Prep Dig Illinois Top 250: All Expo Team
Sunday’s Prep Dig Illinois Top 250 brought athletes in from some of the top programs across the state as well as athletes from Wisconsin and Michigan. ‘Tis the season to get a jump start on the recruiting process heading into…
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Continue ReadingSunday’s Prep Dig Illinois Top 250 brought athletes in from some of the top programs across the state as well as athletes from Wisconsin and Michigan. ‘Tis the season to get a jump start on the recruiting process heading into 2022 with plenty of club schedules on the calendar. Throughout the day, we noted top performers which have been featured on our social media, but there are plenty of names that will be written about throughout the week and even more new names that on our radar heading into the club season.
Here are the top athletes from Sunday’s Prep Dig Illinois Top 250
Setters
@JennaMeitzler so consistent and great footwork #PDTop250 @prepdigil pic.twitter.com/mETTLVHwYi
— PrepDigRachel (@prepdigrachel) December 5, 2021
Jenna Meitzler Jenna Meitzler 6'1" | S Barrington | 2024 State #117 Nation IL – Sky High – Barrington
Class of 2024 – Setter
Meitzler is so smooth, she makes it look easy. After watching her at the state tournament for Barrington, she showed her ability Sunday to make those around her that much better. As a setter she can run the middles extremely well which can be tough in a showcase setting. She can be offensive when the time calls for it. Most of all, her overall court presence has a quiet confidence that her team knows it’s going to be ok when she can take control on the second contact.
Milica Tomic Milica Tomic 5'8" | S Lake Central | 2024 State IL super dynamic as a setter and right side
2024 our athlete. Plays for @1stAllianceVBC and can contribute in a variety of ways! #pdtop250
— Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) December 5, 2021
Milica Tomic Milica Tomic 5'8" | S Lake Central | 2024 State IL – 1st Alliance – Lake Central
Class of 2024 – Setter
Tomic thrives in a six on six setting. At a showcase, there are outsides who look great in hitting lines, but that doesn’t always translate to the six on six play. Setters can look good in hitting lines when a pass is right to them. Tomic can do all of those things when it’s an isolated skill group, but when it comes to six on six, she just lights up the court. She’s quick where she can get her hand on the ball, she is really solid defensively, and she can swing and score points when needed. She continued to impress the more she played and made an impact on her court.
Outside/Pin Attackers
Alayna Pierce Alayna Pierce 5'11" | MB Genoa Kingston | 2024 State IL – Fusion – Genoa Kingston
Class of 2024 – Outside Hitter
Pierce just finds a way to score points. What really impresses me about Pierce is that she doesn’t need a perfect set to put a hard swing on the ball. She is so dangerous in out of system situations. The start of the showcase starts out with various forms of “Queens” with various numbers of players, touches, and ways to score points. Pierce shows how she is automatic when it comes to scoring points and seeing the whole court. She will be big for Fusion this 2022 club season.
Really heavy and powerful swing from 2023 pin Katarina Nikolic. Big point scorer. pic.twitter.com/14fb2PmxkO
— Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) December 5, 2021
Katarina Nikolic – Epic United – Lake Central
Class of 2023 – Outside Hitter
I had not seen Nikolic play until yesterday. I kept watching this outside hitter who was taking big rips and had a heavy ball after contact. She was showing how she could really hurt the other side of the net if there was no block up. Even with a block, she was able to use the block to tool and keep the other side out of system.
Brynn Smith – Sky High – Stevenson
Class of 2024 – Outside Hitter
Smith is long, athletic, and a major presence at the net. A lot of outside hitters have those qualities, but Smith has a really high contact point and can find a way to score points with her swing or her block. She also has plenty of positive intangibles where she is consistently talking, engaging with her teammates, and finding ways to make a positive touch whether it’s keeping the play alive or looking to score.
Oooookkkkkkk Nora Larson Nora Larson 6'0" | OH Antioch | 2024 State IL . Larson had a big high school season and I know she will be a key player for @SkyHighVB – huge growth since her freshman season! pic.twitter.com/p93sb9sDdz
— Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) December 5, 2021
Nora Larson Nora Larson 6'0" | OH Antioch | 2024 State IL – Sky High – Antioch
Class of 2024 – Outside Hitter
I have not seen Larson play for nearly a year and I’ve seen a big improvement in her game and overall physicality. She’s stronger, hitting the ball harder, and her overall game as a six rotation player has greatly evolved. She had a breakout season for Antioch high school and is on track to do the same for Sky High in 2022.
Makena Wesol – Sky High – Dundee Crown
Class of 2022 – Outside Hitter
An available 2022 pin hitter who can swing from the outside or right side. For Wesol, she has an aggressive attack and a violent arm swing. She was the type of player who could step in for any position that was needed this past weekend. Her strength is on the pin, but her overall athleticism and aggressiveness is something to note.
Lefty’s are so fun especially when they can really swing
32 – Danielle Lipinsky of @topflightvbc is a big time point scorer 2023
— Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) December 5, 2021
Danielle Lipnisky -Top Flight – Marian Central Catholic
Class of 2023 – Right Side
A true right side, Lipnisky brings an aggressive left handed swing to the pin. She’s another athlete who wasn’t afraid to let it rip from the pin. A hard left handed swing can be tough to defend and with a heavy ball coming from Lipnisky, she is one that can be relied on to put points on the board.
Middle Blockers
Available 2022 who is super physical and athletic!
6’3 middle Kathryn Dean Kathryn Dean 6'3" | MB Tuscola | 2022 State IL of @IEVBC 18 Cardinal.
Heavy swing, talks, and can handle the ball too. #pdtop250
— Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) December 5, 2021
Kathryn Dean Kathryn Dean 6'3" | MB Tuscola | 2022 State IL “Katie” – Illini Elite – Tuscola
Class of 2022 – MB
Dean was one of the top players in the gym on Sunday and someone is going to get a steal with her. Previously committed to North Dakota, Dean’s recruiting has opened back up with a change in staff at UND. At 6’3, Dean is extremely athletic and physical as a middle blocker. She could play out of the middle or right side where she is laterally quick and touches high. She was connecting with her setters and was able to show her athleticism in all aspects of her game. She will play for an extremely talented 18 Cardinal squad for Illini Elite where she will compete some of the top teams in the country. Again, a major steal at the next level.
Really fun battle on the middle here with Katherine Dean (2022) and Gabrielle Peter. Both are extremely physical on the net. #PDTop250 pic.twitter.com/6lauK3xnPy
— Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) December 5, 2021
Gabrielle Peter – Top Flight – Hampshire
Class of 2023 – MB
A major presence, a fast twitch middle blocker who is everywhere, her motor doesn’t stop. She can hit multiple tempos and attack off of one foot. She went head to head with Dean and was not afraid of the big block in front of her. She is definitely one who could be used in multiple ways at the next level and will play club for Top Flight.
Ruth Ziegler Ruth Ziegler 6'3" | MB Warren Township | 2024 State IL – Sky High – Warren Township
Class of 2023 – MB
Ziegler is 6’3 out of the middle with an extremely fast arm. Ziegler has the perfect blend of size and athleticism where she can really move along the net. She is laterally quick where she can close a block and transition to swing. Her upside is way up there. I have seen her swing on the pin and I wouldn’t rule that out for her future either. Always nice to have options.
Libero
Lot of talented 2024’s on this court.
Long athletes with a big swing in @BrynnSmithVB @EmilyLisi and DS/L Samantha Falk Samantha Falk DS/L Mother McAuley | 2024 State IL pic.twitter.com/btjsCXnbA2
— Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) December 5, 2021
Samantha Falk Samantha Falk DS/L Mother McAuley | 2024 State IL – 1st Alliance – Mother McAuley
Class of 2024
Falk is not afraid to take pace off a hard driven swing, she’s been seeing it her whole career. She played in some huge matches for Mother McAuley this past fall enroute to their state runner-up finish. Falk has a presence as a libero. She communicated, talks to her hitters, and knows what it takes to raise the level of play on her side of the net.
Jaimie Marquardt Jaimie Marquardt 5'9" | DS/L Libertyville | 2024 State IL – Sky High – Libertyville
Class of 2024
Marquardt just glides on the court, she moves so well, anticipates, and has a really quiet platform where its so natural. Whether she is in an isolated drill or a competitive situation, it’s all the same, she’s extremely consistent where she can go right from passing a dime on serve receive to taking pace off a ball to keep her side of the net in system.
Stella Marrero Stella Marrero 5'7" | DS/L Kenosha Christian Life | 2024 State WI – Wisconsin Juniors – Kenosha Christian Life Academy
Class of 2024
Marrero has a spark. There were A LOT of really strong liberos where it warrants its own article. Marrero is quick, she’s savvy and brings a lot of physicality and athleticism to the position. Her high school team had a breakout season, advancing to the final eight of their division and will be a key player for Wisconsin Juniors 16-1 this upcoming club season.