Senior Dominant Forest Lake Takes #1 North Branch: Highlights and Prospects

Senior, Senior, Senior. The Forest Lake Rangers have a roster full of Seniors, eleven of them, and it was their experience that buried North Branch from start to finish with a 3-0 sweep with the set scores of 25-18, 25-21, 25-17. Highlights: -Forest Lake has quite the duo on the outside with Abigail Groeneweg and Angela Denney. Groeneweg is a 5’10 outside hitter who has the power, but also the extremely high volleyball IQ to find the open spots. She will hit deep corner down the line or cross, but also knows when to go high hands. She will continue her volleyball career at St. Cloud State. Denney is a 6’0 outside hitter committed to Illinois-Springfield. Denney brings a physical style to the court and looks like she could step on any court or field and be the best athlete out there. She brings a more powerful game to the net, but is still a lethal threat to score from any rotation. The type of sets these athletes are swinging at aren’t just high sky sets to the outside. They can run a gap, a quick tempo ball, and can approach off one foot from either pin making them so versatile. Oh, and they can pass and serve receive on a dime too. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"> Cia Selbitschka keeping <a href="https://x.com/NBAHSVolleyball?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NBAHSVolleyball</a> in this match. 13 kills and set two isn’t done yet <a href="https://t.co/qKNIjTYSnf">pic.x.com/qKNIjTYSnf</a> — Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) <a href="https://x.com/PrepDigChris/status/1037140801795567616?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 5, 2018</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> -Cianna (Cia) Selbitschka is a high flying outside for North Branch that has given her verbal commit to play at Minnesota-Duluth, what a catch for Coach Jim Boos. Selbitschka had 17 kills in three sets and has such a high contact point and a repertoire of shots to select from. She is the type of player who can single handedly win a match for a team. With over 500 kills from her Sophomore year Selbitschka, who plays her club volleyball with Kokoro, will be the leader for this relatively young team that has just three Seniors on the roster and a Freshman starting at middle. -Forest Lake libero and North Dakota State commit, Ava Schmoll starts it all for the Rangers, especially when she’s behind the service line. A pinpoint locator with her serve, she can get the opponent out of system and quick. Her job was to dig Selbitschka all night, and keep the Rangers in system for their 6-2 system where everyone is a threat. Tuesday night was an example where Forest Lake made skills that are hard look simple. When you pass well, the rest just seems to fall into place. -It’s still early for North Branch. There were flashes of really good play with libero Kylie Kline and Paige Sheehan swinging from the right side who is just a Sophomore. Middle blockers Paige Peaslee is only a Freshman and the Vikings also have middle Reagan Irons who is a Sophomore as well. With more reps, training, and varsity live experience the Vikings will still be in the hunt come late October, early November. -Execution and clean volleyball was the name of the game for Forest Lake. With solid passing they had all hitters available running a 6-2 offense with setters with Riley Gorman and Kaitlyn Bakke. Bakke has committed to play for Waldorf University, an NAIA school in Forest City, Iowa. Prospects To Note: Lindsey Johnson - Right Side - Senior - Forest Lake Johnson is aggressive on the right side putting up a solid block and is very terminal with her swing. A dynamic athlete she can hit from anywhere on the court. She definitely has the ability to play at the next level that could swing from any position with a variety combinations. Paige Sheehan - Right Side/Setter - Sophomore - North Branch Sheehan can play multiple positions, but was most impressive was her aggressive swing from the right side. A 5’8, Sophomore, Sheehan can do a little bit of everything and with those tools can find a spot to play collegiately. Maddie Demars - Middle Blocker - Sophomore - Forest Lake Demars is one of the few underclassmen on the roster for the Rangers. With a Senior loaded roster, Demars is a middle blocker that is extremely athletic and physical that is able to close the block making it easy for her backrow to play defense. At 6’1, Demars may not be threat number one to score, but definitely someone to keep tabs on throughout her career at Forest Lake.