Live Eye 2022’s – High Level Prospects Still Available
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Over the past three weeks, I have been in a fortunate situation to watch the Iowa State Tournament, Wisconsin State Tournament, Illinois State Tournament, and Wisconsin Top 250 Expo. There are still a lot of really good unsigned Seniors available…
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Continue ReadingOver the past three weeks, I have been in a fortunate situation to watch the Iowa State Tournament, Wisconsin State Tournament, Illinois State Tournament, and Wisconsin Top 250 Expo. There are still a lot of really good unsigned Seniors available that would be a great pick up at the next level. It’s been a really slippery road for some of these athletes with half of their high school careers being during a global pandemic.
For many of these athletes I don’t know what they are planning. Are they deciding between two or three schools, are they still wide open, or are they ready to put the knee pads away for a bit and just be a student. Everyone’s situation is different, and everyone is at a different spot in their path. I just know these athletes can play at the next level. Here are a few to note, as well as where I saw them.
Madisen Miller Madisen Miller 5'8" | DS/L Appleton North | 2022 State WI – Appleton North – FC Elite 18 Navy
Wisconsin State Tournament
Miller has been one of the top liberos in the Class of 2022 and will have an exciting club season coming up with the FC Elite 18 Navy squad who has plenty of college commits. Miller covers plenty of ground and is nails with her serve receive. I think what impresses me the most about her game is how she is able to keep the ball alive in chaotic situations. She’s really good with a second ball and is always in the right spot at the right time in tip coverage. She just finds a way.
Ella Unterweger Ella Unterweger 5'10" | OH Oconomowoc | 2022 State WI – Oconomowoc
Wisconsin State Tournament and Wisconsin Top 250
Unterweger is an athletic six rotation outside who has trained at a high level and knows how to win. She won her last high school match with a state championship with Oconomowoc in the Wisconsin D1 State Tournament. I also got a closer look on Unterweger at the Top 250 where I could see she puts a lot of pop on the ball and is really dynamic where she can succeed in a variety of situations.
Rebecca Siedenburg Rebecca Siedenburg S Kettle Moraine | 2022 State WI – Kettle Moraine – Motion 18 Blue
Wisconsin State Tournament and Wisconsin Top 250
Uber athletic, quick feet, and finds a way to get to the ball for her hitters to attack from all spots on the net. A true 5-1 setter, Siedenburg knows how to run the show. She had 63 assists and 19 digs in a five set quarterfinal win over Burlington. Her athleticism is an X-Factor to her game where she can really create. She will make a college team better because she knows how to get after it and compete.
Big swing by Rylee Duessler Rylee Duessler 5'9" | OH Waterloo | 2023 State WI followed by Izzy Coon taking swings on the right side. We’re moving on to 6 v 6 pic.twitter.com/58HsqI6UU4
— Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) November 21, 2021
Izzy Coon – St. Marys Springs Academy – FC Elite 18 Navy
Leadership and all the intangibles is a 10/10. Coon is the type of athlete players want to be around and she can lead from whatever position she is playing. She is a setter first, but this past weekend she was swinging from the right side and making it look easy. An all around athlete, as Coon transitions to higher level volleyball, her game will soar. She is one to watch this club season and will be sure to find a good home for her collegiate volleyball future.
Gianna Trotter Gianna Trotter 5'11" | OH Fond du Lac | 2022 State WI – Fond du Lac – FC Elite 18 Navy
Trotter and Coon have teamed up multiple times while they played for Fond du Lac Fusion, but will be joining FC Elite for this upcoming season. Trotter is electric with a big arm from the outside. She is one who is looking to do double duty with track and volleyball at the next level. Trotter is a top ten finisher in Wisconsin’s largest class for discus and triple jump. Her all around ability has a huge upside!
Livia Thomsen Livia Thomsen 5'5" | DS/L Pleasant Valley | 2022 State IA – Pleasant Valley – Iowa Select
Arra Cottrell Arra Cottrell 6'0" | OH Pleasant Valley | 2022 State IA – Pleasant Valley – Iowa Rockets
Iowa State Tournament
Thomsen and Cottrelll are coming off a state title in Iowa’s largest class with Pleasant Valley out of the Quad Cities. Thomsen is the savvy libero who always makes a difficult serve look easy to receive. She has great platform control and knows how to play at a high level. Cottrell is the same when it comes to knowing how to play at a high level. She brings a heavy swing and knows how to score points. She will be playing on the Iowa Rockets 18R squad this upcoming club season. Cotrell is slated to attend the Iowa Top 250 on December 4 at Ignit in Grimes.
Lexi Stephens Lexi Stephens 5'4" | DS/L Ankeny | 2022 State IA – Ankeny – Club Ignit Select
Iowa State Tournament
Stephens is a major spark to have on the court where she was one of the top liberos in Class 5A. She was a starting libero on Ankeny’s state championship team in 2020 and will be playing on one of the top 18s in the Iowa Region with the Club Ignit 18 Blue team. Her training has been at a high level and she has plenty of range out of the backrow.
Madison Maahs Madison Maahs 5'8" | S Western Dubuque | 2022 State IA – Western Dubuque – Adrenaline
Iowa State Tournament
Maahs has all the accolades with All Tournament and All State honors, but now she can add state champion to her resume. Maahs has hands of gold where she can put the ball on a dime where her attackers are always in position to terminate.
Edwardsville can really spread it from pin to pin. Gabby Saye Gabby Saye 6'2" | RS Edwardsville | 2022 State IL with a big swing and high contact.
Edwardsville 12
Mother McAuley 10 pic.twitter.com/edhL953I8g— Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) November 13, 2021
Gabby Saye Gabby Saye 6'2" | RS Edwardsville | 2022 State IL – Edwardsville – Rockwood Thunder
Illinois State Tournament
Saye is definitely a steal at the next level with her size and intangibles. With a heavy left handed swing on the right side, Saye is 6’2 and extremely physical at the net. She was a big point scorer for Edwardsville at the state tournament where they took Mother McAuley to three sets and had a tight third place loss to Barrington. Saye has a style that would translate well to the college game where she can play the power game at the net.
Kaitlyn Conway – Edwardsville – HPSTL
Illinois State Tournament
Conway is so smooth. She just floats on the court, stops on contact, and puts the ball on the money for her setter. She’s got a gritty style where isn’t afraid to hit the floor or square one and take a hard hit ball off the chest. Great positioning and solid platform to defend against extremely high level players, a real treat to watch for Edwardsville.
Peyton Brokemond Peyton Brokemond 5'7" | OH Mother McAuley | 2022 State IL – Mother McAuley – Michio
Illinois State Tournament
Brokemond had a career night in the Illinois State Semifinals where she had 18 kills, hitting over .400 on the right. Brokemond is disciplined, can hit the shots and knows when to go for the split. If you are playing at the Varsity level at Mother McAuley, there are plenty of programs who will open their door and find a spot on their team.
Maddie Kasallis Maddie Kasallis 6'0" | MB Montini Catholic | 2022 State IL of @MontiniCatholic has been scoring points with her swing and block. Now doing it from the service line. Uncommitted 2022 MB/OPP.
Montini 11
Plains pic.twitter.com/j2kkALqaoG— Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) November 13, 2021
Maddie Kasallis Maddie Kasallis 6'0" | MB Montini Catholic | 2022 State IL – Montini Catholic – 1st Alliance
Illinois State Tournament
When middles connect with their setters and assert their dominance, it is so exciting to see the reaction of their teammates. Everyone celebrates just a little bit more. Kasallis is a force, she’s dominant. She connected extremely well with setter Jordan Heatherly Jordan Heatherly 5'10" | S Montini Catholic | 2023 State #89 Nation IL while Montini rolled to a state title. Kasallis is strong with a high IQ and is a major force offensively and defensively at the net.