Minnesota Teams Set for Triple Crown and Nation’s Elite

<p>The Triple Crown Volleyball NIT is set for Kansas City with a handful of North Country Region teams competing among the various age groups. Notable teams from Minnesota and some of their key athletes include the following:</p> <p><strong>U18s Pool Assignments</strong><br /> Three power pools consisting of eight teams each will see some of the of the country's best U18 teams compete in this premier event. Three Minnesota teams will vie for supremacy with Northern Lights 18-1 the #2 seed in Pool A and MN Select 18-1 the #3 seed in Pool B. Both teams feature the best of the best from Minnesota and are poised to compete well. Also in the U18 division are a other North Country Region teams competing in the challenge pools. Here is a list of teams with their starting position:</p> <p><em>Kokoro 18-1 - Pool J #2</em><br /> <em>Kokoro 18-2 - Pool F #4</em><br /> <em>MN Select 18-2 - Pool R #4</em></p> <p><strong>U17s Pool Assignments</strong><br /> Kokoro 17-1 has earned the top seed in Power Pool D in the U17 division. They are joined by MN Select 17-1 as the #3 seed in the same pool. Both teams feature elite talent including the following uncommitted prospects:</p> <p>Jamie Ihfe - Kokoro 17-1 | 5'10 | RS | Prep Dig #50 <br /> Alex Lyle - Kokoro 17-1 | 6'0 | OH | Prep Dig #54<br /> Lily Emlong - MN Select 17-1 | 6'2 | MB | Prep Dig #32<br /> Olivia Johnson - MN Select 17-1 | 5'10 | S | Prep Dig #16<br /> Christine Jurgens - MN Select 17-1 | 5'11 | RH/S | Prep Dig #12<br /> Jordan Stalpes - MN Select 17-1 | 5'11 | OH | Prep Dig #8</p> <p>Other teams competing in the U17 division include the following, along with their rosters representing uncommitted prospects:</p> <p><em>MN Select 17-2 - Pool J #3</em><br /> Yaiza Franco - 6'2 | MB/RS | Prep Dig #64<br /> Lizzie Holscher - 5'7 | DS/L | Prep Dig #65<br /> Madeline Lemkuil - 5'10 | OH | Prep Dig #84<br /> Kate Long - 6'0 | OH/RS | Prep Dig #77<br /> Kate Neill - 6'2 | MB/OH | Prep Dig #105<br /> Nicole Odeen - 5'8 | S | Prep Dig #113<br /> Samantha Palmer - 5'9 | OH /RS/DS | Prep Dig #130<br /> Payton Stier - 5'8 | L/DS | Prep Dig # 126<br /> Isabelle Thorne - 5'9 | L/OH | Prep Dig #129</p> <p><em>Vital 17-1 Gold - Pool FF #3</em><br /> Alexandra Hamel - 5'11 | MB | Prep Dig #59<br /> Claire Segner - 5'7 | L | Prep Dig #67<br /> Claudia Stahlke - 6'2 | MB | Prep Dig #23<br /> Emma O'Connell - 5'10 | OH<br /> Hannah Paine - 5'8 | L<br /> Kate Hamburg - 5'11 | RS | Prep Dig #74<br /> Katie Paine - 5'10 | OH | Prep Dig #69<br /> Lydia Nash - 5'9 | OH | Prep Dig #94<br /> Mikaila Winward - 5'7 | S | Prep Dig #114<br /> Presley Fink - 5'8 | OH | Prep Dig #96<br /> Sophie Fritz - 5'5 | S | Prep Dig #88</p>