Section 7A 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 7 has been owned by Cook County the last few seasons and it looks like while there is some good depth in talent across the section, the Vikings will once again be the team to beat.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>Favorite</strong>: <em>Cook County</em></span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Vikings have reached the state tournament each of the past two seasons and while they might not be the No. 1 seed in their section, their undefeated record in section play and history give them the edge here. Four of their five losses on the season happened in the Class A Showcase Tournament. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Meredith Sutton is one of the top outside hitters in the state and a player to watch. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>Next up:</strong> <em>Carlton</em></span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Carlton earned the No. 1 seed in the section and heads into the postseason with an impressive 21-5 record. The Bulldogs have nine wins against section opponents but lost 3-1 to Cook County earlier in October. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>In the Hunt</strong>: <em>Deer River, North Woods, Ely</em></span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Deer River will earn the No. 1 seed in Subsection 2 and with just one loss against section opponents, the Warriors look like a slight favorite to emerge to the section final. the Warriors' only loss to a section opponent came at the beginning of the season when they lost at Carlton. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">North Woods has a great deal of exposure to the rest of the section as the Grizzlies have played 19 games against section opponents this season and gone 16-3. They lost 3-2 to Deer River and 3-0 to Cook County but ride an eight-game winning streak into postseason.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Ely is in a similar boat. All 19 of the Timberwolves' wins have come against section opponents and while they haven't played a few of the top teams, they are 0-2 against North Woods with both losses coming in the last month.</span></p>