Way Too Early 2019 Rankings: Class AAA

The close of the 2018 high school season also saw the close of a very memorable collection of prep careers that Minnesota has ever seen simply because there were so many high level athletes in this year's senior class. That made it for a roller coaster type of season with the title seemingly up for grabs before we even arrived at the state tournament. Looking forward to 2019 here is a preliminary outlook at some teams that will entertain us once again as they enter next year's fall season among the favorites to reach the final weekend. #1 Champlin Park The first-time champions in 2018 get the nod as the team to beat when 2019 rolls around. Although they lose some key contributors and leaders they return some top talent that has experience. Scoring and defending is the balance needed from your middles at the net and the Rebels will bring back one of the best in class AAA in Sami Hilley (MH | 2020). As CP was loaded on the pins all season, the production from the middle was not needed as much as it may be in the coming year. Hilley will be one answer there as she is efficient with her arm, quick with good elevation, and can defend against opposing hitters with good vision and pursuit. The other middle is Hannah Prasky (MH | 2020), one who brings good movement and range in front and behind the setter offensively not to mention a heavy arm to go with the footwork. As CP loses their Ms. Baden Volleyball 2018 setter to graduation, that will be the biggest question mark to identify a floor general that can develop a great relationship with these middles so they can be effective and shine. Helping with the ball control and scoring from the pins will be Jordan Stalpes (OH | 2020), a state championship all-tournament team selection. Certain to be in the conversation for Ms. Baden Volleyball 2019, Stalpes is an athlete through and through. She can get on you so fast with her pursuit of the ball and the cannon of an arm that she can bring. Add in great vision and court awareness and she can score in bunches with the range her arm provides. She also is very capable in the back row as a passer and defender helping to create plenty of in-system opportunities for her team. Her skill set and competitiveness will be a primary asset for the Rebels in 2019. CP also loses one of the best liberos in the 2018 class and will likely turn to Megan Panser (DS | 2020) to fill that important role. She provided seven digs in the championship match. The Rebels are and exciting team and have a coveted title under their belts. Their core returners provided the support and balance needed among their stars in 2018 to get it done in class AAA. They will be relied upon much more in 2019 and they are more than capable of helping CP make a run for a repeat. #2 Eagan The 2018 runner-up concluded their sixth straight appearance in the state championship match. It would be no surprise to see them there again in 2019 for another go considering the depth they return in their roster. Kennedi Orr (S/OH | 2021) provided a lot for the Wildcats and quite possibly will be the focus of their attack both from the pin and as a distributor. The Nebraska commit had 25 kills in the finals and is just tapping the surface of what she is capable of. Earning state all-tournament honors, she is an exciting player to watch and will enter 2019 with even more fuel to help her team reach the pinnacle. Joining her among the all-tournament selections is Kaylyn Madison (DS | 2020), Eagan's answer defensively in the back row as evidenced by the 30 digs she collected in the state championship match. Returning to help with the offensive production are Christine Jurgens (OH | 2020), Lily Wong (OH | 2020), and Abigail Moe (MH | 2021). Similar to the title winners, the Wildcats return a core group of athletes that supported their stars very well in their contributions. Jurgens and Wong both terminated nine kills in the finals and Moe earned some great experience as a young middle among a powerhouse roster. Eagan has tradition and depth on their side. Look for them to enter 2019 on a mission. #3 Lakeville South The Cougars have Ava Moes (RS | 2021) set to come back after a breakout season that saw her team advance to the state semifinals. Moes is making a case for herself as the state's most dynamic and hard-hitting right side attacker. She can hammer the ball and is an athletic blocker that can defend as well as transition effectively to be available often. She has become a favorite target for Lakeville South's setter, Jasmine Weidemann (S | 2021), a fellow sophomore and one who is also developing as one of the best in her position. I'd like to see her establish a more consistent tempo that is a bit quicker and could help to open up some opportunities for her teammates that will be called upon to fill some big shoes. Emily Torborg (MH/OH | 2020) was a bit overshadowed by the Cougars seniors but will be ready to assume a primary role within the offense. Additionally, Grace Carlson (OH | 2020) will be looked upon to pick up some of the offensive void due to graduation. She has good ball control skills and perhaps will assume a greater role as a six-rotation athlete. With some off-season work to increase foot and arm speed, both of these athletes will be ready for the challenge in the South Suburban conference, arguably the toughest in the state. Kendyl Storlie (MH | 2021) is a young middle that will also be looked towards to make increased contributions in 2019. Providing some unheralded but important contributions to the Cougars arsenal is Payton Stier (DS | 2020). She provides great ball control and defense that allowed the offense to put up the big numbers that they did all season. She has great court awareness and range defensively and at times provided an additional option with her arm. Her ability as a DS/Libero will be a great addition to a good program at the next level. Lakeville South, another program with tradition and success, deserves to be considered here. #4 East Ridge I really like this squad in this position entering 2019. As they fell short of the state tournament one match shy, losing to Eagan in the section finals, they return a host of talent that contributed in different ways throughout the season. With only four seniors on the roster, East Ridge relied on a host of sophomores and freshmen to contribute to their effort throughout the season. Lauren Galvin (OH | 2021) solidified herself as a primary point scorer on the left pin and will perhaps carry a heavier load with the graduation of one of their senior attackers. Avery Burger (RS | 2020) is the lone junior for the Raptors and saw significant opportunity on the right side showing ability to score and defend well at times. She may find more opportunity on the left side in 2019 with the graduation of a key senior in that part of the rotation. Looking for more opportunities and to make an even bigger splash in 2019 will be Britt Carlson (RS | 2022). At 6'3 she has great length and mobility that will certainly help her become a formidable threat both offensively and defensively for the Raptors throughout her career. She played at opposite as well and showed her ability to go up and over blockers. As she develops more strength and quickness, that will add some heat coming off of her arm that seemingly is needed to consistently score at the class AAA level. Camryn Greenwald (MH | 2022) is another freshman that will continue to grow and produce for this squad. She is athletic and already has good presence at the net given she was a freshman this year. The libero was Jadyn Garrison (Lib | 2021). The experience she gained this past season will be big-time for her entering into 2019 locked into that role for the Raptors. They will need her to anchor the ball control as East Ridge identifies a setter to fill that role following the departure of a great leader and teammate from that position. Audrey Spolidoro (S | 2021) is the likely replacement. In spite of this youth, the Raptors found success through a difficult schedule earning some wins over some of the state's best programs and competing very well against others. #5 Northfield Finishing the season ranked #9 in class AAA and undefeated in the Big 9 conference, Northfield returns a solid core of athletes that provide great competitiveness, skill, and athleticism. Having lost a key group of seniors, the Raiders have a collection of underclassmen that are poised to step up and shoulder a bigger load offensively. Bronwyn Timperly (OH | 2020) is among the best six-rotation athletes in the junior class and will be called upon for added leadership and point scoring in 2019. She will be balanced by Presley Fink (OH | 2020) and Megan Reilly (OH | 2021) on the pins. One of the best attributes for Northfield is their ball control. With Timperly as a primary passer, the Raiders also rely heavily upon Emma Torstenson (Lib | 2021), another athlete with great skills from the state's sophomore class. Her skill set is well-rounded on both sides of the ball and in her ability to loft a very hittable second contact when out of system. Also filling in for ball control duties will be another sophomore, Rachel Wieber (DS | 2021), who also saw significant time across the back row this season. This trio of passers can put on a ball control clinic as they work well with one another regarding their communication and seam coverage. They are simple in their moves and create great angles that allow their offense to run through a variety of attack points. As the Raiders ran a duel-setter offense, one half of that tandem will back back in 2019. Lida King (S | 2020) is more than capable of running the show on her own. At 6'1 she brings great length to the role, which will be a great asset at the net and complementary to her ability to play defense in the back row. She has great touch and location and will have multiple options to choose from regarding the Raiders' pin action. The middle position is the question mark for Northfield as they graduated two key pieces in that part of their rotation. Likely to fill one of those positions is returning middle Sylvia Koenig (MH | 2021). Northfield may be a bit of a dark horse in 2019 without a dominant middle coming back. However, as one of their strengths is consistent ball control, that itself will score points and win games for them given they will have multiple options available more often than not. I like the Raiders' chances in 2019. Others to Watch & Key Athletes Lakeville North Maddy Hornyak (RS | 2021) Abbey Milner (MH | 2021) Halle Wolfe (Lib | 2020) Prior Lake Julia Hanson (OH | 2022) Camille Libert (MH | 2021) Rachel Ring (OH | 2020) Dezirae Spratt (OH | 2020) Lainey VanHecke (S | 2021) Shakopee Lauren Aus (MH | 2020) Karlee Jensen (DS | 2020) Madeline Lipetzky (MH | 2022) Payton Marker (S | 2020) Stillwater Sydney DeJarnett (RS | 2021) Maddie Whittington (MH | 2020) Lucy Zollar (DS | 2022) Wayzata Lily Emlong (MH | 2020) Katelyn Empkey (MH | 2020) Elizabeth Helmich (RS | 2020) Sophie Jesewitz (OH | 2021) Olivia Johnson (S | 2020)