Noteable, Big Time Players From Class of 2022 Watchlist
It has to start somewhere. Throughout the high school season, we watch a lot of volleyball live, taking notes, writing, posting on social media, and doing out best to provide the top local volleyball coverage for each state. The Class…
Access all of Prep Dig
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingIt has to start somewhere. Throughout the high school season, we watch a lot of volleyball live, taking notes, writing, posting on social media, and doing out best to provide the top local volleyball coverage for each state. The Class of 2022 Watchlist may be the toughest. There may be a player who could be a top player in her class, but just happens to play at a high school program that is deep with talent and she is still spending time on Junior Varsity. The opposite is having a player who is playing by default because there is nobody else in her position and she has to play varsity as a Freshman, taking the lumps, but gaining valuable experience. Once the club season starts, I will be spending a lot of time on the 15s courts getting a look at what the future holds for some of these young athletes who are ready to make their splash on the Minnesota volleyball landscape.
Here are a few to note in the Class of 2022:
Julia Hansen – Outside Hitter – Prior Lake – Northern Lights
I don’t even think Hansen was in high school for a week by the time she was making waves on the Minnesota prep volleyball scene. Hansen is a 5’10 outside hitter for Prior Lake and Northern Lights who will be one colleges will keep an eye on as the club season approaches. I saw Hansen play at the Southwest Minnesota Challenge to open the season and there were fans in the crowd saying, “Watch that #9 jump”. They were right, she can fly and she can score points too. She will be a six rotation outside who just brings an athletic and dynamic style of play to the court. Will be fun to see her compete in her own age division.
Kendal Kemp – Middle Blocker – Rogers – MN Select
Kemp played up last year as an 8th grader on the 15s team for MN Select 15-1 and seeing her progress to a varsity middle blocker for Rodgers High School she improved tremendously in her overall coordination, athleticism, and overall skill. She is going to be a dynamite force to be reckon with and will only to continue to improve. Her MN Select 15-1 team has plenty of balance and with the added improvement of Kemp they will be tough to stop with hitters who can terminate everywhere, not to mention Jasmine Weidemann as a really athletic and consistent setter to run the show.
Maddie Converse – Setter – Kasson-Mantorville
For being a Freshman, Converse was thrown into some pretty big games for Kasson-Mantorville who spent much of the year rated in the top two for Class AA, finishing the season 3rd in Class AA. Converse will be one to watch as she climbs up the ranks being a great all around athlete and has the big game experience to develop quickly into a leader for the Komets.
Natalee Rolbiecki – Outside Hitter – Minneota
Rolbiecki is the type of athlete who could step on to any court or field and make a huge impact. At 5’9, Rolbiecki made a huge impact in the state tournament as the Vikings of Minneota went on to win the Class A title. Playing with poise, maturity, and an overall comfort on the big stage made things look easy for Rolbiecki. Seeing Rolbiecki play at the Southwest Minnesota Challenge in early September to the state tournament in November, the growth in her game and ability to adjust to what the defense was giving her demonstrated a volleyball IQ far beyond her years. Minneota will be graduating a talent Senior class, but Rolbiecki will be great to build around for the next three years.
Makenzie Roettger – Middle Blocker – New Life Academy – Kokoro
Roettger was able to get some state tournament experience for New Life Academy out of Woodbury and will be a go to player for Kokoro 15-1 this upcoming club season, who will have quite a team with a combination of some of the top players of the Class of 2022 in Wisconsin as well. Roettger is 5’11, but plays extremely high, with a powerful swing, getting on top of the ball with some pop. Would be fun to see her swing on the pin, but her lateral movement and quick snap makes her so lethal in the middle.
Prep Dig Gauntlet – 14s – 17s Open and Club – June 1 and 2