Q&A with Liam Schroeder.
All great teams are strong in the middle and Marquette is no different.
The Hilltoppers opened the season ranked No. 1 in the Wisconsin Boys Volleyball Coaches Association state poll and backed up that high expectation by winning invitationals at Kettle Moraine and New Berlin West in the first two weekends of the season.
Senior middle attacker Liam Schroeder’s presence was felt on both weekends. He finished with 23 kills and a .595 hitting percentage at Kettle Moraine Sept. 2 and helped the team post victories over Kettle Moraine, Kaukauna and New Berlin United to win the championship bracket Saturday at New Berlin West.
People already have taken notice. After Schroeder helped Marquette to a state runnerup finish last season, the state coaches association made him the only junior to receive firstteam all-state recognition. On the recruiting trail Division I programs are lining up to sign him.
He spoke with the Journal Sentinel about his recruitment, his team and how he spent part of his summer
Q. You had a unique experience this summer. Tell us about it?
A. I went to the Dominican Republic for two weeks and I was in a little village, Puerto Plata. I was helping build latrines there. I was actually there with my teammate Aidan Frazier, our opposite (hitter). It was a good learning experience. You learn a lot that you don’t learn here in Milwaukee.
It was a huge growing experience. I had a lot of fun doing it, too. It was a really good time.
Q. Was that the first time you did something like that?
A. Yes. It really pushed me out of my comfort zone. I’ve done service around Milwaukee, but going to another country and doing service is another thing, especially since I don’t know Spanish. It was a really big learning experience for me.
Q. Your team has a lot of potential. What has you excited about this season?
A. Last season we were very good. We just came up a little short. We were able to build on that with 10 guys returning and five really good juniors coming up. I think we had a lot to learn from last year, and this year we’re improving from the little mistakes we made last year and refining everything to perfection, which is something I’m looking forward to.
Q. Where does your college recruitment stand?
A. This past spring I took a trip to Ohio State and I have an offer from them and then next weekend I’m going to USC for a visit and hopefully by the end of the season I’ll be at Penn State. I’m looking for something that is academically challenging like Marquette High. I’ve had some other looks, but those are three I’m looking at primarily.
Q. What else are you looking for in a college?
A. I do like the medium-size school, so I do like that about USC, but really the coaches are a big part. All the coaches I’ve talked to are amazing people, but I look forward to getting to know them on a better basis, taking visits out to these campuses