The Best Of Minnesota Clash In AAU 17 Open

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">There is no room for error in 17 Open as these athletes will be spending their next summer getting ready for some of the top collegiate programs in the nation.  Minnesota has some of the top players not only in the state, but the nation as they head into competition starting Thursday morning. What is their outlook heading into the week?</span></p> <p><strong>Kokoro 17-1</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Kokoro made a name for itself in the 2018 AAU 16 Open field when they played some big time matches at the end, finishing in the top ten.  With weapons all over the court with <strong>Maddie Whittington</strong> in the middle, a future Big Ten middle heading to Illinois along with <strong>Emily Banitt (Loyola-Chicago)</strong> and<strong> Cianna Selbitschka (UMD)</strong> on the outside there are plenty of points to be scored, but WAIT!  There’s more...Kokoro also has two setters in <strong>Maddi Kealy (UMD) and Lauren Stenman (Lewis)</strong>, Stenman can also swing on the right side as well. One 2020 prospect who still hasn’t picked her school is <strong>Alex Lyle</strong> who can play on either pin and has the ability to step in and set as well.  Kokoro will be the number two seed in a pool with KIVA, Pittsburgh Elite, and Team D (Detroit). KIVA always has one of the top programs in the nation and Pittsburgh Elite is a club on the rise. Again, no margin for error in 17 Open. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>MN Select 17-1</strong> </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This might be the most athletic team in the state.  With depth and a fast tempo with attackers who can put a ball away they will be dangerous in their pool as well as the rest of the week.  MN Select has a trio of pin hitters that are extremely dynamic in <strong>Jordan Stalpes (Omaha), Halle Olson (Florida Atlantic), and Allison Hinze (North Dakota State).</strong>  <strong>Elizabeth Helmich</strong> is also a big point scorer on the right side with a really great connection with setter <strong>Olivia Johnson</strong>. They both play high school ball at Wayzata High School.  Helmich has committed to James Madison, where Johnson might be the best available setter in the Class of 2020 in Minnesota. The spark on the team is <strong>Molly Schultz</strong>, a solid all around athlete coming off medaling at the state track meet will be holding down the backrow as a libero.  She will be heading to Kansas. MN Select has the number two seed in their pool PNK out of Kentucky who also has an Open bid to USAV nationals. VC United 171 who has Northern Iowa recruit <strong>Tayler Alden</strong> setting and the fourth seed in the pool is BEV out of New York. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>Northern Lights 17-1</strong> </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">There is no way Northern Lights can be counted out as a contender at AAU Nationals.  Lights will be a top seed in their pool with teams out of Kansas, Indiana, and Texas.  This squad has had some recent commits, most recently with their libero, <strong>Halle Wolfe</strong>, the gritty libero who will play in the Missouri Valley Conference at Drake. <strong> Kali Wolf</strong> has been one of the top outside hitters in her class and will play her college volleyball at New Mexico. One of the top available recruits in the state in the Class of 2020 is <strong>Kathleen Bishop</strong>.  A right side who is touching over ten feet and a whole lot of upside. The schedule of qualifiers and the Molten Series will be a huge benefit to these teams coming into some big matches to be played throughout the weekend.</span></p>