State Tournament: Three Champions Crowned on the Final Day

And just like that the 2018 prep high school volleyball season has concluded. The championship round of matches brought some exciting play and some great play-by-play announcing as well. Big shout out to Prep Dig's Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) and the great support he provided in calling the class AA final match broadcast online! Here are some notes from the championship matches as all three had a returning runner-up team from a year ago seeking redemption after a very close but elusive result in 2017. Class AAA Champlin Park Earns Program's First Title The Rebels' depth and balance proved too much for Eagan in the class AAA finals. With a 3-1 win, Champlin Park claims the program's first state title. The transfer of Lauren Clark (OH | 2019), one of the nation's most prolific terminators, was the final piece to a core roster that proved too much for most opponents all season long. As she had her moments to shine in the finals there were others that provided some stellar performances on Saturday including from Jordan Stalpes (OH | 2020), Emma Schmidt (OH | 2019), and Izzy Ashburn (S | 2019), the 2018 Ms. Baden Volleyball winner. The other key and very impressive pieces included Hannah Prasky (MH | 2020), Kaitlyn Weimerskirch (Lib | 2019), and Sami Hilley (MH | 2020). With the likes of Prasky, Stalpes, and Hilley returning next season, the Rebels will certainly be in the mix for a repeat run. All-Tournament Team Champlin Park - Emma Schmidt (OH | 2019), Jordan Stalpes (OH | 2020), Izzy Ashburn (S | 2019), Kaitlyn Weimerskirch (Lib | 2019) Eagan - Kennedi Orr (OH/S | 2021), Ellie Husemann (MH | 2019), Kaylyn Madison (Lib | 2020) Lakeville South - Alena Moldan (Lib | 2019) Stillwater - Maddie Whittington (MH | 2020) Shakopee - Rachel Kilkelly (OH | 2019) Class AA North Branch Gets it Done It was only fitting that the North Branch Vikings (29-4) needed five sets to claim victory in the class AA finals. It was their third five-setter in three consecutive days with this one mattering the most. As they had been riding the arm of junior standout Cianna Selbitschka (OH | 2020) to provide a ton of swings, it was her teammates that stepped up in the final moments to close things out. As Selbitschka rotated to the back row, setter Paige Sheehan (S | 2021) found success in middle Reagan Irons (MH | 2021) and outside hitter Lydia Langevin (OH | 2019) as each had a huge kill in the final points to earn set five 19-17 for North Branch. Those were gutsy but great decisions given the level of defense, anchored by Mia Schnaible (Lib | 2020), Marshall had established against the Vikings' big hammer. As Selbitschka still scored several points for her team, those late match decisions could have been the difference maker in keeping the Tigers off balance as most people in the arena expected Selbitschka to see the ball with the state title just a couple of points away for each team. North Branch rebounded well this season after falling in the 2017 final match. They have many members set to return next year and should open the season as one of the favorites. All-Tournament Team North Branch - Cianna Selbitschka (OH | 2020), Kylie Kline (Lib | 2020), Paige Sheehan (S | 2021) Marshall - Bria Morris (OH | 2020), Paige Andries (MH | 2020), Mia Schnaible (Lib | 2020) Kasson-Mantorville - Peyton Suess (OH | 2019), Emilee Terry (OH | 2020) Concordia Academy-Roseville - Taylor Brunn (DS | 2019) Belle Plaine - Mikayla Coops (RS | 2020) Class A Minneota Dominates Upstart Medford The Vikings played with so much determination in this year's final as they swept the Tigers 3-0 to claim the class A title. Having lost at this stage one year ago, Minneota made sure they took care of business and that experience paid off in a very efficient way. For the final time fans got to see Minneota's Lydia Sussner (MH | 2019) compete and she did not disappoint. With 14 kills for the match she was highly effective in hitting .444 while adding six blocks and three service aces. The Vikings' other star, freshman Natalee Rolbiecki (MH/OH | 2022), had an equally effective match at the net with 14 kills of her own with a slightly better efficiency at .542. Morgan Kockleman (S | 2019) tossed out 41 assists in the win. For the Tigers, their arrival to the state championship match was unexpected but they proved something to themselves and the Minnesota prep scene. They can play. They will return a core group of athletes that now has great experience and success behind them and quite possibly could produce a similar run to a 2019 title much like Minneota's this season. Medford's leader is junior outside hitter Emma Kniefel (OH | 2020) who put down 12 kills in the final match. Sophomore middle Kinsey Cronin (MH | 2021) also put down double-digit kills with 10. Other key returners include Kiley Nihart (Lib | 2020) and Morgan Langeslag (S | 2020) who added 11 digs and 31 assists, respectively. All-Tournament Team Minneota - Lydia Sussner (MH | 2019), Morgan Kockelman (S | 2019), Natalee Rolbiecki (MB/OH | 2022), Abby Hennan (Lib | 2021) Medford - Emma Kniefel (OH | 2020), Kinsey Cronin (MH | 2021), Kiley Nihart (Lib | 2020) Ada-Borup - Kora Kritzberger (MH | 2021) Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa - Allison Gruber (OH | 2019) Mayer Lutheran - Olivia Tjernagel (MH | 2020)