Section 6AA Preview

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Postseason play is right around the corner. With sections set to start in less than two weeks, PrepDig is breaking down each section with teams and players to watch.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Section 6AA is undoubtedly the best section in the state at the Class AA level. With a pair of top-five teams (including the prohibitive favorite to take home the title) along with six others with at least 20 wins, Section 6 is a gauntlet. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Of course Maple Lake is the heavy favorite to get back to state and take home a second straight title. The Irish are undefeated on the season and have been the wire-to-wire No. 1 team in Class AA this season. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>Favorite</strong>: <em>Maple Lake</em></span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Maple Lake is the heavy favorite to get back to the state tournament and win another title. The Irish are undefeated on the season and they've played a tough enough schedule where they've gotten plenty of people's best shots. It's an experienced group that has been among the state's elite for a number of years now and it's shown no signs of slipping up. Linsey Rachel, Brynn Paumen and Amber Klug are excellent hitters and very few teams have shown the ability to contend with them at the net.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>Up Next:</strong> <em>Rocori</em></span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">the Spartans looked like the best team in the state at times a year ago and while they may not have the same kind of juice they did a year ago, they are certainly among the best in the state. Iowa State commit Eleanor Holthaus is one of the best players in the state and the Spartans have an upperclassman-laden team that has seen just about everything. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>In the Hunt:</strong> <em>Annandale, Albany, St. Cloud Cathedral, Sauk Centre</em></span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Sauk Centre has a strong resume thanks to wins over quality teams like Braham and Melrose and with outside hitter Kelsey Peschel leading the offense and Kenzie Schmiesing leading the defense, the Mainstreeters are certainly capable of making an extended run. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Annandale went into the postseason with some momentum, winning 12 of its last 13 matches. The Cardinals have a very good combination up front with Allie Spaulding and Kamryn D'Heilly.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Albany won 20 matches in the regular season and did well against quality clubs like Deer River, Watertown-Mayer and Canby. The Huskies also split with St. Cloud Cathedral. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">St. Cloud Cathedral racked up 22 wins in the regular season and went 12-3 against section opponents. The Crusaders have a very talented junior class led by middle hitter Gabby Heying and setter Abbey Medelberg. </span></p>