will leave midway through the season to play with the U18 Youth National Team for a few weeks and during that time, BC will be able to develop their younger athletes and be even stronger when Wucherer returns.
Kaminski kill sends Howards Grove to the championship against Appleton North pic.twitter.com/AEvwYs5Isv
— Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) August 28, 2021
The Kaminski Method
Karissa Kaminski Karissa Kaminski 5'9" | DS/L Howards Grove | 2022 State #166 Nation WI of Howards Grove will do whatever it takes to beat you – in anything. She has a fiery edge that is tough to top. She wills her team to win and her competitiveness is contagious for the rest of her squad. She also has a skill set that is extremely rare. When she was in her 14s/15s year, she made the Badger Region High-Performance Team as a setter, then was an All State outside hitter, and will head to Dayton as a libero. As an outside hitter, where she is currently playing, she is most dangerous when it’s out of system. She has eyes all over the court, and her IQ is beyond her years where she knows where to put the defense out of position. A perfect example of a player you are going to struggle to play against, but would also want on your side.
Final Position Isn’t Everything
All it takes is a bad match on day one and it will make day two look drastically different for some teams. Kimberly, Kettle Moraine, and Burlington were all in the same pool on day one. In my opinion, three teams all deserve to be in the top ten. Burlington finished 13th and had a 5-2 record with their only losses coming to Kettle Moraine and Kimberly. Technically not in the top ten, but definitely a top ten worthy team. The same goes for Sussex Hamilton and Menomonee Falls. Two teams stubbed their toe on day one, but came back strong on day two. Hamilton lost plenty of parts from their 2020 state championship team, but give them time and they will be competing among the best in the state.
Put her on the radar! 6’3 Class of 2025 Madison Quest of @dsha_vb out of Milwaukee. pic.twitter.com/bLwawpyA66
— Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) August 28, 2021
Say Hello To Madison Quest
There is a 6’3 Freshman from DSHA named Madison Quest. Welcome to high school volleyball. Quest and her DSHA team are going to be a force to be reckoned with. They have the ball control, two solid setters in Ellie Connor Ellie Connor 5'8" | S DSHA | 2023 State WI and Paige Yelmene Paige Yelmene 5'8" | S DSHA | 2022 State WI , middles Bella Lipski Bella Lipski MB DSHA | 2023 State WI and Julie Wojciak, and plenty of ball control all around. Quest was one that took the tournament by storm. She can play from either pin, is playing six rotations, and has become a primary passer in serve receive. Adding a player like Quest into the mix for the Dashers will have an instant impact and will be much needed in the GMAC which will be a gauntlet as always this season. I won’t even start with the depth of Section 5 in D1 which continues to be the toughest section in the state.
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